The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-06-01
SOUTHERN ABSORBES
The NJ. & 0,
There WIZ Be Few Changes in Of
ficials, but Mobile and Ohio
Will Lose Name and Be-
come a Division Of the
Southern.

The Southern railway and the Mobile
and Ohio railway will consolidate July /
if there Is no hitch In the present plans
of tho mana cement of those roads.
This information has not yet been Off
cially announced, but 1t is learned on
good authority that such is the intention
of the controlling interests of the two
railways
The Southern has owned a majority OF
lime. and it was the intention to consoli-
date them in April, but the fact that there
was considerable legislative excitement
at that time in the state of Mississippi
caused the management of the Southern
to postpone the matter. 1t was deemed
The wiser course to wait until this trans
lent feeling had somewhat subsidized be-
fore making public the fact that the two
great systems would be united under one
mana cement
IT is probable that the name of the
Mobile and Ohio viii be used no longer
than July, and that thereafter the lines
composing that system will be operated
under the name of the Southern RailWay
Company.
Few Changes in Force.
1t is unlikely that there will be any
radical changes in the active force of the
Mobile aud Ohio. as that road will, When
consolidated with the Southern, need near
iy OF luit. many men to operate it as
now. r representatives. of the Mobile and
Ohio in Atlanta are c. r. Airey, CONNER
cial agent. and Robert Otis, travelling
freight agent Both men are apt to be
retained by the Southern, as they have
made good records in their departments
while witt, the Mobile ana Ohio. but it is
altogether likely that their department.
will be placed under the charge of the
local executive department of the South
crn.
BY the consolidation of these two great
roads the Southern adds immensely to
It's alraaoy great milee ge and equipment,
the Mobile and Ohio operating and
owning 6S7 miles of track. The Mobile
and Ohio runs from st. Louis
on the north to Mobile and Montgomery
IN the south, and has many short
branches that are feeders to the main
line 1t has splendid connection al its
two gulf ports with steamship lines for
ell parts of the world. From Mobile its
steamship connections are: To Havana
Tampa Key West, New York, Bocas del
Tore Blucfeld, Puerto Cortez, Vera Cruz
Tampico and to all the principal European
ports.
TIE main line of the Mobile and Onto
| branches at Meridian. Miss. one line ex-
tending to Mobile and the other TO Mont
EomerY.
At Artesia. Miss, n line branches of
TO MOntgomerN. Ala. This part of the
road taps the coal fields at Blocton by
a short spur. Other short portions that
branch off from the main line are those
that reach Bayou Ia Batre, Alabama
Port Blocton, Searcy. Aberdeen. Stark
vile. Columbus, Mo, and Millstadt, Ills.
Is Profitable System.
All these short lines are very profitable
to the main system, as they tap regions
that are rich in varied resources. The
quantity of freight which they send tc
| the principal lines is large and the pas
senger business that they afford is not
at all insignificant.
| President Samuel Spencer, Of the South
ern. is also president of the Mobile and
/ Ohio. and William Butler Duncan is
! chairman OF the board of directors The
main line OF the road extends through
! five states and it Is one of the largest o.
I all the southern systems. Its acquire
ment by the Southern and their consoli
dalton marks one oft he most importan
steps ever taken in the development o
the railroad situation in this section, anC
interest IN the announcement will b.
| widespread and general II is not known
whether the Southern will make publ,
announcement of the consolidation be
fore July, but the union outlined abov;
will take place at or near the tim
stated, according to good authority
In case the Southern decides to operat
| the Mobile and Ohio under the name nov
borne by the latter, there will be yer,
rIc no, MI
road or its rolling stock, but if it decide
to rename the road and operate 1t unde
| the name of the Southern, as is likely
there will be much work to be done il
the matter Of shifting men and repaintin;
and improving the rolling stock. 1t i
understood that the Mobile and Ohio is II
fine physical condition at present an
that it has some Of the best equipment
of any road in this territory, but the pol
lev of the Southern has always been t
infuse new life and vgor into every mil
Of road that it acquires and some eX
tensive improvements may be looked for
ward to in the near future along the lin
of the Mobile and ohio. Among. othe
things that will probably be done by tn
Southern will be to improve the termina
facilities of its new system along the gul
! front both at Mobile and at Alabam
Port.
There has been rather a strong sent
| mcnt in Mississippi against allowing thes
roads to be consolidated 1t was not d
rected especially against the Souther
and the Mobile ana Ohio but agains
mergers generally, but there has bee
somewhat of a change In the attitude c
| the lawmakers of that state within tn
past few months. and it Is not though
that there will be any opposition to til
move now contemplated.
With the successful elimination of thf
consolidation, the southern easily take
rank among the greatest systems in tn
United States.