The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-03
MONEY FOR THE SURVEY
MISSISSIPPI MEN ON VISIT TO
 BIRMINGHAM.
Believed That the $7,5oo Required Will Be Speedily Raissdt Promoters Enthusiastic for
 the New Road

Birmingham, Aug. 2.-(Special )-w. l.. Dinkins and D. l.. Roberts Of Can
 ton. Mise. (. J. Searls of Jackson,
 Miss. and Civil Engineer $. R. Bal
 lard. who are interested in the build
 ing of the proposed Birmingham and Vicksburg Railroad, arrived here to-
 day for the purpose of presenting the matter to the commercial bodies of Birmingham.
 The visitors were met at the Morris Hotel by President Coleman Blach, of the Board of Trade and a committee of business men and arrangements were made to give the Mssissippians hearing at a joint meeting of the Board of Trade. the Commercial Club, the Wholesale Grocers' Association, the Wholesale Grainmen, Freight Bureau and Lumbsrmen this afternoon.
 At this meeting MT. Dinkins made a speech explaining the project which his party represented. lie told of the origin of the project to build a rail- road from Vicksburg to Birmingham and related how the project had been heartily endorsed and aided. not only by the people of Canton. Miss. where it originated and of Jackson, but by those all along the line of the proposed
 road. He pointed out the general ben efits which would result to Birming- ham by reason of the line, showing how 1t would open up an entirely new territory for this section and afford a
 wide and now untouched field for its products. He stated that the people of Jackson had subscribed $5.00O to- ward the sruvey and that in all the towns along the proposed route liberal contributions had been made. Tusca- loosa was visited yesterday and $2.50O a fhic
 money was not to be paid until the work had been completed, as the actual work was being done with money put up by the men behind the project. What was wanted was for the cities which will be benefited to pay something toward the cost.
 As to the money with which to build the road, Mir. Dinkins said that assur- ance had been received from capital
 ists that if the representations made were correct the money would be forth coming. He anticipated no difficulty In disposing of the bonds.
 Mir. Searls, representing the Vicks-
 burg Board of Trade. Spoke briefly, giving some information as to the re-
 sources of the territory which the new road would open up. The survey of
 the new road has been made from
 Canton to the Alabama State line and
 the report upon this survey has just
 been made by Engineer Ballard.
 The engineer states that he found
 no trouble in maintaining a one per
 cent grade for the greater distance.
 The distance from Canton to the Ala
 bama line twill be 112 miles and the to-
 tai cost of construction is figured at
 LAS, ,17469, including ten per cent,
 which is added for contingencies. The
 purpose now is to make the survey
 from Fairfield. Ala, to Birmingham.
 The statements of the gentlemen were
 listened to with marked interest. the
 project meeting with much favor from
 the local business men who will take
 steps to render to 1t such support as
 is deemed practicable.
 Committees were appointed by the
 Commercial bodies to confer with the
 business men and the coal and iron
 corporations of the district, with a
 view to raising $7500. the amount de- sired to complete the survey of the new
 road to Birmingham. The project met
 with hearty endorsement. and 1t is
 thought the money will be speedily
 forthcoming.