Newspaper Page Text
TS.
ESTABLISHED 1879.
AMERICUS. GEORGIA. FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 1889.
HOW ABOUT IT!
. REPORT and denial that
A THE s. a. m. sold out.
«h»t th. Savannah and Brunswick
Paper* S*y--Mr. Belknap De-
nie**-- the Story.
Kor several days the Savannah
(l4 |,ers have been filled with articles
to the effect that Col. S. H. Hawk-
ins had sold his Savannah Hue to
the Central people for a large sum
of money.
With this report comes a denial
from Manager Belknap, of the Cen
tral.
It is also reported that all work
on the S. A. M. line has been dis
continued beyond McRae.
Below we publish the articles in
full, believing that they will be In
teresting reading:
TAKEN IN BY HAWKINS.
HOW THE RAILROAD COLONEL
WORKED SAVANNAH AND
THE CENTRAL.
After Getting the People to Subscribe ITn
Jtier the Idea that He Would Build the 8.
A. & M.s He Sella Out to an Opposition
Company.
Savannah Time*, August
Atlanta, Aug. 6.—Mr. Hawkius
has sold out to the Central and his
road will not be extended to Savan
nah nor Montgomery thla year or
any other year. It is now amusiug
to remember his boast that his road
was to be built by Georgians and
owned and run by Georgians. His
rotd will becoms a part of the Sa
vannah and Western. Hawkins
played against odds, but he has
won and made a glittering pile.
Several months ago. the Central
offered him for bis road a profit of
|300,000. This information come to
me indirectly from Perry Clegg, a
member of the construction com
pany. The offer was tempting but
was refused. It was too small.
When Hawklna failed to pay for
the road from Atlanta to Fort Val
ley the {Central people thought he
was played ont. He was on his last
legs but his courage never tailed
him. His legs wore strong enough
to take him to Baltimore. There
he enlisted the attention of Brown
Bros., a branch of the famous Lon
don banking bouse, and deadly
enemies of the Terminal people.
They advanced him money on his
road as be built it. He did not stop
here and got a bill Introduced in the
Legislature to forfeit the Savannah
and Western oharter.' The Central
came to terms. What terms? That
is the question. Hawkius has used
the people of Savannah aud the
Legislature of Georgia and has
made his Jack. Savannah, how
ever, has another road. Of course,
Hawkins no longer desires to forfeit
the charter, and he has drawn off
his lobbyists, but there are a thous
and left. And such lobbyists!
female suffrage prevailed they
could not be counted on to vote
tbeir own wives. The railroads
sprinkle the Legislature all over
with political dandruff. It is
wonder that every charter in the
State is not abolished. A Connect!
cut lawyer is now in Atlanta. His
clients want the waters of Georgia
for fifty and ninety-nine years, by
psylug one dollar an acre for them,
This lawyer paid the partner of a
legislator to draw the oyster bill,
He tried to pay the legislators to do
this. The chance* are that the
Connecticut lawyer will get his
bill through He has suob persua
sive ways that one almost forgets
that lobbying la a crime in Georgia
The State has a nice new Capitol
There is not a rotten timber in it.
G. H.
ALL THINK IT IS SOLD.
COLONEL HAWKINS NOT REQARDED
WITH MUCK FAVOR AT PRESENT
Thow Who Were Prominent In Endeavor-
In* to Secure the Necessary 150,000 Ac.
knowledge That the Amerlcus Man De.
celred Them—Its Effect In the Future.
Savannah Times, Aug. 0.
The annouucemsnt in yesterday’s
Times that Col. Hawkins had sold
out his paper road to the Central
system, created considerable sur
prise among many of the long list
of subscribers to the fund that was
to entice the wary Amerlcus man
to make Savannah Ills terminus.
To a number of the main pushers
of the movement here it was not
unexpected. They had been suspi
cious as to the veracity of Hawkins’
statements for some time and began
to look upon him at a man whose
schemes would well bear watching.
Their fears lack positive confirma
tion, but thejdispatcb giving a few
of the details of the deal was gener
ally accepted as reliable and tbe
doughty Colonel came in for no lit'
tie amount of opprobious compli
ments.
