The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-25
STILL WANTS A WATER LINE.
PHILADELPHIA WILL HAVE ONE TO
SAVANNAH If ROADS AGREE. q


Syndicate with n Million Is Ready
if satisfactory Traffic Arrange
ments Can he Secured with the
Railroads Here and Mt other Ports
at which 1t lis Desired to Have the
Vessels Touch-PrOjectOrs of the
Line Have Gone to Work ON De-
tails as If They Had No Fear of the
Action OF the RRiirOads-Expect
the Line to Open This summer.
Philadelphia is still keen after a steam
ship line between that port and others to
the South. II is said nothing stands in the
way of the line save the railroads The
projectors of the line want the co-opera-
ton of the railroads in the South and
they believe they will get it, As yet, how
ever, the assurances have not been such
as to enable the positive statement that
the line will be established, though rep
resentatives of the trade organizations
of Philadelphia are busily engaged in
pushing the matter, and confidence is
felt that they will be successful in gain
ing the support of those railroads that
are wanted as allies.
Some two months ago President John
NJ. Egan of the Central was asked If he
had made any offer 20 the Trades League
of Philadelphia relative 10 the establish
ment of line between that city and this,
and his reply was in the negative. He
had made no definite offer Mr.. Egan is
now out Of the city, but 1t is thought he
has not yet arrived at any understanding
with the Philadephians as a query upon
that point just a few days ago devel
oped the fact that negotiations had not
reached a head. Touching the scheme for
a new line, the Philadelphia Record says:
"A syndicate with a million dollars of
capital has been formed. comprising Phil
adelphia and Southern capitalists, for the
speedy establishment of a line between
Philadelphia and the leading Southern
ports, and the purpose Is to begin opera
tons just as soon as contracts can be
made with the railroads touching the ports
reached by the projected line OF steamers,
The capital of $10o0,0O ia more than am
PIE to successfully launch the new enter
prise, those who are actively pushing 1t
assert.
THAT sum- they say, will pay for three
new fast steamers and leave $250,000 for
working capital. The men in charge Of
organization are negotiating for two
steamers now in course of construction
and which are of a most desira BILE char
acter for coestwise traffic These parties
give the assurance that they can be ready
for operations for the foil business, and
they are making all preparations toward
this end. Matters have progressed to
such a state that those Interested are
looking about for traffic manager for
the line. They state that they desire
TO place the management of the enterprise
in the hands of the best-aquipped man
to be found for the position and one who
has the necessary experience in the bust
ness Of freighting between the South and
the North. stss ,f,s.s tas..l-.,
Several well-known steamship managers
have been approached and asked TO make
pfofosiiions to un1e rtake the active man
agement. While the details are being set
tied agents Of the investors are booking
over the grounds of the various ports to
be touched, and are selecting wharves and
warehouses. so as TO be in shape for busl-
ness when the other pre.iminaries are set
ted. Docks ere being seenresls In all the
Southern cities where the steamers will
land, desirable wharves in Charleston
Wilmington. N. c.. Savannah, Jackson
Vile and ether Atlantic coast towns are
being negotiated for and in ell OF these
ports the boards of trade and the shippers
are giving the project all possible assist
dnce.
The one important feature 10 be accom-
pished before the new company will be in
corporated is the connections with iend the
cooperation OF the railroads tonching the
ports to be reached by the steamers. Az
soon as contracts with the railroad COM
panies have been made the steamship
company VIII be organized, the capital de-
posted and work begun, 80 as to run two
trips each way per week. The projectors
assert that they have all their plans thor
oughly laid, and nothing can deter the line
from doing business. by Sept. l. except the
refusal of the railroads of the territory be-
tween Philadelphia and the Gulf of Mex
leo to cooperate.
ut was stated by the parties in charge
that the prospective water line has been
promised equitable traffic arrangements by
the railroads In question. and the test is
now to be made whether these promises
have been given in good faith. If they
have, the assurance is given that the lire
will be established before the end of the
summer; and If by next fall the line Is
not in operation 1t will be solely due to
the fact that the railroads have failed to
i've up to their promises