The age-herald., 1901-02-22
RUMORS RIFE IN RAILROAD CIRCLES n All Sorts of Consultations Are
 n the Air ONE CONCERNS THE |. & N. Talk of the System Being Absorbed By the Southern-Einks and Pins. With the Agents of the vari.
 ous Railroads.
ONE CONCERNS THE |. & N.


 Railroad by the Southern Railway Com pany has put in circulation all sorts of rumors about other big railrod conseli- datiens affecting nearly every line of railroads in the south and west rumer comes from the west that the St. Louis and San Francisco will acquire the Kan sas City, Memphis and Birmingham and the Kansas City, Fort Scott and Mem- phis Railroads, and that these lines will then be leased to the Santa Fe system. Another rumor is circulatin in New York to tho effect that the Southern will acquire the Louisville and Nashville. Of this latter rumor the New York Com mercial says:
 Southern people are speculating upon what effect consultations effected and expected will have upon the fortunes of to It's future traffic interests and post ton. It is agreed that the Seaboard is not seeking the New Orleans and North eastern and is not itself to be absorbed by the Southern, albeit 1t is believed that manifestly harmonious relations between the two great systems have been estab- lished recently upon a basis that will benefit both.
 1t is pointed out that since getting the Mobile and Ohio the Southern has the New Orleans and Northeastern, which Is the southern end of the Queen and Crescent system, completely at Its mercy, and Is therefore unlikely to try to enter New Orleans over It's own rails. It will do so as soon as 1t assumes charge of the Mobile and Ohio to all intents and purposes, as the Northeastern will then be bottled up and have no other choice but to work In harmony with It's power :ul connection,
 Could Ride High Horse.
 While the Mobile and Ohio was an inde- pendent road the Northeastern could ride a very high horse, but now it has to face the problem as to what sort of treatment 1t can expect from the Southern. If that corporation Is content to permit 1t, the Northeastern, 1t Is stated, will profit by ;he absorption of the Mobile and Ohio, but should 1t be otherwise the North eastern will suffer. With the Southern entering New Orleans practically over its own rails and In harmony with the Sea- board, attention Is directed to the Louis lille and Nashville, and there is an i'm pression that it. will be embarrassed Hence the statements of a Southern rail- road man who says:
 T would not be surprised If the South ern took the Ellen into camp, too. Where will it be in the matter of business to the cast, with the possible route over the 5eaboard blocked and the Southern in a hostile attitude? It seems to me that the Southern is now in a position to do pretty much as it pleases in the Southeast and ye are justified In being prepared for al- most anything from this time on. The railroad man has anything but rosy future bafore him. He realizes at last now fully his destinies are coptroled by ne powers that pull the strings"
 Links and Pins.
 It Is believed that the Southern Rail- way will build short line of track rom Stevenson, Ala. to Chattanooga, if ho decision of Judge Hammond in the ase of certain stockholders of the Mem his and Charleston Railroad Company gainst the Southern Railway is not re- ,ersed. The length of the line would be bout forty miles. The old Memphis and ,harleston and now the Southern Rail- way, has to use the track of the Nash He, Chattanooga and St. Louis road .ctween Chattanooga and Stevenson.
 Division Agent G. R. Browder of the ,outhern Railway returned from New Or .ans yesterday.
 Passenger Agent c. H. Morgan of the Texas and Pacific has returned from New Orleans.
 Passenger Agents c. D. Jackson and J. {. Lusk of the Southern and the Ala >ama Great Southern were in Chattanoo- I yesterday.
 W. c. Peeler, travelling passenger agent the Cotton Belt oute at Memphis, was l the city yesterday.