The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-09-19
TOSTIMULATE
BIG TRAFFIC
Manager Birmingham
and Gulf Here
SEEKING AGRICULTURE DATA
Facilities on Alabama River to be
Largely Improved
Nr. PuIts Though He VIII Not talk
Is Known To Favor The stamp
ting Ont OF Rate
siashins.
SEEKING AGRICULTURE DATA

For the purpose of getting agricul-
tural statistics affecting the Alabama
River territory. J. l.. Pultz, general
Steamship and Navigation Company.
came to Montgemery yesterday and
spent some time In the Alabama De-
pertinent of Agriculture and Indus
tries. After gathering the data desired
through this department and other
sources. Mr.. Pultz left last night for
Birmingham. the present headquarters
OF the big corporation.
It was the first visit OF the general
manager to Montgomery. He expressed
himself as being much pleased with the
city and the prospects OF trade In this
section generally.
1t was learned from Mr.. Pultz that
the company is In earnest about the
construction of the electric railway
line from Gadsden to Birmingham and
from Birmingham to Tuscaloosa The
latter line will be approximately fifty
miles in length. Repeated surveys
have been made for this line and the
project IL just about ready 20 be moved
OFF paper.
The connection by rail between Bir-
u4lnBAdtfi anu 4uoC6i018At penetrating
some Of the richest coal territory In
the State. has an indirect and impor-
tant bearing on the development Of
trade along the Alabama and other
rivers being navigated by the '.B. g. g."
The large enterprise Is one of varied
parts. By no means will the present
and distant aims of the company be
TO develop the large contiguous coal
companies on the route alone, but stud
led attention is being given and will
be given to stimulating river trade
all along the agricultural routes.
IL success awaits the operations of
the company in the transportation of
vast coal tonnage down the Black
Warrior and through the Alabama
River. II is conEidered so much better
for the development of the Alabama
River territory. 1t augurs for heavier
and more liberal expenditures to en-
courage river produce trafiic, which
itself Is proposed to be one of the larg-
est sources OF revenue for the new
concern
Mr.. Puitz is a young but very I'M
pretentious man. He would not submit
TO an interview on the future OF the
''B. & G." Enough Is known of him.
however, to say that although having
spent most of his talent in the mining
world he does not propose to let the
agricultural end of the business suf-
rev. In fact, he Is now spending more
tfIse looking after the possibilities
from this standpoint than any other
because he has charge of all the oper-
atoms.
Mr.. Puitz was much encouraged with
a study of the map Of this region and
with the farm statistics of counties
bordering on the Alabama River. The
"B. q G." will endeavor to destroy
what heretofore been more or less of
a drag to the river traffic In this Sec
tion of Alabama. namely, ind1scrimi-
nate rate-cutting. The ofneers OF the
corporation have said that they will
live strictly UP to the tariff OF rates
and maintain regular chedule.
BY no means will slashing of rates
be practiced. It is the belief Of the
officers that plenty OF paying business
can be developed along the Alabama
River between this point and Mobile
20 warrant large disbursements for
Improving shipping facilities at the
various landings. The primitive meth
DDS Of loading and unloading now in
use will be displaced by modern and
mechanical devices. The new corpor-
alton does not intend to neglect any
Improvement which will tend to quick
en- the river traffic in both directions
Having been for the most part in
New York. the Eastern headquarters
of the "B. & g." Mr.. Pultz would not
discuss the negotiations now pending
between his company and the city Of
Selma relative to the wharf lease prop
osition. He does not anticipate any
trouble in this matter. however, and
believes that an adjustment of a sat