Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-01
an Alabama farm is only ss04 which is al
average of sS.67 per acre.
Credit Due the Railways.

The railway companies are doing a good
deal to introduce manufacturing enterprises
also. All of them have industrial depart
ments, with active agents located at Chi
cago, New York and other cities, whose
business is to induce manufacturers to To-
cate new plants upon the lines of the roads
they represent, and they are remarkably
successful 1t is due to these agencies that
the south Is improving so rapidly in its ma
terial condition and shows such an increase
in wealth and in its output of mechanical
products. For example, Mr.. Park of the in
dustrial department of the Louisville and
Nashville railroad has located COO new
plants, with a combined capitalization of
about S45.OGO,0O0. upon it's lines in Alabama
alone during the past few years. and the
industrial department of the Southern road
has done as well.
Mr.. Richards, Industrial commissioner of
that system. has done more to promote the
ma terial interests of the south than all the
state governments combined, and the late
George c. Power. industrial commissioner
of the Illinois Central railroad, located
thousands of manufactures along the line
of that road between Chicago and New Or
leans. The southern railways are COM
PEELED to build up a traffic. and they have
done 1t with great energy and success in all
parts of the south. The material prosperity
of that section is due almost entirely to
their efforts. During the past ten years the
number of manufactures in Alabama has
increased IS per cent The number of wage
earners has increased 60 per cent and the
total amount paid annually in wages about
10 per cent.
Nevertheless. only 90 per cent of the
population are now working for wages.
which Is a smaller ratio than that of any
other state In the Union, unless, perhaps it
be Mississippi
The Good Roads Movement.
one OF the most encouraging signs of
the times. however, is the Improvement in
the highways. The good roads movement
Is extending even more rapidly In the south
than in the north. At Montgomery. for
example, which used to have the worst
roads in the south. nearly 100 miles of
hard macadam has. been laid throughout
the county. The roads are being. pushed
farther and farther every year and are
proving to be so profitable to all con-
ceTned that other cities and counties are
following the good example. The farm
ers have discovered by experience that
they can haul four bales of cotton with
the same team over the improved roads
where they were able to haul but two bales
before, and the wear and tear on the team
is not half so great. They have discov-
cred that it is a great saving in time
also, both for teams and for men, not to
consider many other advantages that
might be mentioned. The women of the
country have supported the movement
with great earneStneSS because 1T means
a great deal to those who live remote
plantations. and have often been deprived
of social privileges by impossible roads.
The wagonmakers and vehicle dealers
have been energetic in support of the
movement, for since the roads became
passable there has been a greater demand
for everything that goes on wheels. Every
negro farmer has to have a buggy now
adays The retail business of the cities
has been increased considerably, because
the wives and daughters of farmers can
get to town at any time or year ana are
taking advantage of the opportunity. .o
-Tl,1 d.
and became general in 1901, chiefly through
the efforts of the Illinois Central and South
ern railway companies. Both companies
started out special trains in 1901. equipped
with a complete outfit of roadmaking ma
chinery. They were accompanied by repre-
sentatives of the National Good Roads AS
ISOLATION and of the Agricultural Depart
ment at Washington, by the agents OF sew
eral manufacturers of roadmaking machfn-
cry, and by state officials who were inter-
ested in the subject. Public meetings ana
county conventions were held in advance of
the arrival of the train. so as to advertise 1t
and awaken the intrest of the people. and
the itinerary was regulated so that week
could be devoted to each county visited.
Practical demonstrations of road building
were made, with different sorts of soil The
manufacturers agents taught the people
how to use the machinery, and every after
noon and evening lectures were delivered In
several convenient parts of the county by
eloquent speakers on the advantages or
good roads.
1t was very effective crusade. The OFF,
Gals of all of the southern states took an
active interest in 1t. The officers of the ag-
ricultural and commercial associations made
it point to show their zeal; college profess
sors Joined the party and did good talking.
The result was very much like revival of
religion. The effect has been noticeable all
over the south. and some of the counties
which formerly had the worst roads now
have the best The consequences are seen
not only in the local commerce, but in the
price of land. All farms on roads that were
improved have advanced in value $40 and
SIS an acre. and naturally those who own
property elsewhere demanded similar i'm
provementS.