Birmingham state herald., 1896-04-17
RAILWAY FOLKS AND FACTS

The tide of immigration, says Capt. P. Sid Jones, immigration agent of the Lou isville and Nashville has turned south ward and old Nick cannot head it. When sen at his office yesterday afternoon Captain Jones was enthusias- tic and spoke at length of the prospects for great influx of people into Ala bama in the near future. He referred to Thorsby. the new ScAndinavian colony organized by him about four months ago. This soelonyis halfsa mile north of Strasbourg and between Clanton and Jemison, on the Louisville and Nashville, and is on the highest point of land be- tween the gulf and Sand lnountain, hav- ing an altitude of 750 feet above tide water. The colony now has seventy families, and each has purchased tracts of land ranging in size from ten to forty acres. This land is being rapidly plant ed in strawberries, fruits and grapes, and 1t will be only matter of short time when Thorsby will be an important ship ping point for fruits as well as yegeta- bles.
 Superintendent w. M. Newbold, As sistant Superintendent Starks and Capt. F, Sid Jones will go to this place in few days in Superintendent Newbolds private car for the purpose of locating a sidetrack and formally naming the place, in order that it may be put on the Louisville and Nashville maps and fold CTS. So important has the colony already become that 1t is known as a flag sta tion, and the great shipments of live stock and furniture to that point have given the railroad people an idea of what the place will become.
 There has already been completed a twenty-room hotel at that place and gentleman from McCausland, la, has leased it and will soon have it fitted up for public patronage.
 Captain Jones stated that in view of the fact that a tobacco manufactory is soon to be started in this place, he has urged the colonists at Thorsby to make preparations for extensive cultivation of the weed, as he feels confident as fine to- bacco can be grown in Alabama as in Virginia or Cuba.
 Speaking further of colonization, Cap tain Jones said he had a surprise to spring in the shape of new colony. His latest effort s,the Porter colony at Grand Ridge, west Florida, on the Louisville and Nashville, between Pensacola and River Junction, and near the Alabama line. This colony is to be composed almost entirely of old federal soldiers. Judge Porter (not Birmingham promi- nent citizen), an ex-northerner, is at the head of the colony. He has been located on the site of the. new colony seven years and was so well pleased with the soil and climate that he has induced Capt. J. F. Zediker, editor and proprietor of the Camp Fire, the Grand Army of the Re- public official journal, who recently moved to Gadsden from the northwest to make that place his home in future He has already removed his family and plant to that place, and that within the past week. te
 Captain Jones is expecting two gentle men here today, one from Chicago and the other from Omaha, both being men of large capital and are on the outlook for good locations for colonization pur- They hnefepSg the captain, and so does he,s and he intends having them establish colonies within the confines of Alabama if inducements are any object. fs
 In a few weeks Captain, Jones, in com pany with Mr. J.. Kemps Ridgeley, will go to the northwest solely for the pur- pose of advertising Alabama, her re- sources and climate, and the "old relia- ble' Louisville and Nashville.
 Atmore, the new colony in Escambia county, named for Col. C.. P.~Atmore. general passenger agent of the Louisville and Nashville, is also receiving it's pro portion of the immigrants coming south
 On May 5 an excursion will be run into Alabama from the north and west by the Louisville and Nashville, and Captain | Jones expects a large number of capital ists here on that occasion. The fare will | be greatly reduced as an extra induce | ment for home seekers. r.F
 Ine C1I1ZenS OI MODlle are HlONlHS eN- cry stone to secure for that city the much | talked of and greatly needed Mobile, | Jackson and Kansas City railroad. The committee in charge of the work of se- curing subscriptions to the stock had been given until last Saturday to secure the stipulated sum, $125,000.
 In order that last effort might be made to secure the needed sum the com mittee applied to the New York people for further time, says the Mobile Regis ter. and the following answer was re- ceived -
 New York, April 14.-R. Dane. Chair man Canvassing Committee: After strenuous efforts I have succeeded in obtaining extension of time asked by canvassing committee. If subscription is not completed during extension of time the people of Mobile alone are re- sponsible for the failure. Writing par ticulars. FRANK E. MERRlLL.
 The canvassing committee having re- ceived this encouraging answer have set about the latter in a business-like man. ner. The chairman, MT. R. Dane, has appealed to the citizens of the Gulf City and announced that the committee would meet every evening at o'clock at the Commercial club in order to give all de- sirous of seeing the city secure the road an opportunity of aiding them in the work.
 Acting President Washburne of the Kansas City, Memphis and Birmingham and his party, who spent Wednesday night and yesterday morning in the city, left at noon for Memphis.
 Mr. J. Kemp Ridgely, who is one of the Louisville and Nashville's live pas senger agents, has great confidence in the future of Thorsby, the Scandinavian colony near Strasbourg. He has pur- chased tract of land there and had 1t set out in grape vines and says it Is not for sale. He says it is only matter of a short time ere middle and south Ala bama will be as great fruit and vege- table center as Florida or even Califor- mia.
 The Southern Express company con tinues to handle large shipments of fruit and vegetables asse
 Art Pave