The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-04-11
THE GREATER COAST LINE.
It's Recent Absorption of the Plant
system-ProbabIe Chang I'm the
management of the Consolidated
systems-No Apprehension in sa-
AMMAN.
The Charleston News and Curier Of
yesterday said:

SeSleTuay SdlQ-
Since the official announcement Of the
consolidation OF the Plant SYSTEM with
the Atlantic Coast Line. local railroad
men have been greatly Interested in
the changes which are certain 70 follow
when the former property passes into
the hands OF the latter. on or before
July 1st next. So far no statement has
been made concerning changes, al
though representatives of the two lines
in Charleston realize that both man
agements will be r-eorganized. A rail-
road ofncial who seems TO be pretty vel
posted gives the following slate as the
probable makeup OF the new body:
I. NJ. Emerson. vice president. III
charge Of traffic: II. NJ. Emerson.
freight traffic B.. w. Wrenn.
passenger traffic manager; d. T. Jack.
general freight agent, and Ernest Wi
liams, general passenger agent. Mr..
Wrenn is now passenger traffic mana
ger for the Plant system, and Mr.. Jack
freight traffic manager. The other
gentlemen are Atlantic Coast Linz off,
Gals.
Since the Atlantic Coast Line will b.
the governing body. it would appear
that the heads of the Plant system
woul be wiped out. as that property
will cease to exist. The location of thu
general headquarters has created no
small amount of interest. From opin-
ions expressed here about. it would
seem probable that the Of
fees of the Plant system will be abol-
ished and all business will be transact
ed from the Wilmington end. Just
what part Charleston will play in the
new move a not come to the surface.
although there is a chance that this
city will hold many Of the officials o.
the consolidated lines. There is 4
general belief that Colonel Wrenn, pas
o D1@n-
system. will be prominently identified
with the Coast Line. and his friends
hereabout sincerely hope that this may
be true. inasmuch as Colonel Wrenn is
rated as one of the best informed pas
senger men in the country. The En-
ersons. of the Coast Line. will natural
ly fall in for promotion. as their refusal
To leave hat "a to accept handsorle
offers made of late woul indicate that
they are needed. and will have more
jurisdiction in the future.
In commenting on the purchase of the
Plant system The Columbia State Of
Sunday says Speaking OF the system
an old railroad man yesterday said:
From a small beginning a few years
ago the men behind the guns have built
Up a magnificent piece of property and
1t is known among railroad men as a
smooth railroad, noted for the fine AMI
fast machinery. always in the pink.
nf condition. and so a fine railroad AMI
smooth track. Again. it is one of the
few railroads in the country that pro-
vides the engineers with regular en-
gines. Each and every engineer freight
and passenger. has his regular enigma,
thereby enabling him TO perform the
very best of service. The conditions OF
employment are also good. it being n
rare thing for a man TO lose his jon
on the Atlantic Coast Line. The Off
oio1 cfo ff &c made nm of mon brought Ut
in the service. and they usually renal"
in the service for many years. For
these reasons and many more due TO
good and considerable MANAGEMENT tho
Atlantic Coast Line is known to rail-
road men as the smoothest line of the
south. With the same kind of manage
ment spread out over the Plant system
n great Improvement may be looked for
in the near future all along the &C
auired line"
The Savannah News Of Sunday has
the following:
Little or no apprehension is felt
among the business men as to the fleet
OF the prospective consoliaIt;nl Of rhc
Atlantic Coas i inc and the Plant SVS
TEN on the commercial interests of Sd
vannah. They look for is business to
undated and exie':t no fav-
oring or leaning toward other ports r"
he shown by the new management
that is to assume the direction OF the
affairs of the Plant System.
The Atlantic Coast Line is often -
the minds of railroad men. when the
are talking of conservative methods Of
railroading. There are few more con-
sentative companies. Officials express
that there will be no dis
turbance of the present relations thar
exist between the Plant System anr
other lines. This confidence extends
tn the business men of Savannah.
Upon only one score is there anv aS-
prehension. This is the possibility OF
the removal of the general offices IF
the Plant System from Savannah. y
review of the situation prompts rail
road men to declare il their belief that
this city will be made the headquar-
tiers of the consolidated systems. 81
that Savannah will be the gamer.
There is the possibility. however. that.
for some reasons. the Coast Line may
prefer some other city as it's head
and the advantages that Sa-
vannah offers may be disregarded.
a probability that is not viewed With
by the many friends of the
Plant System general officers is the
prospect that Confronts them. All or
them cannot retain their places as
heads of departments, for the Coast
ISlAAC AdS 10 W SSiiGI oil oAAl1SAS, GAA 1
their jurisdiction will probably be ex-
tended over the consolidated system.
This will mean either the loss of posi-
tons for the Plant System officials or
their reduction to places inferior to
those they now hold. Some of the
Plant System general officers may be
provided for by the Coast Line with
positions equally as good as those they
hold, but it would seem that there
is but a precarious chance for others
to land high UT in the official list of
the consolidated system.
Nearly all of the Coast Lines officials
are men who have been in its employ |
years. 1t is a noteworthy fact that
its employees stick to the Coast Line,
and that it sticks to its employees. pro-
them, when promotion is de-
served, and never allowing their dis
missal without good reason. Whims
and personal regard for followings
probably been as little in evidence
the Coast Line as on any road in