The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-03-23
THE SEABOARD
SALE STORIES
An Official Talks About How Ridicu-
Ious They Are.
The s0UTHERN's MAIL TRAlNSi.
4 Novelty in Southern Railroad Operation
The Roads Are Making Arran.e ients to
Handle Berries from the Carolinas.
Short Railroad Notes.

An official Of the Seaboard Air Line
suggested yesterday that President VIII
liams should keep q scrap-book Of clip
pings relating TO the road, especially as
to rumors regarding the acquisition OF
the property by other interests. 1t is
likely that no road in this country has
been more talked about within the past
four or five years than the Seaboard
Air Line. The rumors of its sale or pros
pective sale since its acquisition by the
Williams Mittendorf syndicate have been
different every day. The ingenuity of
the men who run the bureau which turns
out the Seauoaru rumors can but excite
admiration.
The latest, which appeared in the Wall
Street Journal of Thursday to the effect
that the Baltimore and Ohio had ac-
Guired the road. or was about to do so,
created more serious comment than
others of recent birth for the reason that
this publication is regarded as something
of authority on financial matters.
The rumor is ridiculous" said the
official referred to above. The control
OF the Seaboard Air Line is vested in
the Controlling Committee. It makes
not the slightest difference who buys
the stock, the control of the property
could not pass from the hands of the
committed. OF course, if the men who
control the property should desire to
pass control. they could do So They
are all powerful. Bear that III mind and
you are not likely to be led astray by
rumors of hostile interests getting con-
troll of the road
The Southern Railway has Instituted
a novelty in railroad operation-a solid
mail train. This train, composed solely
of mail cars, stops only at junction
points. 1t is scheduled to make fifty
miles an hour. The limited trains of
the road, with passenger cars attached,
were too heavy to make the schedule
for the Southern's fast mail. The local
trains were fast enough to make the
time required, 50 the train Of mail cars,
scheduled at fifty miles, Was put on.
Chesapeake and Ohio men continue to
express great interest in the report tnat
the coal operators Of the New River and
the Kanawha districts had determined
TO handle their own coal and do away
with the coal agents. Nothing definite
is known concerning the attitude OF the
coal companies.
Mr. w Wexford Dunford. who has for
some time been connected with the Ches-
apeake and Ohio Railroad. has accepted
Il position with the Virginia Car-Service
association Mr.. Dunford was formerly
s1enographer for Superintendent c. c.
Wal;Sez. and later secretary to Master
Mechanic W. T. Smith, Of the local
shops.
The Atlantic Coast Line is making ar
rangements to handle Strawberries from
the South. The season will open in
few Gays. The Berries will be brought
north in fast trains, which will have
the RICH. Of way over aii other trains
carrying freight. The Chesapeake and
Ohio is arranging to take the berries at
Richmond ana hurry them westward at
a rate of speed that viii put them in
Cincinnati within iwenty-cight hours
after leaving Richmond. The berry traf-
tic is a great item with the roads which
penetrate southern territory, or have
southern connections.
President George ". Stevens. of the
Chesapeake ana Ohio, will return from
Chicago ard ether western points to-
day.
Colonel ]. S. Wilson, eastern equipment
agent CT the Chesapeake and Ohio, is
;,.,1ispose6 and confined to his residence.
7. w. Lee. general passenger agent of
the Lackawanna Railroad, mas just ar
ranged for the purchase of fifteen new
passenger coaches of the latest type,
and has requested the Pullman Company
10 assign fifteen additional sleeping cars
for the service between New York and
buffalo Another large order has been
placed for so new locomotives of the
most improved pattern, nearly all OF
which will be put into the passenger
service.