The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-21
4 DOUBLE TRACK TO MACON.
crNTRAL RAILWAY MAY HAVE ONE
IN PROSPECT.

comDletion of BrutOn and PineOra
Yearly 40 MiIes-Road Was Ac-
ouired by the Central in 1897 ana
Is Being Gradually Extended.
would Furnish short String to
the Big Bow of CentraI's Main Line
and Bring Great Deal of Desira-
HE Territory in Closer Touch With
savannah.
Is the Central Of Georgia Railway Com
many quietly working TO secure a shorter
Tine to Macon? This is the conclusion Of
some who have been watching the oper-
atoms Of the company for the last year
or so. The move has been so quiet
and so gradual that it has received but
little attention and the importance of the
step has been realized by few.
In 1887 the Central purchased the Bru-
ton and Pineora Railroad line about Is
miles in length, projected from Bruton to
Pinoora on the main line of the Central
but only completed from Stillmore to
Bruton, the latter point being on the
Wr-ghtsvile and TennilIe Railroad. Since
purchasing the road it has been extended
from Stil,more to Regiser in the direction
of savannah. There now remains but
about 10 miles TO be completed from Reg
iser to Pineora. At the other end of the
line about fifteen miles would connect
the road with the main stem of the Cen
Ual at Oconee 1t was believed ait the
tine Of the purchase that the Central had
a short line in view
a glance at the map will show that the
Central, after leaving Macon and cross
Ing the Oconee river. makes a decided
loop to the northward crossing the Ogee-
chez river and coming down along the
east bank of that river. The mileage be-
tween Savannah and Macon by reason
of this hoop to the north is increased over
the distance on an air line by at least
forty miles. Another glance at the map
shows that a line drwn from Bru-
ton to Pineora and continued to Oconee
would be almost a straight line and would
give a straight string to the rather crook
Cd bow of ffle CentraIs main line. From
Oconee TO Macon the main line is about
as direct as rail lines usually are i'm this
section. 1t is estimated that the com.
pleuOn of this line would save something
lrtWeen thirty and forty miles in mileage
per cent. of the distance by the present
route, an item of considerable import
ance in these days of sharp railroad COM
petition.
About half the mileage necessary to
make this connection has already beer.
constructed, and it is intmated that the
iorty miles from Register to Pineora are
10 be completed this year, if not already
actually under way. The advantages of
such a connection are self-eVident. 1t
would give the Central a much short
er route 10 Macon than it as present
enjoys. with the additional advantages
OF two tracks between the two cities,
where there is only one at present, but it
would osen up a valuable section of ter
rtory already tributary to Savannah, but
with railroad facilities which leave a great
deal TO be desired.
TIE beauty about this move, viewed
fro m the standpoint of the Central Rail-
re Ad people, is doubtless that it is being
accomplished without increasing the in
3ebtedness of the company no adj
ritonal bonds being issued or
other indebtedness contracted for the
work. The Bruton and Pineora Railway
was purchased in 1897 for 1910. 1886. On
this purchase two payments of $3.50 900 each
have been made, one in 1898 and the other
10 1899. Both payments have been made
from the operating expenses of the COM
pany, and it is understood that it is pro-
posed 20 complete the work on this basis
If this should be done, the result viii be
10 give the Central practically two lines
10 Macon, one much shorter than the
other, without having increased the in
debtedness of the company by single
cent.