The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-09-08
TO CONSTRUCT ROAD
L. AND N. ACQUIRES ADDITIONAL
 PROPERTY.
Building Of Railroad From Birming- nam to Gulf Through selma seems Assured.-Inter-Urb
 Electric Line Discussed.
Advertiser Bureau,
 C-l.,o ca-&

aecAric Line Dtscussed.
 Advertiser Bureau,
 Selma. Sept '.
 Two questions which are causing many guesses to be hazarded by the citizens of Selma is the acquiring of an additional block of city property by the Louisville and Nashville Rail- road Tn the northern part of the city, and the announcement that the Selma Street and Suburban Railway Company would extend their line down a street known as Sixth avenue, which would soon be opened to a point on the Sum merfield road: These two things have again caused the question of rail- road from Selma to the mineral fields of the Birmingham district, and the question of an interurban electric line from here to Marion and Uniontown, to become matters of intense interest
 That these are not problematical questions the business men and the real estate owners in the city are as sured. They are simply two things which, in the natural course of events and in the growth of the city, are bound to come to Selma. That the sooner they come the quicker win be the growth of the city everyone knows.
 It Is said that in acquiring an addi- tional and most convenient block of property in the northern part of the city it Is the intention of the Louisville and Nashville to erect repair shops thereon. This would be a great thing for Selma, as it would be the means of bringing to the city a number of skilled workmen who, with their fam lilies, would make most desirable citi- zens. But there are some who think that they see a deeper motive of the Louisville and Nashville for purchas- ing this property and the building of shops here.
 It is known that only a short while ago the Louisville and Nashville were considering the question of build ing a line from the mineral district of the northern part of the State down the Cahaba valley to Selma, and that this line would connect here with the branch line of that system to Pensa- cola Such a line would give a dou- ble track. from the iron and coal fields to the gulf. Such an undertaking was no doubt considered when that system erected its present bridge at this point over the Alabama river. This bridge is one of the strongest in the State, and must have been built with the in- tention that at some future period ex- tra heavy trains would pass over 1t on their way to the gulf.
 A short while after 1t was rumored that it was the ultimate purpose of the Louisville and Nashville to build a line from Selma to the Birmingham district came the announcement that the Atlanta, Brunswick and Atlantic system would extend their road from Birmingham to New Orleans, and that this extension would probably run through the Cahaba valley to Selma, and then on to some point on the Mis- sissippi River where connections would be made into New Orleans These an nouncements were followed by the ar rival in Selma at different times of sur veying corps.
 In the rumor concerning the Atlanta, Brunswick and Atlantic road 1t was said that parallel lines would be run from Birmingham to Selma, one of these lines to be used for transconti- mental business, and the other for freight purposes. The surveyors of this system, when they finished work ing around Selma, started on a sur vey to the west, but since then no more railroad rumors have been heard There Is no doubt but that @ road down the Cahaba Valley from Birming- ham to Selma would prove a paying tn- vestment There is no question but that the next year or two will see this line built. If the Louisville and Nash 
 Atlantic systems are figuring on build ing this line they are not the only ones in the field who are giving the question serious consideration, and who are working upon the projected road.
 Some months ago at a meeting of the Commercial and Industrial Association the question of building a railroad over this route was brought up. It is a question which Is near the heart of the A,,aE f,.kA nf fha Cff nI cry citizen who is engaged in busi- ness sees that the constructor and operation of such a road would not only help his own business, but would prove advantageous to every other bus mess of the city.
 At that meeting of the Commercial and Industrial Association, a small committee, composed of influential and hard working citizens, was appointed to formulate plans to build this road. Since then this committee has been hard at work. They have gathered much important data and have been in correspondence with number of monied men in the East on the matter of financing the project. They have also been In correspondence with rich men in the Birmingham district.
 This committee. as yet, have not made public any of the information or
 
 They are keeping these secret until their plans have progressed so far that the building of the road will be a certainty, but the members of the com mittee are confident that some move in the building of the road will be started within a very short time.
 With three different interests. as op- posite to each other as they can be all figuring upon the building of railroad down the Cahaba Valley from the Bir- mingham district to this city, it looks as if the line is a certainty No mat ter winch interest builds the line, it will mean a great deal for Selma and her people.
 While the matter of an interurban electric line between Selma and Ma rion and Uniontown has been discuss ed some. it has not been talked about The interurban road was a live subject here about two years ago and a com pany was formed to build it, but the project fell through only to be revived again this week by the announcement that the Selma Street and Suburban Road was going to extend it's line to point or the Summerfield Road, through a new street which Is to be opened up north of Elkdale Park.
 To extend their system from Selma to Marion and Uniontown is believed to be the ultimate intention of the own CTS of that system. Credence Is given to this belief because of the improve ments which the electric system will soon make One of these improve ments will be the establishment of a plant and the harnessing of the wa ters of a creek near here which will
 aF.