The National tribune., 1907-01-17
WASHINGTON

| quaint, Colonial Charleston. with its
superb harborSt beautiful Savannah.
and hospitality: delightful and busy
Jacksonville: and Mobile, the second
cotton mart and forging to the front as
a metropolis; New Orleans, around
which Is ever the giamor Of the past.
when its citizens were subjects of Louis
Philippe, and wherS later the British
Packenham found his Nemesis In
Jackson III
Thus over at 1nfafft railway. It pene-
trates now the enchanting valleys Of
Virginia, the Beautiful Coosa Valley
and the Tennessee Valley, the blue
grass pastures and charming farmlands
Of Kentucky. the Health zone Of the
Piedmont districts, tho vast coat fields
of Tennessee and Alabama, the alluvial
plains OF Mississippi, the broad and
teeming savannas of Georgia and Flor
ida, the magnificent forests and plains
of North Carolina, the historic and
fruitful fields of South Carolina. and
the prolific agricultural and coal re-
gfons of southern Indiana and Illinois.
From the decks Of Southern Railway
observation cars the traveller fits on
over historic streams, past primeval
forests, over the Potomac, the James,
the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES rivers;
around the bases and along the crests
of stupendous mountains: thru exqufs-
ite valleys; into the heart of prosper
Gus towns and cities newly risen or
newly built; thru great mineral dis
tricts entombing the price Of an en-
pire; past wonderful waterfalls and
cascades; in endless traverse of varying
country, for nearly 5000 miles on the
trains Of but one railway management.
Iutrospectfon.
The history Of the South Of to-day.
revealed, is its best tribute. its finest
eulogium. Within two and q half dec
AIDES 10000 miles of railroad have been
added to her trackage, or twice the
| mileage laid to 1880. During the 25
years the South has increased its ir-
dustrial capital, in factory industries
alone. to more than one-haIf billion
dollars, or six times the investment in
1880. At that date the Southern cot
ton mill and cotton gin were but min
iatures. Since then nearly 500 cotton
mills have been established upon and
near the Southern Railway lines alone,
| with an equipment Of nearly 100000
spindles and upwards OF 10000 looms.
One hundred knitting mills. an innova-
ton in the South: nearly so woolen
mills, experimental up to 1895; In
Vulnerable planning mills, saw mills,
grist mills, flour and other mills; far
tories, foundries. minor industries, ap-
pie and peach orchards Of vast extent
and enormous yield, quarries, iron,
coal. gold. copper and other mines,
besides many other important indus
tries and commercial enterprises, have
been added in the development Of
Southern Railway territory alone.
Enterprises and Investments and South
ern Railway PromOtfon.
The capital invested in Southern
Railway States alone increased from
1890 to the close OF 1905 far beyond
expectation. The increase in five years
was: IL - s1-
In Alabama, q from $so,000.000 to
s105. 1000, 900; inJvalue of products. from
$72,000,000 to $d09,600, 900. - "'et ~'s
In Georgia, anfrsnn $79,000,000 to
s125, 900, 900; i'm values OF products,
from $4,000, ,o06rto $50. 100000. .ersosn
In sKentuckyos from $87.000,000 to
.s135, 100000: in value of products.
from sf2s,GoO,088 to s15S.s0O. .6Q0ynJ 40
In, Mississippip from $4,000. 900 to
$50, 100000; in value; Of productS, from
s33, 900, 500 to- s57. .0e0, ,0o0.-.s4 .. -.
In. North Carolina; from 5000. .00a
to s141. 900. .000;ain values Of products,
from $4,000. .00d1to $4,000, zoe.
In South Caroitna,. from $82, 10000
to $113,000,000:t in values Of products,
from s53.000.00t toe 5000, ,000.
IN Tennessee, from $63.000.000 to
$102. 900, 900: In values of products,
from $4,000. 600 to $4,000, 900.
In Virginia, from $s2.000.000 to
s148,e00,000; in values of products,
from s1os.ooo.ooo to s14s.ooo.ooo:
The population OF the South for 10
years ending June 30. 1906, increased
IS per cent, with practically no accre-
tion from foreign immigration.
The mantle so honorably worn by the
first President of the Southern Railway
deseends upon one Of his close intfmates
and able associates. Mr.. WV. Finley
whose tenure Of office as Second Vice
President began with birth of the cor.
poration. He IS eminently fitted for
the position:r his experience. sound
judgment, mastery ability and exact
methods have long since been recog-
nized: he stands high in public esteem;
and his administration will insure to
the great corporation and its interests
continuing success, and to the South
jealous and helpful friend.
In Conclusion.
In bestowing our need Of praise for
the monumental work accredited to Mr.
Spencer it is no disparagement to de-
clare, and 1t is but just to acknowledge,
that with all his practical experience,
dCuH1eH, genius anu eIIOTt ne COulQ lOI
have achieved success had he not been
supported and assisted by just such an
official family as surrounded him. Each
one, In his particular sphere. has been
thruout a potential worker OF proven
ability. faithful to his onerous respon-
sibilities and skilful in the discharge Of
their arduous duties.
And, for their sympathy with the
South in its heroic struggle for inde-
pendence, in its laudable striving for
commercial and Industrial supremacy,
give them a Virginian's thanks. For
their cordial response to the necessary
calls of the South for legitimate aid In
it's upbuilding, its rejuvenation. its ad-
vancement as an integral part of al
country destined for continental en-
pire, the South itself reckons them
among its architects.
Reverting, finally, to the character
and disposition of Samuel Spencer. he
possessed traits peculiarly American.
He had none of the narrow, provincial
prejudices which limit the horizon to
a section Of his country. He recognized
kinship in Massachusetts,, and in Cali
fornia, In every corner OF the Union
which Southern arms helped to estab-
Iish and will ever help to preserve. He