The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-19
Splendid System of the Louisville &
Il
- NaShville--"Old Reliable."
RUNS FORTY TRAINS A DAY
Built Through Birmingham in 1872 and Has Probably Done
More Than Any Other One Agency Towards Upbuid-
ing of District-Hand|ed 100000 Tons Export
Pig Iron Last Year--CtieS on Its Lines.

The Louisville and Nashville railroad Is
perhaps the most important railroad, in
many respects entering Birmingham, II the
size Of its district, freight and passenger
business are to be taken as indications.
This big road. which runs through the
whole length of the state from north to
south, putting in direct communication with
each other Alabamas three principal cit
les. Birmingham, Montgomery and Mobile,
is naturally brought into a great deal of
prominence on this account Then the road
has nearly a thousand miles of roads in
the state of Alabama more than any other
one system. 1t employs more men, there
being over three thousand in the service of
the road between Decatur and Montgomery
alone, a majority of whom have their
homes In or around Birmingham.
The Louisville and Nashville railroad
originally consisted of short line connect
ing the chief cities of Kentucky and Ten
nessee, 1t being built about the year 1857.
In 1872 the road undertook the task of build
ing it's line south from Nashville to Mont
gomery through what was at that time the
infant city of Birmingham. This line was
planned and for the large part constructed
by the late John T. Miner of this county.
Montgomery to Mobile. and since that time
has been growing and extending its lines.
Building the Mineral Road
The Louisville and Nashville has prob
ably done more toward the development
of the mineral deposits in this district than
any one agency, for their main lines ana
branches now cover almosot the entire dis
trict. The first branch of the Birmingham
Mineral road was built in 1884 from Graces
to Redding and since that time the line
has been added to, until it now measures
$50 miles in length
Export Pig Iron
The splendid freight business which this
road has built up during the past few years
has of late been attracting a great deal of
attention, mainly on account of its export
pig iron business. Over 100000 tons of this
product was handled out of Birmingham
during the past year to the various pores
of the south for export to foreign countries,
These figures do not include the shipment
made from Birmingham to other parts =:
the United States. These shipments are al'
handled over the company's lines to Pen
sacola, Mobile and New Orleans, and
through the company's various connections
to Savannah, Charleston and other South
Atlantic ports.
Including their through freight business,
the Louisville and Nashville handles fifteen
freight trains daily south from. Birming-
ham. About the same number go north ev-
cry day, and when the three passenger
trains in each direction, which are run dali
5y, are all considered, some idea of the vast
pmount of business which the road does
ran be obtained-over forty trains day
las may be imagined, it requires the closest
care and attention on the part of the man.
agement to operate such a vast business
with the remarkably good service. which
the Louisville and Nashville gives.
.- Passenger Department
The passenger department of the road is
fully equal to the splendid freight DEPART
ment Just described. Indeed, the facilities
for travel offered by the Louisville and
Nashville railroad are not SURPASSED by any
other road in the south. The passenger
trains which run over all the 4.S6l miles
of lines which the company controls, are
most excellentIy equipped, and all of them
give splendid service. In Alabama the COM
pany's service Is especially good. One fast
mail train passes in each direction every
day-one through passenger train north ana
south, which stops at all of the important
cities and towns, and one accommodation
train in each direction every day. From
this It will be seen that all through Ala
hama from north to south. there are three
trains in each direction. two or whicn are
through trains with several sleepers at
tached. -,
The road is making a specially of its
Through coach service. and at present has
in operation coaches which run daily from
Chicago to New Orleans and from Cincln-
natl to New Orleans without change. rms
service is being constantly improved ana
new facilities added. These are the regu-
lar coaches which are run on the railroad,
and no extra charge is made for riding IN
them. The company Is now navng COT
etructed large number OF the very nnest
kind of coaches for this service; vestibuleu,
with Iayatories and all the modern improve
in, no buildipR business.
Sleeping Car Service
The sleeping car service of the road IS un-
riyalled in the south. 1t has through
sleeper. which runs from Chicago, via Ev-
ansville to New Orleans, another one from
Cincinnati to New Orleans. ana .stili an
other from st. Louis to Jacksonville Fla
OF course the return trips are also made
through without change. This road receives
at Montgomery twice week tourists
. sleeping car which starts at Washington
and runs through without change to san
francisco, by way of New Orleans.
Splendid connections are made at New
Orleans with all the roads IN New Orleans
running To the west Indeed. this Is a feat
Yre of the Louisville and Nashviile's SER
vice-that they make good connections at
all of the important functions. This is true
at MONTGOMERY. Birmingham, Nashville,
and, in fact. all along the>line.
Immigration Department
One of the most noticeable and commend
able facts in regard to the Louisville and
Nashville railroad is the prosperous condi-
ton of the cities and towns along It's lines
and It can be said without fear of con-
tradction that the liberal policy which the
management of the road pursues toward all
of the towns and cities which depend upon
II has in a very large degree contributed
to their prosperity and success.
: This is where the immigration department
of the road. in charge of Captain p. Sid
Jones of this city. gets In most OF Its good
work. He keeps In touch with people in
different parts of the United States who
have money to invest, and also with the
people along the lines of the Louisville and
Nashville who have something to SELL and
through him the two parties are brought
together He also looks out for the num-
hers of Farmers In the north and west who
are desi3ous of coming south. and he points