The age-herald., 1901-07-28

The great popularity of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad as a freight and passenger line is readily accounted for by it's liberal and far-seeing policy and the excellence of it's service. Because of its broad policy it is recognized as the most important factor in the development of the country through which 1t passes. No other agency can be compared to it. The Louisville and Nashville controls about 5000 miles of main track in the State of Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Ten nessee Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia and Florida and touches the cities of Cincin- nati, St. Louis Louisville, Nashville. Bir- mingham, Montgomery. Mobile, New Or leans and Atlanta. A glance at these facts make its importance at once appar- ent.
 Railroads as Developers. The Louisville and Nashville is a won derful developer, wealth producer and civilizer and hence a great benefactor. All well managed railroads are benefac- tors. but the Louisville and Nashville is so in an exceptionally large degree. No other railroad has done much to en- courage the spirit of industrial develop ment. Running through the very center of this State, from North to South, and touching the three important cities of Birmingham, Montgomery and Mobile, with branches east and west, it neglects no section of Alabama, but constitutes a large part of the wealth of the entire State, and is thus deeply concerned in all that goes to develop and populate and utilize A1abama's natural resources.
 In Alabama.
 IUtth ox,ar fu,afva b,,drad ,,oiias of track in this State alone, and with vast possessions of other property, enjoying the good will of an intelligent popula- ton, which appreciates the power of the great corporation developing agency, it is no wonder that the management of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad is ever so solicitous for the progress and welfare of the State. To every public or -- private enterprise which means develop ment along it's lines it extends a helping hand.t appreciating, as it does. the fact that whatever is good for Alabama is good for the Louisville and Nashville Railroad.
 .' Money for the People.
 The vast sums of money which the Louisville and Nashville Road pays an- nually to the tax gatherers of the State and the monthly pay rolls which 1t meets with such unerring regularity does much toward supporting government and forms a most important feature, of our general commerce. Pay day for the L. and N" Is a household expression in Alabama.
 From Small to Great.
 It is not the purpose of this article to present anything like historical sketch of the birth, growth and development of the Louisville and Nashville. Enough to remind the reader that the short line the original L. & N. connecting Louis vile, Ky, with Nashville, Tenn, was built in 1852, and that since that time the company has extended it's lines by pur- chase, lease and construction, until today the system comprises actually 5037.65 miles. The capital stock of the company is $52, ,711,52o. It's gross earnings last year were $23, ,75s, ,4S56s; it's operating expenses, si5,7s1, ,5S7.6S. These figures are given merely to show the magnitude of this great railroad.
 Expansion.
 It was with a view of more rapii end certain development of the resources of the Birmingham district that few years ago the Louisville and Nashville con- structed the Birmingham Mineral Rail- road, which comprises a network of tracks running through this (Jefferson) county to all mines, iron plants and towns and villages within radius of fifty miles of Birmingham. The Mineral Railroad has 1041S miles of main track and sS.7S miles of sidetrack in Jefferson county alone, and it Is well known fact often repeated that the Mineral handles more coal, ore and iron combined than any one railroad in the United States and that the tonnage annually hauled over it's lines exceeds that of the entire cotton crop of the South.
 The Alabama Mineral.
 When, few years ago, the Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company acquir- ed the old Anniston and Cincinnati Rail- road, extending from Gadsden to Annis- ton and the Anniston and Atlantic Mar row Guage road from Anniston to Syla- eauga, 1t consolidated the two in one di- vision. rebuilt and re-equipped the line transforming the whole into a first-class broad guage road, and extended it to Cal era, where it touches the main line. This is now the Alabama Mineral Railroad, Is 1l9 miles in length, and is doing a great work in developing the great mineral and agricultural hills and valleys through which 1t passes. Along the entire line may be seen evidences of rapid develop ment The section is Neninently rich in soft, brown iron ore, which is now so much in demand by the iron-makers.
 New Lines and Branches.
 The Louisville and Nashville's new line completed this year. and connecting Sel- ma directly with Pensacola, Is proving quite developer for that section It will not be long before new branch will be in operation from Selma to Bloc ton. which will give the Louisville and Nashville a second direct line from Bir- sningham to Pensacola and the gulf The company is now building line from a point commencing at Phelans | Station. on its main line, fifty miles north of Birmingham, to extend in southerly direction. passing near Ere man. Cuilnhan county. thence through l Walker and into Jefferson to a convfnient ! zt.tt .t I4sI