The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-02
CIlVTRAL GEORGIA T0SPEED SERVICE ENVIRONMENTS
s, 900, 900 Program Under Way Between Birming-
 ham And Columbus
WILL ELIMINATE
 MANY TRESTLES
Practically All Materials To Be Furnished By
 Local District

The expenditure now being made by the Central of Georgia railway, amount ing to $S,0OO, 900, will result'in the best railroad in the United States between Birmingham and Columbus, Ga, ac' cording to local residents who have lately visited the scene of construction
 The work which is engaging the at tention of some twenty-five firms, is going fo.Syard rapidly, it having been stated Monday, that the long dry spell had been great help to expedite the gigantic task ahead of the Central of Georgia contractors.
 The work will require IS months to complete, it was stated, but at the ex piration of that time, the Central of Georgia in association with it's par. cnt company, the Illinois Central, will be in a commanding position so far as traffic between Chicago, the west and Florida is concerned. The time between Birmingham and Columbus and Jacksonville will be reduced to marked degree, andw the operating schedules between Florida and points west of Chicago will be reduced in proportion
 To Eliminate Trestles
 In speaking of the work Monday it was stated that the new line contem- plates the elimination of all trestles between Birmingham. and Columbus with the exception of three which will span the rivers. There will be one, for which the Alabama Power company will have to pay, it is stated by reason of the inundation of the structure over lbe Tallapoosa river. The overflow will be caused by the construction work of the power company. This trestle will cost S500,000, it was estimated. There will be two additional trestles of steel and concrete only.
 It was also pointed out here that practically all of the materials will be furnished by the Birmingham district This includes the steel rail, the ties that are being placed and the steel to be used in the construction of the trestles.
 In order to indicate to what lengths the railway is going to eliminate bridges, it was stated that one fill will contain more than 3,000,000 yards of earth and will be more than one mile long and 90 feet high. It is stated that upward of 35 steam shovels are Nat work now on the excavation assisted by an army of railroad constructors.
 Eliminates Loses
 For many years the Central of Geor- gia had suffered in money and time on account of the cervatures between Birmingham and Columbus. The state ment has been made that the losses from drawheads being pulled ont, from delayed trains and from wrecks, which have not been infrequent, has been suf. ficient in the last five years to almost pay for the giant tsk that is being executed. It is stated that the company will save in increased earnings and re. duced operating cost, sum enough to pay for the betterments in the next five years after completion.
 The work is attracting the attention Of railroad and industrial men of this district as no railroad construction has in many years and the completion oi the line will be hailed with unusual delight. It was pointed out here Mon. day that the work contemplates a double track all the way some time in the near future, and provisions are be- ing made with that in views.