The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1902-10-30
SOUTHERN INDUSTRIAL
Southern Railways.

railroad systems in developing the
South in Strengthening their positions
there and extending their facilities.
The Manufacturers Record in this
weeks issue summarizes the expen-
ditures for extensions. ETC., Of several
| typical lines as follows: 1.-The Illinois
Central Railroad, for instance, notes
the disbursement Of $8,097,b46 for
betterments during the year. Nearly
200 additional miles Of second main
track were put in service, making a
total Of 533 miles Of second and third
track now in use on the system, which
since last year has added 81 miles to
its extent, making a total OF 4,2S3
mileage. The Southern Railway Com
pany expended in the same period for
maintenance Of way and structures,
improvements and extensions, $780,
721, the improvements including the
! reductions Of curves and grades on the
| st. Louis division. the building of new
| shops at Shefield, Ala, the making OF
| an extension from Littleton, Ala, to
the Sloss-Shefaeld Steel and Iron Com
pany's mines and the purchase Of real
estate at Birmingham, Louisville and
other points. The. Norfolk & Western
Railway also spent largely, and re-
ports a total Of $~2,S99,457 for new
branches and extensions, for improv-
ing bridges and trestles, for second
track and for additional rolling stock.
The Chesapeake & Ohio was not far
behind its neighbor. having paid out
3d. 1928. sos for betterments, incluring
the station at Richmond. 1t has be-
gun several projects for the current
year which will entail an expenditure
of more than $4,000, 900, and is also
continuing its work Of substituting
heavy steel bridges or masonary and
permanent entertainments for light iron
bridges and wooden trestles. Another
liberal spender is the Nashville, Chat
tanooga G. st. Louis Railway, which
put the sum of $685. 01 in better
nents in purchasing new equipment,
erecting new bridges and buildings,
filing in trestles, etc. The Missouri,
Kansas & Texas Railway has also put
out $423, 731 for betterments. and the
Central Of Georgia, $259,390 for i'm
provements, including the filling In
Of Sc trestles. These seven railroad
companies report a combined total of
$23, 218, 301 spent last year for i'm.
provements and extensions and IL g
particularly gratifying that much OF
this large distribution Of money was
made out Of the earnings Of the prop
critics."
These expenditures made largely in
the South are but a part Of the work
for the South done by these roads, a
majority Of which have for several
years exerted themselves particularly
In building up industries and attract
Ing settlers to their respective terri
tories. The effects of their e%xertions
are marked especially in the portion
Of the South east Of the Mississippi.
Now ten or twelve railroad systems
operating in the territory west OF the
Mississippi which has come 10 be
known as the great Southwest, have
united in g plan for systematic settle
ment Of new lands. Commenting upon
this project a special correspondent
at st. Louis Of The Manufacturers
Record, says:
, 1.-THE Northwest became famous for
the wheat fields developed and the
cattle raised there. Now Kansas and
Oklahoma wheat beats anything in the
world, and wheat-growing in all the
Southwest is on the increase. The
Southwest is full Of cattle, horses,
hogs, sheep and goats. Cotton is
grown almost as far North al the
Kansas line and the cotton crop Of the
Southwest Is already nearly one-half
of the entire product Of the United
States. The rice fields Of Louisiana
and Texas have revolutionized the rice
culture Of the United States and have
made fortunes for the Northern men
who largely own them. while rice
lands have increased In price from
25. cents an acre to s35 and $50. There
Is almost nothing that grows that will
not thrive in the Southwest.
IN horticulture hardly a beginning
has been made and yet. Missouri and
Arkansas and Oklahoma apples now
lead the world. Peaches Of wonderful
coloring and flavor are also raised in
Missouri, Arkansas, Indian Territory
and Oklahoma. and pears and plums
and strawberries and grapes and all
the small fruits grow to perfection all
over the Southwest. Truck farming is
making many farmers rich. OF the
vast forests Of hardwood and pine, Of
the zinc, lead and other valuable ores,
Of the natural gas and the great Quan-
titles Of splendid coal, Of the oil and
all that, the world probably knows
something. But no idea Of their enor-
NOUS value in the development Of an
industrial. as well as an agricultural
section, can be formed without a
careful and exhaustive examination
on the ground"