The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1900-11-22
Portsmouth Starr

=
ever undertaken by an American
railway, is shown by the following
extract from the annual report of Mr.
+. st. John, vice-president and gen
eral manager of the Sea board Air Line
Railway.
In that interesting paper, Mr.. ST.
John says:
The chief industrial agent reports
that during the year ending June 80,
1900, S97 manufacturing establish
ments have been started upon lines
therein reported upon, as against 2S4
the previous year.
He also reports 5,625 settlers bring
ing with them $2,79S,715, as against
$3.50, with 1922, 800 during previ-
Gus year: also 4,2i3 laborers as COM
pared with $3.50 last year.
More than 100000 packages OF
| flower seeds, to beautifv homes, have
been distributed through h our local in
dustrial agents. The retail value Of
these seeds, at ten cents per package,
would have been $50, 900. Six hun
dred and thirty y-eight thousand three
hundred and eighty-one shade trees,
| fruit trees and fruit bearing vines
have been planted during the year
an increase of 258, 1868 over preceding
year. The results have been largely
brought about by establishment of
our Seaboard Air Line arbor day, and
if we take the United States Govern
ment estimate that each shade tree
is worth to a community 81 and each
fruit tree s., a. basi. to figure on,
the Seaboard Air Line has in this di-
rection alone been Of benefit to people
in the various communities through
which it passes, to the extent of a
million dollars.
Six thousand, four hundred and
ninety-four houses were painted dur
ing the year on our line, an increase
of 1915, over last year, and as com
pared with 700 during first year and
10, ,937 homes and grounds were i'm
proved as the result Of our efforts, an
increase of 1916, and as compared
with less than POO the first year we
attempted anything in this line. The
practical and efficient work accomp-
lished through the efforts of our chief
industrial agent, and his army of CO.
workers, is something that has not
been done by any State or railroad
outside of the Seaboard Air Line, sc
far as we are advised. and it is un-
doubtedly fact that the people along
our lines appreciate our co-opera-
tion very much. The stock and
poultry OF the farmer has also beer
very greatly improved during the
past few years q. the result Of the
establishment of stock department
in connection with our industrial
work.
The establishment Of our s.volunteel
army" ''work day picnics, canning
school," 1.-the training school on
Wheels" and the continued movement
OF the free travelling libraries from
point to point, is undoubtedly work
ing great good to our people, and the
evidences Of this are constantly COM
ing in the shape of letters direct from
people benefited, as well as notices
through the press of the cities and
towns through which we operate.
The experiments Of katfir corn, hops
broom corn, ETC., which was first
brought by us to the attention OF the
farmers along our line; in fact, first
experimental with upon the State
and company's experimental farms,
to demonstrate that there were other
things than those being produced
that would be of benefit to our farm
ers, have brought good results. We
have also demonstrated to the farmer
through our industrial department,
the value Of fertilizers on crops and
| fruits, and incidentally have largely
| increased the sale of fertilizers, as
we'll as benefited the farmer by their
use. We have demonstrated also
that improved agricultural machinery
was needed in almost every direction
if he would get the best financial re-
suits from his labors, and in many
cases. bv showing him this machinery
and how to use it. have convinced him
that this is fact. 1t is matter OF
record in our industrial department,
as one evidence of this, that 747
farmers have been induced to pur-
chase modern machinery for their
future use.
Our chief industrial agents report
is about 1000 pages of typewriter
manuscript, and his statements are
| verified by individual reports from
local industrial agents at the various
| points, showing that the account OF
work accomplished is in excess even OF
that reported, which proves conclus-
ivelv that the Seaboard Air Line has
| now, and has had for the past five
years, the right man in charge OF this
work. His accomplishments have been
most remarkable.
l am sure that all this can but
prove as gratifying to all interested
in the Seaboard Air Line ~ it has to
your vice-president and general man
aper, and no one can doubt that what
ha. really been accomplished in this
direction has been OF inestimaola
value to our great system.
The free travelling libraries OF the
Seaboard Air Line, under direct charge
of Mrs. f. B. Heard, as general super.
intendent, are proving OF wonderful
value. and the letters she is receiving
from the various points upon the
line. demonstrate tho interest OF the
people, in our efforts to supply them
with good reading matter. This
work is favorably commented upon
by the press from Maine to Cali1or-
MIA, and is growing very rapidly. Inc
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