The Columbus weekly dispatch., 1907-02-14
WORK ON ROUND
HOUSE POSSIBLE
THREE PROMINENT OFFICIALS
OF THE MOBILE AND OHIO
RAILROAD WE'RE IN
CITY LAST WEEK.
They Are Connected With the Com
struction Department, Having
Come for Conference in
Regard to RoundhouSe.

Regard to RoundhouSe.
The officials of the Mobile & Ohio
Railroad are still reticent regarding
| the intentions of the company in the
matter of building a roundhouse in
Columbus, but actions sometimes
speak louder than words, and there
are many indications that work on
the new roundhouse will soon begin.
Mr.. c. F. Blue, superintendent OF
buildings and bridges; Mr. b. A.
Wood, division engineer, and Mr.. j.
G. Lack, master carpenter, for the
Mobile q Ohio, were in Columbus
last week, and it is a positive fact
that they came here for a consulta-
tion regarding the erection of the
roundhouse. The officials arrived
here Friday afternoon, and after eat
ing dinner at the Stone Hotel re-
paired to the companys shops in
East Columbus, where they remained
for quite a long time looking over
the ground and discussing the matter
with Mr.. Lambert, the local master
mechanic.
A Dispatch reporter learned that
the officials were in the city, and re-
paired to the Southern shops 20 gee
what could be learned regarding the
matter. He first sought out Mr..
Wood, who had charge of the work
on the bridge which the Mobile &
Ohio built here few years ago, and
who is well known in Columbus. Mr..
Wood referred the reporter to Mr..
Blue, who, he said had charge of the
work, and would tell him all about
it. Mr.. Blue did not tell the re-
porter all about it, In fact an in
terview with Mr. Blue is calculated
to give a news gather the blues. Mr..
Blue had on a red tie, and perhaps
the color scheme had a militant ef-
fact upon his colloquial propensities.
Any way, he talked charity, and try
as he would the reporter was unable
to induce him TO make a categorical
statement regarding the location Of
the roundhouse or when work would
begin. Mr. Blue stated Friday after
noon that the company would be
compelled to increase its facilities
here, and promised to give the re-
porter further information on the
subject Saturday. When seen by the
reporter yesterday the official stated
that he had not reached any definite
conclusion in the matter and was
therefore unable to give out any in
formation.
AS stated above, there seems TO be
no doubt that the roundhouse is to
be built and In Withholding informa-
tion concerning the project the Off
cials are merely pursuing the same
plan that is usually pursued in mat
ters of this kind. Mr. Blue even ad-
mitted the necessity for such a build
ing, and tacitly acknowledged that
it would be built, though. he would
not make the statement in so many
words. 1t is said by those who are
well posted in railway affairs that the
plans have already been prepared and
that work on the building may be
expected to commence at any time
From the best information obtain
able, everything concerning the round
house has been settled, except the
location of the proposed structure.
1t is more than probable that the
main object of Mr.. Blues visit was
to select a site, but if he has reached
a decision regarding the matter he
has not taken the public or the news
paper men into his confidence