The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-19

winch, In course of time, will be a great
factor IN consuming the increased output OF
improved furnaces. This Is of particular
value to those railroads touching the Attain
TIC ana CUR ports. A casual consideration
relative to the amount and character of
products handled by the railroads in Ala
pama forcibly illustrates the general growth
ana neaithy development In our Industrial
institutions. During the fiscal year of 1898
the gross tonnage of Alabama railroads
was H'50, o64 tons, consisting of the follow
ing percentage of products:
Mining and iron products. 30 per cent
manufactured products. -. Is
i.St prouucts.......... ........ 10
agricultural products. IL
miscellaneous products. 49, 7"
within the past four years Alabama has
ADDED to her mileage 300. 40 miles. consisting
of the following:
mobile ana Ohio, from Columbus
Miss, to Montgomery, Ala.
main line and branches. 1870 ~ miles
Pant System, from Newton, in
Dale county, to Elba aeOo
Mobile, Jackson & Kansas City, %00
Montgomery Prattville 10a5
Iailassee Montgomery. 628
SeaDoard Railway Company. ZOO
NASHVILLE, Chattanooga & St.
IoulS.... ...... ....... 900
Lar ayette Hallway. ........ 900
among the roads now In course of con-
structfen is the Illinois Central from WIN
neld TO the coal fields, ten miles: I,orisviJIa
nashville from Georgiana to River Falls
nH.F miles; Louisville & Nashville. from
sep'on 70 Pineapple. thirty-five miles. and
nto the coal district
Charters for New Roads
Application has been made to the secra-
'ary OF state for charters for the following
ROADS: Montgomery, Hayneville a. Cam
den; Demopolis & FaunsdaIe: Southern Al
aoama; Birmingham Southern: Union
springs Northern; Rockford & KeIIvton.
Dotnan. Hartford & Florida; Fort PAYNE
& winchester; Decatur. Danvllle & South
western; Admission Coosa Coal Field: Mo-
oie q Bay Shore railroad; South Alabama
&c Gulf; Pensacola. Alabama G. Tennessee:
Atlanta & Alabama
am firmly of the conviction that within
the next two years the Illinois Central and
the Mobile & Ohio will be built into Bir-
mingham and it is highly probable that the
PENSACOLA, Alabama & Tennessee twenty
miles or which Is now in operation) will
ne completed from Pensacola to some point
In this district. giving them a western con-
nection.
This development, together with the work
now IN progress. means an investment of
more than $4,000, 900 in Alabama. which ia
IN advance of any Improvement of like char.
acter In any other state In addition to the
new construction, large expenditures have
been made. and are being made, in improv-
ing the physical condition of the roads of
Alabama. the roads having spent annually
for the past four years II per cent. of their
gross earnings in maintenance and better
ment account. The Increase in traffic and
demand for rapid transit is requiring heavy
rails IN place of light rails; wooden bridges
are being replaced by steel. and locomotives
and cars of increased size are being substi-
tuted for a number of those now in use,
besides an enlargement in many places of
depot facilities. AS an evidence of the ffnan-
cial condition of the railroads of Alabama,
1t Is well Illustrated In the fact that today
not one mile is in the hands of a receiver;
wages have practically been restored while
four years ago wages were reduced and SIS
result Of the panic more than half the
present mileage was forced into bankrupt
cy. This disappearance of receivershfps-
and, as result. the reorganization of these