The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-12-09
SEABOARD IS
 INDEPENDENT Officials Visit MOntgOm-
 cry and Talk. WILLIAMS AND BLAIR President of Company Denies Published Report. Party on Tour of Inspector Went to Birmingham-change of Schedule
 on L. and N. is Am
 nounced.

Officials of the Seaboard Air Line wkC spent a short while in Montgomery yes terday evening, declared with emphasis ! that the property would continue to bt operated independent of other companies Shortly before 6 o'clock yesterday even. | ing a special train of two private care bearing the party of officials, reached Montgomery over the Seaboard Air Line President John Skelton Williams of the Seaboard headed the party. With MT. Williams was James A. Blair of the bank ing house of Blair & Co.,, of New York, one of the new directors of the road.
 The trip is being made for MT. Blair to acquaint himself with every detail of the Seaboard system.
 Speaking of his trip, Mir Blair said:
 MT. Blair Interviewed.
 "I am going over the system for the purpose of familiarizing myself with it, aand I am very much pleased with what have seen. We have spent the last seven or eight days in Florida and Geor- gia. in which we visited nearly all the leading places on the line of road. We found business in the South in a very fiourishing condition, as We also find in Montgomery. I notice a great improve ment since I was last here, some six or seven years ago.
 we are going to Birmingham and At- fanta and will visit other points on the line, especially the Atlanta and Birming- ham extension"
 MT. Blair was emphatic in his declara- tion that the Seaboard Air Line Railway would continue to be operated as an en- tirely independent property. and for the good of the communities which it serves and for it's owners.
 ''The Seaboard Air Line System is in a thoroughly solid and satisfactory condi- tion,' said MT. Williams. '"rhe approxi- mate earnings for the month of Novem- Der, just received, indicate an increase of nearly 5000 per day over the same month last year."
 Pleased With Montgomery.
 Mir. Williams commented upon the marked growth and development which has taken place in the city of Montgom- cry, and expressed himself very positively as to the favorable outlook for the South at the present time. and of the indica- tions of prosperity which were evident on all sides.
 Asked if the Seaboard had any connec- ton with the Atlantic and Birmingham Railroad, MT. Williams said:
 "The story printed to the effect that the Seaboard Air Line Railway has, or ever had, any interest in the Atlantic and Birmingham Railroad, which it, is res ported was recently consolidated with the Triton and Northwestern and Triton. Thomasville and Gulf Railroads and pass cd under the control of the Seaboard is erroneous and entirely without founda- tion The Seaboard Air Line Railway has not and never had any interest. di- rectly or indirectly in any of the roads mentioned. nor has Mir. James A. Blair"
 He said he expected that he would probably visit Montgomery again next month with other members of the Board of Directors, on their annual tour of in- spection.
 General Manager Barr of the Seaboard Superintendent Hale, J. A. College and MT. Blount of the Union Springs and Northern, were also in the party which made a hurried visit to the local freight depot and other properties of the Sea- board in Montgomery
 MT. Blount left for Union Springs at 6:3O o'clock The other two cars went to Birmingham at S:30 o'clock as the second section of Louisville and Nashville train No. 1.