The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-10-22
LIKES PLAN 0F MIR. LYMAN New Route of Southern Would
 be of Vast Benefit LEADING CITIZENS TALK To Man They Heartily Endorse the Idea of the Southern Building Con-
 meeting Line From Gaines
 vilIe, Ga, to Rome.
LEADING CITIZENS TALK

nGCLln9 Line s-tOHl 0ditCS
 vilIe, Ga, to Rome.
 The suggestion of s. M Inman one of the directors of the Southern railway regarding the Shortening of the distance between Birmingham to Washington and other eastern points by building short road from Rome to Gainesville, Ga, has attracted the attention of the business men of Birmingham, and they heartily endorse the idea.
 The plan as suggested would cut eighty seven miles off the distance from Bir- mingham to Washington, and would to large extent place Atlanta on side line, while this city would be more impor- tant terminal than ever. The Southern railroad owns and operates a line from Birmingham to Rome, Ga., and it is only about seventy-five miles from Rome to Gainesville which is on the main line or the Southern from Attalla to the east. By building line from Rome to Gaines vile new territory would be opened for the road, and it would have by far the 
 shortest route from Birmingham and the immense tonnage of this district into east ern cities.
 The connecting link, if built, would mean millions of dollars to Birmingham, this section of Alabama and states west of here The difference in time would amount to about two and one-half hours between Birmingham and Washington and frequent passengers say the road be- tween Birmingham and Atlanta would no longer be torment to the traveller.
 Business Men Talk.
 A number of business men were asked yesterday to express themselves on what shortened route would be .and their opin- ions are as follows
 Simon Klotz, president of the board of trade:
 "The benefit to Birmingham would be immense. First 1t would shorten the time between here and the east, and would al- so make the trip much more pleasant. The Southern road is now the usual route from this section, and places west of | here into the east and the shortening of the route would greatly increase the traffic. Another thing, 1t would bring thousands of dollars to Birmingham and | hundreds of people here to trade. We would be in closer touch with the great eastern cities, which is always an advan- tage which cannot be overestimated A new territory would be opened to Bir- | fot, tc af iaa Gt advantages by great deal"
 Judge s. L. Weaver.
 Judge s. l.. Weaver-"A new road al ways improves a city, therefore l am always in favor of any new railroads in- to Birmingham, or any new connections among the old ones, which will put us 1T closer touch with the east. The benefit of such a shortening of distance ane saving of time as this connection appa rently means, would be incalculable. Al of this section of the state would be i'm mensely benefited"
 Gull per Exum-"The suggested rout' would mean great things for Birmingham Any improvements in our connection witt the east is beneficial to the city. and 1 would be hard to reckon the benefits this change would mean. Figures coul' scarcely be used in showing the benefit 1t would be so great"
 Ahead of Any Southern City.
 R, D. Burnett: If such plan is car ried out by the Southern railroad it would give Birmingham a forward movement that would in a short time place her ahead of any other southern city In pop ulation and influence. It would pracu- cally mean that many general agencies now located in Atlanta would come here as we would be in almost as easy tonef with the east as Atlanta is now. The connection would bring a great deal o trade, retail and wholesale, into Bir mingham, and would open new territor! to the merchant"
 F. w. Bromberg: "When l read the ar ticle in the Age-Herald this morning was pleased to see it, and thought thel what an advantage it would give Bir mingham over other cities. It would hel the district a great deal, and would b beneficial to the merchants and bushes men of Birmingham by placing them il readier touch with the eastern markets
 Would Appreciate New Route.
 John H. Frye: Any one who ha ever travelled over the road from here t Atlanta would certainly appreciate an. new route. It would be a joy to tn } travelling public, in which the suggeste ) plan would also mean a shortening c the time betWeen Birmingham and tn east. Quicker communication with tn