Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1911-05-17
MIR. FINLEY BEAMS OPTIMISM.
Head of Southern Railway Gives ~
tcrvicw OH Conditions.

Washington, May 11.--President
w. w. Finley. Of the Southern Rail
way Company. who has recently re-
turned from an inspection trip. on
which he was accompanied by mem
bers of the board Of directors, in
speaking to-day OF business condi-
tons in the> Southeastern States,
said:
"The agricultural outlook through
out the entire Southeastern section
seems to be very favorable. While
in part Of the territory rains have
somewhat retarded cotton planting,
and while r%eplanting will be neces-
Sary in some small areas, 1t will
have to be done to a very much
smaller extent than was necessary
last year. notwithstanding the in
creased attention being given by
Southern farmers to corn and other
crops, the aggregate creage devoted
to cotton will be somewhat greater
this year than last. The average
preparation OF the soil for planting
this year has been unusually good.
Farmers are using fertilizers more
scientifically, and better farming is
being practiced very generally
throughout the South, which may be
expected to result in an increase in
the average yield per acre. AS a re-
suit Of their prosperous season in
1010 Crnfhor, % no 81 ,xo,
extent than usual, are able to finance
this years operations themselves
without the assistance Of local mer-
chants and banks.
Conditions in the cotton manu-
featuring industry are not wholly
favorable, but, as the season pro-
crosses, more definite ideas as to the
size of this years cotton crop should
bring about a more favorable rela-
tive adjustment of the prices Of the
raw material and the finished pro-
ducts of the mills.
1.-The lumber business is still feel
ing the effects Of restricted purchases
on the part Of the railways, but a
slight improvement is noticeable in
some OF the lumber producing locali-
ties.
''The condition of the iron and
steel industry in the South is sub
stantially the same as in other parts
Of the country.
"Wiil underlying financial and ag-
ricultural conditions favorable, and
with a fair business in some indus
trial lines, and some prospect for i'm
provement in others, there is a rea-
sonable basis for the expectation Of
an active business as the season pro-
crosses.
1.-The management of the Southern
Railway Company Is not unmindful
OF the requirements placed upon It
by the increasing volume Of traffic
throughout its territory. 1t is, there
fore, Continuing its policy Of improv-
ing it's facilities for the DEVELOPMENT
of business and for the movement Of
traffic. 1t has recently taken steps
to add substantially to its motive
power for passenger and freight
trains and to its passenger train
equipment. It's carrying capacity Is
comfortably ahead OF its present re-
quiremnts. Looking forward to the
progressive development Of It's terri
tory, the carrying capacity OF those
parts Of its lines where the traffic Is
not sufhcicntly heavy to require dou-
BILE tracking is being increased by
the construction Of a modern system
OF l~ap-sidings, and these lap-sidings
are being so constructed that, If bus
mess shall become sufficiently heavy
for double-track lines, they can be
used in a double-track system. In all