The age-herald., 1902-05-17
5. \. 1. HEADING
 FOR BIRMINGHAM Probability of This Important System Coming Here Soon QUESTION OF TERMINALS East and West Railroad Purchased By Those Who Are Interested In the
 Seaboard Airline Rail.
 road Properties.
QUESTION OF TERMINALS

road FropeTtiSS.
 It is possible that the Seaboard Air Line Railroad will have line into Bir- mingham within the next year. President John skelton Williams and several of the prominent directors of the Seaboard Air Line spent two days in Birmingham dur ing the present week They left here Wednesday morning for the North. Though no statement was made by Presi- dent Williams for publication, It was manifest that he was much impressed with Birmingham and that lie desires to build his line into this district.
 As 1t is now, the Seaboard enters Att lanta, having a direct line from Wash ington to Atlanta. This line branches off at Columbia, S. C., and extends from Columbia via Savannah and Jacksonville to Tampa, Fla The Seaboard likewise has line from Savannah via Americus, Ga to Montgomery.
 Buys East and West Road.
 telegram sent out by the Associated Press from Baltimore yesterday and which is given below states that the Seaboard has purchased the East and West Railroad, which extends from Car tersville, Ga. to Pell City Ala. Pell City is thirtyfour miles from Birmingham on the Southern Railroad between Birming ham and Atlanta. The best confirmed story is to the effect that the seaboard will build line from Atlanta in a north westerly direction to some point on the East and West between Rockmart and Gainesville, and that they will use the East and West to some point between Coal City and Pel City, from which point they will build into Birmingham.
 The Associated Press telegram from Baltimore is to the effect that the Sea- board will probably buy the Belt Line and use the Birmingham terminals of that railroad system. It is known, however, that MT. Harry M. Atkinson and asso- ciates still own the, Belt Line, and 1t is probable that the Seaboard if 1t builds into Birmingham, will provide its own terminals. In a telegram from Richmond given below Mr. Williams says he has no interest in the Belt Line and does not ex- pect to acquire 1t.
 Impressed With Birmingham.
 MT Williams, and those who accom- panied him to Birmingham, spending Monday and Tuesday here, declined to make any statement. They spent much time in looking over the properties of the Alabama Consolidated Coal and Iron Company. They also visited Ensey Bes- semer and other points of interest about Birmingham. It was evident that they were much impressed with the tremend- ous growth of Birmingham and vicinity, and undoubtedly Mir. Williams and his associates of the Seaboard Air Line are desirous of extending their system into the Birmingham district and into Bir- mingham proper.
 If Birmingham gives them the proper encouragement, the Age-Herald has req son to believe that the Seaboard Air Line system will build into Birmingham. using the East and West Railroad as a part of It's line.
 To Build Into City.
 MT. J. M. Barr, the first yice-president of the Seaboard, who was with Mir Will Hams and associates on the recent visit was apparently much impressed with Birmingham. Those who met hir. Will Hams and Mir Barr, express the opinion that they are anxious to extend their system into Birmingham, but they say 1t entirely depends upon whether or not Birmingham will encourage the exten- sion of this line into its limits by afford ing it opportunity to acquire terminals on a reasonable basis. Indeed, from what is learned here and from the dispatches from Baltimore and other points, 1t is svident that the Seaboard Air Line peo- oIe are determined to build into Birming- ham immediately, provided Birmingham wants the system and accords to it those privileges which have been accorded to the other railroads building into Birming- ham in the past.
 It was said yesterday that the officials If the seaboard would probably return to Birmingham sometime during the lat fer part of next week to decide definitely ss 10 what should be done about building here. and that an announcement would be made at that time
 Associated Press Account
 The Baltimore dispatch as sent out by the Associated Press yesterday is as fol- lows:
 Baltimore, May IS. A syndicate of which Ladenburg Thalman & Company of Now York are the managers, has bought the East and West Railroad of Alabama from the Kelly estate of New York. The purchase Is in the interest of the Seaboard Air Line to take that sys- tenn to Birmingham, Ala. The terminals at Birmingham are to be secured by pur- chase of the Birmingham Belt Road. H. M. Atkinson of Atlanta bought the Belt Line last year for the Old Colony Trust Company of Boston and as part of the