The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-10-02
GOSSIP ABOUT [. & N.
FUTURE OF GREAT SYSTEM CAUSES MUCH TALK.
If It is Combined With Atlantic Coast Line Will Be Biggest in the South-other News
 of Railroads.

The Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company has been great friend to Ala bama and its people, and there is. of course. much concern as to what will be the line of policy under the new ar. rangement
 The Savannah News of Tuesday, in commenting on the matter, said: The acquisition of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad by the Atlantic Coast Line was a topic widely discussed yes- terday. not only among railroad men. but among business men generally. The interest centers chiefly in the effect that 1t may have on Savannah, and because of this the extent of the Louisville and of Savannah's being made headquarters | for some of it's high officials were tho matters chiefly considered.
 "A prominent railroad man. who Is &C., quainted with the chief officers of the system, and who Is familiar with their policy, talked most interestingly of what the road had done for other parts of the country. According to the views of the speaker, this promises well for Savan- nah. though. as he explained, it must be remembered that the Louisville and Nashville is the one that is absorbed Tt Is one of the most valuable pieces
 
 speaker continued, as may be seen by its port made June 30. 1901, were: Gross, earnings. These. according to the re- $9,3l9 a mile; net, S3, 900. How large these are may the better be appreciated by comparing them with some of the other roads. The Southern. for instance, has gross earnings per mile of but $, 2So and net earnings of but $1,Ts2.
 Further, according to the speaker, the Louisville and Nashville is one of the most progressive and aggressive lines Tn the South. That 1t is progressive is shown by the fact that it has fostered numerous and varied interests all along It's lines and still makes liberal offers to parties to establish others. Also its pol icy has led 1t to build fine terminals wherever it's interests have justified them, as may be seen from the proper ties owned in Louisville, Montgomery, Birmingham, Pensacola and New Or leans. In each case these properties are owned not leased.
 Again, it owns the union passenger station at Montgomery and at Birming- ham, is half-owner of the lease on the Georgia Railway. extending between Au- gusta and Atlanta, Is largely interested in the Atlanta and West Point, and prac- tically owns half the stock of the Vest ern of Alabama. Through these two lines it has a connection from Atlanta to Sel- ma, via Montgomery.
 Ut has also many steamship interests among them a line from Pensacola to New York, and line from Pensacola to foreign ports. Likewise, 1t has interests in many of the manufacturing enterprises located along It's lines, especially the iron works in Alabama.
 Its freights are both large and diver sifed. as its ramihcations reach phos- phate beds in Tennessee, coal fields in Tennessee and Alabama, and the iron fields of Alabama ss well. It hauls most of the iron ore and the coal for smelting 1t to all of the furnaces along its line, and this is particularly so in regard to the Birmingham works.
 The Louisville and Nashville system alone extends westward to the Missis- sippi River and now, if combined with the Atlantic Coast Line, will make a sys- tem that will extend over the Southern States from the Mississippi to the Alt lantic. How hard it will be for compet- ing lines to cut into the territory of this system Is shown by the fact, well known to railroad men, that to build railroads in some parts of Alabama, especially In the vicinity of Birmingham, costs from $S00oO to $10O,0O0 a mile.
 ''The prospect pleases business men of the clty. Iney want 10 see the coast Line absorb the Louisville and Nashville. They think that the business of this port would be materially increased, as 1t would become the outlet for much of the freight that now goes to the Gulf ports, via the Louisville and Nashville.
 ''The naval stores factors in Savannah are jubilant over the prospect said representative of that business yester- day. The absorption of the Louisville and Nashville would be the very thing for Savannah great quantity of naval stores would be brought to Savannah that now goes to Mobile, Pensacola and other Gulf ports. The operators along the line of the Louisville and Nashville. who are now forced to ship to the Gulf ports. would greatly prefer to ship to Sa- vannah, and they will do so when the Coast Line lowers the rates so as to rem der 1t possible.
 " The Louisville and Nashville has been accustomed to making the Savannah rate so high as to render it prohibtory. That Is because the line gets short haul on naval stores bound for Savannah, while on the commodity. bound for Pensacola, it gets a longer haul. There has long been complaint that operators along the line of the Louisville and Nashville. be- tween River Junction and Pensacola, could not get their product to Savan- nah.' ."