The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1898-10-27

Ihsps, the best idea in railroad running
lit is like the Hill idea. At the
head Of the company is Samuel
Spencer, Southerner, and as nearly
}. j. Hills equal as any man in the
country. Many think him the great
e t railroad president in the country,
| The work done in four year in build.
ing mp and improving the Southern
system is simply wonderful. There
has not been it's like in the history Of
railroading. Now the system has
nearly 5000 miles Of single track, il
cnetrates eight Southern States, all
east of the Mississippi aud south Of
the Ohio and Potomac save West Viz
giuia and Florida. In 1894 the
ioadbed was poor, the tracks in
miserable condition, the train service
vietched. All this has been changed.
There are now good, smooth roadbed.
heavy rails, finely equipped trains
and excellent service. The country
along the road has witnessed a great
improvement in business, following
and accompanying great develop
ment. The Southern Railway has no
lands, like the Western Immigrant
roads, and so no reason as they have
to maintain a land department. But
one of the first things done after the
reorganization in 1894 was the es-
tablishment of an industrial depart
ment, to look after development along
the road That department is pre-
sided over by Northwestern man,
NJ. V. Richards, years ago connected
with the land department of the
Northern Pacific. 1t works with the
local people along the road, and has
been the instrument of a marked
growth in Southern industries. Last
year-the railroad year, July |, 1897,
to June 80, 1S9S,-there were estab-
lished along the line of the Southern
Railway, and in many cases directly |
through the Industrial Department of
the road, $50 new manufacturing
plants, cotton mills, furniture fac
tories, tanneries, iron mills, sawmills,
canning establishments, etc. The
amount Of money invested in these
lew establishments and in addition to
I'D ones is nearly 100000 Set
lers from the North have purchased
100000 acres of land. The result of
work of this kind is showing in the
mel eased prosperity Of the Southern
states and in the growth of the bust
less of the railway. 1t might be
dded that the people from the North
Who are settling in the South are
generally satisfied with their change.
For the past ten years the Western
Pennsylvania Exposition at Pittsburg
as been an established success.
ear after year it has run it's even
enor, cordially supported by the !
eople, and doing the cities of Pitts |
urg and Allegheny much good. The 4
rowds this year would do credit to c
he more pretentiouS exhibition at
'maha. For three years the South
IN Railway has been making exhibits c
ere. This year it has probably the t
nest exhibit ever made by railroad
)mpany anywhere. 1t consists en-
rely Of the resources and products
the country along the railway, of
manufacturing, agricultural, horto-
lltural, forest, mining and quarry
roducts and Of minerals. 1t occupies
space Of about 1000 square feet.
he fruit country, the hardwood and
ne forests Of the South, the great >,
neral deposits aud wealth, the a
antics, the marble, the clay and S
lolins, the grains, cotton, truck and &C
bacco wealth are all in evidence, ID
I'd the display is attracting great g
tention. s