The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1902-10-02
Mr.. WILLIAMS TALKS
President of Seaboard Air Line Is.
sues Statement.
CONCERNING MORGANS MERGER.
r1r. Williams Says the Seaboard Has
All the Business 1t Can Handle and
Will Not Be Effected.

New York, Special.-President John
Shelton Williams of the Seaboard Air
Line railway in response to inquiries
as to the effect which the proposed
purchase OF the Louisville and Nash
will railroad by the Atlantic Coast
Line would have on the Southern rail
way situation and especially on the
Seaboard Air Line, said:
Whether the purchase CT a control
ling interest in the Louisville II
Nashville by the Atslantic Coast Line
will prove a profitable and valuable
acquisition, or whether it will prove uo-
fortunate for both, will depend entirely
upon the newcomers. II the lines Of the
Nashville are held open for the inter
| change Of business on a fair and recip-
rocal basis with all connections. with
out unfriendly determinations, the
union OF these two important systems
may be made advantageous to both,
but If an attempt is made to interfere
With the free interchange Of. business
, between the Louisville and Nashville
and it's present connections, such a
| policy will be followed in due course
by the construction Of new railroads
into the Louisville and Nashville ter
r'tory and the building of such addi-
tionai mileage throughout the South.
Such additional mileage can undoubt-
edly be built TO. less than Cne-half the
cost per mile Of the Louisville and
Nashville. figuring on the basis which
IL is stated has been paid FOR its stocks.
| assume, however, that the friendly
relations which have heretofore exis-
tea t:tween the Louisville and Nash
Vile railroad and its several connec-
lions vii not be interrupted. 1t is GER
tainly the desire Of the Seaboard Alr
Line to maintain cordial relations
with both allies and competitors. / do
not know what arrangements were
made on behalf of the Southern rail-
way with the owners Of the Atlantic
Coast Line in connection with the
sale of the Louisville and Nashville to
ne Coast Line; nor du | know whether
there is any truth in the report which
has reached me to the effect that a
secret offensive and defensive alliance
has been entered into between the
Southern railway and the Atlantic
Coast Line covering 4 period OF years.
ut is certain, however, thai nothing
has hen done and nothing vii! he done
which will affect adversely the earn
ings and business Of The Seaboard Air
Line system. The lines Of this system
COW lamify seven Southern States. ex-
tendine from Baltimore in the North
TO the Souhtrn limits OF Florida In the
South and to Montgomery and Biz
mingham, Ala, in the Southwest. The
business Of the system at the present
time is limited only by its capacity 10
move the freight which is offered TO "
and these conditions Will net be inter
fered with by any action OF connecting
liIcs.'
Surprised at Williams.
New York, Special.-A member OF
the fiji NJ of ]. P. Morgan G. Company
EXPRESSED surprised at the tone OF MT.
Williams statement with regard 10
the altitude of the Scaboard Air LIN
IN The matter OF L. N 4. and Atlantic
Gas. Line negotiations. No action of
course hostile to the Sea5oarl Air Line
vas contemplated. ne said though the
scslnarG was not considered a factor
IN the present neg:tia ;ors. Further
than this, however, the firm Of Morgan
& Company was not prepared now to
make any statement in the matter;
The member of the firm interviewed
said he was unable to find any expla-
nation at the time of Mr.. Williams at
titude.