Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-05-27
ON TO TAMPA.
Preparation for the Formal Open
ing of Greater Seaboard Air Line
The Grent New System that Connects Our
Norfolk Section--President Mckinley
and Many Governors OF Great States
Will Help Mako the Occasion Memoir
able.


Will Help Mako the Occasion Memoir
able.
On next Saturday. the first through
train will arrive at Richmond from
Tampa. Florida, over the Seaboard Air
Line. The occasion will be a great day
in Virginia's railroad history, and will
be celebrated accordingly.
party of distinguished gentlemen
Will be on the train. possibly including
President Mckinley and Senator
Chaunoey NJ. Depew. In case the Presi-
done does go. he will deliver a short
speech at the banquet no be given at
the jefferson Hotel Saturday night.
THE PROGRAM
The beginning will be next Wednes-
day morning at 9 o'clock. At that time
two trains of five Pullmans each, and
one taking President John Shelton
mond for Tampa
They Will arrive at Tampa. at O'Clock
on Thursday morning. The whole party,
about 200 In number will breakfast at
The Tampa Bay Hotel. The start back
VIII be made at l p. m, and Jackson
NiiiN VIII bc IcdCIleQ at o u. III. mere
they VIII dine, continuing the journey
ut midnight. At Z a. m, the next morn
ing they will be in Savannah, where
they will remain until l p. m. At break k
fast number of Savannahs most dis
tinguished citizens will be present and
welcome the travellers.
Dinner will be in Columbia, where
the party will arrive at 6 p. m. At IL p
M. the start for Raleigh will be made,
and that city will be reached at Z
O'Clock Saturday morning.
Here breakfast will be had, and at
1880 the Journey to Petersburg will be-
gin Here luncheon will be partaken
OF in Library Hall. At o'clock the last
stage of the eventful trip will begin,
and OF 4:S0 the first train will reach
Richmond.
THE SPIKE OF GOLD.
Just east of the Broad street viaduct
a large platform will be erected around
the trestle. This will be reached by a
flight of steps from the east sidewalk
ut Broad street At this place, just be-
fore the trains arrival, Master John
Shelton Williams, son of the President
OF the road, will drive n golden spike.
The mallet used will be OF silver. suit
ably engraved. and will be given to
Master Williams. This Will be the last
spike driven in the system between
Richmond and Tampa.
The SeaboaId Air Line band and
other musical organizations will be at
the sta tion. The Richmond Blues and
HowitZers will be stationed on Broad
street, and n salute will announce the
presence of the train. Governor Tyler
and Mayor Taylor will be on hand at
the station, and will escort the party
in carriages to the Capitol Square,
where there will be addresses by the
Governor, the Mayor, and President
Williams.
BANQUET AT THE JEFFERSON.
After the speeches at the Capitol, a
carriage drive over the city will be
taken, ending at the Jefferson Hotel.
Here n sumptuous banquet will be the
next thing in order The menu card
will consist of eight pages of parch-
mcnt, covered with Russian leather. 4
suitable scroll will be etched on the
back. and the name of each guest Will
be likewise etched on his Individual
card. A beautiful categorical etching of
victory GROWING success will deccrat tie
the ny-leaf. The punch boxes Will bear
in repousse work a representation OF
the famous engine 800 of the Empire
State Express. A silver loving cup will
be presented to each of the 100 direc-
tors who will be at the banquet. 1t Will
be decorated on one side with ham
mered work representing the gold spike,
around which will be chased n wreath
composed of tobacco leaves and cotton
blossoms and n sprig of palm. On the
other side will he the name of the d.
rector and n suitable inscription
A FLORAL MAP.
The Jefferson street wall of the din
ing room will be covered with flowers
representing n map of the entire Sea
board Air Line system.
President Williams Is confident that
President Mckinley will be at the ban
ouet He told MIR. Williams and the
Senators who called on him that he
expected to be present. if he could ar
range matters as he hoped.
GOV. ROOSEVELT INVITED.
Governor Theodore Roosevelt. of New
York. has also been asked to be present.
as well as the Governors of the seven
states traversed by the road-Mary-
land Virginia, North Carolina. South
Carolina Georgia, Alebama. and Florl-
da. All told there will be more than 300
,ynects nj tho hanQuPt.