The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-02-08

That the Louisville and Nashville is in the reach out and Iead business for keeps becomes more and more apparent every day--in fact the expansion theory" seems to be one of the pet hob- bies of Colonel Milton H. Smith and the other heads of the Old Reliable.
 Months and months ago The Adver- tiser told the story of the double track scheme of the Louisville and Nashville. The story at that time was exclusive, though 1t has since been profusely copied all over the country. That story in nutshell is as follows: The Birmingham Mineral branch of the Louisville and Nashville runs from Birmingham to Blocton in Bibb County From Selma to Blocton the distance Is only about forty miles and to build this extension from the Pineapple branch of the Louis vile and Nashville in Selma would mean straight line from Birmingham to Flomaton. The Advertiser learns that the contract will be opened and bids in- vfted for the extension from Selma to Blocton In the very near future. This will complete the double track, the main line through Montgomery and Mobile be- ing used more for passenger traffic and light freight while the route from Birm- ingham through Selma will carry most of the export coal and heavy freight
 
 Still another route will the Louisville and Nashville have to New Orleans. either from Montgomery or Birmingham. The route from Montgomery would be to Selma over the Selma division of the Western and then through to Meridian and over the Northeastern to New Orleans From the present aspect of things 1t looks like clear case of the Louisville and Nashville and Selma divis. ion of the Western being so indissolubly linked that it looks like a matter of im- possibility tos separate them, and tfie Selma division of the Western would hardly control the Louisville and Nash vile? As stated above this route would give them straight shoots from Mont gomery or Birmingham to New Orleans and by diverting freight that way it would afford tremendous relief to the main line of the Louisville and Nash vile
 Since all this tal.. about the rumored rupture between the Louisville and Nash vile and Southern the purpose of the numerous crossing fights made by the Southern against the Birmingham, Selma and New Orleans in Selma last summer can readily be seen. At that time Colo mel Abbott had not sold the Birmingham, Selma and New Orleans, and everybody was guessing as to who would eventually get lI, the LOulSVllle ana NdSHNIlie 1ndl~ ly settling the question by getting the road themseves. This road is at present within about two miles of Linden, the County seat of Marengo County. From Linden to the Tombigbee River the dis tance is about four miles. and for long time past the Louisville and Nashville has had the route located and surveyed from Linden to the banks of the Tom bigbee. The grading contract from Lin den to the river has been sublet to the contracting firm of J. D. Lacy & Co.,, and by the time the rails are laid to Linden the Lacy people will have a good part of their contract in shape
 The Advertiser learned yesterday that within the very near future the Louis vile and Nashville will begin to adver- tise for bids for the erection of a bridge across the Tombigbee River, and once on the other s.de the line to Meridian will be rapidly located, graded and built. Ad- vertiser readers will remember a clip ping from a Meridian paper a few days ago to the effect that the people of Me- ridian had invited Colonel Abbott and other officials to a conference about ter minals in Meridian. From this there ap- pears to be no doubt of the L. and N. getting to New Orleans over the North eastern.
 When Colonel Abbott had the B., S. and N. O., the little road was running only a few miles to Martin Station. The road already had a small bridge across the Cahaba River. but now the L. and N. is building a mod ern, substantial bridge across that stream a short distance south of the present bridge. The new bridge will be strong enough to hold the heaviest traffic that the Louisville and NaShville has: it will be a l30-foot span, and Montgomery firm has the contract of building the foundation. which will be of brick and stone. About the only work that is being