The Savannah morning news., 1902-08-18
BY vIDALIA ROUTE
FIRST THROUGH PASSENGER
TRAIN SAVANNAH TO MACON.
172 MILES IN 6 ~ HOURS
OVER SEABOARD AND MACON, DUB
LIN AND SAVANNAH ROADS.


ficiaIs Who Made. the Inaugural
Trip-Some of the Prosperous
Towns Along the Line.
The first through passenger train be-
tween Savannah and Macon over the
Macon, Dublin and Savannah-the vi
dalia line-was run yesterday. The
train left Savannah at o'clock, ar
irving in Macon on schedule time at
100 o'clock. There was not a hitch
in the schedule, and the officers were
gratified with the initial trip by the
new route.
Assistant Passenger Agent H. X
Deale with Assistant General Passen-
ger Agent c. r. Walworth of the Sea-
board Air Line, made the trip, taking
with them as their guests representa-
tives of the Morning News and Press.
The train left Savannah with quite
number of passengers, which was aug
mented at Vidalia There the
Maon and Dublin passengers
were met by another train,
which carried them by the new route
TO their destination. the run as far as
Vidalia being over the Seaboard Air
Line tracks.
The opening of the new route means
much to Savannah and Macon and to
the towns along the route Already
hundreds of new stores have been built
along the line and a building boom
seems to have struck the towns
Thousands of bales of cotton which
have heretofore been sent from Dublin.
and the other towns to the Macon
market will hereafter come to Savan-
nah, and turpentine and lumber will
now find its way here in greater ship
ments than ever.
Opens "a Rich Territory.
There are thousands of acres of land
which will now be titled for the first
time, because of the construction of
the new road, and the opportunities
offered for the better marketing of the
products.
The road offers every inducement to
travellers. 1t shortens the distance be-
tween Savannah and Macon more than
twenty miles, and makes the distance
by rail between Vidalia and Macon but,
ninety-two miles, whereas it was 112
miles.
The schedule between Savannah and
Macon is an excellent one, allowing
flying trip to Macon almost between
sunrise and sunset. Many who have
brief, but important business to trans
act IN Macon or Dublin will find the
schedule over the Macon, Dublin and
Savannah a most convenient one.
Vidalia. the first stop of any impor-
lance. is the junction of the Seaboard
Air Line and the Macon, Dublin and
Savannah. The number of new build
ings and the recent addition of several
small industries, clearly show that the
a place of much Importance. A VII
dalia merchant who was at the train
to see the first through passenger,
said that already the town had COM
menced to make strides in population,
and he felt confident that as soon as
trade became established with the
others towns on the road Vidalia would
claim a place among the cities of
South Georgia.
Prosperous Dublin.
Dublin is one of the busiest towns
of South Georgia. There was no bust
ness activity yesterday because 1t was
Sunday. but many on the train re-
marked the great number of indus
tries in the little city. No town in
Georgia of its population can boast of
more, and more varied enterprises The
citizens have their own electric light
plant and water-works and can boast
of two excellent hotels. A cotton fac
tory with 5000 spindles, a stave fac
tory exporting it's product to the North,
novelty works, furniture factory, har-
ness factories and many minor indus
tries clearly show that the town is on
boom.
The new route means much to Dub
lin as we'll as Savannah. Whereas the
distance bv rail between the two points
was l44 miles, it now is but lis miles.
Savannah's progress means Dublin's
progress, and the opposite is as equally
true.
Beyond Rockledge the line crosses
the Wadley and Mount Vernon road.
At this point arrangements will be
perfected whereby passengers and
freight can be transferred to Adrien
and Wadley. The roadbed between
Dublin and Macon is excellent, and in
several places the road runs in a di-
rect line for several miles without a
curve.
The first ticket over the new route
was purchased by DR. j. E. Page. u.
S. N, who, in company with Ensign
Hanrahan and several assistants.
went to Macon yesterday to open
recruiting office.
Thought Cotton Was Roses.
An amusing incident is related at
the expense of Ensign Hanrahan.
Shortly after leaving Macon, the en-
sign. entered the car from the rear
platform and called to several of the
occupants to look out at the roses No
one saw any roses, and before the
naval officer could point out the spot
where the roses grew in such profusion
the train had left the place far in the
distance
You must look at them on your re-
turn trip" said the ensign to one of
the officials of the road they are
beautiful. | have travelled in every
state in the Union and have seen roses
in great Drofusion in California. but
nothing have l ever seen that can vie
with that field OF them"
Presently, however. the same sight
met the eye Of the officer. and fearing
that the train would pass before all had
an opportunity 10 see the sight. he call
ed eagerly for all hands 10 look out OF
tho window again lsrarp ba1G Mani