The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-12-16
4 Great Railroad Work.

The Seaboard Air Line has taken one
step, which seems to be in advance of ev-
cry other railroad in the South, looking
to the benefit of the agricultural interests
of the country tributary to it and to the
enlargement of its efforts to attract i'm
migration and capital for investment.
This is to be found in the organization Of
plans for the establishment of 100 expert
mental stations along the line Of It's road,
giving one experimental point to every
ten miles Of its system. It is proposed
by the management to take 100 small
tracts Of land Immediately along the line
of its road, and under the direction of the
beat experts to utilize these bodies Of
land for showing what can be done in the
diversifcation Of farm interests and for
the growing of farm products not now
raised in the South. The experiments Of
this company in proving that hops and
other products not heretofore raised in
that section can be grown successfully in
that territory have shown to the officers
the wisdom of very greatly enlarging the
scope Of these experimental stations.
not bs large enough to be financial bur-
den to the railroad, but at the same time
will be large enough to amply demon
strate the best methods of cropgrowing
and the best crops adapted to the various
sections of the country. 1t is proposed
to experiment with large number of
crops not now produced in that territory,
such as hops, broom corn, New England
beans, celery. sugar beets and other pro-
ducts which may be made to profitably
diversity the agricultural interests of the
region between Norfolk and Atlanta.
The South annually spends immense
sums for products of this kind which are
brought from other sections, and which
could be raised at home to even better
advantage than elsewhere. 1t taking the
lead in this kind of educational work,
the Seaboard deserves the heartiest COM
mendation of every one Interested in
Southern advancement. These expert
mental stations will not only prove Of
immense value to all farmers now loca-
ted along the line of the road, but will be
the means Of showing to thousands of
prospective settlers from other sections
what can be done in the South, and will
thus be the means of greatly increasing
immigration to that region.
This, however, is only. a part of the
plans OF the Seaboard looking to the de-
velopms snt of the territory along its line.
1t is proposed to organize department,
which will not only have charge Of the
experimental stations, but which will also
give careful attention to the study of the
best markets to which such products
should be shipped, thus aiding the farm
ers in securing the greatest returns. In
cluded in this general work will also be
special efforts to improve the grade of the
live stock on adjacent farms.
In connection with these plans, there
will also be established an industrial de-
partment, in charge of Mr.. John It. Pat
rick, of Pine Bluff, N. c., who for some
years was State immigration agent of
North Carolina, and who has Of recent
years been identified with extensive i'm
migration and development work at
Southern Pines and other points along
the line of this road.
This feature of the work will take in
the question Of making known the indus
trial resources and capabilities of the
country and Of aiding to the utmost ex-
tent In the development of manufactur-
ing interests. Manufacturers Record.