The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-08-29
COMING TO HE SOUTH
EXCURSION RATES FOR FARM
 FRS OF NORTH.
Railroads will Induce Investors and Home-Seekers to Visit Alabama, Texas, Louisiana and Missis-
 sippi-Cheap Rates.

For the first time in the history of New Orleans and of the surrounding territory in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Ala bama, the railroads included in the Southwestern Passenger Association and the lines nto belonging to this Association but interested in the development Of the four States mentioned, will put on a very low round trip rate from the 'old states into the sections to which reference has been made, says. The New orleans Picayune.
 MT. George H. Smith, General Passen- ger and Ticket Agent of the New or leans and Northeastern Railroad, recent ly returned from conference of the in- terested lines held In Chicago several days since, and at the session in question brought up for discussion the proposi- ton to put in effect low rates from 1lli- nois, Indiana, Mississippi, Kentucky and Ohio to all points in Louisiana Texas, Mississippi and Alabama.
 Ths proposition, while novel, was dis cussed with considerable heartiness at the passenger meeting and finally was adopted It means a reversal of condi- tions which have been common in the four States when during the late summer months, low round trip rates have been made to the chief cities of the Middle States mentioned.
 The benefits of the proposed round trip rates, as described, will be incalculable, as they will give the farmers. business men and others an opportunity of com ing South and becoming personally ac- quainted with the resources of the States included in the rates. and the opportuni- ties and possibilities for settlement and the establishing of new homes in favored localities.
 "I believe" said Mir. Smith, speaking to the subject, that these rates and the broad advertisement the various rail lines will give them. will prove of great value and will ultimately add to the agricultural population of Texas. Louisiana, Missis- sippi and Alabama.
 "It will, for the first time, give the farmers and others a splendid opportunity of journeying into the agricultural areas and become. by personal investigation. acquainted with the advantages. of the States and enable them to see for them selves the conditions under which the farmer of the South cultivates his crops and pursuesi his avocation at a time when the Middle States have begun to take on their fall and winter garb.
 'T have always been a believer in the rate which has finally been determined. think the wisdom and policy of the roads in making these round trip rates will be well borne out by the result. Then the dates fixed for these excursions, covering. as they do, the period of in- activity incident to the completion of the harvest in the Middle States. will enable thousands of well-to-do people to make the trip under the most advantageous conditions. Heretofore the only means afforded the farmer seeking a new loca- ton has been the regular home-seekers' rates on sale on certain dates during the month While these homessekers' rates are necessarily low. they are considerably higher than the rates which will go in effect this fall. and because of this. and because of the fact that the rates are practically open and made to apply to all rail line points in the four Southern States in which we have direct interest believe that they will generally be taken advantage of.
 "The rail lines out of New Orleans have, during nearly every August or Sep tember. put in low rates to Chicago. St. Louis. Louisville. Cincinnati and other points. and thousands of persons an- nually make the trip. This time we are merely reversing conditions and we believe that thousands of per sons from these cities will drop | in on New Orelans and the l other chief centers Of the four States an study conditions for themselves. The rail lines propose to advertise the rates very extensively and it is also up to