The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-12-03
RAILROAD DEVELOPMEN {
IN THE SOUTHERN STATES DUR.
ING FIVE YEARS.
The Passenger and Freight Busl.
ness D9ubled-HistOry Of
Leading Systems.

9th says: During the last five year
there Nas been a remarkable increasl
az reiIwA'y facilities in the Southern
States. \ his is shown not alone in tn,
amount Of new railway construction
but bv tie n eater prosperity OF tn
older roads and the better accommo
dstiops furnished,
The change Of gsEA' 9 was an absolute
necessity in order 20 9, liable the COM
panies TO economicalIs handle the
larger volume OF business and to make
easier the operation of through trains.
Another most noticeable facI is the
quicker time OF express trains. II is
only year ago that the journey from
st. Louis TO Nashville consumed III 3
greater part Of day and night, while
now it is made in night or day. We
can hardly realize that ten years ago
perhaps a majority OF careful railway
men believed that the protected Gin.
einnati Southern would be an I'M
profitable venture.
The fist noticeable improvement in
the condition. OF Southern railways
came from ths absorption Of small by
large lines and the building up Of ex-
tensive systems, The Louisville and
Nashville, ths Richmond and Danville
and the Central of Georgia were the
pioneers and aftarWard came the ex-
tension OF the Illinois Central to New
Orleans by the purchase of the old
lines between that city and Cairo.
THESE cancellations have resulted
in an immense improvement in The
physical condition Of the roads and
8 imulus to traffic. In conjunction
with the northern connections an Of
fort was successfully made to build up
an exchange OF commodities between
the Southern and Northern States and
for the encouragement of tourist
travel. II the figures were obtainable
they would probably show that the
passenger and freight business OF the
Southern railways has doubled during
the last eight or ten years and at the |
same time the rates have been re-
duced.
OF the comparatively new systems
The most conspicuous is the Oincin.
natl, New Orleans and Texas Pacific.
The northern part, the Cincinnati
Southern, has more than realized the
expectation OF it's prof for it has
great artery Of traffic and
Immediately stimulated the competi-
ion of the Kentucky Central and Jel-
leo line between Cincinnati aud
Before this the Alabama
treat Southern was can improbable
md wretched relic of disappointed
ropes, but it quickly began to mend
When connected with the Ohio river
" the new road.
The construction of the New Or
cans and North Eastern completed
he direct line to New Orleans and
hat terrible burlesque on q railroad,
he Vicksburg, Shreveport and Pa
ific, has been extended to Shreve-
'oIt, placed in safe condition and
with its eastern outlet by
transfer and incline, thus ending its
ISOLATION, The growth OF this system
as been rapid and on the whole salts.
aetory.
The East Tennessee, Virginia aud
ieorgia has been built up into an i'm.
ortant railroad system. The old
Hue Mountain route was always a
avorits but it needed eaterpriss to
Cquire the Macon and Brunswick
nd supply the missing links between
he former city and Chattanoogs. The
ompany now has In connection with
ne Norfolk and Western line reach.
1g from the Potomac'and the Allan
C to Memphis, Brunswick and Meri.
ian. This combination has not yet
ttained its growth but, revivifed by
ne reorganization, Is preparing for
ew ventureP.
The Newport News and Mississippi
alley and it's connection, the Louis.
lille, New Orleans and Texas, ia also
ew conner on the stage, in which the
Id Chesapeake and Ohio woud
,arcely be recognized. 1t seems only
ne other day that passengers took the
.esmers from Huntington to Oincin-
att, and we're often stranded for days
n some trescherous sandbar. The
ig Sandy and the Chesapeake, Ohio
nd Southwestern not only brought
ne Chesapeake and Ohio line to
Iouisville, but also extended it on to
lemphis. The acquisition Of the
-entueky Central furnished the Gin
Innai connection. The route ia now
omplete between Newport News and
ew Orleans, and the results upon the
jjscent districts are beneficial in the
xtreme.
BY the extension OF the Louisville
nd Nashville system to Chattahoo-
hee river, where it was met by the
avannah, Florida and Western and
10 Florida Central and Western,
lorida was made accessible from the
Vest and the long detour by way Of
Iontgomery was avoided. This has
cen followed by the construction OF
large number OF new railways in this
efore little frequented State. 1t is
OF long ago that Jacksonville was the
lost Southern point in Florida
cached by rail and the few visitors to
lis bslmy section pursued their jour
ey farther by boat.
Now the railways cross and recross
J far down as Tampa and Kissim-
ice City, aud the change amounts to
virtual revolution. tbs but short '
uo Wy Itll nun OdChhOnNllio W Dbs
and almost hundreds of {
ew towns have sprung up all through |
le central part Of the State, all rail- :
ay stations. Florida is the most I
example OF what enter.
rise has Of late years done for the /
)uthern Sta 90, aud each year the {
de Of tourist travel and volume OF it's
ade increase.
The Mobile and Ohio was almost
le last to shake of the old lethargy,
ut within the year it has become l
'oused. The poor little narrow
luge between East st. Louis. and
afro was acquired, rebuilt and made
part Of the line whereby st. Louis s
scame its northern terminus. Under ,
5 present efficient staff the road
'omises to be live competitor for
! the business to bs bad.
We cannot speak as fully as we !
ould like Of this improvement and
DIV construction. It would be inter-
ting to note in detail the steady {