The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-08-10
Recent Declines in Wall Street
Have Caused No Disturbance
of Prosperous Conditions.
PUSH RAILWAY IMPROVEMENTS.
Heavy immigration Movement,
Absence of Labor Troubles and
Great Business Activity Not
ed in All Sections.

From many quarters come indications
that the progress of the South is not TO
be halted by the recent declines in Wall
street.
Two or three years of good prices for cot
ton have had marked effect for pros
perity in many Southern lines. which is re-
fected in letters published in the Manu-
lecturers Record from hardware and ma
chinery dealers in the cotton belt. who are
among the first to feel the influence of bet
ter conditions of the farming class. COM
paratively unaffected by the chillS and fe-
vers of the speculative centers of the coun-
try.
Moreover. the actual work Of material
development is going on uninterruptedly and
bids fair to rapidly expand with the turn
of capital from speculative operations to
legitimate business undertakings. In sup
port of this statement the Manufacturers
Record notes the following facts:
First may be mentioned the recent an
nouncement that the Pennsylvania Rail-
road will make a $4,000 Improvement at
Altoona. Pa, erecting a great rounGhouse
world, besides a mammoth foundry plant
and a large number of houses for the thou
sands OF employees who will be given work
in the new shops.
Next is the awarding of the contract for
building the Eastern extension of the Wa
bash Railroad-the plans of the Gould sys-
ceeding without regard to the fluctuations
Of the financial barometer.
B. & o. IMPROVEMENTS.
Fright in the same territory the Balti-
more and Ohio is going ahead with its prof.
ects for improvements short line to be
constructed here and q double track to be
put in theresa that the system will in
the course of a few years be practically
four-tracked for large part of its length;
and especially in the crowded regions OF
the Pittsburg district and the coal territory
Of West virginia and Maryian 6;, &c ao
lively double-tracking its main line between
Washington and Atlanta; the Seaboard Is
pushing on to i, drliss She t h
sion to Knoxville. which Is to make direct
route from Cincinnati ii to Atlanta: the South
ern has just begun an extension through
Rabun Gap for the purpose of making a
low-grade coal road from the Tennessee
mountains to tidewater: the Norfolk and
Western and the Chesapeake and Ohio are
going ahead vigorously with their extensive
plans in West Virginia and Kentucky. re-
spectively; the Frisco is actively at work
upon its New Orleans terminal idea; the
Missouri Pacific is busy building its line
down the west bank of the Mississippi River
and is, furthermore. building big road
house and twelve shops at Kansas City; and
contracts are being let for the Union Depot
and its approaches. which are to give the
national capital. at cost of many million
dollars. one of the greatest depots in the
world"
PLANS TO REACH TIDEwATER-
Many OF these railroad undertakings in the
South are concerned with plans for reach
ing tidewater. either on the Atlantic or on
the Gulf, and especial interest just at pres
ent seems to be centering at New Orleans,
giving rise to many reports, but at the same
time emphasizing the fact that railroads in
the Middle West-those controlling the trade
Of tsle Mississippi Valley territory-are in
terested in New Orleans as they have never
been before, and that volume of business
will be thrown IL that direction by these
roads which will be Of utmost Importance In
determining the status Of that city as an
exporter and importer
With these facts in view, added to the
facts OF greater activity than ever before in
the movement of immigration southwark,
and the absence Of all labor troubles
throughout the South since the Alabama
miners have returned to work pending the
settlement by arbitration OF the question of
wages. the whole situation. so far as that
section Is concerned. is one Of great bust-
ness activity and increasing prosperity.