The Washington herald., 1913-01-26

ne business OF the LOUISIANA Railway
& Navigation Company for the past two
years has ebeen increasing steadily, not
withstanding the fact that a few years
hack the country was infested with the
hOll weevil, and after the boil weevil
n 1908, the high water on the Red River.
and the recent high water in the Missis-
sippi River during the spring of 1872.
During the past two years the rail-
way company has added six locomotives
10 their motive power equipment, has
added four chair cars to its passenger
car equipment and has added three bag
gage, express, and postal cars TO its pas
senger equipment. During this period the
freight car equipment has been increased
by a purchase of seveuty-five box cars
and a purchase of 125 coal or gondoa
cars. There has also been added num-
her Of caboose cars and other cars or
work equipment.
The company also has during the past
.wo years laid additional spurs and
sidings at many points on the line to
furnish facilities for the sawmills, the
cotton growers, the cane growers, sugar
mills. and other industries located along
the line.
This COMPANY serves some of the arg-
est saw mills in the State of Louisiana,
and is some of the lagest factoles
not only in this State. but in the United
States, the sugar factory on the state
Farm at Angola, which was built during
the year 1911 being one of the hnest
and most up-to-date factoies to be found
anywhere This sugar factory will handle
the cane for all of the farms operated
bv the State East of the Mississippi
River In the case of the Angola Farm
alone there is some 5000 acres, all OF
which will eventually be planted TO cane.
The State has also other farms east OF
the Mississippi River, which is now IN
cane. The State Farm at Angola is one
Of the places that was damaged by the
recent high water in the Mississippi
River. the farm being entirely flooded
and all of the cane drowned out ThS
farm has been replanted during the cur
rent season, and will be very productive
in future seasons.
The company also serves the reserve
and Terre Haute factories. Gramercy re-
finery and factory of the Colonial sugars
Company which is the only competitor
of the American Sugar Refinery, com
monty known as the trust, in the South
ern States This refinery is vast oene-
fit to all of the cane growers in the
State OF Louisiana, as it gives the trust
refnerfes at New Orleans competition
and enables the planters, who nave ther
cane turned into raw sugar at the various
small refneries throughout the state,
competitive market for their raw sugar.
The L., R. & N. Co. has built hrst-
class line from Shreveport d1agonally
across the State to New Orleans, with a
branch leading TO winnfield. and has
been one of the main factors in develop
ing the State. The most important cities
served by the line are Shreveport, Cou-
shatta. Campti WINFIELD, ColfaN, Alex
andria, Mansura. Angola, Bayou sara
Baton Rouge, Edenborn, and New Or
leans Among others, however. are a
number Of thriving towns which have
sprung up since the line was built, and
are springing up and becoming more i'm
portant business centers from day TO
day, each of these towns affording busi-
ness occupations and homes for many
people The line is substantially built
all the way, and is prepared to handle
heavy traffic at reduced cost, and there
fore will be of continued benefit in build
ing up the State and country, not only
that part through which 1t operates, but
ths entire State will be benefited by the
construction Of this line.
During the year ended June SO. 1911,
the company employed a total Of 1,Ui
men and paid out to them in salaries
s766 715.SS, while during the year ended
June 30. 1912. the company employed a
total OF 1,13o employees, whose salaries
amounted to sS72,502s In addition to
this amount which is paid out for sal
aries, large amounts have been expended
for fuel lumber, and supplies of all
classes used in the operation of rail-
roads, the greater part of which money
is expended through business firms To-
Gated within the State.
The American Express Company Oper-
ates over the lines Of the Louisiana
Railway and Navigation Company, and
this is another benefit that has been
brought about by the construction of
this railroad. Heretofore the express
business in the State has been con-
trollsd by one or two companies, but