The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-10-08

roads. The change Of $4,000 miles of
road was practically made in a single day in
1885, This change Mr.. Plant regards as the
beginning Of a new era in the history of
southern railroads and as a pivot upon
which TO change front from the past
to the future of the South Atlantic raiIroa d
system.
The changes whichihave taken place since
that change Of gauge have affected every
department of railroad traffic In replac-
ing light iron rails with heavy steel
wooden bridges of antique plan by struct-
ures OF steel Of modern design, and light
equipment for heavy, the railroad compa-
MES in this region have followed closely
upon their wealLhier connections In the
northern states. Through passenger
trains, equipped IN luxurious style, and
scheduled at high rates of speed, now con-
meet New York with New Orleans and with
Tampa. on the gulf coast of Florida. The
traffic IN cotton, lumber and naval stores,
the principal produces of this region, is
being approached in tonnage by the rap
IDLY increasing trade In early vegetables,
oranges, peaches and watermelons, afford
ing a profitable business in what was
formerly the dull spring and summer sea-
s1n. The ports of Norfolk, Charleston.
Savannah and Jacksonville are thus en-
aoled 20 maintain frequent aud excellent
steamship service with New York and
other northern ports while the perishable
products are also moved in train loads by
fast express service to northern and west
ern cities.
In dwelling upon the development os the
country by railroads, Mr.. Plant says: The
steady stream Of settlers from the eastern
to the western states has flowed first across
the Mississippi, then across the Missouri,
until the fertile prairies have been occupied
up to the margin OF the sage-brush des-
ertS. Now that q generation has
grown to manhood who never saw a
slave, the Southern aAtlantic states Sin
Vlte the northern farmer to build
new homes on the eastern slope of the AL
leghanles, among the foot hills covered with
hard wood forests, in the fertile valley
through which the sparkling waters go bah
Ding along their way to form the mighty
streams which water the plains below. On
this Atlantic slope the farmer from New
England and from the middle states will
ned congenial surroundings amid which to
build tue foundations Of other nurseries Of
republican simplicity, Of civic virtue.n
In reference 10 South American trade he
says: The possibilities which attend the
awakening OF new aud valuable commercial
relations with the West Indies and with
Central and South America demand recog-
milton. Here is one half Of continect get
ting ready to trade with the other half.
South of the Tropic of Cancer the Caribbean
oCh OASAA CACo a JIOusdLu LSlAu1b ana washes
the shores Of Mexico, of Central America
ana of the Spanish main. The forces of
nature have fitted this region for the pro-
duction OF the raw materials OF commerce
under conditions more favorable than exist
elsewhere in the tropics, in Africa or in
Asia. The wealth of Cuba in her iron ore
is just beginning TO be exploited, and all
these treasures of nature, admirable now
mainly for their potency of promise lie
spread out before the ports Of the South At
lautic aud gulf states. These seaports
are at the same or at a lesser railroad dis
tance from the western centers Of trade
than are the commercial ports of the North
Atlantic. They are now enjoying the first
fruits OF reciprocity with the Caribbean re-
featuring industries in the coal and
iron districts OF the south, which is
the inevitable outcome of the great natu-
raj advantages they enjoy; as the great
cities of the west begin 70 appreciate that
their true route TO the trade OF the tropics
lies southwark and not eastward; as the
older cotson-growing states learn to utilize
their cheap negro labor for manufacturing
coarse goods, the South Atlantic from
Charleston to Florida will no longer seek
for foreign trade across the Atlantic ocean,
out will face about to the south and
by the exchange of manufactured
goods for raw materials, lay the
foundations OF q trade that neither Tyre
nor Sidon, Venice nor Genoa ever njoyed.
Their field for future commercial pros perity
lies just below their own southern horizon.
The South Atlantic stretches out bsfore
them as it did before old Spain; the Gulf of
Mexico is to them as the Mediterranean is
to the south of Europe; and to
carry the parallel still further as the
railroad highway for passengers and
mails from London to the East Indies has
stretched down the peninsula OF Italy to
shorten the sea route, even piercing the
Alps for this advantage, so q great com
mercial highway has been gradually ex-
tended down through the South Atlantic
states and the peninsula OF Florida from
New York, our eastern metropolis, to the
West Indies"
The article is illustrated with portraits of
w. w. Gordon. the 6rst president of the
Central railroad of Georgia, R. r. Cuyler,
w. M Wadley, Virgil Powers, G. T. Pol
lard. president of the Montgomery and
Western, and other prominent railroad
men of the past and present, aud map
showing the network Of railways which
h0 taE1