The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-24
MISSISSIPPI MAY
HAVE A BIC FIGHT
Large Railway Systems Are Be-
coming Very Active
MUCH NEW CONSTRUCT TON
Several Lines VIII Compete for Ter
minals at Notwithstanding
ham and Southwestern Is.
in the Contest.
MUCH NEW CONSTRUCTION


Hattiesburg, Miss, February 29.-(Spe-
cial There have been a number of I'M
portant developments in the railroad
world in South Mississippi during the
past week, and the belief has become
widespread that this section of the coun-
try is about to be the scene of a great
fight for supremacy between some of
the largest systems in the United States
The Pennsylvania system is regarded as
the next big system to invade this ter
ritory, and it is said to have its eyes
on New Orleans and Pascagoula, two
points which are also receiving much at
tention from the Frisco.
There are now three or four roads
heading for Pascagoula or that vicinity
The Baton Rouge, Hammond and East
ern is already under construction. The
Birmingham and Southwestern has OBJ
tanned terminal property at the port and
is now negotiating for the purchase OF
the Denny railroad which runs north
ward from Pascagoula to Donovan, on the
Mobile, Jackson and Kansas City. Dantz-
iClS TIC SiOSiH6 liiC sop pSS"NH
road between Pascagoula and Howison on
the Gulf and Ship Island, and are eX-
pected to shortly make connection with
the New Orleans and Great Northern
so as to be in position to handle the
export business of the Goodyear Lumber
syndicate. The Mississippi Central will
commence the construction of the Pas
cagoula extension of its road before the
end of the year.
1t is evident therefore, that there is
a feverish rivalry for the occupancy of
Pascagoula, and there is much specula-
ton as to the larger interests that are
behind those apparently local enterprises.
There is no mystery about the Missis-
sippi Central or the Dantzler operations.
The Mississippi Central is an independ-
ent road, working on Its own merits
and having no connection with other COM
binatiens. The Dantzler activity is due
to a deal which has recently been closed
between the Dantzler and Goodyear lum-
Der syndicates, under the terms of which
the bulk of the Goodyear export business
will be handled over the Dantzler road
and out of Pascagoula. This makes it
necessary to close in certain gaps of
ro.a. A five mile gap between Pasca-
goula and Howison is being completed
now by the Dantzler company and the
Goodyears will build from point on the
Great Northern to Howison, completing
the through road. The Goodyear branch
will probably leave the Great Northern
at Fernwood.
The Baton Rouge, Hammond and East
ern and the Birmingham Southwestern
are not so easily accounted for. They
are beth designed to cover very much
the same territory. They both run east
ward from Baton Rouge, both are aimed
at Pascagoula.
The Hammond Road.
The Hammond road is regarded as
Frisco adjunct. l.. S. Berg, until recent
Nv at the head of the New Orleans Ter
minal company, Frisco property, Is IN
charge of operations on the Hammond
road. Contracts are now being let Tor
construction from Baton Rouge to Plea
yure East from Pcayune the route is
uncertain, which in itself is a significant
fact Heretofore it has been sell UNDER
stood that the line would run from
Picayune to Donovan, on the Mobile,
Jackson and Kansas City, that being the
route specified in the charter. But since
the Mobile, jackson and Kansas CITY
has come under the domination OF the
Frisco. it has become evident that the
interests of the whole system would be
better served by having the lines con-
verge at Pascagoula, and it Is believed
that this will be the ultimate course or
the Baton Rouge, Hammond and East
ern.
The determination to complete this road
at once. so as to get in ahead of posi-
HE rivals Is expressed in a letter from
q Fl. Fish, the chief engineer, who
Sc VS.: This company will let contract
tomorrow for the building of the first
100 miles. which will be between Baton
Rouge and Picayune, Miss, passing
thro1rh Denham Springs, Hammond.
Covington and Ramsey. We expect our
contractors to be actively at work by
or before March /, and within six months
the line will be completed from Ham
mond to Baton Rouge and within eight
months to Picayune. l can assure you
positively that this line is TO be built
and built at once on the line as shown
you OH the map.
eIrminoham and southwestern.
Tae Birmingham and Southwestern APP
pears as an embarrassing element in
fine plans of the Frisco. the operations
~ this company have been altogether
ravsterious. It is known to have the
very strongest backing. A leading New
orleans national bank and the president
30 tho Fourth National bank or Phlla-
delphia are also on the poard. Ihese
Philadelphia capitalists are also on the
d;rectory of the Pennsylvania system
THE Pennsylvania is now building the
new road from Louisville to Birmingham,
anS the wise ones entertain no doubt
that the Pennsylvania Is backing this
new line that Is to give the big system
on entrance to Pascagoula and to New
orleans. making the Pennsylvania one OF
fine most important factors In the future
railroad development of this section BY
n,eans Of the qualifications of the Biz
minrham project the Pennsylvania gets
annie mort facilities for gulf export
business. places itself in line TO take
advantages of the completion of the Pan
ANA canal. penetrates the richest por-
ton of the Southern lumber and manu-
featuring and coal and iron industry,
and by means of the ALTON Rouge Hne'
places itself in position to carry trans
continental as we'll as north ana SCUM
traffic. The local representatives OF this
enterprise are now in the north armed
with all the necessary preliminary esti-
mates and figures to enable the hackers
to place the finances of the undertaking
in good shape
Tie ambition Of the Birmingham and
Southwestern to contest the Pascagoula
field with the Frisco is evidenced by
the fact that the Birmingham people
are now negotiating with the Denny
Lumber company for the purchase of