The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-06-03
THE SEABOARD'S
COMING MEANS
MUCH FOR US
Continued from Ninth Page.)

has grown and increased with years and
more intimate acquaintance, until today
it is enshrined of the people as is no
other railroad in the country. And
come this morning, in behalf of its Raj
| eigh patrons, to thank the management
| for the manner in which the road has
been conducted.
| GAS | contemplate the Seaboard AIT
! Line of the next quarter of century 1t
| is a beautiful vision. Moses looked not
| on more promising land than that
| through which it runs. Take all the
globe and you cannot find more fertile
! soil, a finer climate and more splendid
natural resources combined. 1t is an
empire that anybody might desire. The
| people along it are happy, contented and
! prosperous. l congratulate you then on
/ both the present and the future. Cap
! plause).
! And I desire, for the Chamber of Com
! merce and the business men, l desire to
thank you for calling them to this board
to join in the iHS)icing and festivities of
this occasion. May you live long and
prosper" (Applause)
The response to this address was
mabe bv ce-President f. ST. John,
] who said:
''As look into your faces and see so
! many here whom l have met and whom
| number as my personal friends, | re-
ioice. l feel perfectly at home in Raleigh
always and this morning especially | am
glad of the privilege of meeting and greet
/ ing you.
| This occasion means a great deal to
you and very much to us. If we work
! together, as | hope we shall, you will
find us always trying to accomplish for
you the greatest possible good. Certainly
some of the things that the people of
Raleigh have long hoped for we expect
soon to accomplish. (Applause).
Among other improvements that will
be made will be the removal of the cot
ton platform and the erection of as large
a warehouse on that square. (Enthusias-
tic applause). We hone to do much more
for you We are with you in heart and
love. The fair City Of Oaks is one of
| the most important, IS it is one of the
| most beautiful. points on our map. And
| it gives me pleasure gentlemen, to pro-
| rose to you as toast The City of Raj
! eigh' :"
| The toast was responded to amid
applause.
At the conclusion of Mr.. +. ST..
Johns speech. Judge PurnelI was
called for He would not make II
speech. he said. but would venture it
as the opinion Of the court that it
was about time to proceed with the
breakfast.
From this opinion nobody mani
! tested any great desire to appeal and
the order went at once into full force
and effect. If was near II o'clock
when carriages were taken for the
station. The two sections pulled out
, ten minutes apart shortly after 10
/ o'clock for Petersburg where the
! party will take lunch at Petersburg
and then proceed to Richmond where
the last spike completing a system
of 1900 miles of road was driven and
banquet was last night given.
Included in President William
! party are many men Of note. foremost
among whom is John Shelton WIZ
liams. himself. He is a Young man.
only -, yet he has the brains and
| good Judgment of a veteran. He is
a member of the banking firm of John
! l.. Williams q Son of Baltimore and
| Richmond, and his first entry into the
F., railroad world was in ms purchase
of the bonds of tho American q Geor-
gia read. After that he made rapid
strides through his holiness. He is
brilliant and energetic. and the over
coming of inSurmOnntable obstacles
to others is but child's PLAY to him.
He is a strictly a southern man and
secures help from southern peop'e.
f. st. John. vice-president and gen
eral manager. is we'll known in rail
, road circles. He was formerly man
ager of the Chicago and Rock Island
! Railway. and was pitted against Eu-
gene Debbs in the great railroad
strike few years ago. He is man
of commanding presence and great
executive ability.
Another of Mr.. Williams right
| hand men on the trip is j. William
| Mddendorf of the firm of Middendof
| d Oliver. bankers and brokers OF
! Baltimore Mr.. Middendorf has stood
| by Mr.. Williams through thick and
thin in his fight for the development
of the Florida and West Indies Short
! Line.
! +. j. d. Cross. one Of the chief coun-
sci of the Baltimore and Ohio. and an
intimate friend of President John X.
Cowan. who will make a speech at the
banquet in Richmond.
! S. David Warfeld. postmaster Of
! Baltimore, is also Of the party. His
! father was elected Mayor of Balti-
more in 1875, and the postmaster was
! ambitious to follow his fathers lead.
4 His father it is said. was done out OF
J the office and the son only desires an
! election that he may 90 in and stay
in. Postmaster Warfield took up the
/ scheme of consolidation of the Sea
| board and other lines after other ii
! nanciers had despaired of its success.
/ Other members of the party are j..
J Hume Smith, president of the Chamber
! of Commerce of Baltimore j. w. Watts,
/ of Durham, Baltimorean. who went
from Baltimore to North Carolina, es
tablshed a tobacco plant and made a
million or two by selling out to the To-
bacco Company; f. S. Hambleton a mem
! Der of the we'll Unknown banking firm Of
John Hambleton & Co, who have finan-
ciered many important deals in the South :;
! General Lloyd l.. Jackson, a we'll known
| Maryland gold Democrat descendant OF
/ Stonewall Jackson. member of the dry
| goods firm of John L. Hurst & Co: Maj.
/ Douglas H. Thomas who probably has