Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-05-23
y|RGIN|A RAILROAD LINES
BACK TO DEVELOPMENT
Association OF Southern Lines
: Formed for Cooperation and for
Great Things for Dixie.

se most OF them, maintained Industrial
and agricultural departments, which
EWere not only profitable in the long
run to the railroads, but were OF In
estimabIe value to Virginia and othct
Southern states.
SSe Tho agents of these departments
were ever on the alert TO bring new
capital, new industries. new land
buyers and farmers to the state and
at the time of this country's entrance
: into the war, when these activities
: had to be SUSPENDED so that the
roads. under government manage
sment. could give their entire aticn-
( tion to the transportation end OF the
business. they had performed Won
;lers in building up the waste places
~ Of the Commonwealth.
It is no wonder that as soon as the
f railway lines were returned TO their
owners. they quickly took steps. to
< resume the business that had before
|& the war been SO we'll done by the in
dustrial and agricultural depart,
nents. a meeting of former indus
srial agents and other officials of n
number of Southern lines was held in
Birmingham. Ala, and plans perfect
Is ed for doing greater work than ever
aeforc along these lines. and these
70 the end that the different roads
should not get in each others way
and that, there should be no fights
ilmons themselves and no building
|%lp of the region continuous to one
soad against the interest of another,
up the the si eats and CRY build shn the he
iouth, by bringing in new indus
ries and new workers from affair.
&t All Will Pull Together.
As a result of this meeting, a per-
pe known as the Association of Rail
say Development Agents OF the
south. This association will en-
entatires OF any Southern railroad
Engaged in industrial. agricultural,
mmisration, colonization or other
abroad development activities and,
IS stated in the constitution adopted,
he object of the association shall be
ance of the railway development
II York In the South, to bring about an
Interchange of ideas among it's mem
authorized development agencies in
he South.
Presiding the organization of the
nd heart-to-heart discussion by ali
hose attending. and an opportunity
Sas given TO everyone TO express his
Jews as 10 whether or not their
,ork in the South would be benefit
Ind. Those attending. were unani-
tous In approving the organization
n ~ the association. ana all expressed
lemselves as. feeling that through
aeh a body Industrial, agricultural
nd Immigration activities could be
IL and!ed with much greater success
4 ecause of the opportunities that
i ;ould be given for a constant inter-
Eiange of ideas and accompli shmcnts
|afnrough the associotion
OF the striking features of the
SSes th was is.s the unity of purpose
aks throughout the two-day session.
|5Eld there seemed 10 be a general
sTeement that all this industrial
+ 2uld be much better promoted IL
.aose in charge of i; would work
osely together instead Of each one
ong his own individual line. 1t
EEas pointed out that, while some
Aisnases of railway work arc competi-
|HSHe, the best results from develop
Regeneration and interchange OF ideas
{ld plans.
Virginia Ronds Arc In Line.
Nearly all of the Virginia roads
ere represented at this organiza-
6ne into the association. W. l..
henderson. industrial and immiEra-
pm agent of the Southern Railway.
mes: general development agent Of
e Seaboard Air Line Railway, is
ne OF the vice esidents.
SAll OF the Virginia roads that Sus-
ended the kind OF work referred TO
ave re-establishcd the industrial de-
irtments and placed them in charge
competent and experienced Of
Sials. These, include the Southern
aiilway, the Nirginian Railway. the
Sorfolk and Western, the Seaboard
IT Line, the Richmond. Fredericks-
glrg and Potomac. the Norfolk
nthern. jad other shorter lines.
The Chesapeake and Ohio and the
slantic Coast Line did not entirely
spend these departments in the war
me. although they necessarily cur
Tiled their efforts 10 some extent.
a,w they have resumed the business
18th r. VIII. Since the signing OF the
mfstice. and before the government
rned the roads loose the Chcsa-
AXE and Ohio industrial depart
ent, under the management of X r.
awley, located several new indus
les in Virginia along the AS of the
lad. settled l05 new farsEcr.. in the
ate on lands valued at more than
100000. and sold farm lands along
e entire line valued at about S4.-
1000. This department has also es-
oliShed in Virginia AT stations along
e line sixty lime repositories that
{TN Id from two TO six car loads of ag-
Nj cultural lime and from which farm
~ get the lime for their lands in
Quantities they may wish or re-
Is These details give but an idea OF
work that the roads are now pre-
u red TO do for the uphuildng of the
tste places and the development of
& 2 agricultural interests along their
rs aes. Nirginians generally Will take
Try important part o. the work OF
railways and will help them TO
M IKE. the old Commonwealt blossom