The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1907-01-26

Brunswick's S staunchest friends. yes
terday contained the following edi-
torial
In the age OF present common
sense. prophecies are 1T g discount
There is aa exception and it chal-
longes tae scrutiny of the keenest
and most h0fe3ulous man. for the
simple reason that it carries it's own
veriAcation
brunswick X. destined to be the
greatest coaliag station on the south
Atlantic coast 9nd one of the most
important eommercial potts OF entry
between New York an~ the Florida
keys"
Here aI@ the reasons ana the Con
stitutiam gives them full detail. stress
Ing meanwhile. a remarkable person
ality. since every man in Georgia
and adjacent states is interested ana
since comparatively few of them
have the faintest idea how near the
prophesy Is to fulallment:
Every vessel nv sailing from
south Atlantic poR for European
or South American trade must coal
at Norfolk, Va 1t may be that the
vessel, liner, merchantman or tramp
steamer sails from Jacksonville. Say
annah. Charleston or Brunswick. No
matter; it must travel several hun
drede miles out Of the way. going and
coming, that 1t may obtain the fuel
which Is to send it tumbllng on the
course to It's destination
'Why2"
Norfolk Is the only south Atlantic
oort with adequate coallng facilities.
phat single fact gives Il handican
8er an Of tine ports along the line
20 Key West
1T win not however. long enjoy
that profitable distinction.
"H M. Atkinson, Of Atlanta, is the
president and guiding genius OF the
Atlanta, Birmingham and Atlanu
railroad. with its eastern terminus
nosing the Atlantic at Brunswick and
its northern and western terminal
snuggled amid among the industries
,0f Atlanta and among the iron and
steel furnaces and coal fields around
Birmingham. Every age has men
gifted with what you might call ap-
piled imagination Not the sort that
parades in romances that furnishes
entertainment for the lovers of light
llltratwe. But the practical brand
that secs industrial possibilities hid
den from the unimaginable plodder
and that develops the commercial and
inventive genius to transform into ac-
tual assets for the financial bereat
OF several million people.
such q man Is Atkinson This,
not by way of hattery, but chilly fact,
as bearing on the tale In process OF
narration.
1.-THE restless constructive genius
of this man has penetrated the possi-
/ oilities that lie In the development Of
closer trade relations between the
north, the south and Cuba, By CIV
Iing the products of all three unre-
lstricted means OF Interchange. The
drst step was the foundation of the
Geeline OF steamships between New
York, Brunswick and Havana. as tri-
butary to the Atlanta. Birmingham
and Atlantic railroad
This done he looked around and
saw the meager coaling facilities of
the south Atlantic coast--a lack that
would hamper the development Of
commerce, particularly when the pros
pective completion of the Panama
canal opened illimitable commercial
yistas to the crude and manufactured
products Of the southern states He
saw more. He realized Ahe strategi-
cal Importance Of Brunswick, and
was confident it could be made into
formidable rival to Norfolk as a
eoaling station and port of entry.
"As a result Of this practical vision
his company is now completing at
Brunswick the most perfect sSstem
Of coaliDg docks orf~tha zastssH Allan.
tic coast, at a cost of a half mil
lion dollars. They are OF the latest
approved construction, using reenfor-
ced concrete instead Of the old-fasl-
toned wood for sustaining piles. The
tracks Of the Atlanta. Birmingham and
Atlantic. properly elevated. bisect
these docks at points wnere the water
is deepest. ships can run up to lhe
piers and by the use of automatic
devices. fill their bunkers within a
few hours.
THAT is not all the practical ina
glnation of this man has done. His
railroad, now within few miles o
Birmingham, crosses about fifty thous