The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-10-25
Mr.. PATRICKS REPORT
Ten Millions in Capital Brought South
This Year.
AND PUT INTO HOMES AND INDUSTRIES
Such is Part of the Work the Seaboard is Doing,
Under the Policy Set in No ion by Wee
President St. John, Other Work
of the Seaboard.
Especial to News and Observer

Especial to News and Observer)
Jacksonville, Fla, Oct A.-Industrial
agents of the Seaboard Air Line Railway
to the number of four hundred and rep
resenting one hundred and seven towns
in Virginia, North Carolina, South Caro-
lima and Georgia along the line of the
system, assembled here in convention to-
day under the call of John T. Patrick,
chief industrial agent of the newly con-
solidated lines.
The delegates were welcomed by Mayor
Bowden and President of the Board of
Trade Garner, after which addresses
were made by Mr.. J. B. Upham, editor
Youths Companion, Boston; MIR. John r.
Patrick, Prof. John Duckett, of Lumber
ton, who in absence of the president, Hon.
G. Grogan, was called to the chair, and
others.
Reports were also heard from the
agents In his report for the year 1900
Mr.. Patrick made a showing of ten mil
lions of new capital brought from the
North and East in settlers homes and
manufacturing plants as against five mil
lions for the year 1899, $500 600 for 1898
and $3.50, 0O0 for 1897 This report covered
operations of the industrial department
ever the 900 miles of the old Seaboard Air
Line, showing among other things an in
crease of one hundred and one fac
tories along the line. One of the
objects of the convention now in session
is to inaugurate on the newly acquired
lines, the Georgia and Alabama and the
Florida Central and Peninsular the pol
icy which had been so successfully set
in motion on the parent system by its
vice president and general manager, Mr.
St. John.
Many more features are introduced in
this unusual departure for railroad cor
poration, yet the methods in the main
are similar to those brought from the
Rock Island by Mr.. st. John, who was its
general manager also.
The other feature of the convention to
be considered tomorrow is that of the
identifying Of the public schools along
the line, which will be a special work
for the coming year. Mr. Upham, of the
Youths Companion, has offered 200 flags
at cost of $500 each to be distributed
as premiums to those schools which
make the best showing in rendering more
picturesque the building and grounds, the
work to be done by the children. The
will be flag raising day in these schools
that have won the premiums There are
present nearly one hundred public school
teachers including county school superin-
tendents and superintendent of public
instruction from six States
In charge of the school work under Mr.
Patrick is Mrs. e. G. McCabe, of Atlanta,
president of the Woman's Club of that
ri nF
town, Ga. is in charge of the circulating
librarys of the system. There are about
twenty-five libraries, of about forty books
each, which are carried from point to
point for the benefit of poor boys and
girls who have no other access to books
Mr.. Andrew Carnegie has contributed to
the fund under Mrs. Heard 81 900 and
recently wrote to her to draw on him for
1000 more when needed. Mr.. Carnegie
became interested in the work through
the representations Of Vice President
and General Manager St John, and today
Mrs. Heard received a telegram of good
cheer and congratulations from Mrs E.
st. John. Addresses wilk be made toner
row by Mrs. McCabe and Mrs. Heard
and object lessons will be given with
models both in the identifying of schools
and grounds and in the manner of cir
culating the libraries, one Of which will
be on hand for the inspection of the dele
gates.
The efforts of the railroad corporation
toward building up the country have
been received with enthusiasm here and
much is expected under this policy for
the upbuilding of Florida and Alabama.
Tomorrow will be the closing day of the
convention, each one of whose delegates
is carrying forward this work without
compensation of any kind.
The following prominent men from
North Carolina are here: State Superin-
tendent Mebane, General Toon. Superin-
tendeDt Hunter, of Mecklenburg: Super
lntendent Clements. of Wake Superin-
tendent White, of Franklin; DR.. Croxton.
of Monroe; ]. A McAllister, of Lumber
ton, and others