The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1900-04-25
.THE MOBILE
And Ohio,
A Great Modern and Progressive
Railroad,
A Most Prominent Factor in the De.
velopment Of the South.
Hundreds of Thriving Towns and
Variegated Scenery Lend Charm to
Travel Over the Popular M. 90.
Increase In Manufactures and Oppor.
tunities fer Investment Along
the Line.


Bile Is to suggest the Mobile and Ohio
Railroad, one Of the greatest factors in
the upbuilding of the city. Not only Is
the Mobile and Ohio TO be accredited
with being largely responsible for the
growth of Mobile, but also for the prog
ress and development OF q broad sec
tion OF the south. Under a msst progress
sive and liberal management the infu-
ence and popularity Of the road has been
widening until 1t has attained a national
reputation.
FROM THE MOBILE REGISTER.
Speaking of the Importance of this
road to Mobile and OF the growth in
tonnage handled. the Mobile Register re-
Gently said:
Ranking first and foremost In Its use
fulness, as IL does in the esteem of the
citizens of Mobile, is the Mobile and
ONO Railroad, that grand corporation
which has done so much to build up our
the gulf More than an ordinary conf
dence must have inspired the original
promoters of this great undertaking,
and. it is pleasing to record that this
confidence has been amply justified, and
that our citizens who found the larger
part of Its capital have had no reason
to regret their Investment.
Its main line between Mobile and st.
LOUIS, MO, covering a ulSlance OF b7i
miles, passes through the most fertile
territory to be found in the states,
through timber lands and mineral de-
posts in our own state of Alabama of
unsurpassed value and richness. while
the agricultural lands have NO peer. 1t
connects our city with the cotton planta-
tons OF Mississippi, the great cattle in
terests OF Tennessee and Kentucky, and
the important coal and wheat belts of
Illinois. affording to the farmer. lumber
man, miner and artisan an unequaled
facility for the interchange or their
products not only with our own people,
but with the republics 10 the south of u.s.
as well as the West Indian islands. In
this connection 1t Is interesting to note
that the tonnage received and forwarded
by this great railroad at Mobile alone
for the year ending June, 1899, was
nearly o00,000,00O pounds, and for the
current year bids fair to largely exceed
these figures. No greater proof of the
popularity that this roads enjoys with
shiISars could be found than in a peru
sal O1 these figures, popularity that is
shared by passengers who are wise
enough to travel by this magnificent
trunk line.
I'm addition to its main line the Mobile
and Ohio Railroad has a most important
branch to Montgomery, Ala, together
with through car line to New Orleans,
La, Jacksonville and other Florida
points. These branches have largely In
creased the business Of the company;
magnidcently fertile belt. and through
towns whose former prosperity has been
greatly enhanced by the advent of this
branch of the greatest southern trunk
line. A still later addition is the Mobile
and Bay Shore from this city to Por-
tersvile on Mississippi sound, which
IS operated in the interests Of the Mobile
and Ohio Railroad. This feeder Will
prove of the utmost advantage to the
truck farmers on the line, at the same
TINA n will the erection OF in
dustries for which this section of our
state offers particular advantages.
ALONG THE LINE.
The tourist along the line OF the Mo-
bile and Ohio Is treated to a variety of
scenery, for the road runs through an
attractive section Of the country. Great
fields OF cotton, followed by wooded
of grassy plain, lend variety and charm
to the trip, while rde often picturesque
towns and the thriving cities along the
way tell of business prosperity, and
line and the surrounding country have
long since felt the impetus given by the
Investment Of northern and eastern
money and the influx Of progressive
population drawn from half the states
in the union. An equable climate, hos
pitable people and the certainty of crops,
transportation and markets are great in
ducements anywhere, and these condt-
llOuS are diI III the NdIlOuo states
traversed by the Mobile and Ohio. and
In which the road has had an important
share in the upbuilding and development.
WHARvES AND SHIPPING.
The immense wharves with deep water
frontage. owned by the Mobile and Ohio,
at Mobile. are ITO to be still fur
to Europe, and vessels from all parts Of
the world take and discharge cargoes
directly into and from the cars, or use
the great warehouses erected by the COM
pany for that purpose. large grain ele-
vator. from which vessels are directly
laden, Is also factor in the export bust
ness of the port. The European line Is
equipped for both freight and passenger
traffic. and has, OF course. been of great
benefit to shippers over a wide section
Of the south.
But the road is interested in other yes
sci lines. The Cuban Steamship Line was
and Ohio. and the New York line is also
another Of their financial and popular
successes. To this must be added the con-
nection of the road, with a line running
to Centra Amsrieap ports which bring
Mobile. and which has led to the. ex-
portation of domestic products from
the Queen Of the Gulf" and the
business in both directions is constantly
widening. Mobile has. Of course. a great
deal Of miscellaneous shipping, with its
$500 miles of navigable rivers and the
various steamer lines which ply them Its
general ocean and coastwise tonnage is
also growing fast, as Is its business in
general exports and imports. The city
has recently been completely severed on
modern lines, and the new water works
plant, owned by the city, is one of the
best in the south, while the water Is as
clear, pure and healthful as Is found on
the continent. The city is increasing in
population and wealth, and so marked
Is this that a new era may be said to
have dawned on this beautiful old south
ern city of homes and sunshine.
TRACK AND EQUIPMENT.
The recent high water did a great deal
of damage alnog the line Of the Mobile
and Ohio, and for several days this road,
in common with other southern lines. has
been practically tied up. Miles Of track
first through train for days from Mobile
to St. Louis left on Saturday morning.
April rs. and the traffic on both main line
and branches Is now restored to normal
conditions, and the accumulation of
freight at various points will be handled
wi.ho 1t delay.
Summer schedules have been arranged
to insure close connections at all import
ant points, especially at st. Louis. where
connections are made for the summer
resorts Of the north and west, and TO ac-
comodate travellers bound to the various
stes via sGass leading q ST. and L bs
traveller will have no fault to find as to
speed and comfort en- route. In regard
to the equipment IL Is thoroughly modern.
The coaches are of the wide, vestibuled
pattern, with all the recent improve
ments and Pintsch lighting; Pullman
palace. drawing room and buffet cars are
also In saryice The 1oeomotiyes are as