The Savannah morning news., 1902-09-07

The story of Nelson lifts connection
with Savannah is one of absorbing in
terest. 1t was he who origi-
.aleu the plan of building a
direct railroad line from Sayan-
nan to the Gulf of Mexico. via
Albany and Mobile, which. had it been
built, would to-day have seen Savan-
nan It's Atlantic terminus, a CONNER
clal city equal in Importance to Balti-
more. The railway which he planned
would have brought the products of the
Z treat West down the Mississippi to
new orleans, thence to Mobile by the
Saihe steamers, and across by
ran to Savannah. There was in that
Jay no all rail route from the
"est 10 the eastf these were not to
come FOR quarter or a third of q CEN
fury later; freights We're transported
py railroads. lake steamers and canal
ooats, and required many landings.
Mr. hit scheme of a railroad across
the neck formed by lower Georgia
meant quicker time and one transfer.
To-day with dozens of lines of rail-
roads carrying sreights from the West,
even from the far Pacific coast to the
Atlantlc, there appears to be little in
MI. Tits scheme. but fifty years ago
the situation and conditions were such
that its fulfllment meant a great city
or the South Atlantic, which having
once become great in business and pop
ulation would have held it's position
ana grown with the growth of the re-
pubic. savannah would have been so
far ahead of its commercial competi-
tors when the "all rail TRANSPORTATION.
and cars with unbroken bulk" sys-
TENS We're inaugurated, that all great
railroad lines would have made the
city their objective point,
In addition to its great through bus
mess, railroad from Savannah via
Albany to Mobile. would have opened
Tor settlement the best lands in the
world. part of this area is now tra~
Versed by railroads, but they came too
late to carry out Mr.. lifts great con-
ception. Had the Savannah, Albany
and Gulf Railroad been built on the
lines laid out by it's protector, what n
development there would have been by
the time this year of our Lord, 1902
arrived
The meeting which inaugurated the
Savannah, Atlantic and Gulf Railroad
was held In the Morning News Office
IN 1852 or 1853, at which Mr., Tiff
presented his plans. Among those
present was the late DR.. James p.
Screven, who entered heartily into the
enterprise, and thereafter devoted his
time, his fortune, his honor, and his
life to the enterprise. He became Pres
1dent. It was through his influence
that the aid of the city of Savannah
was secured, and the state of Georgia
lent its help to the undertaking.
IL was a bright dream, and there
would have been a great awakening
had not the then powerful influence Of
those who controlled the affairs Of the
Central Railroad and Banking Com
pany been exerted against the project
OF building the Savannah, Albany and
Gulf Railroad upon the lines set forth
by Mr.. Tiff. 1t was no fault of DIR.
Screven or his associates that the Cen
trail Railroads influence prevailed.
Every sacrifice was made: time and
money were not stinted and no
effort, social or political, was overlook
ed to accomplish the great project.
but the Fates in those days were
against Savannah. The Savannah, At
lantic and Gulf Railroad was turned
aside. 1t was not until later years that
the Central Railroad had a competitor
for the business of Southwest Geor-
gia.
1t is true that railroad system, first
known as the Savannah, Albany and
Gulf Railroad, then as the Atlantic
and Gulf Railroad, and later as the
Plant System of Railways, and now as
the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Com
pany, has operated lines in a part of
the territory that Mr.. Tiff intended to
develope, and the Gulf of Mexico has
been tapped at many ports by rail-
roads. but it has all been patchwork;
the great Isthmian Railroad was not
built
And what about the Central and the
men who labored SO assiduously against
its prospective competitor for a share
of its business? 1t was shipwrecked.
leaving in it's wake lost fortunes, broken
hearts and wrecked homes. Was it
the sins Of the fathers visited upon the
children even of the third and fourth
generations?
A half century ago 1t was not easy
to build a railroad. There were no
trust companies or speculative syndi-
Gates to finance the enterprise; bonds
could not be floated on
prospective values. 1t was
necessary to have men with money
who had the confidence of the peo-
pie to launch the Savannah, Atlantic
and Gulf Railroad. DR.. James p.
Screven, the president was a success
full physician and rice planter, a gen.
tleman Of wealth and position. Col.
Tiff and others associated with him in
the project were also men of means
DR.. Screven, though over 30 years of
age, entered into politics in order to
advance the interest of the city and
state as he saw them; he became a
senator from Chatham county; each
county had senator in those days. He
was also made Mayor of the city. He
accepted the position of captain of the
Savannah Volunteer Guards. then as
now, a powerful social and political
factor in matters of interest in Savan-
nah, in order to be in touch with the
younger element of the city. No man
ever worked harder than Dr. Screven
He saw what the great project meant
to the city he loved. 1t is a true story
that he turned his parlors into drill
room and employed fencing and drill
masters that he might be truly "a
captain of the Guards" I saw him the
day he first took command of that
splendid corps. AS a boy l had some
doubts as to the doctor making a good
soldier, but he was a soldier in appear
ance and a soldier in truth, when he
gave his first order, Attention." But
the devotion and sacrifices OF a thou
sand Screvens and lifts could not |
have secured success In the face of |
the opposition Of the men to whom |
was intrusted the affairs of the Cen |
trail, Southwestern, and railroads OF 1
kindred interests.
II was largely through the efforts Of |
Col. Tiff that the Brunswick and Al |
bany Railroad was built, and also the |
South Georgia Railroad from Albany |
70 ThomasVille He founded Albany |
a. tG9e ana anenf his life In building /