The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1912-04-03
HAS INAUGURATED IMPORTANT
MOVEMENTS FOR BETTER
MENT OF AGRICULTURAL
AND INDUSTRIAL CON-
CON DlTION IN
THE SOUTH
A LEADER IN DEVELOPMENT
How the Southern Railway System Is
Working to Aid the People Aready
la the Southeast and to At.
tract Capital and Desira-
BILE Settlers t. This
Section.

Much attention has been attracted,
In recent years, 10 the work which
many of the great railroad systems
and q number OF the lesser compa.
MES have been dong in the line OF
practical development work for the
territories they reach. There is lit
tie question that this work has had
an immense influence in the advance
made in nearly all portions of the
country and in the general prosperity
and growth Of the nation. People
recognize this fact and are SO i'm
pressed by it that many communities
and districts have come to look to
the great transportation companies
nearly all efforts to develop their re-
sources. The business of the rail-
road company is to handle traffic.
Whatever work is undertaken outside
Of that should properly have direct
relation to the increase Of the roads
traffic.
1t ia generally known today that
IN we'll planned and effective work
to increase the business Of the road
BY adding to the population Of it's dis
triets and the utilization Of the re-
sources and opportunities Of the va
rious communities it serves, the South
srn Railway System Is leader, while
in many lines Of this work it has
been a pioneer. A resident of Ore
gon, connected with one of the great
transcontinental lines, who has been
making a study Of the work Of rail-
roads In this direction, recently stat
ed that in its development wor., the
Southern had the best organization IN
the country.
METHODS OF AIDING FARMERS.
A recent publication of the United
States Department Of Agriculture said
that the manifestation of interest by
the transportation companies of the
country in the betterment Of agricul-
ture has recently become so pro-
nounced and general as to attract the
attention Of all who are engaged in
rural development: that this interest
has been shown principally in. their
providing and running special trains
for the dissemination Of agricultural
information among farmers, and in
their appointing agricultural experts
to position in the management OF the
roads to give attention to the devel-
ment Of rural communities. and to
the proper handlins Of agricultural
products shipped from distributing
points on their several routes of rail-
way.
In all these directions the Southern
Railway System has been prominent.
Its activity, however, are not confined
to the lines OF agricultural WORK men
toned, and in the way Of Industrial
and of general development work the
field of labor has been very broad.
The activities of railroad compa-
nv in promotion and development
ycrl; must be based on the special
needs and opportunities CT it's field.
Feginning with the organization of
the Southern Railway Company this
work has teen planned with a view
10 the largest and hest Development
ei roth the agricultural snd indus
trial resources of the Southeastern
States.
This has meant a study Of the ag.
r;culturol, mineral. forest and manu-
featuring resources and opportunities,
the advertising Of them. participation
In the work of educating our people
resardin gthe. value Of their farm
lands and natural resources and of
the best utilization Of them. and of
efforts to secure the fullest co-opera-
ton Of all interests in the sections
advanced
EXTENT OF THE WORK.
The Southern Railway System,
through its various lines, reaches into
and serves. nearly all the industrial
and agriculture: districts of Virginia,
the Carolinas. Georgia, Kentucky, Ten
nessee. Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia.
Northern Florida and Southern Indi.
ana and Southern Illinois. This ia-
eludes a vast empire, in extent, and
enc in which nearly all manner st
conditions. resources. needs and pos.
sibili1ies are found. To properly
serve sueh q territory the develop
ment Of work must embrace may
different avenues Of activity.
1t has beea carried on with the
Mee that TO fully utilize the resources
and to bring about the needed and
desired development new men and
new capital from the outside must he
brought In to work either independ-
emily or In connection with the men
and capital Of the Southeast In devel.
eping our forest and mineral wealth
and in extending our manufacturing