The gold leaf., 1909-11-04
SOUTHERN RAILWAY.
Shows Increased Business During the
Past Year-rluch Construction Work
Accomplished in the Way of Double
Tracking and Betterments.

accomplished IN the way OF OOuDie
Tracking and Betterments.
A substantial increase is shown in
the gross income OF the Southern
Railway Company during the year
ending June 30, last, according to
the fifteenth annual report of Presi-
dent W. W. Finley. The report says
the return Of business from the low
level OF panic conditions in 1907 was
slow, but substantial during thepa
year. The total gross income for
the year was 17,737 500, an in
crease over 1908 of So, 800, ,733.
While the operating expenses show
decrease OF $753,61O, compared
with the year 1908, it is stated that
this is due to the fact that the Ten
nessee Central railroad and tho
Soutern railway OF Mississippi were
operated separately this year. How
ever, comparing like for like, this
year shows an increase in the Operat-
ing revenue of $606, 766.
During the year much of the con-
struction work which was suspended
in the summer of 1907 was resumed,
and substantial progress has been
made toward the completion of some
very desirable facilities. The princi-
pal work has been in the provision of
additional double track at the points
where the capacity of existing single
track has been overtaxed, as we ex-
planned in detail in the Annual Re-
port of 1907.
"Of this work the revision of grade
and double-tracking OF the main line
south from the terminal yard at
Monroe, Va, across the James River,
through the city of Lynchburg and
thence across the Staunton River to
Sycamore, Va, total distance of
1914 miles shortening the old line
PIG miles is perhaps the most impor-
tant. A portion of this new double
track from Durmid to Sycamore, 80
miles, has been in operation since
April 80, 1909; the remainder involv-
ing the construction of notable via
duct over the James river and a
tunnel 1,3uO feet in length under the
city of Lynchburg, is heavy work, but
should be available for operation in
the spring of 1910.
"Tne throat through which the
Knoxville and Atlanta lines which
converge at Oltewah Junction, Ten
nessee, reach the city of Chattanooga,
is another piece of line where double
track has long been needed. The
work on this fourteen miles was re-
sumed during the year and is being
pushed to completion.
''Other pieces of double track out
| of terminals are also under construc-
ton, viz; 2.63 miles north out of
Greensboro, N. c., and A miles west
out of Asheville, N. c.
"Since the close OF the fiscal year
contracts have been let for the con-
! struction of second track on the
! main line in North Carolina, from
Spencer to Glass, 1877 miles, and
from Charlotte north to Harrisburg,
1876 miles, and these works being
comparatively light, should be CON-
pleted by January /, 1910.
"When the expected increase in the
| volume of traffic is realized with the
company will have in all 325 ST miles
of double track in the "pinch" points,
and should be able to handle its busi-
ness without congestion or disturb
ance, largely by reason of the relief
so afforded.
During the year portions OF the
projected low grade Little Tennessee
river line, connecting Knoxville with
the Carolinas, upon which work was
| ha,rup covoral voors orn uoro also
completed and put in operation, viz:
25.3 miles from Maryville to Chill
howee, Tenn, which was constructed
in the name of the Tennessee & Caro-
lima Southern Railway Company, and
1879 miles from Bushnell to Fontana,
n. C., which was constructed in the
name of the Carolina & Tennessee
Southern Railway Company. These
lines are operated for local service,
but it is not proposed Immediately
to push the work through. The
present construction policy OF the
Company is to apply its capital re-
sources to enlarging the capacity
and facilities of its existing lines,
where a heavy traffic is assured,
rather than to exploit new territory
or hazard new lines"
The progress in the South is indi-
Gated in the report. which shows that
during the year 453 new manufaetur-
ing plants were completed. More
than 20 per cent. OF a years tonnage
originated in the South. The grelter
part of the cotton growing States
are served directly by the Southern
and it is probably the heaviest car.
rier of cotton, the chief agricultural
product in the South. During the
year 636,207 tons, or more than
2,5O0,OOO bales were carried. This
product constituted less than thre<
per cent. of the total years tonnage