The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-07
5. X, |. OFFICIALS
 SEE THE DISTRICT
All of Them Greatly Pleased
 With Their Visit
COMPLAINTS PLANS HERE
President John skelton Williams Says That Seaboard Trains Will Be Run ming Into Birmingham With
 in the Present Year.

President John Skelton Williams, Vice President and General Manager J. M Barr, Vice President J. W. Middendort Chairman of the Executive Committee James H. Dooley and Directors c. Sid ney Shepard and Ernst Thalmann, all of the Seaboard Air Line, who arrived in Birmingham Thursday night, left last night at 11:95 over the Louisville and Nashville for Savannah via Montgomery. They are on a tour of inspection. The greater part of Thursday was spent on the Seaboards East and West road, which is to connect Birmingham with the main line, and on yesterday the officials saw good deal of the Birmingham dis trict. Starting out early in the morning. the officials drove over the company 8 terminal property and over Birmingham generally. Later in the day they went about the district over the Louisville and Nashville, visiting Bessemer, Ensley ana other industrial points of interest. They were accompanied by Chief Engineer of Construction J. W. Bushnell of the Sea board Commercial Agent H. c. Hicks the Seaboard's local representative; Col J. W. Bush, Henry l.. Badham anc others. At Ensley the party was joined by President B. F. Roden of the Com mercial club and other representative citi- zens who went out on a special trolley car. The trip from Ensley back to Bir- mingham was made over the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company s new line via FairyIew.
 Most Favoraby Impressed.
 President Williams, Vice President Barr and all the other officials of the Seahoard expressed themselves as being most fa- vorably impressed with Birmingham and the Birmingham district. Indeed, their expressions of qualification were unbound ed. As one of the party said: We were satisfied that the Seaboard Air Line com pany was doing a good thing for itself, to say nothing of what 1t was doing for Bir- mingham, when 1t decided to build to this point and now we are more fully con vinced than ever that we made no ms take"
 The officials found the work of recon structing the East and West and the work of grading between Coal City, on the East and West, and Birmingham being pushed In a most satisfactory manner. In short the Seaboard situation, as one of the party expressed it, could not well be better.
 Company's Plans.
 Asked about the company's plans for the Birmingham end of the line, President Williams said: Ii
 'The details of our work here in the city have not yet been fully worked out. At an important terminal point like this shops will be needed, and while our plans have not been matured for tho various buildings that will be put up nothing will be left undone for affording the Seaboard and its patrons first-class facilities.
 "The matter of chief Interest to our company just now IS thc Drsrress of .hc work between Atlanta and Birmingham. Between Birmingham and Coal City, S9 miles, satisfactory progress is being made on the grading and the East and West between Coal City and carters- vile, Ga, Is being rebuilt in the most substantial manner Indeed we can claim without fear of contradiction that the Seaboard's line between Atlanta and Bir- mingham will be the finest piece of road anywhere in the south.
 Our main line Is now in solid condi- tion, but owing to the heavy traffic that will be moved from the Birmingham dis trict the company wisely decided that an exceptionally fine road was needed here
 
 cost. The best was demanded and the big outlay will be economy in the enu.'
 Before End of 1903.
 MT. Williams said that Seaboard trains would be running here before the end of 1903, but that the connecting link between Atlanta and Rockmart, Ga, on the East and West would hardly be finished before February or march of ly4
 ''The Birmingham district strikes me as being greater and greater every time I come here" said MT. Williams. This city Is certainly growing at q rapid rate, and one does not have to he endowed with any large amount of imagination to see it's phenomenal greatness"
 The Seaboard party will spent Sunday and Monday on Jekyl's Island. and will proceed on Tuesday to Jacksonville
 Vice President and General Manager Barr will return to Birmingham in about two weeks.