The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-08-19
CHARLESTON BOTTLED up.
Rock Island Prevented BY stip-
uIation of Morgan Interests
From Building Line to
Charleston.

"As contribution to the peace
agreement, the Rock Island people, it
is said, agreed not to build the pro-
iected Seaboard Air Line branch from
Augusta to Charleston. This leaves
Charleston in control of the Atlantic
Coast Line and the Southern rail
way"
! This paragraph from The New York
| Americans REPORT of the big deal
| whereby the Seaboard Air Line passes
| into the hands of the Rock Island sys-
tenn, seems to dispose definitely and
conclusively of Charleston's hopes fol
the long talked of Chattanooga, Au-
gusta and Charleston branch of the
lSeaboard Air Line and to show more
distinctly than ever the purpose Of the
Morgan railroad interests to keep this
port in state of commercial starva-
tion, if that be possible.
The reports all agree that the deal
which brought the Seaboard under the
control Of the Rock Island was an ar
rangement for harmony of conflicting
interests. The Seaboard has long
troubled the Southern with the pros
pect of formidable competition in the
South. The Atlantic Coast Line has
had for several years working agree
ment with the Southern, which pre-
vented any friction or competition be-
tween them, and recently the Louis
Vile and Nashville was brought into
satisfactory relations by its acquisi-
tion by the Coast Line. Only the Sea-
board was out in the opening as pos
sible disturber Of the monopoly Of
transportation in the South by the
Morgan interests. The early conflict
between the Seaboard and the South
ern was very bitter, but recently there
have been evidences of a disposition to
come to an understanding and this has
been reached at last by the deal with
the Rock island, and one of the prices
of it was the sacrifice Of Charleston.
A man who has followed the rail
road situation of this section very
closely for some years said today that
the one thing feared by the Southern
was the entrance Of competition sys-
tenn to Charleston. Against this it has
always exerted its strongest efforts.
But for the purpose of preventing
large transportation interests develops
ing at Charleston, the Southern wou Is
not have purchsed the old South Care
lima and Georgia road from the Par
sons four years ago and made it di-
vision of the system And the prospect
of the Seaboard building into Charles
ton has been one of the things which
led to the fxing..up of the Rock Island
deal and the harmonizing of Mr.. Nor
gan's interests with those Of Mr. John
Shelton Williams. Charleston said
this gentleman, is the only port on
the Atlantic coast which can properly
compete with Norfolk in natural and
acquired advantages. There is no other
port that can hope for the water fa-
ciIities that Charleston affords and
any large system which developed the
facilities of Charleston would be able
to knock the Southern's business Of
export into all sorts of shape. The
Southern has too extensive interests at
other ports to transfer its energies OF
development to Charleston, but it fears
that some other system may utilize the
advantages of this port and it has used
all its efforts to prevent this and thus
far effectually. The stipulation report
ed in the deal between the Rock Isl
and and the Seaboard is proof of this.
The Rock Island system covers vast
field in the West and it would put a
great volume of heavy traffic to the
Atlantic coast. With the harbor facili
ties of Charleston the bulk of this
business could be handled through
here, and the other ports which the
Southern is interested in, especially
Norfolk, would be shorn of much of
their commerce. 1t was the fear OF the
development of Charleston's port that
worked particularly on the Morgan in
terests to make terms with Mr.. Will
liams and to help him promote the deal
with the Rock Island. The owners of
the new system themselves have not
made study of the port conditions
of the South Atlantic, else, likely
enough, they would not have agreed
to the stipulation to neglect Charles
ton, but would have made their deal
with the Seaboard with the purpose OF
competing with the Southern rather
than on community of interest
basis.' AS it is the business of the
system will be distributed among the
several ports Of the South and the
Southern will not be disturbed in its
interests. -
It has been noted that the official
announcement OF the deal made in New
York on Wednesday stated that the
"discontinuance of any further con-
struction by the Seaboard Air Line,
the value of the properties is greatly
enhanced" In contradiction of this
the press dispatches named Charles
ton as on of the outlets of the new
system, but in an interview yesterday
Mr.. Williams gave list of the ports
to be available in the new combination
and exempted Charleston. That leaves
this port as before, in the power of the
Southern and the Atlantic Coast
Line-that is to say, under the
domination of the Morgan interests
only more so.-Charleston Post.