Birmingham state herald., 1897-07-03

fi6snt that he will at an early day. com mence building road from Montgomery to Camden, about seYenfy-two miles in length, which road will develop one of the richest agricultural sections in the state. The construction work now in progress means an investment of more than five million dollars, which is in advance of any improvement of like character in any one state. Since the first Of January charters have been granted to the South Alabama and Gulf railroad. the Pensa- cola, Alabama and Tennessee railroad and the Atlanta and Alabama railroad.
 In addition to the new eonstruetian very large expenditures are being made in improving the physical condition of the railroads of Alabama. the roads hav- irg spent last year $2.274,215. which Is IT per cent. of gross earnings. The increase in traffic and demand for rapid transit is requiring heavy rails in place of light raEs, wooden bridges are being replaced by steel ones, and locomotives and cars of increased size are being substituted for a number of those now in use. besides an enlargement in mary places of depot facilities
 As an evidence of the financial condi- ton of the railroads of Alabama, II ia well illustrated in the fact that today less than ITO miles are in the hands of receivers. while four years ago. as a re- suit of the parie, more than half of the present milsage was forced into bank ruc cy. The disappearance of receiver ShirS. and as a result, the raerganiza- tion of these once inso1vent roads. estaTb- fishes the confidence capitalists hay in the ultima te success of our railroad prop erty and in the further development of our state resources.
 Alabama, by reason of its varied soil Timber and mineral rseources, furnishes an ltsraotive field for railroad develop mert. Unlike any stale in the union, she is divided into four distinct divisions. and each division holds acknowledged su- premacy. The northern tier of counties bord ring the Tennessee river are e.pe- cially adapted to the raising of live stock and the prCduc ion of cereals. The next tier of counties on the south is the rich mineral belt, in which is stored sufficient coal to run the world for several hun dred y<ars; iron ore and lime rock in equally abundant quantities. South of the mineral belt is the black belt, whose soil IS Ter ile and responds to cultiYa- tic. most abundiantly in the production of cotton and corn, placing Alabama in the fourth rank as a cotton producing state. Next ard last is the timber dis trict. running from he eastzrn to the western extremity of the state, contain ing long-l2af yellow pine in almost in- oxhaustible duantities. and as the for ests are being denudad ths lands are be- ing put into cultivation by thrifty citi- zelrls, many of whom are moving into this state from other less favored sections. The people of Alabama invite the invest ment of capital in our railways, with the assuranc that the s.rong arm of the com- monwealth will pro,ect them in the full enjoyment of the rights and privileges accorded them by the public We ask and demand that inasmuch as they are a product of the people by reason of val uabls franchises secured, that they re- gard the public's interest and success as being identical with their own, share alike the burdens or prosperity of the times ard pursue the same liberal and nseivative policy that they in return expect and solicit.
 ROSS c. SMITH.