The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-22
RAILROAD WORLD.

| New Orleans and all Louisiana are very much interested in the proposed extension of the Frisco system from Memphis to New Orleans down the west side of the Mississippi Representative men in those states also think 1t would be very advan- tageous to both the Frisco and to New Orleans if that system would extend line from Birmingham to New Orleans, making that city market for the coal and iron fields of this district.
 Concerning the matter the New Orleans Picayune says:
 Now that the Frisco railroad system has announced it's intention of entering New Orleans from the west, the ques- tion Is being asked among railroad men as to why it should not come in from the east also, and make New Orleans the funnel not only for its grain, lumber live stock and cotton country west of the river, but its coal and iron territory. This method of speculation opens up the pcs sibllity that there will be another bidder in the field for the New Orleans and Northwestern. The securing by the New Orleans and Northea stern by the Frisco would not only bridge a large propor- ton of the gap between this city and Birmingham, the present termini of the Frisco on this side of the river, but 1t would solve the question of entrance into New Orleans.
 "A bridge across the Mississippi at Baton Rouge Is the latest talk In rail- road circles. It is prophesied that when | .rtIo Io bull u,tit ha ot Rouge. and well posted railroaders think
 that the building Is but a question of a l year or so.
 "rhe. building of the bridge at Baton Rouge will be a great thing for that city. and will not In any manner detract from l New Orleans. l. will mean that the Fr's- l co will enter New Orleans from the east bank and get across the river there, and that the Shreveport and Red River Valley will also cross at that point. 1 Ever since the coming of the Frisco was talked of there has been any amount of speculation as to where the road would cross the river. Under the ordinance now pending before the city council it is defin- itely shown that the crossing will be ef- fected ahcve the city. Of course the cross- ing might be effected a mile or SC above the river by means of transfers but when the Frisco joins issue with the Texas and Pacific and the Eddenborn road Tn wishing to get across the river, something bigger than a system of transfer boats is expected
 "One prominent railroad man said that he fully expected to see the Mississippi bridged at Baton Rouge within the next two years.
 | "rhe construction of a bridge across however. relieve the necessity for a bridge at New Orleans. The Texas ard Pacific would hardly abandon it's Vest wego terminals, and the Southern Pacific does not go anywhere around the Louis- lana state capital. It would, therefor e, seem that if the Frisco wanted to join ls- sue with other interests. that suitable site somewhere just above the city might be chosen"
 W. B. Clements, travelling passenger agent of the Seaboard Air Line with headquarters at Atlanta, Is at the Hill man.
 Representatives of the Frisco system, including R. Kiingberg resident engineer at Memphis; F, o. Becker general agent In Birmingham, and Commercial Agent E. T. Wilcox, accompanied by General Manager George Clarke of the Birming- ham Belt railroad, which belongs to the Frisco, were in North Birmingham yes- terday looking over the work of exten- sion being done by the Belt line at that place.
 meeting of local passenger represen- tatives of the various railroad lines en- tering Birmingham was held yesterday morning to discuss the advisabihty of recommending that special rates be given on all roads for the performance of Ben Hur," which will be presented at the Jef- ferson theatre the week beginning Feb ruary g.
 Official announcement has been received l in Birmingham of the appointment of c. l l.. Wickersham as travelling passenger agent of the Atlanta and West Point and Western Railway of Alabama, with head | quarters in Atlanta. MT. Wickersham takes the place of George w. Allen, who has resigned. MT. wickersham will be succeeded as city passenger and ticket 1 agent in Atlanta by s. c. Griswold.
 MT. Wickersham is a son of President and General Manager C. A. Wickersham of the system mentioned and is well known in Birmingham, where he resided at one time
 special from Memphis to the New York Commercial says: c. H. Ackert, | general manager of the Southern, while in this city recently gave some interesting information regarding the improvements to be made during the year. The cost l Is placed at several millions.
 On the Memphis division the principal features will be the building of sSO,OOO freight depot in this city, the rearranging and enlargement of the track facilities of the yards at this point, and replacing with s0-pound rails all the 56 and 60-pound rails on the Memphis division at all points where the change has not been made | heretofore.
 Mir. Acker denies that the Southern will extend the Memphis division from Steven son, Ala. into Chattanooga, explaining that the road has a long-term contract with the Nashville, chattanooga and St. Louis for the use of it's tracks. At Birmingham 12 miles of trackage will be built on property bought a short time ago for terminals. This work is to