Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-11-11
RAILWAY BOOKS TELL OF
PROSPERITY OF THE SOUTH
Industrial Development Within Ter.
ritory Through Which Southern
Railway System Passes.
INDEPENDENTS DECLARA TON

INDEPENDENCE DECLARE TION
Live Stock Industry Growing in Vir-
ginia, and Other Parts OF Dixie
Starts New Era-Searly Il Thous-
and New Plants.
At the recent annual meeting of the
stockholders Of the Southern Railway
Company, held in this city. the board
OF directors made Il very full and COM
road for the fiscal year ending juno
80 last. 1t was something Of an un-
usual report, in that II WAS not con-
fined to the consideration OF the tinan-
cial affairs md traffic operations of the
system, as is generally the case with
such reports, but dealt largely in the
industrial and agricultural develop
mcnt of that part OF tho South through
which the road and it's various branches
pass. These facts and figures. showing
as they do great industrial activity in
Virginia, North Carolina and other
Southern States touched by the road
and its branch lines, are interesting to
thousands of people other than the
stockholders to whom they were given
by the directors and ofiic ials.
The report declares that the year.
from July l. 1916, to June 80. 1917. was
one of steady growth of Southern
manufacturing. and then is given n
list of new plants completed during
the year in the.tcrEi:ory served by the
system. from which il appears that
among the new industries started In
the time named there were thirty-two
brick and tile plants, twcnty-thrce
canncrics. one cheese factory. twelve
chemical products plants. twenty cot
tonseed products plants and Einrcries.
eight crcamcries seven fertilizer
plants, forty-four Touring and feed
mills. fifteen furniture factories,
twcnty-one iron working plants, 1i5
lumber plants. twelve power develop
mcnt plants uwo OF them being on
very large sca!c), nincty-scvcn stone
quarry, coal mine and mineral mine
developments. ninety new textile and
cloth mills. thirty-thrcc Woodworking
plants and c27 miscellaneous factories
and plants OH tho smaller order. max
ing 1S7 ne. industries started up,
great and small
VAST AMOUNT or NEW
CAPITAL. INVESTED
Tho total capital invested in these
new industries amounted to s4i5S5.eSO.
During the year there were additions
made to 3AS previously existing manu-
featuring establishments. at a reported
cost of Sl7,1l1.37O. Plants reported
under construction on June 80, 1917.
n ~ I'M in, l,r
capital of SIS S?G,50o General inn
rrovcments, consisting Of new build
inrs of all kinds Except those used
in manufacturing. public utilities. etc.
cost s7Q,3G2.335
The Importance OF the cotton manu-
fac,ur'"~ industry OF the South on the
lines OF the Southern Railway system
continues to grow. says the report.
1t is shown that, during the year. the
consumption Of cotton in the mills In
cotton producing States increased near
~ II per cent, rs compared with an
mills of all other Statcs. The con-
sumption in Southern mills amounted
to Social bales. exceeding the 2.S9a,-
1T3 bales consumed in other states by
l.ool, s3S bales. The growth of cotton
manufacturing in the territory served
by the Southern Hallway system may
he said to date fro:a 1850. in which
year the consumption Of cotton In tho
mills OF cotton producing States was
only 1SS.74S bales, and in al. other
states l.3S1.596 bales. Since that year
the increase in consumption in South.
crn mills has amounted 10 l,267 per
cent. rs compared with ITO per cent in
all other states. :"
GREAT THINGS ON
FARMS or THE SOUTH
In the report much space is devoted
to the Improved agricultural condi-
tons along tho lines of the railway
principally in Virginia and North Caro-
lima. Tho year under consideration, il
declared WAS one of great prosperity
FOR southern farmers. With the cXccp-
ton of oats. which were damaged by
unusually sever: frosts in tho spr'"g.
yields OF all crops compare most fav
orab!y with those 1916. Tho csti-
mates At the time the report was made
out show large increases in all aEri
cultural products except oats, wheat
and apples The figures are as follows:
Cotton. 6.3J7.0T0 bales; Corn. &C.
3A2.00o bushels; whoa. 4S.GSGOoo bush
els; oats. 4o.5O1.0e0 bushels; tobacco.
9l5.576,o 900 pounds; Irish potatoes. u.s.
1000 bushels: sweet potatoes. G2,I70,-
600 bushels: apples. 35.o23.000 bushels;
peaches. 1857 900 bushels.
In addition TO the above crops. there
have been large increases in the yields
OF certain crops fo- which statistics are
not gathered. For instance. velvet
beans are rapid" coming into promi-
ncncc as Il most valuable stock feed
and arc becoming an important agri-
cultural asset OF the South. According
TO conservative estimate. 100000
acres Of velvet beans have been grown
in the States served by the Southern
Railway system :his year. being an in
crease Of AZ least 800 per cent over last
year. There have also been large in
crcaacs III the production Of soy beans
and peanuts. especially j.. Virginia and
North Carolina.
NEW DECLARATION OF ECONOMIC
IEDEPENDENCE DOWN SOUrII
In livestock husOandry the South
has made q new declaration Of eco