The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-12-12
THE ATLANTIC
COAST LINE.
It Has a Firm Foothold IN
Georgia.

"You want to keep your eye on the
development of the Atlantic Coast Line
syssem," said railroad mso to . News
and Courier reporter. The msnoer
iu which that system is resching out
towards the southwest is surprising some
Of os and no one seems TO koow just
where it is goiug to stop. Every r.il
road msu remembers how the Atlantic
Coast lice got over into Georgia years
ego and how it VAS crowded out ef that
territory after having got q taste Of the
rich traffic which origiasaes there: It:
vas matter Of common report that the
management. would never be sasisded
until tho ground los. then vas recover
ed. Sc, when il became known that
the Atlsn.ic Coast Line acquired COZ.
troll of she Charleston aud Western,
Caroline lines. We eli fele that. j. was.
merely , step taken in certain direc.
too. The moves that have been made
since then have been very important
ones, for. oil that tho public knows little
or no.hiog concerning them. There
are probably not ten layneu 10 Charles
ton who ere aware Of the fact that the
Atlantic Coast Line has large interests
is 90 less than three importsns roads 10
Georgia A few people may have
beard that it is 10 possession Of one half
of the lease of the Georeis road. ba.
there is hardly man out Of the business
WIS has learned that it also participates
10 control of the Atlantic and West
Point and the West Alabama lines.
OF course, the Louisville and Nashville
used to have absolute control of these
three roads. and suppose the purchase
of 40 interest 10 them by the Atlantic
Coast Line was responsible for the
ramor curreut some.montbs ago to the
effect that the Louisville aud Nashville
was about 20 absorb the Atlantic Coast
Line
'Bat, however. that may be. there
is 90 question of the fact that The
Atlantic Coast Line is now in position
to do SO extensive business 10 tha
soushwest-tbss is Co say, beyond
Atlanta-sud tha. it means to improve
its opportunities The Louisville and
Nashviie seems to have abandoned for
s,e time being ell thought Of coming te
the Atlantic seaboard, and that sbi.
fact seems to suggest the belief that the
Coast Line will gradually assume abso.
| lute control of the Georgia road Jus
how far it will participate in the man
| aeewent Of the Atlanta aud West Polo
aad the Western Of Alabama does no.
yet appear I do not even kuow jus
when it acquired its interest 10 those
lines With its purchase Of tb'
Charleston end Western Carolina roat
il Inherited some sort Of claim 10
| share in the lease of the Georgis roat
from Thomas aud Ryan Having
deci led to cco6ne itself to the Missis
sippi Valley for the most part. tn
T. ,uisville and Nashville was doubtless
glad enough to get some one not =.
| actual competitor to take share Of tb'
4 lease ; aod while this trade Was being
4 made it is more than probable that th
! transfer of shsre in the other tw'
lines was made. 1t is plain to ever.
ooe how much the position Of tb'
Atlantic Coast Line system has bee,
strengthened by these purcbases
The road is in better sbap
20 do business than it hss ever beer
before. and that is the reason that
/ sly it would be we'll for every one VIII
| is interested to keep 80 eye on sb
Coast Lioe and its transactions in th
1tfu,ure.