The Columbus weekly dispatch., 1908-12-10
VAGUE RUMORS OF
ANOTHER RAILROAD
CURRENT REPORT HAS 1T THAT
ANOTHER ROAD IS COMING
TO COLUMBUS IN THE
NEAR FUTURE.
Will Be Trunk System from Chicago
TO New Orleans, and Columbu
viii Be on Main Line of
Contemplated Road.

If rumors that have been current
days be true, the Aberdeen & Tom
bigbee Valley people are not the only
railroad promoters who have their
eyes on Columbus. II is declared by
citizens of undoubted veracity that
if plans now on foot do not miscarry
Columbus will have a trunk line tra-
versing her confines within a COM
paratively short period of time.
There is one gentleman in Colum-
bus who has an extended acquaint-
ance among railroad officials high in
authority throughout the country,
and this gentleman is in possession
of information which makes it seem
practically certain that the deal re-
ferred TO above will be consummated,
and that the plans of the promoters
Will reach fruition.
In a recent conversation with a
representative of The Dispatch, the
gentleman referred to above stated
that he could not divulge the name
of the road behind the proposed deal
because it would be a breach of con
fidence for him TO do so, but said
that it was one of the most impor-
tant railway systems in the country,
and one that made a point of doing
everything possible to develop towns
and cities through which its various
lines pass. While the gentleman de-
clined to give the name of the sys-
tenn back of the enterprise, he said
the purpose in view was 10 get q
through line from Chicago to New
Orleans, and that Columbus would
be directly on the main line. In or
der TO establish through service be-
tween Chicago and the Crescent City,
roads forming part of a direct line
will be either purchased or leased,
and intervening gaps will be filed
in by the construction of short lines,
the completed system forming a .di-
rect line between the two cities. One
of the short lines which it is propos-
ed to build will pass through this
city, thus placing Columbus on the
main line of the system.
The company expects a large bus
iness in this territory, and in order
to handle its business properly de-
sires ample terminal facilities IN this
city 1t is said, however, that they
will ask nothing unreasonable, and
it is believed that the promoters will
have no trouble in securing what
they desire from the city council
There is urgent need for another
railroad IN Columbus, as the present
freight rates both in and out are
much higher than the commercial i'm
portance of the city warrant. While.
we have many successful manufact-
urfng industries. there are several
plants now idle, and lower freight
rates might prove TO be the motive
power that would set the wheels of
these idle mills TO turning and fur
nish work for hundreds of laborers.
Prosperity always follows the build
properly managed, and the cities and
towns along it's line are not discrimi-
mated against, and The Dispatch has
the assurance of the gentleman from
whom the information concerning
the proposed road was obtained that
1t will not be the policy of its OFF,
cials to discriminate against Colum-
bus. On the other hand, they have
faith in the city, and will de all In
their power to develop its latent re-
sources and promote its general
welfare.