The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-04-08

Still the rumors fly with rfuse 10 tn
latest Dhose OF the railroad situation
The papers north and south have drop
ped the rumor about the purchase oi
the Atlantic Coast Line. and now spec
uIation is rife about the rumored a5-
~sorption OF the Plant system by the
Atlantic Coast Line or by the Atlantic
Coast Line and the Southern Jointly.
THE SALE CONFIRMED.
Last night the following dispatch was
sent to Wilmington and was authorized
to be given o the press:
New York, 7:46 p. M, April 4, 1902.
J. r. Kenly, Wilmington, n. c.:
The following announcement will ap-
pear in the papers tomorrow morning:
Mr. w. Elliott, president of the At
lantic Coast Line Railroad Company,
and Mr.. r. G. Erwin, president of the
Savannah, Florida and Western Rail-
road Company. authorize the following
statement:
Negotiations have been completed
under which it is arranged that the Sa-
vannah, Florida and Western Railroad
Company will, or or before the first of
July. 1902, be consolidated with, and
become the property of the Atlantic
Coast Line Railroad Company. The
negotiations also contemplate that the
ether railway property OF the Plant
System will pass under the control of
the Atlantic Coast Lin 1T the same
time. 1t has also been agreed that
when the consolidation takes place the
Southern Railway Company will have
trackage rights thereafter for all it's
trains, both passenger n freight, over
the lines between Savannah and jack
sonville, thus making Jacksonville the
southern terminus of the Southern
Railway Company for its Florida SER
vice to and from the east ano west"
(Sogned) wv. G.. ELLIOTT"
The Associated Press at New York
also sent out the above statement last
night and announced that il was au-
thorized by Presidents Elliott and
Erwin, following a meeting of the di-
rectors OF the Plant System in that city
yesterday.
The news of the absorption of the
Plant System by the Coast Line causes
a sense of qualification and pride In
Wilmington, as that great Southern
railway system originated in Whining
ton and has it's general offices in our
city. No property in the United States
has been more ably managed than the
Atlantic Coast Linz and its continuous
growth and magnificent success is a
monument to the able and experienced
railroad men at it's mead. Mr.. Henry
Walters, who is the heading spirit in
the Coast Line. has demonstrated un-
equaIled capability as a ~inancier and
has proven himself to be a railroad
man Of great With q strong
corps of officials. such as President
Elliott, General Manager John r.
Kenly, Traffic Manager t. NJ. Elmer
son. General Freight and Passenger
Agent H. NJ. Emerson, h Coast Line
has developed into one OF the largest
and most important railway systems in
the United States.
MILEAGE OF THE SYSTEM.
The greater Coast Line 10 embraces
1888 miles of railway. as follows
Atlantic o Line. = ..1.S12 Miles
Charleston & W. C. r. r.. S42
Columbia, Newberry & LaU-
rens r. Il. (half interest. 10
Plant System. . : --2.140
Leased lines-half interest:
Georgia r. r.. Augusta f."
Atlanta.
Atlanta & West Point r. l..
Atlanta to Montgomery. $40
Total. . ..4.93g
The Savannah, Florida and Western
road. is the main line Of the Plant Sy>-
tenn. covering about LOO miles out OF
q total of 1900 miles
IT'S ALL OVER NOW
The following special dispatch to The
Atlanta Constitution of Thursday is the
most positive statement previously
made concerning the sale:
New York. April 1.-The Constitution
Is enabled to by direct and
absolute authority that the Atlantic
Coast Line system of railways has alb
sorbed the Plant system and that at
an early date both the systems Will be-
consolidated under h name n char
ter of the Atlantic Coast Linz system
The genera management of the Coast
Line will operate the entire system. al.
die lines of both systems of railroads.
aggregatiug 1000 miles.
"For the past month there has heer
considerable talk about the conSol!
dalton of these two systems. 1t was
reported at n time that the
vania system was at the back Of tn
deal and that it would absorb both tn"
Coast Line and the Plant System.
Again II was reported that the South
ern railway was about to obtain pos
session of the two systems and there
were some who gave credence to this
report. largely or account of the init
mate traffic connections eStabliShe
about a year ago between the Southern
and Plant system
your correspondent here. however.
is enabled to lay pen h story OF the
whole Zeal to give The Constitution an
exclusive news announcement of in
tense interest not only to six Southern
states. but to the financial world AZ
well.
Negotiations have terminated and
the only thing now that remains to be
done to complete the formal merging
e these two great systems is the is
suance Of the actual orders that VIII
bring about the consolidation.
~While the Southern Is not directly
Baterested in the deal. it can be an
nounced definitely that 1t has made a