The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-13
Eight Atlantic Ports Besides
New York City.
CHERISHED AMBITION.
Company Has Long Desired At
lantic Coast Opening.
Next Thing Will Be a Line to
the Pacific.

The most important point in the
agreement between the Seaboard Air
Line and the st. Louis & San Fran
cisco interests, reported in Wednesday,
State Journal, is that it gives the lat
ter road an outlet to tide water at six
or seven ports. These include Norfolk,
Wilmington, Savannah. Charleston,
Brunswick, Fernandina. Jacksonville.
and st. Augustine. Further down the
coast the Frisco road will have an out
let at Cedar Key.
The official announcement of the deal
also said:
1.-THE change of personnel of voting
trustees of the stock of the Seaboard
Air Line company does not mean the
purchase of the company by Rock Is
land or Frisco interests, although the
Frisco lines extend into Birmingham,
and are a part of the southern situa-
ton. II does, however, emphasize the
fact that all the great railway systems
are carrying out the policy of more
closely cementing the railway transpor-
tatiOn interests of the country which
will greatly retard and it is hoped en-
tirely prevent decentralization of the
rate situation or the unnecessary con-
struction and duplication OF property"
One of the voting trustees, when
asked to state the head significance of
Outstanding among interests that have
at various times conaicted."
The policy of the SeabOard line for a
long time was one of absolute independ-
ence, so much so as to make it at times
inimical to the interests of opposing
roads traversing adjacent territory To-
days developments, it is thought, will
DO away with much trouble in the flu
ture.
The new directors take the places of
f. r. Pemberton, of this city; r. c.
Davidson, Baltimore; L. Il. Addison,
Richmond, and w. w. MackelI, Savan-
nah. The differences between the So
called Morgan interests" represented
by the Southern railway and the Sea-
board Air line people during the last
few years has been a sharp one. In
contrast with the Old-time rate cutting
which the Sea board INDUCED in il has
been significant that in recent years it
has had sort of silent understanding
10 maintain rates. so that all of the
railroads in Southern territory would be
able TO get as much profit out of their
traffic as possible. The Seaboard Air
Line Railway company. operating 2,61I
miles of road, was formed under the
laws of Virginia, in 1900. to succeed the
old Richmond. Petersburg & Carolina
railroad. The system now extends
from Richmond, Va, to Tampa, Fla,
with connection extending west to
Montgomery and Birmingham and east
to Charleston. Wilmington and Norfolk
A traffic agreement with the Pennsyl-
vania and a through passenger and
freight service is maintained between
Washington and New York
The SeabOard Aair line also owns the
Bay Line Steamship Company operat-
ing from Baltimore to Norfolk
The acquisition of this line will give
the Rock Island an Atlantic coast out
let, and if the present traffic arrange
ments of the Air Line stand it will mean
that the Rock Island will have a Wash
ington and possibly a New York en-
trance for the Air line runs through
trains into these cities. From Rich
mond, Va, the Air line uses the Wash
ington Southern, Richmond, Fredericks-
burg & Potomac to Washington and
from there the Pennsylvania railroad to
New York. Almost equally valuable
traffic agreements are held with the
Western railway, of Alabama, the Flor
ida East Coast and other lines
The Seaboard Air line connects with
the Frisco at Birmingham, Ala. Just
what the securing of the line means to
the Rock Island-Frisco interest is not
hard to surmise. The Rock Island has
long been anxious to secure an Atlantic
coast outlet and the Air line gives it
three, at Norfolk, Wilmington, Charles
ton and Savannah. While none of these
ports are rated as first class, 1t can be
built up greatly with such a system as
the Rock Island back of it,