Fitzgerald Enterprise

A state road from Chattanooga to Savannah
full length of the state to connect at Chattanooga
with a system reaching the lakes at Chicago
via Cincinnati is one of the possibilities of the
future--decidedly more than a pipe dream.

Governor elect Hoke Smith has evolved the
idea which is attracting serious attention from
men capable of putting the plan into execution,
if the Georgia Legislature is willing.

Mr. Smith has written a Chicago inquirer
on the subject;

MR. SMITH'S
LETTER

"I am very much interested in the rail-
road rates from the lakes to Georgia. Our
state owns a railroad from Atlanta to Chat-
tanooga and there is a strong sentiment in
favor of extending it to Savannah.

"If Cincinnati would reclaim control of
the line built by its citizens from Cincinnati
to Chattanooga, and Cincinnati and Chicago
would join in a movement for the construc-
tion of a line from Chicago to Cincinnati.
there might be made a through trunk line
from Chicago to Savannah, operated solely
for the purpose of paying expenses and in-
terest on the actual cost of construction
without the burden of watered stock and
bonds.

"Such a line would prove beneficial, not
only to the great cities through which it
passed but to a broad territory adjacent to
the line. It would regulate freight rates
from the central northwest to the southeast.
It would reduce freight rates more than 25
per cent. It would have a marked influence
upon our trade relations.

"I give you the line of thought, which is on
my mind, because I believe the time must
come when the question of cheap transpor-
tation from Chicago to the southeastern
ports will be one which must interest your
citizens as it now interests the people of our
sections."

CHICAGO IS INTERESTED.

From the letter of Mr. Smith it is evident
that the authorities in Chicago are already
aroused to the feasibility and importance of
the suggestion made by the governor-elect
of Georgia. Mr. Smith has accepted an in-
vitation to deliver the principal address at
the annual meeting and banquet of the Cin-
cinnati Shippers' association, which will oc-
cur during the second week in March.

In his speech then he will likely go furth-
er into the proposition and should the forces
of Chicago, Cincinnati and Atlanta be fi-
ally joined in the great movement suggested
by the governor-elect, the establishment of
a grand trunk line from the great lakes to
Savannah will be only a question of time.