The age-herald., 1900-12-24
THE HOLIDAY RUSH IS NOW AT AN END Travel from the West Was Very
 Heavy MIR. 1ARDWICK'S PROMOTION Was Formerly General Passenger Agent of the Georgia Pacific With Headquarters in This City.
 The Atlantic Coast Line
MIR. HARDWICK'S PROMOTION

The holiday travel from Texas to the southeast has ended, and in a few days it will start in the other direction. It is es timated that not less than $500 or 4OOO per sons passed through Birmingham en route to their former homes in Alabama, Georgia and the Carolinas to spend the holidays with relatives and friends of former days. The Alabama Great Southern, the Louis vile and Nashville and the Kansas City, Memphis and Birmingham all had to run their passenger trains in two sections, and were then taxed to carry the passengers. sistant general passenger agent of the Southern Railway, to be general passenger agent. with office at Washington, is pleas ing to his many friends in this city. Mir. Hardwck was formerly general passenger agent of the old Georgia Pacific road, with headquarters in this city before that road was absorbed by the Southern Railway. Later he was transferred to Atlanta, where he has since been as assistant general pas senger agent of the Southern.
 Atlantic Coast Line.
 That the Atlantic Coast Line is to be- come more of a dominant factor in south ern railway affairs, and that in improving it's opportunities it is steadily moving into a position that will enable it to make itself felt in this regard, is the confident opin- ion of thosea familiar with it's operations and who nave studied the course of events connected with it's interests.
 Years ago this road managed to get into Georgia, but was not permitted to long en- joy the benefits of it's advent in that State, for it was crowded out by other interests since which time the belief has been that 1t would not be satisfied until it recovered lost ground. When the fact became known that control of Charleston and Western Carolina lines had been acquired, it was felt that an advanced and decisive step had been taken in that direction. Important moves Of significant character have since been made and it has been asserted that in all probability the fact is not generally understood that the Atlantic Coast Line has large interests in no less than three valua- ble Georgia properties.
 It has been stated that the company has one-half of the lease of the Georgia, but there remains the additional fact that it participates in the control of the Atlanta and West Point and the Western Alabama. Formerly the Louisville and Nashville had full control of these lines, and it is as sumed that the acquisition by the Coast Line of an interest in them was responsi- ble for the report that the Louisville and Nashville had acquired control of the At lantic Coast Line. One thing certain Is that the Coast Line is now in a position to do an extensive business in the Southwest, that is, beyond Atlanta, and intends to get all it can.
 To Extend It's Business.
 Apparently, the Louisville and Nashville has abandoned, at least for the time being, any attempt it may have contemplated to reach the Southern Atlantic Coast, and, therefore. it is believed the Atlantic Coast Line will gradually take control of the Georgia, but just how deep 1t can get IllO lne dHdlTS tile AlldItd anu west Point and the Western Alabama has not yet been shown. Just when it obtained an interest in these properties is not definitely known. Purchase of the Charleston and Western Carolina cerried with it some sort of share in the lease of the Georgia.
 It is supposed that in deciding to confine itself chiefly to the Mississippi Valley the Louisville and Nashville was glad to have some non-competitor take part of the lease and that in the negotiations arrangements were made for participation in the affairs of the other two lines. The effect has been to greatly strengthen the Coast Line sys- tenn and enable it to do greater business. For this reason, and in view of the manner in which railroad affairs are gradually shaping themselves in the South, the Coast Line Is likely to occupys.m more or less at tention in the future.