The sea coast echo., 1904-07-30
6. { S. |. |. R. R. SOLD
AGAIN, so REPORTED,
Ahother Rumor Current That the l.
=. has Purchased the uulfport Road
Public Can Believe or Deny Il As
Ihey See Fit -Rumor Not Confirm
ed BY Railroad People.

PUBLIC Can Believe or Deny n A,
ihey See Fit Rumor Not Confirm
Cd BY Railroad People.
/ Another rumor is current in ra,lroay
circles that the Gulf & Ship Island roat
mas been sold to the Illinois Central
inis rumor, like Banquo's ghost viii
not down. II has been denied no les,
than nifty times within tho past thrc,
years, and ever and anon bobs up se.
renely from some source, and alwav,
with the explanation that it is absolute.
ly reliable.
/ Inc rumor this time originates in
new Orleans. although il has been cur-
rent there for several days. The Daily
states has an article on the subject
which we herewith give for what il ia
worth, and every person has the right TO
deny it or believe IL as they see fit:
"A persistent and apparently authen-
tic report to the effect that the Gulf and
ship Island railroad property had been
uisposed OF by Capt. j. T. Jones, the
millionaire promoter of Gulfport, is
gong the rounds OF railroad eirclea
here. Considerable attention has been
given the report, and it is being seri-
ously discussed for the reason that the
purchaser is said to be the ILLINOIS Con-
tral, which line, II the sale came off.
gets thereby new gulf outlet and one
winch is considered rival OF this port.
"The Gulf and Ship Island, although
acomparatiyely young property, has de-
veioped in one OF the best paying in
vestments made by Gulfport's million-
are Denefactor. 1t has a mileage of
nearly 100 miles and runs through a
growing section from Gulfport direct
north to jackson with spur lines run
ming east and west from the main line
at Make, Hattiesburg and Saratoga
LIS connections are the Queen and Cres-
cent at Lumberton, Hattiesburg and
Laurel and the Illinois Central at Jack
son. The building of the K. and G. M.
gives 1t an opening to new territory
from Laurel north.
Among the properties of the road
are the docks at Gulfport on which the
freight handled over the line is taken
out to ship side. These docks would
naturally form part of the purchase
The railroads ownership of them af-
fords the e-opportunity Tor free wharfage
to ships which has worked greatly in
Gulfport's favor.
"Seyeral times the rumor has been
circulated that Capt. Jones had sold his
road but the report was always denied
and turned out to be unfounded. There
is now, however, every reason to be-
lieye that the line has actually changed
hands. 1t says that the road has been
disposed OF and that the Illinois Central
is the purchaser. Whether that system
has made an outright purchase of the
property or whether it has merely gain
ed control of the Jones property is not
clear. The transaction was pulled off
quietly.
"What the Illinois Central would do
with the Gulfport line cannot be posi-
lively stated. 1t can only be conjectured
that it will continue to operate under
the same conditions now in vugue, hold
ing on to the ownership TO prevent its
falling into other hands. 1t is pretty
well known that Capt. Jones was ready
to sell out to any one willing to pay his
price and who was willing to give, in
addition, a pledge to keep up the work
of improvement he has so well begun
and to continue to give the hustling little
town the full advantage of quasi in
dependent railroad line. 1t is hazarded
that probably the Illinois Central has
agreed to these conditions and become
the owner. That road would seem the
only logical purchaser. 1t has for along
time been operating in intimate connec-
tion with the @. and S. l., both in
freight and passenger matters, one Of the
most important oosts ever given the
Jones property being the putting on of
a through sleeper by the Illinois Central
between Gulfport and st. Louis.
1.-THE possibilities Of Gulfport In the
control of a system like the Illinois Gem
tral are great. With its wharfage and
direct gulf connections Gulfport could
be made, in the opinion of some, a for
midable rival Of other tide water out
let's. Taking the actual mileage the Illi-
nois Central would be brought twenty
miles nearer the Gulf from Memphis.
--~s~-~a~~~s-~~~e