To-day not one interested party
could be found who was wiliiug to
express himself as believing that
Col. Hawkius bad ever been sin
cere. “I have doubted him for
some time past,” said Mr. Isaac
Haas, one of tbe collecting commit
tee, to a Times reporter. “We
wrote to him and received evasive
replies. We invited him to Savan
nah. He set a date and then began
putting it oft - . When he finally did
come he displayed the greatest cau
tion not to meet those most inter
ested in tbe project. I suppose at
that time the sale was literally con
summated, so that be was amply
JustifleiPfn remaining away from
those whom he had deceived. One
thing, at least, is satisfactory; Col.
Hawkins is now known in bis true
character. He worked a clever
scheme aud succeeded at tbe ex
pense of public confidence. That
Savannah is injured very mucb,
except iu tbe distrust future enter
prises will meet, I do not believe.”
OTHER EXPRESSIONS.
Mr. J. P. Williams, one of those
who worked the hardest to secure
the necessary 150,000 said, “Yes, I
accept it as a fact that Col. Hawkins
has sold out. His actions during his
visit last week almost confirmed the
suspicion some of us entertained
that he was endeavoring to dloker
with the Central. I suppose he
made a pretty sum out of it. Of
course I am sorry tnat It has turned
out so but the only loss that occurs
to Savannah from his failure to
carry out bis promises Is that caused
by the absence of machine shop#
that wonld have been erected here
as the main terminus of an inde
pendent road, Increasing tbe popu
lation considerably. We had no
agreement that six months after
tbe Savannah, Amerlcus and Mont
gomery road Was finished he and
bis associates would not sell It to
,tha Richmond Terminal through
the Central. -That Is probably what
he contemplated in case tbe road
was pushed to completion. As ills
the Central may run lta Eden ex-
tenilon over the route he had laid
out for the 8. A. A M. Both roads
were to go through the same terri
tory, so Savaunah Is uot deprived of
any tributary country. Nobody in
Savannah is out of pocket, and the
ouly thing lost is confidence in Col,
Hawkins.”
“What effect do you suppose it
It will have on the South Bound or
future projects of a similar nature
asked the reporter.
“A* to the South Bound,” replied
Mr. Williams, "I consider It bene,
tidal. Business men generally are
freed from $35,000 worth of sub
scrlptlons. Tbe South Bound
mainly managed by citizens as to
whose trustworthiness there is no
doubt. What is more reasonable to
suppose than that a large portion of
the money subscribed to Hawkins'
road will be simply diverted to the
road which Is to run into a new and
rich territory, and, it Is hoped
largely Increase Savannah’s trade.
As Mr. Haas and others think with
reference to future railroad projects
so do I. Anybody coming from out
side, like Col. Hawkius, aud at
tempting to engineer another
scheme, is very apt to meet with
anything but a hearty financial re
spouse.”
Mr. Herman Myers had uo reason
to doubt that Col. Hawkins either
had sold or was trying to sell the
new line. “When he was last here,”
he said, “he wae extremely reticent.
He hinted that there was nothing
in the rumor* that he was trying to
steal a march on those who were
ipportlng the enterprise, but still
did not emphatically deny them as
a man would have done If Qum
was no foundation for them. White
we have not heard from him, I
tbluk when the news does come it
will be of the same nature aeithat
set forth in the Times yesterday.
As to the effect on the South Bound
I think It must be beneficial in ma
terially increasing subscriptions.
Its prospects are very flattering and
ail of the promises its projectors
have made will be carried out.
Other subscribers to the Hawk
ins’ fund expressed themselves
similarly. As onelu closlng sald,
“The Colonel couldn’t get $3 In Sa
vannah for any new enterprise
which he was pushing.’
GOOD-BYE, SAM.
tor of tbe Savannah Times, went up
to Atlanta a few days ago, to see
what the general assembly was do
ing.
He saw.
He also made some discoveries
outside of the new capitol.
In a very peppery letter to his
paper, he tells the following woeful
tale concerning the Savannah,
Amerlcus and Montgomery rail
road:
[Here tbe Times publishes tha
Savannah Times article of Aug. fith,
telegraphed from Atlanta.)
WHAT ABOl’T THE BOATS?
