The age-herald., 1902-04-01
President Hyde and President Machen Accompanied by En-
 gineer Visits Steel City
SOME PRELIMINARY WORK
The Brunswick and Birmingham Rail- road Is Pushing Ahead and Win . Eventually Reach Here.
 Frisco System.

There has been much talk about new railroad from Birmingham to the Atlantic coast. but the evidences of such a line materializing are beginning to be seen and appreciated. MT. Charles L. Hyde of New York, president of the Brunswick and Birmingham Railroad, and Col E. c. Machen, president of the Brunswick and Birmingham Railroad Construction Com pany, both of whom arrived in the city Sunday, were busily engaged looking over the grounds and planning for an entrance into Birmingham, or rather into Ensley, which s the same thing. They will leave for Brunswick this morning
 While they were here Colonel Machen and MT. Hyde met and talked with MT. Don 1T. Bacon, chairman of the Tennes- see Coal, Iron and Railroad Company; MT. E. o. Hopkins, president of the Sloss- Sheffield -.eel and Iron Company; Col. J. A. Montgomery, civil engineer, and MT. Thomas P. Grasty of Baltimore. On Sunday afternoon the visitors took long drive with Mir. Grasty. They reached the top of Red mountain and glanced the landscape oer" They drove to Ensley
 
 and took in the situation there. Then they came back to this city. Yesterday. after raylng their respects to Chairman Bacon and President Hopkins the rail- read officials ps i'd q second visit to Ems ley, but this time they went on business. They took Engineer Montgomery with them and every minute of heir time was occupied in studying the topography of the country in the vicinity of the Steel City. And all this gees to show that the Brunswick and Birmingham Railroad is coming this way, and that very soon.
 Col Machen said last night that he had nothing to give out for publication, but railroad men who discussed his pres ence here agreed that it meant much for this district.
 "I am more than pleased with Bir- mingham," said Col. Machen, ''and MT. Hyde who came here with me, is more than pleased. The industrial activities in this district are even greater than we had expected to find. Ensley opened our eyes, The half had not been told Chair man Bacon gave us letter to the Ten nessee officials in charge at the furnaces and the steel plant at Ensley and we spent most profitable afternoon going over the works
 "Do you intend to build your road to Birmingham this year." Col. Machen was asked.
 T have no definite plans" Col. Machen replied.
 Have you been discussing terminals?' was the next question.
 1T have nothing to give to the press at this time When I come again l may be in a position to talk freely"
 It is no secret that Col Machen and Mr. Hyde came to Birmingham for the purpose of spying out the land The Brunswick and Birmingham Railroad Company is working for the growing city of Brunswick, which is as much as to say that it Is not a partner ofs the Seaboard Air Line which is working for Savannah. The natural inference then is that the Birmingham and Brunswick will form an alliance with the Frisco sys- tenn. It was rumored that President Yoakman, of the Frisco, would meet Col. Machen here, but upon investigation 1t was learned that no appointment for conference had been made.
 Colonel Machen is the leading spirit in the Brunswick and Birmingham project. He is man of large experience in rail- road enterprise and if he does not bring his road to Birmingham 1t will not be be- cause he lacks pluck The Brunswick and Birmingham has been completed from Brunswick westward 100 miles, which brings the road into Coffee County, Ga. The distance from the present stopping point to Birmingham Is only about $50 miles.