The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-07-04
NEW ERA FUR THE SOUTH
The Peopl's System and What it is
Doing for the People Along the
Line of its Road. The Short
Route from Richmond
to Raleigh.
A:Ns>R
SS%AX

Among the decorations in the din
ing room, when the Seaboard Air Line
banquet was given in Richmond, was
map of the system, done in Florida
Nothing could be more appropriate,
for this magnificent railroad not only
runs through 1.-The Flowery Land
but wherever it goes, il causes waste
places to blossom as a rose or grow
green as Erin's Isle.
IL was proud day for its managers,
it's directors, proud day for the en-
tire South. when the last golden spike
was driven.
The spike was sent home by the
tiny, feeble hands of little child, hut
the work of which this act was the
grand finale, represented the labor of
giant brains, supported by great hui
man hearts, and resistless energy.
But greater yet is the fact that
the completion of the Greater
Seaboard Air Line emphasizes the ce-
menting of new and strong ties be-
tween the North and South. 1t seems
a fitting coincidence that this grand
success should be achieved by the
combined common sense and exec
utive ability of two sMch men as Mr..
.Jno. SHELTON Williams and Mr.. Everitte
st. .John-Mr. Williams a southerner.
to the manor born, while Mr. st. John
is n northerner from Connecticut.
Twice in critical moments has Mr..
Williams been saved from financial
ruin by northern friends who beliey
ed in him, and right royalty has Mr..
St. John Invested these trusts for the
improvement of the southland. Thus
is the chain of union welded stronger
and stronger.
In the light of these facts. the fol-
lowing announcement will not read
so much like fairy tale:
The Seaboard Air Line began its
through service from Richmond to
Tampa and Atlanta on June 3. Solid
trains now run between New York
and Tampa and New York and Allan
tN. via the Pennsylvania. the Richmond
Fredericksburg and Potomac, and the
Seaboard Air Line
Nor will the story of its gal
liant fight and final victory be
without interest to any one who loves
10 see courage overcome difficulties.
Take the dry bones first. December
1898 saw the owners of the Georgia
and Alabama Railway buy controll-
ing interest in the Seaboard Air Line
system, and in February 1899 they
bought the same interests in the Flor
ida Central and Peninsular Railroad,
These three systems are now known
as one-the Greater Seaboard Air Line
Railway, covering total OF from
$500 to 1900 miles of track. The re-
suit of this combination is thus stated
in the Virginian Pilot:
l.. 10 anI Air
Line from New York to Tampa is 06
miles shorter than that of the Allan
tic Coast Line. The distance between
Washington and Jacksonville via the
Seaboard Air Line is 1891 miles; by
the Southern Railway, 827.4 miles;
by the Atlantic Coast Line, 1856 miles.
THE distance between Washington
and Savannah by the Seaboard Air
Line is CLOS miles; bv the Southern
Railway, 655.5 miles: by the Atlantic
Coast Line, Co.,, miles. Thirty-six
miles in favor of the Seaboard against
the Southern. and five miles i'm favor
OF the Seaboard against the Atlantic
Coast Line.
THE distance between Washington
and Tampa by the Seaboard Air Line
Hallway is 973.1 miles: by the South
efn Railway, 1.O66.5 miles: by the At
lantic Coast Line. 1907 miles.
1.-THE distance between Washington
and Raleigh by the Seaboard Air Line
Railway is Pr miles: by the South
err Railway. 1852 miles, being diff
ference of 81 miles in favor of the Sea-
board Air Line Railway.
The following is from the Richmond
Disbatch:
''Other roads were gradually absorb
ed and the Greater Seaboard became
an established fact. The various lines
which compose this system at the