The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-14
Capt. Elliott Has Bought the
 Anniston Car Plant.
MOVE IS NOT UNDERSTOOD
Plant VIII Continue to Be Operated By Receivers for Southern Car and Foundry Go Until Material
 on Hand Is Exhausted.

pany has consummated a deal by which he has secured control of the plant oper- ated by the company in Anniston and that an effort will be made to harrass the re- ceivers of the defunet company.
 A Gadsden paper is authority for the statement that Captain Elliott went to Chicago during the latter part of Novem- Der and began negotiations for the pur- chase and control of the plant at Annis- ton, owned by the Illinois Car and Equip ment company, but operated by the re- eeivers for the Southern Car and Foun- dry company The principal stockholders of the Illinois company i've in England and Captain Elliott is said to have opened negotiations by cable. He secured con trolling interest, according to reports, and immediately notified the lessees of the Anniston plant to vacate. The Gadsden reports further say that Captain Elliott on his return to Alabama went to Annis- ton and personally assumed control
 No reason has been assigned for Captain Elliotts new move except, as the Gadsden paper intimates, to harrass the receivers in their operations of the various plants and to eventually get control of all the plants.
 Not Officially Informed. Col T. G. Bush, one of the receivers for the Southern Car and Foundry company. said last night that he had not been off, cally informed of Captain Elliotts ac- quisiton of the Anniston plant or of the order to vacate. He said, however, that the reported negotiations with the Illinois Car and Equipment company and possi- bly, the purchase, had some foundation of fact
 If Captain Elliott has purchased the Anniston plant" continued Colonel Bush, 'it will have no damaging effect upon the receivers, and in fact the reports have l not been of sufficient consequence to de- mand an investigation. l can't see how 1t can interfere with our continued operation of the plant as we still have possession under a tentative lease."
 Colonel Bush explained that the South ern Car and Foundry company operated plants at Memphis, Lenoir, Gadsden and Anniston The company did not own the Anniston plant, but on a former occasion negotiated for its purchase. A large amount of material was placed on the property for filling orders, and much Of this Is still at Anniston. The receivers leased the property from the Illinois Car and Equipment company until January |. 1904, in order to use up the immense amount of supplies and material on hand to fill outstanding orders. Under tenta- tive agreement they are to continue to operate the plant until this material is exhaused, which will probably be two or three months.
 "As we are working under the super vision of the court at Chattanooga" said Colonel Bush, i've are not alarmel at the reports and expect to continue in tenn porary possession of the Anniston plant until our orders are filled and material ex- hausted.
 "As a matter of fact" he continued. T would like very much to see some one take charge of the Annston plant and continue to operate 1t after we have wound up the affairs of the Southern Car and Foundry company It would be a great blessing to the city of Anniston and to the various employees who would be i thrown out of work
  pany came into possession of the Annis- ton plant some time ago when 1t was thought the property had been purchased from the Illinois company. Under the terms of this purchase the plant was to be sold for $40Ol00 and the money to be paid in small nstallments. The first pay ment was S25,000. In case the Southern Car and Foundry company should fail to make these payments regularly the prop- erty was to revert to the Illinois company and the money paid out was to be consid- cred as rental It is said the Southern Car and Foundry company paid nearly $l000OO and then allowed the property to go back to its original owners for lack of payment of the miscellaneous. The receivers found it impracticable to assume this indebted ness and therefore rented the property for s16,OO0 year.
 The Story From Anniston.
 The following special dispatch was re- ceived from Anniston last night which throws some light on the reported trans action:
 Captain James M. Elliott of Gadsden has purchased the Anniston plant of the Southern Car and F oundry company. This information is from a thoroughly reliable source. Whether the plant continues tC be operated by the receivers of the de. funct company or someone else remains to be seen. Under the lease from the Hi. nois Car and Equipment company, the re- celvers have been paying $i6,0O0 annually but Captain Elliott wants $32.000 annu- ally. The receivers have not evinced q desire to take the plant under the in- creased rent. If the receivers do not take the plant, Captain Elliott will probably operate 1t himself or lease it to parties who will operate 1t to it's fullest capacity The purchase of the plant by Captain Fl. liott Is quite gratifying to Annistonians as it insures its continued operation.
 Captain Elliott for number of years | successfully operated the plant making 1t one of the most important factors in the industrial circles of the Model City The plant has always been the property of the Illinois Car and Equipment compa- ny, the Southern Car and Foundry Com pany having failed to pay the purchase price. When the company failed the prop l erty reverted back to its original owners
 The receivers leased the property until l January 1, 1904 Tn the meantime Captain Elliott secured an option on it and shortly before January 1 purchased it. Captain Elliott came over in person a few days since and served notice on the manager here to vacate. The manager was also notified by telegram from the Illinois Car | and Equipment company of the purchase | of the plant by Captain Elliott.
 G. II. EDMoNDSON.
 Confirmed in Aslniston.
 Gadsden January 3.-(Special) )--Your | correspondent can state as positive fact | that Captain J. M. Elliott. Jr., of Gads- den has purchased from the owners in England the splendid car works plant in | Anniston, paying for 1t $600,000. and he Is | af no f.lo