The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-12
.F|NLEY'S REPORT
 ON THE SOUTHERN Two Dividends Declared
 During Year GAINS BY FARMERS Figures on Development of South-
 east Much More Rapid Than
 Any Other Section of the Country

of the year of 1 per cent, a performance unprecedented in the recent history Of that company. The gross amount to DC paid will be s1,2Oo,0O0. The first was paid in April of 900, while the president saws that arrangements have been made to pay another dividend of 1 per cent or s60O,0OO, in October.
 During the year the gross operating revenue was increased over 1910 by S,Ooo,- 554. 30, the total gross operating revenue being ssO 34o, ,cs2 .6i As for the net reve- nue from operations the figures snow an increase over 1910 of S75o,5l0. 16. In lslo the net operating revenue was s19,4S,- 272.5e. while in 1911 the amount was SlS,- 65S, ,762. 40
 Agricultural Work
 The report of MT. Finley devotes sev- eral hundred words to the agricultural work of his system, pointing out that the helping of the south to develop It's asrl- cultural resources adds greatly to the wealth not only of his company, but or the whole nation. He paints a glowing picture of the southern possibilities, say ing among other things:
 This development during the year end cd June %, 19l1 included the completion of 379 industrial plants and additions to 141 existing plants. At the close or the year there were 62 plants under con- struction. The plants completed during the year included 34 textile mills, 70 lumber mills, II furniture factories, 20 other woodworking plants, 24 iron indus tries, 12 cotton seed oil mills, 1S fertilizer works, 29 flour and feed mills, 29 stone Guarries, coal and other mines, 1s brick works and 11s miscellaneous plants.
 With climatic and soil advantages un- surpa ssed by those of any other part of the United States, the farmers of the southeastern states are taking up the most approved methods of agriculture with intelligence and zeal The success with which they are doing this is attested by the statistics of the United States department of agriculture, which show in- c, easing yields per acre in each state traversed by the company's lines.
 "A table published by the United Sattes department of agriculture giving the total value for each state of the farm crops
  psrison with the census figures for 1899, shows that in the southeastern states traversed by the companys lines there was an increase in the annual value of these crops in the II years from $4So, ,4S1,- coo to s1042, ,6l4,00o, or 115 per cent, For all of the other states, including the newer western states where the growth has been rapid, the increase in the same period amounted to 73 per cent, and for rivers and east of the Mississippi to 60 per cent.
 Diversified Farming
 'The agricultural development in the territory contiguous to the company 3 lines is due in part to increased average yields per acre, and partly to the more general practice of diversified farming. One crop farming, even in the region most favorable to cotton production, is becoming much less common. Southeast ern farmers are making record yields or corn and other grains, they are devot- jna more attention to live stock and oaIrying, and are growing more fruits eN'Of' 8 the companys lines. In Virginia, North Carolina and other states which are un- surpassed by any other region In the United States for the growing of apples. Orchards produce abundantly, the flavor of the fruit is particularly fine, and this industry is rapidly growing
 "The management of the company. xo;t thinks a hrOQd rOncpntiOn of its relations to the public, aims to make the railway not merely carrier of the people and the products of the south. but also a helpful factor in southern de- velopment. With that end in view 1t is carrying out a carefully considered pol icy of development work which has for it's objects, primarily. the increase of the prosperity of the people already living In it's territory, and, secondarily, the To- regions who are seeking industrial and agricultural opportunities.
 "As the cotton plant Is of such great economic importance to the people of the southeast as whole, and as important industries throughout the world, including the cotton mill and the cotton seed crushing industries along the company g materials. the management of the com pany felt that an obligation rested upon it to aid the growers of cotton along it's lines to meet the new problem which was presented by the appearance of the Mexican cotton boil weevil in a restricted region east of the Mississippi river in the season of 19t0
 This insect made it's appearance in Texas about iS92 and has gradually spread to the eastward In the states west of the Mississippi river the appear ance of the weevl has generally been followed by a series of short crops until the farmers have learned that by the adoption of improved cultural methods they can grow as much cotton per acre as before the insect arrived, and in some cases more. Prohting by this experience, in the fall of 1910, the company, in con Junction with the Mobile and Ohio rail road company, the Alabama Great South ern Railroad company and the Southern Railway company in Mississippi. organ ized a cotton culture department. with a general agent and seven field agents, each one of whom has had practical ex- perience in the growing of cotton under Loll weevil conditions"
 Labor Conditions
 Speaking of labor conditions, the re- port of President Finley says:
 "All questions as to wages and condi- tions of employment which have arisen during the year between the company and its employees have been amicahly ad- Justed. In some cases settlements were reached through mediation under the ma tional law, commonly known as the Erd- t.- kl.t~ st<<s.