Mr. Hartrldge’s story is doubtless
founded upon facts, and another
railroad scheme has netted band-
some profits to its projectors.
Now, what about the boat* which
are plying between Abbeville, the
Savannah, Americus and Mont
gomery’s eastern terminus, and
Brunswick?
Will they be taken off the line?
A Times reporter tried to get the
answer to this question, yesterday,
but he didn’t succeed to his satis
faction. One gentleman, who haa
recently been in Atlanta, said that
It was probable that the Central
would not only not take the boat*
off, but that other boats would be
put on.
“Don’t you see,” be continued,
that the Savannah, Amerlcus and
Montgomery railroad gives the
Ceutral, via tbe Abbeville and
Brunswick boats, an independent
entrance Into Brunswick? This is
what the Cenirai has long wauled.
MERE OPINIONS.
“The people of Brunswick have
had a different Impression,” said
the reporter.
"I know they have, but they have
been mistaken. The Central haa
long wanted to get into Brunswick,
and It looks now as If it had suo-
ceed. It can now compete with
both the East Tennessee, Virginia
and Georgia, and the Brunswlok at
this port."
A oltizen who keeps a tally sheet;
upon which he records the various
road to Newnan, connecting with
'North
the Savannah. Griffin and
Alabama and tbe Chattanooga,
Rome and Columbus. The link is
about twenty miles long. A corps
of engineers has been organized
■will
ill go Into the field at once,
uildlng of the road will give
railway. The following roads form
the system: The Amerlcus and Sa
vannah line, Columbus and Buena
Vista, Columbus and Western and
the Roanoke line. To complete the
^contemplated lines will require a
good deal of money and tbe general
manager said that the Central will
take its time about building them.
They will be built, however, and it
HOW MB. HAWKINS WORKED SA
VANNAH AND THE CENTRAL.
The Allegation. of Mr. d«»wajr HMWdg.
-He Think* Hawkins 1* **•**•*
What l* to Become of th# Abbeville Boate?
—Some Opinion*.
Brunswick Time*.
Mr. Gazaway Hartridge, the edi-
to the reporter
“Please announce to the people
that Brunswick will save her $50,000
which was to have been offered
Hawkius as a bonus to bring tile
eastern terminus of bis road here.
At the same time please suggest
that a good way to get rid of tbe
$60,000 will be to put it into perma
nent drainage.”
It will be new’s to tbe people that
any such scheme as offering tbe
$50,000 was ever thought of. It isn’t
likely that the city council would
have gone quite so high.
In the meantime BtTmtwlck con
tinues to grow and prosper, and Is
more ready to staud by the roads
she b is than ever.
and
The bu:
Columbus a short line to Atlanta
over the Atlanta and West Point
railroad from Newnau.
General Manager Belknap said
that tbe construction of the road is
not a recent Idea. The plan was in
corporated in the grant of the Sa
vannah and Western railroad. The
Central Intended to build the road,
sometime, when It secured the
gran*.
THE COLUMBUS AND ROME ROAD.
The Columbus aud Rome road is
at present a narrow guage, but it
will be made a standard guage.
The Savannah and Western rail
road, Major Belknap said, compre
hends a considerable amount of
Unotlikdg^he said, that any de;
lays in their construction 'will
occur. The engineer corps for the
Columbus and Rome extension,
which has just been organizqd, will
go out this week.
IT HAS NOT BEEN SOLO.
Colonel Uowklu Denies That tho Sa
vannah. America* and Montgomery
TVs* Sold.
Atlanta Constitution, August 81b.
For the past two weeks there has
been rumors to the effect that the
Central Railroad and Banking Com
pany had purchased the Savannah,
Americus and Montgomery rail
way, In order to prevent lta build
ing into Savannah, and to destroy
competition at Americas.
Col. S. H. Hawkins, president of
the Savannah and Montgomery
road waa in the city yesterday, and
a Constitution reporter talked with
him upon the eubject.
“Oar road,’’.eald President Hawk
ins, “has not been sold, nor will it
movements of the city council, said L M , 0 ld. On tbe contrary, we here
MAJ. BELKNAP SAYS NO.
