Birmingham age-herald., 1895-04-15
WITH THE RAILROADS.


 The excellent financial showing made by southern railways as a whole during 1894 has called forth an elaborate review of their operations in the Daily Stock holder, from which the following is quoted:
 All in all. southern roads did we'll in the late year. Influences which worked great hardships to western properties were practically absent in the south prop CT. It is also true that In that section there were missing many factors which assisted in unmaking business and re- ceipts in the thickly settled manufactur- ing districts of the north and east and upon the great trunk lines. Against an average decrease of 11.26 per cent in the gross earnings of the country at large, the south shows decrease of only 2.8 per cent.
 The southern roads made the best aY- craze exhibit of any group of roads. It was beaten as to profits only by the New England group, where there was a gain. But it must be remembered that the south had the conspicuous advan- tage of an enormous cotton movement. As compared with 1893 this Is repre- scented by an increase in the number of bales carried of 22 per cent. There were transported overland 1899, 793 bales, an increase of 292, 1926 bales, and there were TeCelVeQ at the ports o,ooo,ZOo bales, an increase of 1,1S0,312 bales, or total in- crease of nearly 1,250,000 bales. In addi- ton crops in the south were good, and shipments impossible under normal con ditions, were made to many points us- ually served by other sections. What the exhibit of earnings and profits would have been like with the gain in the cotton movement eliminated can only be conjectured It is certain that the influence it exerted upon the totals ,,;f0 raI a.,1 bot cause and the strict enforcement of economies in operation many roads were enabled to put before their stockholders statements of a much more pleasant na- ture than would have been possible oth- erwise."
 Another Line in View.
 Birmingham is to have another rail- road, or at least that is the latest we'll founded rumor af1oat and it may be stated in the outset, if these rumors are carried out they mean much to the Magic City of the south, for~it means a line direct from here to Tampa, Fla, via Jacksonville.
 Last night in the lobby of the Florence hotel a well known railroad man, who has reliable information from the 'in- side' stated to an Age-Herald reporter that a scheme was on foot to bring the Florida Central and Peninsula into Bir- mingham and thereby open up direct line to Jacksonville and Tampa, Fla.
 
 for some time, but just now it is assum- ing definite shape.
 For long time the Plant system has had nearly everything their own way in the state of Florida, but at the same time the Florida Central and Peninsula has been gaining hold and becoming more popular
 Now it is understood that this line will be extended here and will come from Quincy, Fla, a point on the Florida Gen. Peninsula EanrOia state line.
 This will shorten the distance be- tween Birmingham and Jackson, He at least 150 miles, and at the same time make the best route from Birmingham to Chicago, St. Louis and other points.
 Moreover the line it is understood, would work in connection with a line of steamers between Tampa and Cuba, and thereby reap nice amount of business.
 The project is one in which Birmng- ham will take great interest.
 l.. 6 N Earnings.
 Comptroller Cushman Quarrier of the Louisville and Nashville has just issued comparative statement of gross earn lngs of his road for the first week in April, which are $340,990, against $349,- 1885, making decrease of $S395 as com pared with the same week of last year.
 The earnings from July l, 1894, to April ', 1895, show $15,091, ,16S, against $14899.- 531 from July |. 1893, to April 2, 1894, mak- ing an increase over last year of $19l, ,637.
 Personal and General.
 MT. Alex M. Byrum of the Big Four is in the city.
 MT. Charles Jones of the Kansas City, Memphis and Birmingham, returned from trip to Florida yestsrday
 MT ". H. Brill of the St. Louis and Cairo Short Line, with headquarters in St. Louis, who has been in Florida, passed through the city last nght en route home.