The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1900-06-07
GREATER SEABOARD SYSTEM.
Completion of the Line From Rich
mond to Tampa Celebrated in Ele-
CANT StyIe.

The greatest event IN the history vi
the revided. re-organized and new
Seaboard Air Line system, was the
completion of the line from RichmOnd
to Tampa, Fla, and the driving OF
gold spike in Richmond Saturday
afternoon. This system, now en-
bracing 1900 miles, and the events
attending the first through trains
awaken new enthusiasm in Southern
railroad circles, and means much to
every point where this line touches.
The first train. in two sections,
containing the officials, directors and
invited guests, made the trip from
Richmond to Tampa, Fla. in the
most highly successful manner. There
was not an accident, or anything to
rated by President John SHELTON Will
liams and his associates. The trains
were made up Of the most splendidlv
equipped palace ears, and it was a
grand whirl of elegance, hospitality.
and magnificent railroad genius, skill
and ability-a brilliant streak OF en-
thusiasm from Tampa to Richmond.
NOtul1O vi tHC hiit lbs " Vl cCi'i L
been witnessed in the South.
This system had every detail and
arrangement perfect, and it paid all
of the expenses Of banquets, lunch
cons and everything along the entire
line-making the people its guests,
instead of accepting hospitality from
them.
DoIo;,-h,s ,,.1oo,,o S.t,,rdor morn
ing, was most cordial, ard some $50
sat down to most sumptuous break
fast. Here the most encouraging
words were spoken by railroad men
and citizens, that gave promise of
greater results and bright future
for the SeabCard Air Line. Raleigh
equaled the demonstrations at other
places.
The party lunched at Petersburg.
a few minutes after : O'Clock, and
representative citizens of that city
were the guests. Here was also man
Tested great spirit of enthusiasm
for the Seaboard Air Line. On the
way to Richmond, frequent stops
We're made by people gathering at
way SluC SldllDlS " Sct L ltSitCht
Williams and shake his hand. He
spoke to them for few minutes, and
held informal receptions.
When we arrived at Richmond it
seemed as if the whole State of Fir
9inia-GOd bless her,-had turned
out to greet the achievements of a
citizen of her city, which is the most
brilliant in these closing days Of the
10Th century. Amid great enthus-
iasm and in the presence of an i'm
mensc crowd. and accompanied by
the boom of cannon, firing of saluteS
by the military, blowing of innumer
able whistles, and music Of several
bands, waving of handkerchiefs and
hats, and huzZahs from thousands of
throatS. the final act in the compile
ton of the Greater Seaboard System
took place.
When the train came to- stand
still, Master John SHELTON Williams,
Jr.. the three-year-old son of the
President. dressed in white duck
suit, white cap, and Il pair of white
kid gloves, with the letters S. A. l..
on his cap and jacket, looking as
sweet as a new-blown Marshal Neil
rose, and as beautiful rs il picture Of
art, with silver hammer dove the
gold spike into the place prepared
for it, which connected with the teIc-
graph wires and signalized the open
ing of the road at every station along
the entire system of $500 miles. At
every station along the line between
Richmond and Tampa the operators
hoisted flags over the stations i'm
mediately after the drivin. of the
spike.
The spike was of the regulation
size and after the ceremony of driv-
ing it was over the visitors were
driven to the capital square. where
speeches were made by Governor
Tyler, Il. l.. Morris, President of the
Chamber Of Commerce, Mayor Tay-
lor, General Joe Wheeler, John Skel-
ton Williams, and other officials of
! the road. 1t was here that all spoke
most encouragingly of the road, and
the prospects for the future, so full OF
hope and cheer
The celebration closed in a halo of
magniticence with the fitting banquet
at Hotel Jefferson, that will com
memorate the opening of the Greater
Seaboard Air Line-the new avenue
OF commerce between the North and
the South.
The banquet was one of the most
elaborate known in the history of the
| railroad world. Covers for some $50
I were laid, and was elaborate in all of
its appointments. The decorations
were superb. The color scheme was
white and red. A feature in the floral
decorations was a map of the Sea
board system, the water being in ivy.
the land in white carnations, and the
track in pink carnations. with the
stations marked by red flowers The
Railroad" was the dominant idea in
the banquet preparations, and the
ices were modelled in shapes of en-
gines. tenders and coaches. At the
conclusion little travelling bags were
presented each guest. containing
cigars and box of cigarettes and
matches.
One hundred loving cups were pre-
sented-one to each Of the directors
OF the railroad companies embraced
in the Seaboard's consolidation.
The tour and its scenes were over
whelminglv grand, Hotel jefferson
was dream of loneliness. and il
would take six days editions of the
San, if details were given, to describe
the magnificence, the cordialitv, and
the enthusiasm that preceded, at
tended and follows this railroad flash
light OF the new Seaboard across six
southern States, and as the Queen of
Sheba once intimated. the half would
not be told.
REDUCED RATES VIA SOUTHERN
RAILWAY.
At the Times and Occasions Below