THE CENTRAL HAS NOT BOUGHT
COL. HAWKINS’ ROAD.
The Savannah and Western Being Pushed
Without Regard to the Amerlcus and
Montgomery Rond—The Central to Ex
tend the Columbus and Rome Road from
Greenville to Newnan, and Work to Bagln
at Once.
Savannah News, 7th.
General Manager Belknap nays
that tilt* report that the Central
railroad has bought tbe Savannah,
Americus and Montgomery is uu-
true. Ttie Central, be says, does not
want Col. Hawklna’ road.
“If we bought it. we would have
to build a new road out oflt,” Maj.
Belknap said. “Our survey for the
Savannah and Western * Is made
already, and the work of '(construc
tion is being vigorously pushed, and
the road will be built to Sterling,
distance of about sixty miles, before
any further plans will be made.”
Maj. Belknap said that the Sa
vannah, Amerlcus and Montgomery
will be built to Sterling also, but he
did not think any significance can
attach to that fact. Certainly not
enough to warrant the circulation
of the report of the deglutition of
the Hawkins road by the Central.
Maj. Belknap says that he is more
interested in what the Central is
doing toward carrying out its plans
which were adopted some years ago
' ' ' ' tf
than be Is about the reported scoop.
THE CENTRAL MAY BE RELIED ON.
The people will learn afterawhlle,
he said, that the Central may be
counted upon to accomplish every
thing it says it will. It was the in
tention all along to build the Savan
nah and Western, and when the
time came around, without any con
tribution from the people or any
fanfare of trumpets, It took up the
work. Not a day has been lost since
it began, and in the same manner,
he said, *
the road will be completed
The latest news in simple railroad
circle* Is the building of tbe link
from Greenville to Newnan, or tbe
extension of tbe Columbus and
Rome railroad, which is a branch
of the Savannah and Western rail-
jntt perfected arrangement* by
which it will not only retain It* In
dependence, but will give to the
people all along Ua line all the ad
vantages In through rates of a great
trank line, as well as tbe advanta
ges of all rail connections to two
of the most important port* on the
Atlantic coast—Savannah and
Brunswick.”
“What are the arrangement# yon
allude to?”
“You know that we started out to
extend our road to Savannah, In
order to get a direct line to deep
water. It is true that at McRae we
will connect with the East Tennes
see, Virginia and Georgia road for
Brunswick, but it was only a con
nection and we could not control
through rates. Originally we had
Intended to run a straight line east
from McRae to Savannah, but upon
surveying the route we found that
It would run through a country that
promised but little local trafflo and
was costly to build through. For
this reason we diverged at McRae
and went in a northernly direction.
This placed us almost Upon the
same line that bad been surveyed
by tbe Central for Its Savannah
and Western extension. At that
time we did not think the Central
really intended to build tbat line,
but regarded it more at a bluff to
deep us from building our road-
We made a proposition to tbe peo
ple of Savannah that if they would
donate $50,000 to aid us In securing
terminal facilities, we would build
to their city; but after four month*
they failed in raising the $50,000 or
in securing an option on land suita
ble for terminal facilities, which
was sufficient evidence to us of the
difficulty of completing our road
Into Savannah within any reasona
ble time.
In the meantime the Central
was rapidly pushing forward Its
work on Its Savannah and Western
extension. It soon became evident
that if tbe two roads were to be
built so closely psrallel to each
other both must suffer, without any
corresponding benefit to the coun
try. For this reason and for the
purpose of securing an early en
trance into Savannah, an arrange
ment was made with the Cei tral
by which we will run our trains
over Us track from our Eastern ter
minus, which will be at Sterling
Into Savannah, and the Central
runs Its trains over our road from
Sterling to Americus. In other
tion of the two roads under one
management?”’
“No, sir; nothing of the kind.
Each road retains Its own manage
ment, and In that respect is thor
oughly Independent of the other. It
Is merely a traffic arrangement.”
“Does this arrangement preclude
you from extending your road to
Savannah?”
“No, there is no such agreement
It leaves us free to terminate our
traffic arrangement and extend our
road to Savannah whenever we
choose to do so, and the Central has
the same privilege of extending to
Americas.”
