The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-12
BARGE LINE TO PAY ALL DEBTS OWED General Ashburn Arrives On Trip Of Inspec-
 ton ENSLEY SOUTHERN TO BE UNIMPAIRED Waterway Budget Of $25,- 900 Was Miscon- strued FLEXIBLE BUDGET
 SAVED $2O0,O Waterway Head Clears Up Ten nessee Company Con
 trovefsy
FLEXIBLE BUDGET
 SAVED $2OO, 900
General T. o. Ashburn, su-

General T.. o. Ashburn, su- perintendent of transporta- ton on inland waterways, ar- rived in Birmingham Thurs day night, for inspection of the Warrior barge line and the Ensley Southern railroad. He announced that he had been advised that an additional $250,0O0 had been borrowed for the waterways, that he had arranged a similar loan at New Orleans, Tuesday from the Hibernia National bank, and this total gives the line enough money to iiQuidate it's indebtedness.
 General Ashburn said that every penny the government owes the Blrm- ingportyr corporation owned by Birm- inghRm men win he paid at once, So the latter company, which has carried at the port of Birmingbam, will have
 
 It was. ihtiniated that the Birmingport corporation would be interested in the acquisition of the Ensley Southern railroad at some future time provided the line reaches place where it's sale would be desirable to all concerned.
 ssThe service is getting better right along" said General Asuburn. I am here to see if we cannot open up Tuscaloosa and other points, and to confer with Mir. Robert A. Brown and others interested in the Warrior. will remain as long as necessary to take care of these matters"
 The general was joined at the Tut wiler hotel by Mr. Brown, W. D. Nesbitt president of the Birmingport corporation and W. F. Allen, agent for the executive department of the Tennes- see company.
 EnsIey Southern To Continue.
 "'We have been assured that the Ensley Southern will not be aban- ference was held with the Southern Railway company officials and we were told that they realized the im- portance of the line to this district and nothing will be permitted to inter- fere with the rendition of adequate service. What the final disposition of the line will be I cannot say now, but it will function.
 In reference to the separation order issued sometime ago, General .Ashburn said the announced appropriation of S26,0OO to the Warrior river was an item in the budget which was mis- construed He said that many received the impression that the line would be interfered with or abandoned.
 We created a flexible budget, ex- plained the general, (which may be expanded as necessities warrant. How ever, I saved the government S2OO, ,OO0 by that one act and cut out red tape and other senseless details and duplica- tion."
 General Ashburn requested denial the statement. that the Tennessee Coal Iron and Railroad company officials are opposed the separation order now
 "On the contary. President Craw- ford, of that company, knew of the plan and approved it" said General Ashburn. That company has been and now is in my opinion, 0.'e of the best friends the service ever had. In fact President Crawford was offered the DldCE. O1A VUE Aut1oOAJ ASAu by Mir. Brown, but was forced to de- cline on account of his other duties"
 To Visit BirmingpoFt.
 General Ashburn will probably make a trip to Birmingport Friday. He will continue his conferences vi'h local in duatrial men until such a time as he thinks all local problems havS been settled for the present.
 ''The Inland Waterways corpora ti0n" said General Ashburn "Is operat- ing in good shape. We have separated the department, and all the heads are respohsible to me. Our advisory board is composed of high class men, whose advice is taken. Asasoon as Congress meets. we will he able to show results which will justify the, appropriations which will be asked.
 The Inland waterways of this coun try are potentially of immense value and the War department intends tC see that they are fully, protected ani directed in a systematic way, and re suits secured Connecting this district as it does, the Warrior is factor in it' progress and cannot conceive of any thing or any interests being permitted to stand in the way of the development of the line. IN