The Savannah morning news., 1900-07-20
TOGETHER TO NEW YORK.
ERWIN AND KNOTT LEFT YEsTER-
DAY IN COMPANY.

,,,S Mt Been Completed and Mr..
p-,.in Was Not Prepared to Give
ont anythfng-No OmciaI Notifca-
.ton of Mr.. Knott's Resignation
uas Reen Received by the Off RS
aud Employees of the System.
p.o.ident r. G. Erwin and Vice Pres
.4.r+ stuart r. Knott, of the Plant
c,.s,enl. left yesterday for New York.
7.f,rc leaving the city Mr.. Erwin stated
he was not yet in a position to sat
izev ahe public interest as to Mr.. Knots
.,o,essor in the vice presidency nor SIS
- arv other matters in connection with
the system.
Mr. Knott is still in charge of the traf-
IL, and operating departments of the sys-
,em No official notification of his resig-
,aton or intended resignation has been
-,van the officers and employees of the
system, and work is being carried on as
enough the subject had never been
broached. When he will leave the Plant
system and who will be his successor are
+u.o secrets that are locked in the breast
of the president.
The Louisville and Nashville Railway
Gems 10 be a favorable training school
win the directors of the Plant, from
whose graduates to select officers. Mr.
Knott was vice president and in charge
of the traffic department of the system,
and Mr. Thomas K. Scott, to whom there
seems little doubt that the vice presidency
Of the Plant System was offered, was
formerly division superintendent of the
Louisville and Nashville. This was before
he assumed the duties of general manager
of the Georgia Railroad.
The conference between Messrs. Erwin
and Knott as to the vice presidency of
the Plant System will be continued prob
ably in New York. This conference was
in progress during Wednesday afternoon,
and when Mr. Erwin was seen, while it
was in progress, he talked as though there
would be something that might shortly be
given out. From subsequent happenings,
including the refusal of President Erwin
to say anything, it is believed that the
matters to be discussed al the conference
were not fully considered.
There is considerable local speculation
as 10 the inducements that led Mr.. Knott
TO accept the presidency of the Kan
sas City Southern. The opinion is general
that something more than the presidency
has been offered him by the capitalists
who control the property, which, If not
for immediate delivery, will be turned
over to him within the next year or two.
The syndicate by which the road and its
kindred properties are controlled is an
exceedingly wealthy one and well able to
offer inducements tempting to the ambi
ton of even the most competent and pop
uar railroad man.
There has been a rumor to the effect
that the vice president of the Plant Sys-
TEN has not found his work here alto
gether pleasant but this has been denied
1t is stated, on the contrary, that he liked
savannah very much and that everything
conspired to make his connection with the
Plant System perfectly pleasant. 1t is I'M
derstood that he received from the officers
of the system the most constant and en-
thusiastic support and that they were in
entire and perfect accord with him in his
plans for the Improvement of the road
and its business. His acceptance of the
tender of the presidency of the Kansas
City Southern has been entirely because
he considered it in the light of promo
ton and for no other possible reason
An order issued by Mr.. f. St John. vice
PRESIDENT and general manager of the
Seaboard Air Line, extends the jurisdic-
ton OF Mr. John T. Patrick, as chief in
Il.
Heard, as general superintendent of the
Seaboard Air Line Free Travelling Libra
Ties. over all the lines embraced in the
system. Mr.. Patricks headquarters will
De as heretofore, Portsmouth. Va, and
MIS- Heards at Middleton, Ga.
In letter issued to various parties in
tereSted in the development of the coun-
Try through which The Seaboard runs
MIR. Patrick says something of the plans
Gu lined by him. He says:
calling Your attention to the circular
or Mr. e. ST. John, vice president and
general manager, Seabcard Air Line Rail
way system: l beg your earnest cooper
Ion IN the duty that has been assigned
me winch is perhaps a new line of work
that has not been carried out in your sec
on My work will not take the place of
plars that have already been inaugur lted
oy me people of your section. but 10 sup
p'ement what has and will be done by
railroad officials and the earnest workers
located along the reads that have been
consolidated with the old Seaboard Air
Line system, of which Mr. e St John
mas been the vice president and general
manager.
DO not think it amiss for me 20 say
word of encouragement to those inter
ested in the development of the section
through which the Florida Central and
4ehhSuIar ana the Georgia and Alabama
ana the new roads run, by referring to
'he fact that Mr.. f. St. John, our vice
president and general manager has had
IA ger and more successful experience,
IN Industrial development than any
other railroad man in the country
ana It was specially on account of that
experience that the directors of the Sea
uorn Air Line, who are Southern men,
CaHed him to their assistance. In Mr..
~ John the South has a great friend
a9G helper but we must not expect him
10 co 1t all. We, of the South, who want
10 see the Southland developed have a
Part 10 do, and that to continue TO earn
es'N cooperate among ourselves TO build
up the Individual and general interests
VI our respective sections. and with the
"'''ltlona' announcement and assistance
we management of the Seaboard Air Line
Hul"ay can and will extend, great
Work can be accomplished.
In short while l hope to meet with
'ne citizens of your place, and to CO.
operate with you fully in any effort you
may make in promoting che interest of
your people and section"
mr. j. McF. Williams, contrating agent
OF the Louisville and Nashville road. with
headquarters in Montgomery. was in the
city yesterday.
ar c. T. Airey, general agent of the
I'opile and Ohio with headquarters in At
'1u,a was among the visitors 10 the city
Yesterday