The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-06-02
SAVANNAH THE SEABOARD'S
Officials and Their Guests Took the
City by Storm.
NEW SYSTEMS INAUGURAL.

President John SHELTON Williams of
the $. A. l.. Arrived in the Morning
with his Guests-After breakfast
at the De Soto There WINS "A Trip
on the Savannah River and Lunch-
con at the Hotel, to Which Many
savannah Guests Were Invited.
The Mayor welcomed the Sea-
board and the President Assured
the City of the Rond's Faith in Its
Future-Incidents of the visit of
the SeabOarders.
Savannah was the Seaboard's yesterday.
Everybody was talking about the advent
of the wonderful Seaboard Air Line Rail-
way and the successes of its brilliant and
talented young president, John Shelton
Williams, and things that were said about
them were pleasant to hear Not only
were they told Mr.. Williams himself and
the gentlemen who accompanied him on
his triumphal inaugural trip over the
Seaboard System, for citizens were i'm
pressed by the magnifcence of the enter
tainment that had been planned for the
guests of the company en- route and for
representatives OF Various business inter-
ests and enterprises in Savannah. None
could doubt that it is with the well wishes
of Savannahians that the consolidation
of the constituent companies Of the Sea-
board begins it's career.
A little belated, the two sections of the
81 ests' special arrived yesterday morn
ing at the Central depot from Jackson
Vile, where revelry had been INDUCED in
the night before. A banquet was among
the features of the entertainment prepar-
ed for visitors and for Jacksonville citi-
zens fortunate in being the Seaboards
guests, and 1t was with stories of the
good times they had that the visitors re-
galed their old friends and new acquaint-
ances in Savannah.
Conveyances were in waiting, and soon
the entire party, the names of the men,
bers of which were published in the Morn
ing News of yesterday, were enjoying
breakfast at the De Soto. Before break
fast was concluded the Seaboard Band
from Richmond, discoursed sweet music
from the hotel veranda. Two selections
were played attracting a large crowd and
proving the excellent character of the
band, which is made up of men employed
In the Seaboard Air Lines shops at
Portsmouth. Bandmaster II. F. Maxim,
who, by the way, is a cousin of the cele-
brated inventor of guns, showed himself
well qualified as a director, and his con-
tribution to the pleasures of the day was
by no means fnccnsiderable.
At 10 o'clock the steamer Clifton was
to have been taken by the seaboards
local and visiting guests at the foot of
Whitaker street. for a trip on the river.
and the inspection of the ports shipping
end terminal facilities, but breakfast was
not conc luded in time. At 1925, carriages
were lined in front of the HOTEL though
this was impeded somewhat by the clus-
tered hacks that were eager for drives.
Tine carriages were taken by the visitors,
and the steamer was soon reached.
The Invitation to Savannahians to par
take Of the hospitality of the Seaboard at
the luncheon at the De Soto included an
invitation for the river trip, and many
were In waiting when the visitors arrived
from the hotel. Soon thereafter the boat
was cast loose. and the wharves on the
south side OF the Savannah were gliding
by as the Clifton made her way up the
stream, bound for the new trestle that
has just been completed, to afford access
for the Seaboard to the Hutchinson's Is
land terminals.
Few In the party of some 300 aboard the
Clifton, had seen the bridge. The draw
was open. and the structure looked as
strong and durable as one could wish. The
Clifton approached within a couple of hun
dred yards. turned and made her way
back down. stream, going as far as old
Fort Oglethorpe, which proved an object
OF interest to the visitors.
Greatly impressed, too. were the strang-
ers with the appearance of the shipping
in the river. Though this is not the busy
season in foreign and coastwise commerce,
yet the wharves were well lined with yes
sells, many of them flying flags in well
come to the party. Whistles shreked, and
II was evident enough that the ''glad
hand" was outstretched to the Seaboard
Attracted by the noise and by the music
OF the band, many business men and en-
pioyes OF the houses along the Bay clus-
tered on the verandas for a glimpse of the
passing Clifton and her passengers. Hats
and handkerchiefs were waved, and that
was sort of Endorsement that the Sea-
board people delighted TO see, for it came
from the business element, and that means
freight and passenger traffic for the new
line.
THE TERMINALS VISITED