The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-08-10
WORK OF W. L. Seldom
Former Fredericksburger Highly Com.
plimented at Meeting at Tampa.

From recent Tampa (Fla) news
paper We take the following extracts
from an account of new commercial
enterprise and great epoch in the his
tory Of maritime commerce in a South
ern port And as IT is the successful
outcome of the big work Of the Sea
board Air Line r. r. in completing its
terminals at Tampa, of which Southern
road fredericksburg boy is chief en-
gineer, we are glad to record the
achievement.
TAMPA'S WELCOME TO FIRST OF BIG
TRAMP STEAMERS.
City Othcialdom and representative
business and professional men of Tam
pa yesterday welcomed the good
steamer Hillbrook. of Liverpool. into
this port TO load with phosphate at the
SeabOard terminals on SeddOn island
for Hamburg. Several days ago it was
noted in the local press that this great
leviathan Of the waters was booked
for charter with phosphate from the
SeabOard terminals and many were on
the qui vive TO view the largest ship
that has entered this port, larger by
several thousand tons than any other. A
large delegation from the city board of
trade made the trip on a special train
rendered by the railroad agents, and
! this special was run direct 10 the
phosphate docks and elevator, where
the HillbrOok was being loaded. From
the steps Of the special members of the
delegation stepped upon the docks of
the seaboard, where hundreds of thous-
ands of tons of phosphate are destined
10 be shipped 70 other ports within the
next two years.
These Tampans, many Of them busi-
ness men, closely confined each day to
the cares of the particular venture
they follow 10 success, fairly revelled
IN the view of industry presented on the
island.
For many it was the first inspection
of the work done in these quarters by
the railroad. They had read long ac-
counts, but II was their first realiza-
ton Of the wide scope Of the improve
ments.
After thoroughly inspecting the Hill
brook as the guests Of the captain and
his officers and stay Of more than an
hour at the island. the visit ended
pleasantly, and on the return trip on the
train President F. c. Bowyer. Of the
board Of trade. acted as chairman of :
general meeting. commenting the WORK
of the SeabOard in Tampa.
| City Attorney X. w. Rowland. caile,
upon 10 formally declare the SeaboarS
terminals open to the commerce Of tn,
world, in behalf of the city of Tampa
reviewed the commerce of the port 70
five years back when no one realize,
that Tampa in so short a time Woul,
have so excellent a harbor an,
so good docking facilities.
President Bowyer followed with Gu
logy upon the work of Chief Engineer
w. J.. Seddon, of the Seaboard, and de
clared "a motion in order TO change the
name of Grassy island 10 that of Sed-
don island as a memorial TO the untir.
ing energy and zeal Of one Of Tampa.
best friends. The motion was forth.
coming in an instant. IL was carried
with unanimous voice and Grassy islanc
IS no more on the map. IL is Seddor
island and will be SO referred to in the
future.
Seven hundred and eighty tons OF
phosphate viii be carried from Tampa
TO Hamburg from the SeabOard ele-
vator, this being the first consignment
Of the rock to leave local docks. Ii was
shipped TO the terminals from the bic
mines at Coronet, Fla. Coils c. G.. and
II. G. Memminger, who are heavily in.
terested in these mines, which are
among the best equipped in the world
and which cost more than 81 900, 600,
were among the delegation to Seldom
island.
Capt Hopley, Of the Hillbrook, is
much impressed with Tampa's future
as port and thinks il will be before
long one of the most important ports
on the Gulf coast with much of the COM
merce of the Southern states coming
through it.
Mr.. Seddon married daughter of the
late DIR. II. NJ. ID. Martin, of this city.