The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-02-22
MUCH ACTIVITY
IN SOUTHlVES
Railroad Mileage is Being Greatly
Increased.
COTTON MILLS IN The SOUTH.
Their Whole Influence Has Beer
Beneficial to the Population as
WhoIc-Civilizin@
Agency
COTTON MILLS IN The SOUTH.
fsneclal pispateh 10 Thc Tlme,.)

Especial Dispatch 10 The 1ifnes.)
BALTIMORE. MD. Feb. 2l--pians %
railroad companies operating an Inc no".
wcst which have been made pubic IL
,..cc,t ,oonths indicate that that DOR
tion of the United States is to become ia
Tho ,,cor f,,ilirc a centre of rcraarhapi.
activity in railroad construction II IL
indeed estimated that withln inc NJ
TWO years more mileage VIII DC ptiie "a
The region west Of the MISSISSIPPI anu
south of the Red river than IN an iiis
western and northern States compiheo
II, ms ,s,.IS-.s issue of the Manufactur-
,,-s, Record is "a comprehensive aTticte
f,eariD:, upon this activity ana .noica'-
ing that within TWO years 5.opt mites OF
railroad Will be constructed IN texas, M
dian Territory. Oklahoma, Arkansas
Louisiana and New Mexico Texas aioiie
is one, of the greatest centres OF actiH'sS.
among the more important projects are
extensions of the Chicago. Rock Island
and Pacific, also the -itchison. Topeka
and Santa Fc companies, which VIII
enable both systems to reach III faso'
Tex. the gateway 10 the Mexican re
pubIic by their own lines. I'll PiSo is on
The direct route between the Chleu
States and the city of Mexico, as II Is
Tie terminus of the Mexican Central Rali-
road. The Santa lie has also planned eN-
tensions. which will considerably snort
en- its present route to the PaciIc coast
and the Rock Island is also branching
out in the same direction.
CONTRACTS LEE.
Contracts aSgregatins over 3oe lhi.es
have been let by these two companies
in the southwest. while the total dis
lance to be covered by them in new
construction aggregates fully 500 miles.
The Ch.-aw. Oklahoma and Gull COM
pany has let contracts for about 100 miles
OF extensions from Oklahoma southwest,
which viii aggregate 400 miles giving IL
also a connection in Texas and New Mex
leo. In the same section the kansas CITY,
Mexico and Orient is being promoted by
A. L. Stilwell 10 be constructed between
Kansas City and a point on the Gulf OF
California OF this ilra over 500 miles
have already been let to contract Inc
International and Great Northern Rail
road Company, in Texas. will build over
100 miles to give ii u line from HouS-
ton into Northern Texas. The Missouri,
Kansas and Texas is completing a 50-lnile
extension to San Antonio, While the st.
Louis and San Francisco is completing
new route south from St. Louis by con-
StTuctinS from point in Indian TERRITORY
through. eastern Oklahoma to Denison.
Texas, where it obtains connection Tor
Tort Worth. The Gulf. Colorado and
Santa Fe has made arrangements TO build
into Eastern Texas to connect with the
Gulf. Beaumont and Kansas City, which
is row being completed through the
oil and timber district.
A NEW LINE.
In Louisiana contracts are about to be
let for a railroad, which will terminate
at Sabine Pass and form Il new line be-
tween Arkansas ana the Gulf of Mexico.
The illinois Centrai viii probably build
nearly 100 miles east and west through
southern Louisiana during the present
year. as surveys have been made, and
AN appropriation made 10 pay for the
cost of construction. The Goulds have
purchased the New Orleans and North
western Railroad from the Hyde syndi
cate, OF Titusrille. Pa, and Will build
about 40 miles of extension. giving
shorter route between Little Rock, Ark,
and New Orleans.
The reasons given for the extensive
projects are the necessity for new lines
10 develop the timber, mineral, OIL and
agricultural resources of this section of
The southwest. and the appreciation of
The development of Mexico by the great
railway systems west OF the Mississippi
river. The freight and passenger business
i,etwec. the Republic and the United
States has greatly increased within, the
last few Years, and the traffic which will
accrue to the lines reaching the Rio
Grande, it is believed, will we'll repay the
cost of such extensive construction.
LABOR QUESTION.
The Piedmont region of the South has
been interested for several months in the
subject of the labor in cotton mills This
subject has been investigated on the
ground by Mr. Edward b. Sanborn. Cen
eral Manager of the National Association
of Manufacturers. who contributes TO
This weeks Manufacturers Record a
Striking article bearing upon the stu
alton. Summarized, his conclusions are
as follows:
i. Factory employees are almost exclu-
sively T:ative-horn.
:. The conditions under which they
live in factory Villages show a very
marked improvement over the surround
1ngs of the homes from which they came.
a comparison between the North and
the South in the items of wages hours OF
labor and the employment OF child labor
is apparently to the disadvantage of the
South. but the truer basis for such COM
parisan-namely, the condition OF south
ei'n mill employees prior 80 their engage
nent in the mills as contrasted with the
conditions which prevailed in New Eng
land at n similar stage OF the develop
ment Of The industry in that section, is
l.;chil- credftahlc TO the South
y The relation pf employer 10 the en-
nloYc is more patcrnal in the South than
elsewhere, cvidcncinS Il genuine desire
10 provide FOR the real welfare OF the
3nili help.
4 Recent factory construction in the
South embedies every recognized require
rnent for the comfort. convenience ana
81 nitary welfare of the employees.
>. The whole influence OF the cotton
mill III the South has been beneficial to
the population as whole. 1t is distinct
u a. marked c;viiizing agency. as il has
given comfortable living and an clcvating
influence to thousands of families who
never before knew anything better than
a cabin IN the bacllwoods.