The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-11
RAILROAD. WORLD.

W. A Garrett, general manager. and w. c. Rinearson, general passenger agent of the Queen and Crescent route, and M. M Mcguire. superintendent of the Chattanooga division of the same system were in Birmingham yesterday conferring with Superintendent A. Griggs of the Ala bama Great Southern railway relative to the proposed block signal system to be installed between Meridian and York, distance of about twenty-five miles, as well as other improvements contemplated.
 Col A H. Stevens yesterday severed his connection with the Central of Geor- gia railway, after many years service as freight agent in Birmingham. On behalf of the employees of the office, c. B. John son. chief clerk, presented Col. Stevens with a beautiful Knight Templar charm. In making the presentation MT. Johnson expressed in behalf of the office force deep regret at the departure of Col. Stevens, and wished him success In the future.
 J. w. Mearers, formerly cashier, suc- ceeds Col. Stevens as freight agent.
 Passenger terminals patterned after the Pennsylvania railway terminals at Phil adelphia are to be erected at Baltimore by the Baltimore and Ohio railroad
 A fast freight service to be known as the Air Line Dispatch has been establish ed by the Baltimore and Ohio. Washing ton Southern, Richmond Fredericksburg ar od hoa ard tween Washington and the south.
 The Atlanta Journal says.
 More mystery has surrounded the af- fairs of the Tennessee Central. It's mem- bership in the Narshville Car Service as- sociation has been cancelled. It is believed this means more than is apparent on the surface. The statement is made by a representative of the road that something big is to happen in the next few weeks, but no intimaton of what it is to be would be given. It may mean a union with the Illinois Central. as it is under stood certain orders were issued recently on that system relating to the Tennessee Central What these orders were is a mat ter of which nothing can be learned. 1t may mean a Frisco alliance or a deal in which the Southern will be interested.
 The Wall Street Journal says:
 The six months statement of Southern Railway, to tbe published in a week or so, will reflect in A striking way the pros perity of the south due to the high price of cotton
 Tt is pertinently pointed out that the value of the cotton crop of last year ap proximated $6OO,O00O00 as against an ap- proximate average value of s4oO, 900. .oOo The s2Oo,O0oOoo of difference represents the prosperity of the south. Within a period of four months the available wealth of the south, as represented by the value of cotton on hand. increased at the rate of nearly s2,00O.000 a day.
 Tt is not to be wondered at that the public south of the line grew confident. The Baltimore failures and the great de- south had combined to cause a certain un- easiness not only in the financial circles of the South Atlantic states, but also in the people of the south at large.
 The sudden and, to most people, un- looked for advance of s2Oo, ,O00 OO0 in the wealth of the cotton states changed that uneasiness to confidence greater. pos- sibly, than pervades any other section of the union
 The direct result to the railroads has been an increase in travel and freights With money in bank and pocket, the peo- pie of the south are progressive and are a public we'll worth serving Southern Rail- way showed fin its earnings of November. December and January the results of such economic conditions.
 ''It is stated by a close observer of the south and It's people that at the moment. in spite of easy money, the southerners are not likely to become an important factor in the Wall street market. Even