The Savannah morning news., 1900-07-06
SEABokRC OFFICIALS TRIP.
VICE PRESIDENT ST. JOHN AND
PARTY INSPECT THE TERMINALS.

intendent McBee-Vice President
st. John Says Tint the COnsOlida-
ton Is Practically Completed and
the Operation of the Big System
Is Now Being Directed From Head
quarters at POrtsmOuth-Plenty of
Business for the $500 Miles of the
New System, He Says-Will Return
Here saturday.
Vice President ST. John of the Seaboard
Air Line and the general officials of the
system spent yesterday in Savannah. The
party arrived from the North in Mr.. St.
Johns private car and spent che day in
conference with the attorneys and off,
Gals here. In the afternoon a trip was
taken on the little transfer launch Eclipse
to the terminal properties on Hutchinson
Island and some time was spent in MAX
ing a thorough inspection of the proper
ay. The party left at night for Mont
gomery. The Florida lines will also be
inspected and the party will return here
Saturday
The members of the party are Vice
President St. John, General Superintend-
ent V. e. McBee, W. T. Reid, superin-
tendent of machinery; George P. John
son, superintendent of transportation; H.
W. B. Glover. freight traffic manager; c.
R. Caps. general freight agent. and w.
f. Flournoy, stenographer to Mr.. St.
John. Judge L. r. Watts of Ports
mouth of the general counsel for the Sea-
board, is expected to meet the party here
Saturday.
Vice President St. John, when seen by
a Morning News reporter, said that the
party is simply making a general tour
of inspection of the system. this being
the first tour of the kind since the re-
cent consolidation. 1--WE ARE very much
pleased with what we have seen, espe-
cially in Savannah he said Every
time | come TO Savannah there is evidence
of Improvement in our property here over
the previous visit and the conditions this
time are very satisfactory, indeed
Are there any further improvements in
contemplation at Savannah" Mr.. ST.
John was asked.
with the completion of the present ter
minals cur stake in savannah win be a
very satisfactory one was his reply.
Considerable additions are being made
TO the shops west of the city, and we shall
have very complete plant there"
0ptdhlllS Ol lfS CONSOLIDATION OF lne sea-
board lines Mr.. St John said thatgeleven
of the small lines in Virginia and North
Carolina We're gathered into the system
| last week. THE general work of the con-
| soidation is about complete" he said 1--WE
are now getting the details in hand and
putting on the finishing touches. Our
headquarters will be at Portsmouth and
the general business will be transacted
! from that point. As vice president ard
/ General I oh Of hot
the traffic and operating departments. Mr..
| McBee is general superintendent of the
| system will exercise immediate supervision
of the operating department, while Mr.
! Glover and Mr.. Capps will look after the
| freight department"
The new Seaboard system now includes
2,600 miles of rail lines. As to whether
| there will be sufficient business for anoth-
er great system of the magnitude of the
Seahoard, Mr.. st. John replied: Il have
| no fear on that score The outlook is
| very satisfactory, indeed"
General Superintendent McBee was one
of the most inter5s ed members of the
party in taking in the situation. "Savan-
nah is all right" said Mr.. McBee. she
/ always was for that matter, but she is
! in better fix now than ever. I used to
| think that nothing could hold a hand
aga MS the old Central here but things
| have changed considerably since then.
| Those new terminals are the biggest
| thing of the kind that has tesn done in
| the South in years. With the arrange
ments which we have made the business
c n be just as conveniently transacted a
if our tarmirals were all on this ,i1e"
Savannah dos more business than any
! Two ports south of Baltimore" remarked
Mr.. McBee to Traffic Manager Glover. IT
you want to get an idea Of the busn- SIS
that is done you viii have to come here
when the cotton shipping season is on"
With The exception of Vice President
St. John and General Superintendent Nc
| Pee, the general officials of The Seatoard
are rather a young locking lot. Boh
Messrs. Glover and CarDs are compare
lively youthful looking, and there was
not a man in the party who appeared TO
| have reached middle age outside of the
two first ramed. Superintendent McBee's
massive frame and leonine face are wei
remember, here. Exc pit that his head is
whittier, he is just the same man that he
was seven years ago.
Judge Speer organized a vigi' apce COM
mi.tee to run me out of Savannah" said
Mr. McBee. and 1 have been scrapping
ever since to get back. Now that | have
the right I shall come often I always
liked Savannah"
Vice President ST. John is a man of
| considerable bulk himself, but the agility
which he displayed in getting about on
| the island was somewhat of a surprise to
the members of the party who had never
undertaken a jauut of this kind with him
before Mr.. W. w. Mackall, Superlntend-
ent Gabbett and Agent c. c. Martin ac
companied the party on their tour of the