The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-06-07

strengthen not only the systems making
it. but several other systems IN the West
that have been figuring on the posslblh-
ties of an independent Eastern outlet.
The seaboard system now stops at Atlanta.
''The new line will run from that city to
Birmingham. a distance of III miles. Con-
tractors are already at work, and 1t IS eX-
pected to have trains running by January
/, next. The East and West Railroad OF
Alabama was bought and part OF 1t VIII
be rebuilt and used in establishing the new
line.
Terminal arrangements at Blrmng-
ham were provided at the outstart, and
include property of ample size and good
location. A contract was also obtained
with the Birmingham Belt Railroad, which
is now owned by the st. Louis and San
Francisco Railroad.
1.-THE new road is being built to carry
heavy loads on an economical basis, and
for this reason large sums will be spent in
overcoming physical difficulties In grade
and curvature the new line is to conform
to the modern notion The closing of this
gap in such a f1rst-class manner suggests
several things. Birmingham is the OBJ
jective point of at least two Western sys-
TENS that are independent of the Morgan
influence which now is in control at that
city 1t IS the Pittsburg of the South,
and the Seaboard extension is creating as
much interest there as the line that the
Wabash is building to enter the Pittsburg
of the North.
ut is generally accepted that the next
development will be an eastern extension
of the Illinois Central to reach Birming-
ham. 1t is also believed that the Goulds
will find way of pushing the eastern
terminus of their southwestern lines from
Memphis to Birmingham Railroad men
are of the opinion that the Goulds seek
an outlet to South Atlantic ports, and
that besides reaching Baltimore they want
ports further South. Should they build
from Memphis to Birmingham and make
a deal with the Seaboard, they would
have the choice of the various ports
reached by that system
There are evidences of joint relations
between the Goulds and the Seaboard in
terests in other quarters that make such
arrangements practical if desired. If the
Illinois Central builds to Birmingham ID
would have the choice of an outlet over
the Morgan roads or the Seaboard. 1t is
hardly probable that they would receive
much encouragement from the Morgan
influence, as the Frisco will no doubt get
preferential relations in this respect.
Under such conditions the building of
the Seaboard, an independent system, to
Birmingham holds out the promise of an
open highway to the South Atlantic ports
to either the Innois Central or the
Goulds. Railroad circles an the South are
interested in figuring which of these two
Western interests will secure this outlet
or whether they viii both get traffic ar
engagements with the Seaboard from the
Birmingham district
"The traffic congestion at Birmingham
leaves no doubt of the success of the new
line, and as Seaboard interests own a
number of furnaces and extensive coal and
iron properties in that district, it will not
have much difficulty in controlling part
of the tonnage. 1t is estimated that the
gross earnings of the Birmingham divis-
ion viii be SLIPS, 600 for the first year, and
that it viii add like sum to the revenues
of the Seaboard system"