The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1907-03-21
Il. q N. viii Buy :. 4 W.
In Order TO Connect With the Atlantic
Coast Line

In UFdef 10 Connect with the Atlantic
Coast Line.
The Louisville a. Nashville railroad
will buy the South & Western railroad.
The object is to reach the coal fields of
Southwest Virginia directly through
to a'connection with the Atlantic Coast
Line at Spartanburg, s. @. The South
& Western is being built to fill the in
tervening gap.
1t is we'll known that the l.. & N.
and the Atlantic Coast Line are twin
roads, that they are in the same pool
of financial interests. The L. &. has
the coal, the Atlantic Coast line has
not, hence the l.. & N. is seeking con-
nection with the Atlantic Coast Line
for carrying the coal.
A few days ago mention was made in
these columns that line of road was
being built from the L. & N. at Rose
Hill, eastward to connect with the
South & Western railroad at or near
Moccasin Gap. This seems to be the
first step in this movement.
1t has been intimated that there may
be larger financial interests behind the
whole deal, as was intimated afew days
ago in these columns. This deal
would be only part of the transaction.
Thomas Ryan has been supposed to
be the leading spirit in the construc-
ton of the South & Western railroad
and this meant, it was supposed, that
the South & Western was to be turned
over to the Seaboard Air Line. But it
is said that Thomas Ryan is not the
controlling factor and therefore that
the Seaboard Air Line does not have
the South & Western railroad in its
charge.
The South & Western railroad made
several moves at first that seemed to in
dictate that it did not exactly know
where 1t was going and who would take
it in. 1t will be recalled that the first
plan was to build it to Rutherfordton,
N. c., terminus of the Seaboard Air
Line Then there was a shifting of
scenes and line was surveyed to Spar
tanburg, S. @. There was a good deal
of discussion about what was the troub-
lie and how it would end, until plans
took on definite shape and decision
was reached to build to Spartanburg, a
terminus of the Atlantic Coast Line.
At the other end of the line every eff
fort was made to head off the road from
entering the coal fields of Virginia and
Kentucky, by the Virginia & South
western railroad, which has finally
been bought by the Southern railway.
There were those who thought that if
the money held out that the road would
be built on to connection with the
Chesapeake & Ohio railroad and that il
would be taken in by that road or some
other seeking q connection from the
central north to a gulf port on the south.
There was in fact, something about it
that seemed to befellowing the plan Of
the Old Three C's. railroad, the Chi
cago, Cincinnati Charleston railroad,
of course, merely filled in gaps. 1t will
be recalled that at one time thinner
man, who is in charge of the G. Fl. &
d. railroad, figured in the directorate
of the South & Western railroad.
Whatever may have been the ulti-
mate plan Of the road, the present in
dications seem to be to tie up with the
Louisville & Nashville railroad and the
Atlantic Coast Line. Of course, the
L. & N. would not object to connec.
ton with the Seaboard Air Line in
case the S. & W. should by any chance
go to that road; but the Atlantic Coast
Line might. In other words. the L. &
N. would be putt the position of help
ing competitive railroad and enjoying
friendly or twin road.
1t will do to watch the l.. & N. ant
the South & Western. -Journal arc
Tribune.