The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-11-15
! AN lNsp El iiON I OUR.
Enjoyable Trip oyef the q, +. & :. Officers
of thc aeahoard 5aet cent -

OF the oea60ArdI tsellcen
President E.. T. D. Myers. accompanied
by other officials of the road q no party
OF other gentlemen, yesterday mace the
annual inspection o. the tracks OF Inc
Richmond, Fred PETERSBURG and Potomac
Railroad between this city and Quantaco
The party left here on a special car at .
o'clock ana returned yesterday afternoon,
having had Almost en- oyabie day. Dinner
vas served aboard the car, and other re-
freshnents were plentiful. Major Myers
made a short talk, telling of the fine con-
dition of the affairs of the com pany. Cow
ernor Tyler and Commander Nv ebster, ~.
S. ~. who is stationed at the Tfigg snip
yards here, also naoe short talks.
A striking incident of the trip was Ct
Fredericksburg, where the party saw the
flames of the steamer Richmond, OF the
Weems line, which burned to- the waters
edge at her pier in Fredericksburg yester-
day and sunk across the channel.
The Following gentlemen were OF the
party: President E. r. d. Myers. major
7 l.. Coutriey and superintendent
Wright, of the Richmond, FREDERICKSBURG
and Potomac Railroad; Governor J. Hoge
TYLER. State Treasurer A, w. Hartman.
Judge Dew, second Auditor; Superinten-
dent J. B. Tyree, of the Western Union;
Mr. wv. w. Scott, State Librarian; General
Hill, State Railroad Commissioner; Judge
Holiday and Commander Webster, u.
S. N.
officials Of the seaboard Air Line and
members of the firms who own the con-
trolling interest in the system were seen
yesterday in regard to. the incorporation
Of the Seaboard Company, but refused at.
solutely to say a word in coni1r;1at ton
or denial of the reports SO far publisned
Their refusal to deny is taken generally:
as confirmatory evidence. and It is 5.fl-
orally accepted as a fact that the ne"
company was formed to safe:;tard Inc
control OF the Seaboard system and 70
keep it in the hands of those who now
control 1t and under whose direction it
was built up.
Mr. J. w Middendorf, Of the firm of
wv. Middcndorf and Company, of Balti-
more was in the city yesterday and was
III consultation with Messrs John o..
Williams and Sons, supposedly in connec-
ton with matters appertaining to the
Seacoard. Nothing could be lea med from
anyone, as all refused to talk. Nr-s Md
dendorf is staying with Mr. John u.
Williams. and will leave Tor Baltimore
at noon to-day.
The Times Of yesterday, through a mis-
apprehension, quoted President Williams
IS saying its Baltimore special about the
Seaboard charter contained all the facts
he could give OUT When the special, or
q bulletin announcing what 1t would con-
tain, was received representative of
The Times sought an interview with Mr.
Williams. The latter was reported too
unwell to be seen or to discuss the mat
ter, and The Times man had converse
tor with younger brother of Mr.. Will
lia1ns. This gentleman, after leaving the
'pllone to speak with some one near him
ard whom The Times thought to be
President Williams, stated that a similar
dfsratch had been shown to Mr.. Williams
ard that it was ali right to publish that.
.pu6 they had nothing further to say. The
Times, of course. had no IDEA or intention
O.. making Mr.. Williams say what he did
nos really say.
Railroad combinations are Of almost
daily occurrence now, and already there
are rur1ors that J. p. Morgan and Conn
5pany have their eyes on the Southern
railroad field the territory in which the
Scaboard operates.
The election of Mr.. Samuel Spencer.
president Of the Southern Railway, to, the
directorate Of the Northern Pacific is
locked upon as contirmatory OF the re-
port that move is on foot for the COM
bination or consolidation Of Southern
roads
Those. who keep g. weather eyeson he
tendencies OF the era, do not hesitate to
predict that ere long: the railroads OF the
Whole country will be consolidated under
one control, Or at least will be so closely
associated as to bring about practically
the same result Certainly, they say, ev-
erything points in this direction.
Mr. John Shelton Williams president
OF the Seaboard Air Line is con:ined to
his bed ty sickness. Mr.. Williams ccn
tracted a sewers cold, and is suffering also
with slight fever.