The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-18
NEW LINE TO THUNDERBoLT.
7. S. COLLINS BUYS THE SAVANNAH
AND ISLE OF HOPE RAILROAD.

che Line Supposed to Have Been
Acquired in the Interest of Mr..
George Parsons, But the Contract
with the Merchants and Mechan-
les Land Company requires II to
he Put in Operntion-Mr. Collins
Also bought Desyergers Point and
VIII improve the PrOperty-The
Line 10 BE Extended Into the City
and s50,o00 Spent in Improve
meEts.
The Savannah and Isle of Hope Rail-
Dad. running from Savannah to Thunder
Volt. has been purchased by Mr.. j. 5.
Collins. The deal has been on for some
ime, but was only perfected yesterday
While the price paid for the property
has not been made public, It is stated that
he property was sold at low figure,
nd that the purchase money was paid in
ash The property was sold by the Mer-
:hants and Mechanics Land Company,
which was the largest stockholder orig
nally and which some time since OBJ
aimed entire control The road runs
argely through lands owned by the Mer-
hants' and Mechanics Land Company,
md was built with the view of enhanc-
ng the value of these properties. II was
completed in 1891, and was leased to the
savannah Electric Railway, and operated
oy the latter company until IL went into
he hands of the court. The Electric
Railway being shortly afterwards, merged
With the Savannah, Thunderbolt and Isle
If Hope Railroad, the lease of the Sayan-
aah and Isle of Hope line was not re-
iewed, and the property has lain idle for
he last three or four years, with the eN-
.eption of such time as IL was used oy
he county in hauling gravel for the i'm
,rovement of Dale avenue, and later by
he Savannah, Thunderbolt and Isle Il
Hope, for the accommodation of the troops
.amped on Dale and Estill avenues.
The feature of chief interest to- the peo-
pie of Savannah in the deal Is that the
road is TO be improved and put in opera
don, the contract under which 1t was
,old to Mr.. Collins requiring that this
shall be done Under this contract the
'oad is to be put in operation within fit-
een months, and at least a double daily
schedule furnished.
Ii is presumed that the purchase was
made in the interest of Mr. George Par
ions, president of the Savannah. Thunder
bolt and Isle of Hope. The Merchants
and Mechanics Company decided some
lime since 20 sell the property, and offers
we're made by parties in New York. Mr..
Parsons was aware of this, and il is pre-
sumed that he decided to purchase the
road rather than to have 1t fall into the
hands of rival company. 1t was the
sharp competition for the Thunderbolt
business between the two rival lines. that
brought about the rate war between the
Parsons lines. and the Electric Railway,
which resulted in the latter property GO
ing into the hands of receiver.
AS Mr. Collins is a director of the Sa-
gannah, Thunderbolt and Isle of Hope
and the largest stakeholder of that COM
pany next to Mr. Parsons, ii is not likely
that he would undertake to operate a
rival line. When seen yesterday. how
ever, Mr., Collins stated positively that the
line would be operated by him individually
aud Independently.
THE line will not only be put in opera
tion,' said Mr. Collins, but we expect to
build into the city as well. Just how we
shall get in ] am not prepared TO say but
Ii is certain that we will come in. There
Is plenty of business between Savannah
and Thunderbolt for two lines. especially
If attractions are provided. The records
show that the travel to Thunderbolt was
much greater when there were two lines
In operation as do so now with only one
line. To get people 10 visit a resort like
Thunderbolt you must offer attractions
and this will be done"
The contract of the land company with
Mr.. Collins provides that the line may be
operated with any power except animal
power Mr.. Collins said that he had not
decided upon what power he would adopt
but 1t might be that the storage battery
system would be used.
Besides purchasing the Savannah and
Isle of Hope Railway, Mr.. Collins also
bought from the Merchants and nsSSsae
les Land Company the point of land at the
south end of Thunderbolt. known as Des-
vergerS' Point. The Point has long been
regarded as the most available spot al
Thunderbolt for improvement for public
uses and there has been talk at various
times of erecting a hotel there. Mr. Col
Inns said that he did not think a hotel
would be erected, but that some very ex-
tensive improvements would be made al
the Point and of character which will
prove very attractive to the people of Sa-
vannah.
Altogether We shall spend about $50,
000," said Mr.. Collins, ''in overhaulins
and extending the track and In improving
the Point"
The directory of the Savannah and Islt
of Hope Railroad now consists of Mr.. Col.
Inns, his partner. Mr.. w. l.. Grayson and
Mr.. Hugh Logan. Mr. Collins declared
that no one else is interested.