The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-09-24
PURCHASED THE BELT
RAILWAY DEAL GIVES RISE TO
 RUMoRs.
H. M. Atkinson and Associates Have Closed Contract for Railroad and Four Blocks of Real Estate.

Birmingham, Sept. 23.--(special.) )--It was learned today that H. M. Atkinson of Atlanta and associates have practically S,s,s Siosed a. z deal 8 for the purchase. . of Of the that in addition they have bought four blocks Of real estate on the Southside west of Eighteenth Street and parallel to Southern Road A 1t is she understood s tsa tSat Mr. Atkinson is now in New York nego- tlating with William Halls, Jr., of the Hanover National Bank and other East ern capitalists who control the Belt Road, known that $50,000 of earnest money was put up a few days ago to bind the transaction. All the papers in the case this deal signifies has not yet been divulged. One report Is that the Illinois Central Railroad Is behind the deal with Is stated from another quarter that tho Southside property may have been pur- chased Aor the Central of Georgia Rail- road which has long been anxious for the business part of the city. The theory most generally accepted, however, that the real purchasers are the Seaboard company has been desirous a long time of entering Birmingham. It Is said to be in position where 1t can obtain pos session of the East and West Railroad roads extends from Cartersville, Ga., to Peil City. Ala. The latter point is about thirty-five miles from Birmingham and It Is well understood that the relations between the Seaboard Air Line and the Louisville and Nashville are very cordial and 1t is believed that the Seaboard, if it for the use of the Western and Atlantic tracks. which road Is controlled by the Louisville and Nashville from Atlanta, Ca; to cartersyille: It Is stated on uri- the Louisville and Nashville's Birming- ham Mineral track through the Gate City track into Birmingham whenever 1t builds Gate City. Putting all these facts the conclusion Is reached that the Seaboard Air Line Is most probably behind the this is true vast developments in the rail road world are possible. It is believed, for instance, that the Seaboard Ar Line, would enter into close tratfic arrange ment with the St. Louis and San Fran cisco system, which operates into Birm- ingham over the Kansas City, Memphis and Birmingham Railroad and thus would far west to Portsmouth, Va. by the way of Birmingham and Atlanta. Some time ago the Frisco owners announced tnelr purpose to build and buy lines which western coast of Mexico where 1t was proposed to form connections with Q line of staHmers to and from the Orient. There is therefore involved in the deal refered probability of a transcontinental line as the result of a close alliance between the Seaboard and the Frisco system. Sucn a line would extend from the Atlantic to the Pacific with connections by steam ship lines to Europe on one end ana Asia on the other.
 No one here will speak with autnority as to the meaning of the sale of ths belt line and the southslde property to Atkin- son and associates, but 1t Is well known that the transaction has virtually been fact that this property has been pur- chased for the use of some trunk line which resides an entrance to this city.
 Mir. s. Fl. Hardwick, General Passenger Agent of the Southern Railway Company spent Sunday and yesterday with his Montgomery relatives and friends. or home, for all the people of this city feel that he is a Montgomery man from top to toe. They feel a just pride in his advancement in the railroad world
 MT. J. D. Carter, Jr, of Atlanta IS on a short visit to his parents and friends Tn this city. He Is soliciting freight ana passenger agent in this territory for the Santa Fe route.
 Mir John Ely. who has been for the past several weeks engaged Tn assisting the survey of the Geneva extension oI transferred to this city under the diEec- tion of Assistant Engineer Arn or the Louisville and Nashville. MT. Ely, by the transfer assumes more lucrative nosition. though he regretted exceedingly to leave the Geneva people. MT. Ely stated that the work on the extension to Graceville, Fla, was progressing rapidly, and that four miles of grading had already been laid. He is of the opinion that the grading will be completed in the next two months, when the rails and crossties will be also laid in place for the 1.sa raa a.aaro If an I.nniaXiIle and Nash-d