The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-02
AGRICULTURE GAR
 DRAWING CROWDS Shows What the People in Ok
 Iahoma Can Raise IN CHARGE OF THE FRISCO Conspicuous Among the Exhibits Is a Pumpkin Weighing 65 Pounds and two Feet in Diameter-other
 Railroad News.
IN CHARGE OF THE FRISCO

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 The agricultural exhibition car of the Frisco system is on the Southern track on Nineteenth street and Powell avenue.
 The car has been in Birmingham since Sunday and will leave tomorrow night.
 This car, which is in charge of J. H. Hoffman, Is we'll worth a visit and is be- ing viewed by hundreds of people every day. It contains the products of the farmers in Oklahoma and every variety of agricultural product Is represented. Conspicuous among the exhibits Is a pumpkin, about two feet in diameter and weighing 65 pounds. Specimens of fruit grain and grasses are in abundance and evoke much admiration from those who visit the car.
 MT Hoffman said yesterday that the samples on view are fair specimens of what the newly opened lands and soil or Oklahoma in general will produce. He has also preserved apples, peaches, and grapes which are of unusual size.
 The car is well and appropriately decor ated and has not suffered much from it's extensive trip through the north MT Hoffman said that the only specimens which had suffered were those of cotton.
 "The people of Illinois" he said, ''who had never seen cotton in the boil before could not keep from handling it. It was a revelation to them and 1t was highly amusing to me to hear them express themselves when I showed them the sta pie of the south.
 Railroad Notes. The new line of the Central of Georgia from Selersville to Florola is completed and has been put into service. Trains are now running through from Smith vile to F'lorola, a distance of twenty four miles. The new line has been under construction for some time and taps virgin pine country abundanty rich in lumber ard naval supplies. The country is practically undeveloped but with this completion of the line It is expected that 1t will prove exceedingly fruitful.
 Sam C. Portcr, travelling freight agent on the Big Four route, is out on the road again.
 A large number of Masons passed through Birmingham yesterday on the south bound Louisville and Nashville trains en route for Montgomery to attend the grand lodge. They were joined at this place by large number of Masons who attended the annual joint commu- nication held at the Masonic Temple on Monday night.
 J. N. Cornatzer. general passenger agent for the Frisco system, was in the city yesterday.
 D. R. Wells, division passenger agent for the Queen and Crescent route at New Orleans, was in the city yesterday.
 Cash Mosby, city passenger agent for the Southern railway at Selma. was in Birmingham yesterday.
 The holiday rate sheets for the Louls- vile and Nashville railroad were received yesterday. Tickets at the usual reduced rates will be sold to all points in the south on December g, 24 25, 30, 3l, and January l. The tickets will be limited to return on January 1, 1904
 
 P Sid Jones, district passenger agent is back at his office. Mir. Jones has been in North Alabama for nearly a week.
 The Wall Street Journal says:
 The abrogation of the practical agree ment between Frisco and Missouri Pa- cifc for joint use of the Valley Line being built by the latter brings the two systems back to the same position in which they stood twelve months ago.
 The proposed building of an independent line down the river valley in the interests of St. Louis and San Francisco was an- nounced more than a year ago. The necessity for a gulf outlet arose through the growth of export trade from the southern ports, and the fact that this outlet is the natural one for all the pro- ducts of the west and the middle west. It was recognized as inevitable that such an outlet should be obtained.
 The Intervening eighteen months have been very eventful. By the purchase of Eastern Illinois Frisco has obtained a northern division for this north and south line, while the purchase of Frisco itself by Rock Island still further increased the necessity for tho river line. It's building seemed assured when Southern railway and Frisco became joint purchasers of great terminals in New Orleans.
 At the same time MT. Gould has form ed his plan for river line, north and south, and railroad men at large feared that the rival bidders for the territory would clash badly.
 Such an event appeared to be obviated