The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1898-03-18
THE RAILROADS AT WORK.

Memphis Commercial Appeal.
In an interview with Col. Robert
Gates the interesting fact was de-
veioped that there are extra efforts
being made to locate industries and
immigrants in Tennessee. All the rail-
roads are cooperating in the work.
Col. Gates represents the Louisville &
Nashville and the Nashville, Chatta-
nooga & St. Louis roads as speciel
agent or commissioner of industries
and immigration, " and his field of opera
ton covers Middle and West Tennessee
with general headquarters at Nash
vile. The cooperation of other roads
in these divisions of the State will en-
able Col. Gates to work on their lines as
well as the roads he more particularly
represents.
The inspiration of this movement,
Col. Gates says, was the success of the
Tennessee Centennial Exposition,
which widely and effectively adver-
tised the State. Believing that great
harvest could be reaped by united and
liberal effort, Col. Gates made pre-
liminary canvass in person and through
assistants and then submitted plan to
the railroads which had been adopted,
and the work Is now to be pushed with
energy and determination.
The plan proposed and adopted pro-
vides for cooperation with all agencies
or organizations. engaged or interested
in locating industries and immigrants;
to effect organizations and establish
agencies where none exist, and in every
with the towns, counties and the people
in united effort to gather the fruit of
the exposition and bring prosperity to
the State.
To these ends literature setting forth
the resources and inducements of the
various communities cooperating will
be solicited, and when furnished dis
greatest good is likely to result. Lee
ture tours will be made of sections
where the strongest interest has been
awakened by the literature circulated
and by the work of agents done: and
through the passenger departments of
the several railroads and the bureaus of
industry and immigration efforts will
be made to work up special excursions
of capitalists seeking investments,
manufacturers looking for new loca-
tions and persons seeking homes in the
South.
1t is intended to embrace among
these special excursions cotton mill
people from New England States who
have determined, or who are thinking
of moving South with their plants; and
wood workers from the States of the
North and Northwest, who are cOntem-
plating the removal of their plants
closer to the raw material so abundant
in many parts of Tennessee.
Those engaged in iron working and
furnaces will not be overlooked but
just now there is a great movement
South of the cotton and wood working
industries, and it is desired that Ten
nessee get her share, or have the chance
at least.
I'VE hope" said Col. Gates, ''to bring
these special excursions down during
the fall and early winter months, and
every necessary facility will be offered
to visit every cooperating community.
Col. Gates added: Il intend to visit
in person or through assistants, or both,
every county in Middle and West Ten
nessee. and as soon as possible, so that
there shall be general and effective CO.
operation"
As to East Tennessee, Col. Gates said
he was not fully advised, but had good
reason to believe that the roads opcrat-
ing in that part of the State would pur-
sue a similar policy.
As to the regular land excursions now
being run by some of the roads, Col.
Gates said that more effort would be
thrown into these excursions and that
all the roads, he thought, would adopt
them.
On the subject of the proposed con-
vcntion at Nashville in the interest of
manufacturing, Col. Gates said that it
was a move in line with his work. and
would, no doubt, meet with the cordial
and liberal cooperation of the rail
roads of the State.
1t seems to me-" said Col. Gates.
that such Il convention can launch
movement that will result in two vital
amendments to the constitution: First.
to enable counties and municipalities
to exempt manufacturing enterprises
from taxation for Il term of years
Second, to prevent double or treble tax
alton. This much is practical, and it
would be a long step forward on the
line of constitutional reform. Besides,
such a convention will have a good
effect in the matter of influencing men
for the next legislature.
''All in all, +" said Col Gates. Il believe
influences are at work, opportunities
are at hand, and agencies interested,
that will revolutionize Tennessee on
industrial lines. Cooperation is the
key to the situation, and as the 81 eat
transportation corporations are awake
and active it only remains for the peo-
pie and the live communities of the
State to join heartily in the movement,
ann Tennessee, the richest and fairest
in the Southern sisterhOod, will soon
advance to the front of the column OF
progress"
Double taxation and improper distri-
button of tax when collected are, in our
doing as much to cripple the
State as any other agencies If any
practical way for inducing manufac,
turers to come to this State can be de- |
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