The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-12-08
SOUTHERN RAILWAY
THE RECORD OF NEW CON.
sTRUCTION OF INDUSTRIES
And of the General Progress Along
Two Of tho SuUtheast's Railways.

for a Year.
The showing mode in the fiscal
year, ending June S0th. last, Of the
new industries, additions to estab-
lished Industries and the expenditures
for improvements of various kinds
in the cities and towns along the
Southern Railway and the Mobile q
Ohio Railroad, Is q remarkable one.
when 1t Is considered that the period
covered includes the last half OF
the year 1908 and the first half Of
the present year, a time when the
demand for manufactured goods OF
all kinds in this country was at q
low cbb, and capital was hard to
find for new investments OF any
kind and in any portion of the
country. Some Of the figures for
the Industrial Investments along the
Southern Railway have heretofore
been published.
They show a total Of 453 new in
dustries, calling for an investment
Of $~20,4l3.S35, and additions to
existing industries costing $685.
800. In the same period there were
put undor construction new indus
tries to DO completed later In which
sS,473. 900 will be invested. Since
the close Of the S%outnern's fiscal
year there has been a steady i'm
provement In all business conditions.
ters and operators Of
mines have felt warranted In re-
moving plans for new plants and
capitalists and bankers have been
more ready to supply needed funds
for industrial Investments. The new
industries started In the last half
Of 1909 greatly outnumber those
begun in the first half Of the year,
so that for the first time in two
years, the normal industrial advance
of the Southeastern States may be
said to be under way.
It IS confidently expected. and all
the indications show that the pres
ent year will greatly exceed the
past in the amount Of factory build
ing and in the INVESTMENTS made in
all kinds Of industries. That over
$2S,00O.000 should be invested In
Industrial development in the Pc
riod covered along n line Of road
- tbo S0,thnocf ohNu-c IN fhn nonCt
!arked manner the advantage OF
that section for various lines of
industries.
The growth of industries along
the line Of the Mobile & Ohio Rail
road was also marked. In the
stretch of 1000 miles Of territory
covered by that road there were
constructed in 10000, ending June
80, IS new industries, at a cost Of
s2,123,600, while additions to ex-
listing plants raised the investment
TO $~2,254,700. The figures from the
two lines show duplication at four
or five points. Taking out these
the two lines show an aggregate of
489 new plants costing $21,149,535
and a total investment in industries
Of S35,S09.071 including the amount
which went into new industries un-
der construction on June 80, to be
completed at a later date.
In general improvements during
the year there were invested along
he Southern Railway s69,315.051.
The aggregate amount invested along
the Mobile G Ohio Railroad was
sl2,3S7,554. It Is noteworthy thai
during the year along the Southern
~S3,S02,280 were spent for new
schools, ~s1.S46.115 for new church
es, s~l0,270,s1S for new business
structures. $~32,212,963 for new
residences. At the same time the
amount expended for public i'm
provements was $~6.5oS,391 on
streets. ~s3.530.2S3 on sewers. 49,
O60.204 for water works and water
supply of towns and cities. Those
figures show In tho most conclusive
manner the growth of the South In
wealth and ability to make needed
improvements as we'll as tho con-
tinued expansion of it's business.
There we're built in the twelve
months along the line Of the South
ern Railway. In cities, towns and
v1lleges on less than $4,000 resi-
lences.
The statistics are not available TO
show just what the gain has been
during the year agriculturally, but
that the same advance in agriculture
has been made as In the various In.
dustries is certain. Indeed, there
was probably even a much greater
advance. The statistics published
by the United States department OF
agriculture show in the nine South.
eastern States. through which the
Southern Railway and the Mobile &
Ohio Railroad run, returns fro mthe
staple crops Of cotton, corn wheat
oats. potatoes. hay and tobacco in
1908 Of sS6S,000, 600.
II is we'll known that the greatest
advance is taking place in the meth.
DDS of cultivation. soil preservation,
crop dirersifcation, and In every
thing which goes to the prosperity
OF the farmer; and also that oil
Southern farms more and more con-