The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-17

of increased production In agriculture
and in manufactures, and of general in
dustrial and commercial activity. such as
her best friends and most enthusiastic
prophets had scarcely dreamed of fifteen
years ago. Within that period the cash
value of her cotton crop has doubled, the
amount of pig iron produced at her fur
naces has increased enormously and the
product of her coal mines has increased
more than three fold. Cotton factories
have sprung up within her borders to the
extent that more of her cotton crop IS
now manufactured on her own soil than
In all the mills of New England. The
total value of her annual manufactures
now aggregates nearly eighteen hundred
millions in value. The total value of her
agricultural products is now over seven
teen hundred millions per annum.'
This increase is likewise indicated in
the volume of traffic handled by this
company In 1895 the number of tons of
freight carried one mile was 109S. 1892 SSi,
while in 1906, the number of tons carried
one mile was A, 4SS 915, S39, showing an in
crease of over 300 per cent or allowing
for the increased mileage, an Increase of
over 1873 per cent; while in 1895 the num-
Der of passengers hauled one mile was
17S.015,925 as against $40 645 in 1906,
showing an increase of over 200 per cent,
or, allowing for the increased mileage,
an increase per mile of road of over so
per cent.
Nowhere in the United States. except
in the two states of the extreme north
west, Washington and oregon. has there
been such industrial development as In
the south.
Has Been Big Factor.
It is perhaps not too much to claim
that. outside OF the energies and efforts
of the people themselves, this company
has been one of the chief factors in this
development Manifestly. the vast increase
of traffic incident To this commercial
awakening, requires enormous increases
in transportation facilities. The manage
ment of the Southern Railway company
has not been unmindful of this fact. and
did not wait for the coming of the de-
veopment itself. before attempting to in
crease to the utmost possible extent its
transportation capacity. II must he re-
membered that this company has not
been i'll existence more than about twelve
years. 1t found those railroads of the
south. now constituting a part of its
system, of light and faulty construction,
poorly equipped and utterly unprepared
to handle any considerable traffic. They
had been recently bankrupt and were
without credit.
AS soon as the new company came into
existence the management adopted a pol
icy of betterment and Improvement, and
something Of what ii has done to pre-
pare for traffic of the south will appear
from the following statement.
Statement of Expenditures.
1t has spent:
In new, approved and heavier
rail ......... ......................$ SIT, SOOOO
In double tracking, reducing
grades and changing alignment. 6,942 631
In new steel bridges for heavier
power ....... ........... ......... 2.57S54O
IT. branches and spurs to indus
tries ........ ............. ......... $685.
In side, passing and commercial
tracks ......... ................... s,1RsO6
In shops. tools and machinery -. 2,0414S
In additions and improvements to
yards, real estate. roadway and
structures and other improve
ments and additions $50. $40. $685. sos
Or n total of .....................S $50, 1874 01S
1t has spent or contracted to spend:
For new equipment ................$f $40, S22, $50
For joint terminals completed
dts proportion) ....... ........... 3,+0S, 1SS
For terminals ........ ............. S23. 4O1
For double tracking ...... ........ 6.744, 100
Making total of work done and
contracted for to prepare to
handle the traffic .............. 500. 4S2, 945
1t has increased its rolling stock as fol-
lows:
Locomotives. from 623 to (received and
contracted forl 1914.
Freight train cars from 1924 to re-
ceived and contracted for) 5S.i9l.
Passenger train cars from Asst to (re-
ceived and contracted for) zoos.
This does not indicate fully the increase
made to its equipment by the company,