The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-12-23
NEW RAILROAD
WILL BUILD
To TAMPA
Controls Deep Water Facilities on
Government Reservation at
Charlotte HagbOr.

The Tampa Times says. Having
learned that Attorney John j. Wall
had returned this morning from a trip
north. and having heard rumOrs that
his trip was on behalf of the Alafia,
Manateo anI Gulf Coast Railway Co.
the Times sent representative
around 10 see ar Wall at his Office,
and be was asked l be was yet in
position TO make any announcement
as TO the financial backing his com
pany had. and as TO their present and
future plans. In reply Mr. Wall stat
cd that he was very glad thar the ban
Of secrecy had been raised, and that
he was now in a position 20 take the
public into his confidence, and there
upon hC made q statement i'm sub
stance as follows:
"The value Of the charter of the
Alafa. Manatee and Gulf Coast Rail
way company is because Of an act of
congress which was passed in 1902,
glanting 70 this company right-Of-
way with terminal facilities upon the
lighthouse and military reservation on
Gasparila island. at Charlotte Har-
Dor. and as anyone can readily see
by the examination Of a chart this
grant controls the deep water PROPOSE
ton at that point Some time the
latter part of last April, I was in
stTucted 10 look into the charter of
the Alafa. Manatea and Gulf Coast
Railway company, and so ascertain If
the same could be secured, and
might say that from that time until
the 18th day of last month, negotia-
lions were being carried on By me
for the purpose of securing this char
ter but on account of the fact that
local parties who controlled the char
ter had already tied themselves up
with another contract. we were delay
ed in securing the charter until ehe
18th OF last month. when the trans
action was closeo i'm New York city.
Shortly after the control Of this char
ter had been thus secured. a re-0rgau-
ization of the company was effected.
and James 81 Clifford. of New York
city. was selected president Of the
company and a board Of directors
were elected as f0llOws.
'slames III. Clifford. of the law firm
0f clifford. Hobbs, Haskell & Beard.
Peter 3. Bradley, PRESIDENT Of the
Peace River Phosphate Mining com
pany
Robert S. Bradley, president Of
The Columbia Trust company.
John p Wall lawyer. Tampa.
"In the meantime we secured con-
u0l of all the lands suitable for rail-
road purposes upon Gasparilla island,
which were owned by private parties,
and at once put our corps of engineers
in the field. and commenced to clear
grade and grub upon the island
Arrangements have been made TO
build nOrthwards. ana connect up,
and take over the thirty miles of rail-
road which Is now being operated by
the Peace River phosphate Mining
company as a private road, and while
this road thus connected up, viii be
crerated as a branch road. the main
line viii be built through the Pine
I Level section on 70 Tampa and thus
open ND an entirely new section Of
south Florida. Nor is it the inten-
ton of nav clients to stop at Tampa.
but they viii either seek an outlet up
che west coast 70 the north, or win
build over towards the St. Johns
river. and connect up there with the
/ Florida East Coast Line. Outside
myself. an of the gentlemen above
named. and their associates. who are
.
men of influence and standing in the
financial world. and the building Of
this road does not depend upon any
sale of bonds or anything of that
I kind. for fortunately the gentlemen
above named. and their associates are
amply able TO carry out this enter
prise without going into the money
markets.
II should add that J. H. FOuts. Who
f is a practical railroad man, ana who
has had large experience in railroad
f building. has been appointed general
manager Of the Alafa. Manatee and
T Gulf Coast Railway company and wiz
4 of course so on the board of digec-
/ tors.
"Whila away. I met quite a number
|Of prominent people. and they all
/ seemed interested ia Florida, and its
I development and many questions
were asked me concerning the long
strides Tampa is making towards be-
ing one of the most important points
ION the gulf coast