The Norfolk & Western road is also securing the necessary legislation to enter Washington.
One of the indications of the rapidly-developing trade between the North and South is the establishment of a fast through freight from New York to the South by the Atlantic Coast Line. Freight under the new regulation, no matter how small the consignment, is rushed through from the North without delay. With each succeeding season this service has been expanded and improved, keeping pace with the development of the industries which produced it, until finally it has reached a point of usefulness and perfection upon which it would be difficult to improve. Until the present season, however, this special service has been confined to a northward-going schedule, but lately it has become apparent that the demand for a similar service from the North to the South was daily becoming more and more urgent. The Atlantic Coast Dispatch has also established a line of refrigerator cars out of New York for Charleston, the service being designed to furnish the safest and most expeditious transportation for all southward-going perishable freight. These cars will prove of especial advantage to the large shippers of apples, butter and other perishable articles.
It is believed that the Richmond & Danville’s present management will soon secure a seaboard outlet at Norfolk or Portsmouth, either by acquiring the Atlantic & Danville, which, as stated elsewhere, is to be purchased by the English bondholders at foreclosure sale and reorganized, or by building a new line. The plans of a new company which has been formed to build an extension of the Atlantic & Danville from Danville to Bristol, Tenn., passing through rich and undeveloped coal and ore lands, are told of elsewhere. The building of the proposed Virginia Seaboard & Western road, and the control of the Atlantic & Danville by the Richmond & Danville, would give the latter not only a new seaboard terminus, but also a large coal, timber and ore traffic from Tennessee and Virginia, as well as establish a new route from Tennessee, Kentucky and the Northwest to the Atlantic.
The projectors of the Gulf & Interstate Railroad to extend from North Dakota to the Gulf of Mexico have secured an option on property at Port Bolivar, on Galveston bay, opposite Galveston, Texas, with a view to making that the terminus of the road.
The New York, Texas & Mexican and the Gulf, Western Texas & Pacific roads, both parts of the Southern Pacific system, have elected the following-named officers: President, J. Kruttschnitt; vice-president, W. S. Hoskins; secretary, B. M. Smith; treasurer, W. J. Craig.
A movement is on foot to establish a steamship line between Jacksonville, Fla., and Providence, R. I.
The Baltimore & Ohio is said to be planning to extend its Valley division from Lexington to Roanoke.
The Clyde Steamship Co. is considering an extension of its service to New Orleans.
Business on the Norfolk & Southern is developing to such an extent in North Carolina that the company has decided to establish six new stations in that State.
The Illinois Central Railroad is exhibiting great energy in the matter of inducing immigration to the South. Mr. E. P. Skene, land commissioner of the road, at Chicago, Captain J. F. Merry, Manchester, Iowa, assistant passenger agent, Mr. J. M. Eberle, of Chicago, land and immigration agent, Mr. C. W. McGinnes, land commissioner of the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley Railroad, located at Memphis, Mr. J. T. Savage, division superintendent of the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley Railroad, at Greenville, Miss., are all giving active and comprehensive attention to this work.