The leader., 1904-08-24


jackson, Aug. 81. Mississippi
appears to have become, all at
once, the theater of the keenest
activity for RAILROAD projects, and
| the subject Of the most acute in
Iterest among the great trunk lines
traversing this section of the
lcountry. Rumors of important
extensions and Of momentous cen
solicitations are multiplying daily,
and the field is full Of promoters
who are busy inaugurating pro-
iects with d view to forcing ad-
yantageous sales Of franchises. 1t
is difficult, in the multiplicity OF
the schemes and the conflict of ru-
mors, to form an accurate idea Of
what is about to happen, yet the
conviction is growing that there
are to be some vital changes in the
railroad map and some extensive
railroad building in this State IN
the near future. AS the great
possibilities of the gulf harbors
ARE being unf0lded, the strategic
importance Of the Stateas a gate
way to the commerce which will
come through the Isthmian canal
is rapidly dawning upon the
mighty syndicates having inter-
ests In this section. 1t seems GER
tain that the Frisco has designs
upon the Mobile, jackson and
Kansas City line, as published last
week, and consolidation Of these
interests is confidently expected
in the near future. Control Of
this line BY the Frisco would un-
|doubtedly mean, in time, the ex-
tension Of a connecting line to
New Orleans.
The proposed extension By the
Southern of the Itta Bena branch
southward has been abandoned,
and it was officially announced d
few days since that this extension
would not be made; but, simulta-
neously with this announcement,
application was made to the Gov
ernor for charter to extend the
Percy branch of the Southern.
The charter is for a new road,
which proposes to extend the Per-
cy branch from both ends, running
one northward into Bolivar county,
and the other southward into
Yazoo county. Once this extern
sion is made, it is not believed
that the Southern would stop short.
of Memphis on the north and
jackson or Vicksburg on the
south.
Nothing has been heard from
the proposed extension Of the
Mississippi Central, which now
runs from Hattiesburg to Silver
Creek, Lawrence county, since
the recent announcement that the
company had borrowed FIVE mil
lions on bonds for the purpose Of
extending the line. Its charter
gives it the right to build to Pas
cagoula from Hattiesburg, and
from Silver Greek to Natchez.
This latter extension would carry
it through Brookhaven.
1t was announced last week that
a movement was under way to or
ganize company TO build from
Brookhayen west to Fayette, in
Jefferson county, and thence to
Rodney, on the Mississippi river,
where connection would be made
with the Gould system at st.
Joseph, La.
There is also a proposition be-
ing agitated to build a line from
Clarksdale to Friars Point, in the
northern part Of the Delta, and
Memphis parties are negotiating
with the citizens of both places
for this line.
The Mobile and Ohio has char
Itered branch line to run from a
point twelve miles north Of Mo-
bile to LeakesviIle, Greene coun-
ltY, Miss. and this company has
Iother Mississippi extensions in
view.
A good deal Of interest centers
in the recent application fol a
lcharter to build from Memphis to
Pensacola, Fla, via Meridian.
The charter for this company is
now on file with the Governor,
and will be acted upon during The
present week, The projectors are
Iall New York men, and it is prob
liable that the charter will be OBJ
iected to by the promoters Of the
Memphis and Gulf line, which
proposes to cover the same terri
tory, and which has already Sc
cured q charter In this State.
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