The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-05-01
TRAINS IN THE SOUTH


longest continuous railroad ride that
that the party has made during its tour
OF the South.
Nearly 500 miles were covered in the
lump from Columbus TO the Crescent
City via Atlanta, only a short stop be-
ing made In Atlanta on matter OF
business. The trip was made over
three railroads. on fast trains through
four great states, Mississippi. Alabama,
Georgia and Louisiana.
From Columbus, Miss, through TO
Atlanta, Ca, the party was carried
over the lines Of the Southern Railway
q distance of POI miles; from Atlanta
70 Montgomery, Ala, over the Atlanta
& West Point railroad l75 miles, and
over Louisville & Nashville lines from
Montgomery. Ala. to Atlanta and New
Orleans. 32l miles.
Every mile OF this trip was made over
finely ballasted road beds provided with
heavy steeel rails on which the car rode
smoothly at a high rate OF speed.
The prosperity OF n country can De
Justly estimated by the character of its
ra lroads. Railroads built up with The
country through which they run, anc
prosperity for the farmer and manu-
facturer means prosperity for the rail-
roads. The splendid roadbeds and
are the results of the increasing pros
perity OF the South. especially In man
ufacturing. In 10 years the manufac-
turing products OK tne s'it l+-.e
than doubled. New Industries have
sprung up everywhere and old ones
have made large additions to their
plants and introduced the most modern
machinery.
The material opportunities of the
In "a mi the fields and the
forests arc being rapidly developed and
yet the grand outpouring or their
wealth has only begun. Evidence or
great enterprise are seen on every
hard in factory and field. small towns
now flourish where a few years ago
only a few buildings formed comma
nifty towns that are now large date
their growth less than decade back
and cities. large and small. are extend
ing their borders and attracting popu-
lation on a scale that shows unmistak-
able prosperity and the railroads are
keeping pace with them.
All these signs are apparent 10 the
least Interested traveller. The car OF
the newspaper representatives. passed
through a fine timber and q prosperous
farming and live stock country in Mis-
sisippi along the line uf the Southern
railway. Mississippi as cotton grow
Ing state has long been a leader. but IL
has only begun 10 attract marked at
fentfon In the line OF stock raising. IT
now raises nearly s1,000.000 worth of
beef cattle. sheep and swine annually,
and through the gulf ports is shipping
large quantities 10 Cuba and West In
dian islands. The total value OF live
stock raised I'm the state now exceeds
$50. .000, ,000 and with the opportunities
afforded by abundant and nutritious
pastures and a fine climate experts
agree that this valuSNwill be increased
100 per cent In less than ten years.
Across Central Alabama the Southern
railway passes through an agricultural
district until the Birmingham region is
reached, where manufacturers take the
dead, but farming, particularly in the
line OF truck growing Tor the supply
of a large population Is being develop
ed.
All the way from Birmingham TO At
lanta the country shows prosperous
looking, we'll kept farms, while nearly
every town and city shows some kind
of manufacturing-cotto mills, car
shops, furnaces, foundries. etc.
The vineyards are one OF the pretti-
est sights in this part of Alabama.
They crowd the hlllsdes and lopes for
many miles on either side OF the track
and show evidences or the most careful
cultivation on the part OF the growers.
The Atlanta and West Point railroad
lines from Atlanta TO Montgomery. run
Through a fruitful country. Cotton and
corn fields and large orchards fill the
valleys and dot the hillsides OF South
western Georgia and form a beautiful
picture of agricultural industry At
Opelika the railroad enters Alabama
and pursues it's way through success
sion OF prosperous towns TO Montgom-
cry. the capital OF the state.
Montgomery enjoys the distinction OF
possessing a union station. which lis not
surpassed In beauty and utility in all
Sounthern country. 1t was construct
ed by the Louisville and Nashville rail-
road and was opened a year ago, after
about thirteen months OF work.
The station has a train shed 600 feet
Dong, covering five through tracks. Be
side these are four short tracks for
making UP trains which originate in
Montgomery. The covered passenger
platform is 300 feet In length. The
main station building. a handsome
structure, lis 300 feet long and is built
of pressed brick. with Bedford stone
trimmings and granite base. The in
terror fittings are elegant. three large
tiled floor waiting rooms being on the
lower story and the roomy offices OF the
IAllIuduc Dclnt Ol the upper nOOTt. n
large dining room and lunch ROOM
equal TO those OF any large Northern
city. are features OF the public accom-
modations.
Six railroads enter the station-the
Louisville and Nashville. the Mobile
and Ohio. the Central OF Georgia, the
Georgia anu Alabama. the Plant sys-
tenn and the Atlanta and West Point
and Western railway OF Alabama.
From Montgomery TO New Orleans
the New England Newspaper league
party made fast fight OF 32i
miles. The route is through
Southern Alabama by the way OF Mo-
bile. and nearly an air line. For ninety
of the $50 miles between Montgomery
and Mobile the country Is largely under
cultivation. but the remainder OF the
journey is through vast tracts OF tim
ber lands. which have been cut away
only close TO the railroad tracks Here
and there villages have been settled
around the sawmills. which find all
they can do TO supply the demand for
lumber. Crossing the rivers which emp
~ into Mobile bay the railroad runs
over trestles which are from 800 yards
20 a rpile in length.
From Mobile the Louisville and Nash
Vile runs through one OF the finest
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