“Does the Central own any of the
stock of your road ?”
“Not a share tbat I know of. In
fact, all but a very small portion of
the stock of our road is held by the
Amerlcus Investment Company,
composed of citizens of Amerlcus,
which for the past three years has
controlled the road. No, air; you
need have no fears on that score.
The road haa not been sold, nor haa
It relinquished In the slightest de
gree its Independence—In fact, it
haa strengthened It by securing an
Immediate eastern outlet upon the
moil favorable terms and given to
our people now such rates as we
could not have otherwise have
given them for some time and after
an Immense expenditure of money.
The Central haa no voice In the
management of ourrps.i, n orw« In
their*—U I* limply a trafflo ar
rangement, to last only *o long salt
1* agaeeable to both parties.”
A TELEGRAPH FROM MACON.
After reaching Macon, Colonel
Hawkln* sent the following tele
gram to the Constitution:
Macon, Ga,, August 7.—Atlanta
Constitution: Last April the busi
ness men of Savannah, among other
things, sgreed to p*y the Savannah,
Amerlons and Montgomery railway
$50,000 to secure lta extension as an
Independent line Into Savannah.
They are now reminded that they
only have to comply with their con
tract to secure their rights.
AWKINS.
that will be built by Georgians and
run by them?
Or Is the Colonel less hostile than
formerly to tbe stranger tbat la
within his gates, the Richmond
Terminal ?
Does the Colonel still desire to
forfeit the oharter of the Savannah
and Western ?
Or, is It a part of the trafflo agree
ment that the charter be left alone?
In all this our effort la only to get
at foots, to divide sentiment from
business, and to hold up for mild
reproach what may be termed
packet patriotism. We do not
mean to censure Col. Hawkln*. Ho
has looked after his own interests,
and in doing so he has rendered
services of some value to Savannah.
He has not given us an independent
line to the West, but we cannot
claim that he waa bound to do to.
Savannahlans must help them
selves, and not wait for outside aUb
The Colonel has done a good work.
Let us rejoice In his prosperity.
Meanwhile we wait for another in
dependent line to the West. What
Is the matter with the Savannah,
Western, Dublin Air Line.
Mr. William*' Vlaw of It.
Time* 7th Auguit.
Mr. J. P. William?, who waa
quoted in yesterday’s Tjmes on tha
■ale of the Savannah, Americas and
Montgomery by Col. Hawklna to
tho Central, request* that a part iff
the statement attribute to him be
quoted as below, which la the Sen*'
guage he used: “The only loss
whloh Savannah sustains by reason
of the road not coming here on an
Independent lins la that caused by
the absence of machine shoos whloh
would bo erected hero aa the main
terminus of an Independent road,
' ' ' & ‘ **--* ' enefit
and also tbe loss of that benefit
whloh would naturally have re-
Increase of popula-
sulted from an I
tlon and an advance in real estate.”
words, through freight and passen-
r trains will be run from Birm
ingham to Savannah, our road fret
ting its pro rata share of the traffic
according to mileage.”
“Is this uot in effect a consoltda-
Hawkjaa* Trafflo Agraasaawt.
Savannah Time*.
Col. Hawkins spsnt yesterday In
Atlanta. Hs denied the statement
in the Times thiit the Central had
bought up his road. He says the
Central doe* not own any of the
■took, and.baa no control or voice
in lta management. President
Hawkln* said, however, that he had
entered Into a traffic arrangement
with tbe Central, by which the Sa
vannah, Americus' and Montgom
•ry road wonld extends Its line to
Sterling and run from Sterling Into
Savannah over the Central’s tracks,
and the Central will run over the
Savannah, Americus and Mont
gomery from Sterling to Amerloui,
the arrangement to terminate on
reasonable notice by either party
We de uot desire to charge Col.
Hawkius with a misstatement, but
we suggest that If the Central haa
not paid for his road, It is expected
that it will do so.
The Savannah and Western,
branch of the Central In effect, haa
Isaued bonds to the extent of $6,000,-
000. The road to Americus Is part
of the security for these bonds,
They were placed on condition of
the road’a completion. Col. Hawk,
ins says only a trafflo agreement
waa made between bis road and th*
Central. But a trafflo agreement is
not what capitalists lend money on.
