The Savannah morning news., 1901-08-18
OPENED THE B. & B.
COL. MACHEN, PRESIDENT, MADE
THE OCCASION A FETE.
BROUGHT BRUNSWICK GUESTS
FOR A SHORT STAY IN SAVANNAH
OVER THE NEW LINE.


ham and the SenbOard Air Line.
Plan Was to Get Here About Noon,
But an Accident Delayed Them.
Lunch at the De Soto Was Enjoy
cd, After which the Party Left for
Brunswick-CoI. Machen Talked OF
the brunswick and Birmingham.
Plans That Have Been Formed for
the Road.
The formal opening of the Brunswick
and Birmingham Railroad was made
a sort of fete occasion by President e.
c. Machen and a jolly party of his
Brunswick friends yesterday. The line
has been completed for same days from
Brunswick to Thalman. a point.
twenty miles out from Brunswick,
where it crosses the Seaboard Air
Line. AS connection with the Seaboard
Air Line gives the Brunswick and Biz
mingham opportunity to begin opera
ton and commence to take in, as well
as pay out, money, President Machen
considered that opportunity was offered
for an suspicious and pleasant open
ing.
Col. Machen has long enjoyed a rep
utation for generosity and hospitality,
and his personality extends into any
company of which he may be the head.
Nothing would serve but that he should
allow the Brunswick and Birmingham
influential friends in Brunswick to see
what his company has thus far ac-
complished by the trip over the line.
1t was the intention of Col. Machen
to get his party in at about noon, but
an unavoidable accident to the engine
prevented. This resulted in break
down at Ways, where the train had to
be held for several hours until one of
the Seaboard Air Lines engines could
be sent out from Savannah to replace
the Brunswick and Birminghams,
which had an axle to break. 1t was not
until ABS o'clock that the train reach
ed Savannah, and it was then too late
for the programme that had been
mapped out by Col. Machen and GEN
eral Manager J. A. McDuffie to be
carried out.
Col Machen's Disappointment.
This programme contemplated visit
TO the Cotton Exchange and other
commercial bodies after luncheon at
the De Soto. 1t was also the purpose
of the officials to conduct their friends
over the wharves and terminals of the
Central Railway, the Plant System and
the Seaboard Air Line. Col. Machen,
because of his plans for the develop
ment of Hutchison's Island, was for
merly called king of Hutchinson's
Island" and he has always felt de-
cided interest in his titular possessions.
His heart is gladdened, he says, when
ever he surveys their broad expanse
and observes the wonderful improve
ment that has been wrought by the
Seaboard. What the company has ac-
complished but emphasizes the wis
dom of the plan he had long ENTER
tanned.
1t was to the great regret of Col.
Machen and Mr.. McDutfle that the de-
lay prevented such an inspection of Sa-
vannah's facilities as they desired to
make and all the members of the party
exclaimed against the adverse fortune
that had interposed. They were some
what cheered by the promise of the Of
ficials to bring them some other time,
when Savannah business men might
have more warning of their coming and
be better prepared to receive them. In
the selection of Saturday afternoon,
mistake was made, anyway, as the
practical suspension of business while
the summer season is on does not af-
ford opportunity for witnessing the
city when it is commercially at it's
best.
Comprising the party brought by Col.
Machen and Mr.. McDuffie were:
Messrs. H. f. duBignon, j. G. Gomez
gelman, A. NJ. Smith. ]. w. Thomas,
L. ID. Oldham, w. H. DeVoe, Horace
Dart, j. r. Knibb, C.. e. Arnold, c..
McGarvey, S. G. Atkinson, r. Taeros,
Constance Miller L. H. Haym, j. p.
Cassogue, F. e. Twitty, ]. T. Calson.
]. ]. Lott, C. d. Ogg. w. F. Hol-
lingsworth, h. r. Hosskins, w. ].
son, r. d. Meader, Kennon Mott, p.
w. Fleming, e. H. Mason, L. w.
Roberts, ]. Stoval Smith, w. H. Tay-
Tor, Willard Reese, t. j. Wright, A.
j. Crovatt, w. H. Ketchum, ]. M.
Bloodworth, L. q. Ruff, T. w. Dexter,
w. S. Irvine, F. McC. Brown, ]. M.
Madden, II. M. King, j. ID. Rooney.
Lunched at the De Soto.
Upon the arrival of the train at the
Central station. the party went inn
mediately to the De Soto, where lunch
con had been awaiting since o'clock,
for which hour II had been ordered.
The delay had but whetted the appe-
title of the visitors for the lunch that
had been prepared. But little formality
marked the course of their lunching,
as no member made even pretence of
concealing the very evident fact that
he was hungry. Col. Machen, who was
hailed with applause as he entered the
dining room, after the others of the
party, urged all to make the most of
the chance to atone for the delay, and
they complied.
Upon the conclusion OF the lunch
there was no time left for sightseeing
or visiting, though there were many in
the party who would have been glad
to call upon friends in Savannah. The
schedule had been arranged to leave
Savannah at 6 o'clock, railroad time
however, and the officials marshalled
their friends for departure as soon as
the last course at the table was over.
Col. Machen had wired to Brunswick
for another Brunswick and BirminR-
ham engine, as he was determined to
make the trip back behind his COM
panys power.
Col. Machen talks Interestingly of the
Brunswick and Birmingham He be-
lieves the road has bright future be-
fore ii, and is looking forward to its
becoming one of the principal of the
common carriers of Georgia and Ala
bama. While the plans of the company
have been perfected and the officials
know just exactly what they will do.
Col Manhan