The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-03-16
SURVEYORS IN SELMA
PARTY OF ENGINEERS SURPRISE
 THE PEOtsLE.
They Decline to Discuss their Business But City starts to Talking of An- other Through Rail-
 ro.d Line.
Advertiser Bureau,

Selma, March Is. 1, Selma Is more convinced today than X for sometime past that within a short time there win be built through here one Of the great trunk lines of the South. This conviction Is due to the arrival here of a corps of engineers which came to the city yesterday af- tepnoon. When these engineers were seen on the streets it was thought they linemen who had stopped work on ac- count of the rain, but today It develop- ed that they were gang of civil en- gineers who had surveyed to almost the city limits when the heavy rain started and they were forced to stop work.
 From what could be learned the corps of engineers are In this section of the state mapping out a proposed extension. They are doing the work for the Atlanta, Brunswick & Atlantic system and the route over which they as that of 2 line which. was surveyed ago and which was called the Atlanta
 For several days the corps of en- ton and today it was said that they made their appearance near Autauga- vile, nearly two weeks ago Since then they have been working steadily in to the old race track in the northeast ern part of the city when they were forced to stop their work yesterday
 
 When the survey of the old Atlanta Air Line was made some years ago from Selma to Atlanta 1t was said that a road built on that survey and then continued from here to New Orleans would shorten the distance between those two important southern cities rumored for sometime that il was the intention of the Atlanta, Brunswick & Atlantic to build line to New Orleans so that 1t could have a gulr terminal and become an active competitor for the great volume of business which the building and the completion of the Panama canal would cause to be ship, ped from that port to all parts of the
 While 1t is believed that the corps of engineers has surveyed a straight ly that if the line is built II will be branched off and built to Selma from Birmingham or Talladega
 The party of engineers which arrived near the city limi.s yesterday Is com posed of twelve. They will nor discuss anything pertaining to their work. Be- number of chainmen and other help The survey was not continued today until this afternoon when the party put in a few hours work. Their work to- morrow will probably bring them well within the city limits.
 Speculation Is also rife as tv wheth- CT the survey of the present corps of engineers has anything to do with that of a similar corps which worked through Selma and this section towards New orleans about two yeGrs ago. The first party of engineers came into Sell ma from different direction and came Up to the business part of the city over Franklin street. When they reached Water street 1t surveyed in every di- rection towards the Alabama river and finally turned down Water street and went to the extreme western edge of the city. There the survey crossed the river and kept working In a southern ly direction.
 The man who had charge of that party of engineers gave out no infor- nation as to the purpose of me work. If the present party of engineers makes similar survey 1t is almost cer. ain to be for the purpose of making some corrections in the first ons and will probably be the final survey and the one by which the road will be built
 Selmians will watch the work of the engineers with interest. new through line would mean much to this city. It would give better business facilities and would open up a vast amount of new territory to the business houses.
 If this new road Is built from Birm- ingham to Selma and to New Orleans 1t would not follow the survey of the proposed road that is being talked of from Selma to the coal and iron re- gions Of the Birmingham district.