A trafflo agreement Is not security
for bonds. It la absurd to pretend
that the Savannah and Western
bond holders will be satisfied with
a road that ends at Sterling.
Does Col. Hawkins mean to say
that he la going On with his road
and that the Central is going on with
lta extension? The facte do not
bear him out. Indeed, he does not
say so.
No, the Colonel can prove tbat he
t* serious in bia extension by ex
tending.
It Is easy for him to prove the we
are mistaken, much easier than it
Is for us to prove tbat we are cor
rect.
The only evidence we can offer 1*
tbat he haa ceased to extend hia
line, and that the Central will use
hi* read. If the Colonel prefers to
call th* adjustment a traffic agree
ment, we cannot dispute his right
to do so.
Bat we will ask him, does he still
contend that the Savannah, Ameri
cus and Montgomery road (will bo
extended to embrace these three
cities in a reasonable time, say in
“one life time and tbe usual pro
duction thereafter,” to use tbe lan
guage of the law?
And does tbe Colonel still adhere
to his boast that bis road is one
Watermelon Syrup.
After commenting on the good re
sults growing ont of tbe watermelon
crops the present season, by ship
ping the same to Northern points,
and the element* of uncertainty aa
to profit* from handling the erop In
this way, the Macon Telegraph
»y»:
Col. William Duncan, of South
Carolina, believes tbat the water
melon crop may be made reliably
profitable, and In a way that will
greatly enhance lta importance.
After i ‘ ‘
numerous experiments he Is
convinced that the manufacture of
watermelon syrap can be made a
profitable Industry. The
hs* made from watormel
syrup he
slons, he
says, was excellent, superior in
flavor to cane syrap. All who tasted
syrup. All
it agreed with this estimate,
Col. Dunci * * *
uncan found no difficulty In
selling at a good price all he made.
Watermelon syrap, be thinks, coaid
be very easily made popular, and
suoh a large and steady demand for
Reestablished as would lead to lta
general manufacture In tbe water
melon regions. After extracting the
juice, what remains of the melon
oan be pnt to exoellent use as feed
for stock. Enough can be realized,
according to Col. Dnnoan, from the
same of this refuse to pay for the
making of tbe syrap. He believe*
that the watermelon orop would
bring more money if converted into
syrap than If marketed at good
prices for tbe raw fruit. He esti
mates that the crop of Barnwell
county, B. C., this year could easily
have been made to bring $200,000 u
It had been tamed Into syrap, a
much greater amount than the
melons would have brought, had
they all been sold. Farmers In
Georgia have often made water
melon syrap for family use and
found It good, bat no effort that we
know of haa ever been made to give
it any commercial value. It seems
very probable that Col. {Duncan’s
euggestton is entirely practicable.
It is at! ‘
i at least worth trying.
Aa OSTaatlva Breath
is most distressing, not only to the
person afflicted If he have any pride,
nut to those with whom he cornea
in contact. It is a delicate matter
to speak of, bnt It baa parted not
only friends but lovers. Bad breath
and catarrh are inseparable. Dr.
Sage’s Catarrh Remedy came tha
worst cases as thousands oan testify.
The discussion regarding the
oldest twins still goes on in various
parte of tbe country, Wilton Cook,
of Wrlghtavilie. Pa., writes as fol
lows to the World: “My grand
mother. Mrs. Martha Cook, and
her twin sister, Misa Mary R.
Stackhouse, recently celebrated
their 87th birthday, and are atUI
hale and hearty and seemingly
good for a number of yeais.”
“Oh I whan ahall net he found?”
The worn-out mother eight;
stocking* to mend, end trowteretodarn.
nwcKinga tu menu, auu iiurkis ivui
in she* to waah. and bntter to churn,
WhU* my back facia to break, and head
and heartburn,
I aummer con
The matron no longer light;
Elaitlo her ttewa, and rounded her cheek*.
Work Menu but play, Ufa It now aweet,
Andtha change waa made In onetbon week
By Dr. Fierce’* Favorite Prescription.
Positive remedy for those de
rangements, Irregularities, and
weaknesses so common to woman
kind.