The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-11-08
SOUTHERN COTTON
 MILLS FIRST ID.
 SHOW RECOVERY
President Harrison of South ern Railway Points Out Phases of Develop
 ment In Dixie

"There is such a renewal of busi- ness activity in the south as to jus tify hope that a railroad depending on that business may now, once more, look forward to profitable op- erations," says Fairfax Harrison, president of the Southern railroad, in his annual report to stockhold- CTS.
 Among other features of the report dealing with conditions along the line of the system. Mir. Harrison points out that of cotton milling and shows that, while northern mills con- Eumed S3.4 per cent less cotton in the year ending July s1, the southern mills consumed only 16.S per cent less. The southern mills consumed f,ee7,675 bales of cotton, a decrease of 5S5,000 bales under preceding year. while the northern mills consumed 1,ss0,oo0 bales, decrease of 946.000 bales.
 Dairy Development
 Mir. Harrison devotes special at- tention to the development of the dairying industry along the Southern and its encouragemeEt by" the Southern development service. In particular mention of the Dallas county dairying development he saye:
 "A creamery started at Selma on a small scale few years ago Is now a source of substantial revenue to the railroad as well as to the farmers for milk and cream purchased from them" The report which is under date of october II, says that cotton Was produced this year at less cost than in many years and there is reasonable assurance of a fair profit at the prevailing prices"
 While little industrial construction took place in 1920, tho report says that some far-sighted mon built en- tirely new plants and others made additions to old ones.
 New Industries
 The report says: There Is reason to believe that within few months there will be under construction at points served by the Southern rail- way at least two large cement plants, an important porcelain industry. glue plant and a paint and pigment industry"
 "The southern sweet potatoes are coming to the front as large scale profitable crop" says the report. Curing them in especially con structed storage houses has made possible their marketing during the entire year. We are co-operatinR with the growers in securing broader markets throughout the United States"
 Southehstern Express
 Speaking of the establishment of the Southeastern Express company, whose operations began May 1, this year. Mir. Harrison says:
 Tt is still too early to report on the operations of this company. It will suffice to say that they are en- tirely satisfactory to the railway companies which 1t serves and seem amply to justify the decision which inaugurated these operations"
 Although gross revenue for 1920 reached the record breaking figure of $i52. 1000. 900. no benefit to net in- come followed. Expenses and taxes were more than twice what they were in 1917, the year preceding the sur render of the property to the govern ment.'
 Increase in Expense
 Compared with 1917 gross earnings in 1920 showed increase of 6S per cent, but expenses and taxes showed an increase of Ill per cent and oper- ating income a decrease of 36 per cent. Average wage paid had in- creased S5 per cent and wages per dollar of revenue had increased 2s per cent. Average cost of fuel per ton had increased e4 per cent, rails had increased 47 per cent and ballast 2oS per cent per cubic yard.