Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-04-15
PLANS FOR A., B. & A..
PURCHASE OUTLINED

Plans Of the campaign for pur.
chase by the state of the Atlanta,
cunningham and Atlantic railroad
were outlined at a meeting of the
campaign committee held at noon
wednesday in the office Of Mayor
Key, who was elected chairman of
the committee at the organization
meeting Tuesday in the Ansley no.
tel.
The committee decided to call a
general meeting in Fitzgerald at
noon on May 4 for the purpose of
completing organization, mapping
out the work and forming commit
tees to handle various details. In
vitations will be extended to all in
, terested citizens both on and off the
hne to ATTEND the meeting, and also
10 all members of the legislature,
particularly the members represent
ing counties along the line.
IL was decided also to have a big
mass meeting in Atlanta at the
opening of the legislature in June.
In the meantime an active CORE.
sspondence and publicity campaign
Will be conducted and all facts bear
ing on the financial status of the
railroad will be compiled.
Prominent citizens of a number
OF cities on the lines Of the Atlanta,
birmingham and Atlantic attended
the meeting Tuesday and committed
themselves Fundamentally to the
movement for the state to buy the
road to save it from being junked.
Holders Of the bonds have recently
eforeclosed their mortgages on the
road, and it is in the hands of a
receiver, Colonel B. L. Bugg, ap-
pointed by the court to operate it
IN behalf Of the several interests,
until final liquidation can be con-
summated.
Mayor Key was elected chairman
OF the campaign committee over his
objection. He accepted the chair
manship on condition that the COM
mittee would furnish him all the as
sistance needed. George G. Smith,
Brunswick, was elected first vice
chairman; st. Elmo Massengale, At
1anta, second vice chairman; Fred
Warde, Brunswick, secretary.
/. !, Among others present was State
Senator Frank Manson, Of Jones'
boro, who recently announced his
intention of introducing bill in the
legislature looking to the purchase
of the road by the state. He dis
cussed the project at considerable
length. He showed that 81 members
of the Georgia house and Is men,
bers of the state senate are from
counties touched by the A.. B. & A.
He showed that seven members
of the house and four members OF
the senate are from counties touch
ed by the Western and Atlantic.
whose value he believed, as state
owned property, would be enormous
ly enhanced by giving it an outlet
to the sea.
The first mortgage bonds, second
mortgage bonds and income bonds OF
the road, the senator stated, are
about $1O,OO0,OO0, and there is a
current debt of about $1,O00,OOO.
The counties served by the road
showed an increase in population
from 1900 to 1920 Of 46 per cent,
the senator showed, as compared
with a general increase in the state
of 80 per cent. Discontinuance OF
the road would leave 100000 people
without railroad facilities, he said.
Among others present at the meet
ing were State Senator L. r. Aiken,
Brunswick; Representative Mann, OF
Glynn county; Representative Har'
per Hamilton, Floyd county; Lee
Langley, Rome; J. A. ]. Henderson,
OciIla