The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-02-04
NEW RAILROAD
INTO SAVANNAH
"A. & B. MAY ENTER THE CITY
BY SECURING TRACKAGE RIGHTS
OVER A. G. l.. AT OFFERMAN.

The New A. & b. Consisting of the
A. a. h., the II. a. b., the IT. & n. E.,
and the Il. II. q G. Has Secured
Loan of S2,64O,OOO to BE Used for
New Equipment and Extensions.
Road to BE Pushed on TO Atlanta
and TO BirminEham-CIOse Traffic
Arrangements Likely to BE Made
with :. A. L.
Within a short time Savannah may
be the headquarters of another rail-
road system of no mean proportions
and one that will be operated through
a territory that promises much to this
city both in the way of passenger and
freight traffic.
The new road will be the system
composed of the consolidation of the
Atlantic and Birmingham, the Bruins
wick and Birmingham, the Triton and
Northeastern and the Triton, Thomas
willie and Gulf 1t will doubtless be
operated under the name of the At
lantic and Birmingham. as it is this
road that has secured the control of
the others.
Though it occupies rather a restrict
ed place among the systems of the
country at present, it will not be so
limited long, as it is the intention
of those in charge of it to extend 1t
to Atlanta. and to Birmingham, and
secure connections with the through
lines to the North and the West.
Though nothing definite has been an
nounced in regard to the headquarters
coming to Savannah it is known that
the officers of the line look to this
city as a natural outlet, and as most
advantegeously situated for the main
offices. 1t is intended to operate into
Savannah either by securing trackage
rights over the Atlantic Coast Line,
which the Atlantic and Birmingham
reaches at Offerman, or to build its
own line into Savannah. 1t is stated
that the Atlantic Coast Line will grant
such rights when the Atlantic and
Birmingham is ready to take advantage
of them.
Money for Extensions.
That the development of the new sys-
tenn will be rapid from now on is
shown by the recent changes in the
way of consultations, which have been
announced from time to time through
the Morning News, and by the very re-
cent fact that the Old Colony Trust
Company, has undertaken to loan ST.
$4,000 to the new system with which
to make the needed extensions. and
10 furnish the new equipment that is
needed to put the road in position to
do a first-class business in every de-
partment.
The Old Colony Company, as is well
known, is closely interested in the Sea-
board Air Line, its interests in that
system being represented in the person
of Mr.. T. jefferson Coolidge, who is
interested with Mr.. H. M. Atkinson of
Atlanta in the control of the Triton
and Northeastern. and the Triton,
brownsville and Gulf roads. AS night
be expected under the circumstances
the new system will have close traf-
fic arrangements with the Seaboard
Air Line.
business from SeabOnrd.
The Seaboard Air Line will be in
position to give it considerable bust
ness and doubtless will, making over
at least a part of its system, an ar
arrangement similar to that now in force
with the Georgia Southern and Flor
ida. Under this arrangement much of
the through freight of the Seaboard
Air Line that is bound for North
west, chiefly fruits and vegetables that
originate to the south of Jacksonville,
is hauled by the Seaboard Air Line to
Jacksonville. 1t is there turned over
to the Georgia Southern and Florida,
which takes it as far as Cordele and
there turns it over again to the Sea-
board Air Line TO be taken to its
Western connections at Montgomery.
The same arrangement can be made,
and doubtless will be made, with the
Atlantic and Birmingham, the transfer
being made to the Atlantic and Birm-
ingham at Thalman to the south, and
the re-transfer from the Atlantic and
Birmingham to the Seaboard Air Line
at Cordele. The new connections would
also give a shorter route to and from
Savannah to a fine territory, one that
legitimately belongs to this city and
in which it is believed there is room
for large development of trade.