The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-01-25
NEWS OF THE STATE.
BRUNSWICK's BIG RAILROAD CON-
NENTION.
335 DELEGATES ON HAND.
MANY PROMINENT GEJRGIANs
PRESENT.

OvatiOns Given TO Col. W. a. Hemp
hin and Attorney General Terrell
The Eirst spike Driven by Presi-
dent Machen-The Delegates En-
fcrtaincd at Miss GOrdOn's Recital.
Extremely Liberal 0nerS being
Made for the Road, including
Right of Way and Liberal Cash
subscriptions.
Brunswick. Ga, Jan. 2.-Two hundred
and ethirty-fve delegates registered this
morning for the Brunswick and Birming-
ham Railroad Convention, and about one
hundred more came in on trains after
wards, making the convention in point o.
numbers, one Of the greatest ever held
in this section.
The most prominent men in Georgia ana
Alabama are here, including Hon. w. A.
Hemphnl, Attorney General Joseph Ter
rei. Price Gilbert, Chas. l.. Davis, Walter
f. steed. Warner Hill, Allen Fort, ]. Lee
Ensign, Mayor Chappell of Columbus, and
John b. Fielder, Il. 6. Mitchell, Thomas
Wilson. W b Moore, j. G. Knapp, J. Il.
Mercer of Fitzgerald, besides many from
Alabama.
The convention organized by elected
Frank d. Aiken, president; c. d. Ogg,
secretary, and c. w. Deming of Bruins
wick, assistant secretary. The address
of welcome on behalf of Brunswick was
made by Acting Mayor Hon. j. e. du-
Bignon, and on behalf of the Brunswick
Board of Trade, by Hon. Z. H. Mason.
Col. Henry r. Goetchius of Columbus,
spoke for that section. Addresses were
also made by Hon. Allen Fort. Hon. War
ner Hill, President E. c. Mschen of the
Brunswick and Birmingham Railroad, w.
w. Mcdonald and Judge Dart of Coffee
county. and others.
Col. W. a. Hemphill was called in by
the convention for a speech and made one
of the best impromptu efforts ever listen
ed to here. He arrived this morning and
his appearance on the stage was the sig
nal for applause, and his speech was en-
Enthusiastically received Attorney General
Joseph Terrell also received splendid
reception from the convention and was
called upon the stage at the conventions
request. Both these distinguished Geor-
gians were the recipients of much atten-
tion all day President Machen was given
an ovation on has appear dtlNH anu was
surrounded by enthusiastic workers for
the road every minute of his time, his
speech being received with marked en-
thusiasm.
The convention adjourned at one o'clock
ana took a special train for the railroad,
where the first spike was to be driv IN.
An immense crowd of men, women and
children had previously assembled and
the train rolled up amid booming of
cannon. and was carried mile down
along side the track where grading had
been done. Many car loads of steel rails
greeted the delegates eyes and after an
Invocation PRESIDENT Machen drove the
first spike, a beautiful silver one, amidst
great enthusiasm.
He was followed by Hon. j. E. duBig-
non and then men from all delegations
and ladies even took hand at spike drlV-
ing The delegations were then escorted
to lunch which was served in bountitul
profusNon in the big brick building owned
by the road for machine shops. After an
hour there the train bore all back to tue
opera house where convention work was
resumed and dispatched rapidly.
Hon. Walter Steed of Butler presided at
the afternoon session, which was given
up to receiving reports and propositions
from delegations. reading kilograms from
capitalists and listening to speeches from
various delegates.
The convention adjourned for recep-
ton to President Machen at the Dgle-
thorpe and tonight the entire delegations
are being entertained at Miss Caroline
Gordons recital at the Grand Opera
house, being full to overlooking. All dele
cations are staying over until tomorrow
when more work will be done and a
steamer ride given around the harbor.
The smallest cash proposition made by
a delegation to-day for the road was ten
thousand dollars and every mile OF the
right of way with the good will ana
other big considerations was pledged.