Newspaper Page Text
SPECIAL NUMBER
AUGUST A A BIG RAILROAD CENTRE
ft Number of Railroads Concentrate
Here and Ramify the Surrounding
Territory
Augusta enjoys the distinction of
>eing one of the terminals of the first
ong distance railroad in the world.
Hie South Carolina Railroad extend
ng from this city to Charleston is the
ildest, having been completed in 1833.
The London and Manchester and the
joston and Manchester were complet
'd before the South Carolina, but both
if these are short lines.
The South Carolina Railroad was at
irst operated by mule power. Then
ails were tried for the propulsion of
ts ears. Finally, small locomotives
cere installed; but when the eon-
Itruetion of the road reached Aiken,
he grade between that point and this
lty proved to be too steep for the
|ght engines of those times and a
tationary engine was installed as an
luxilliary, and trains were pulled up
o the top of the hill by means of ca
des.
This primitive method of• propulsion
continued in use until after the war
es secession, when it was displaced
>y improved locomotives. The South
'arolina railroad now forms a part of
the Southern Railway system, afford
ing it an outlet at Charleston from
loth Columbia and Augusta.
The Georgia Railroad.
In 1833 the Georgia Railroad &
Banking Company was organized in
the city of Augusta and soon thereaf
ter the work of construction was be
gun with William Dearing of Athens
president, and Edgar Thompson of
Philadelphia, chief engineer. It was
designed to connect with the States
Railroad, then building at Terminus,
subsequently called Marthasville and
ultimately, Atlanta.
In six years the road reached
Greensboro, and when it reached
Madison, two small locomotives were
sent up and placed upon wagons and
then hauled to Terminus, where they
were placed upon the rails of what is
now called the Western & Atlantic
railroad, extending from Atlanta to
Chattanooga.
The Georgia railroad traverses mid
dle Georgia, the garden spot of the
south. A branch was built to Athens,
and later on another branch was built
to Washington. Subsequently the Ma
con & Augusta railroad was connect
ed up with Warrenton.
Finally this road w-as acquired by
purchase by the Georgia raiload and
became a part of the system. The
Georgia railroad was then leased to
the Louisville & Nashville and Cen
tral of Georgia jointly for nineety-nine
years. The Atlantic Coast Line ac
quired the Central's half interest in
the lease and also gained control of
the L. & N. whereby the Georgia be
came the connecting link between the
two great systems.
The Augusta & Savannah.
In 1859 the Augusta & Savannah
railroad was built from Augusta to
Station No. 70, on the Central of Geor
gia, which is now Milien.
The Central of Georgia had been
built from Savannah to Macon, a dis
tance of one hundred and ninety miles.
It was then the longest railroad in the
world.
The Central then leased the Augus
ta & Savannah for a term of years, it
likewise leased the Macon & Western,
extending from Macon to Atlanta ami
the Southwestern, from Macon to
to Montgomery with a branch line to
t'olu inbus.
After the reorganization of the Cen
tral. it was purchased by the late E.
H. Harriman, Esq., and after his death
it passed into the hands of the Illi
nois Central. Mr. Harriman is said
to have meditated some vast scheme
for the betterment of the Central and
the territory it touched. Doubtless
the Illinois Central was fully cogniz
ant of these and will put into execu
tion the plan of the great railroad
man, as it is powerful enough to do
it.
For a long time Augusta was de
pendent upon these three lines of rail
for her transportation facilities, ex
clusive of the Savannah river. But at
length they proved inadequate for her
increasing commerce.
The Charlotte. Columbia & Augusta.
The Columbia & Augusta, which
was consolidated with the Charlotte
and Columbia, becoming the Char
lotte, Columbia & Augusta railroad,
was completed in 1866. It first be
-1 ame a part of the Richmond & Dan
ville system.
But after the reorganization was
perfected, it became a portion of the
Southern Railway system, uniting
with the main stem at Charlotte, N. C.
Prior to the time of the completion of
the Atlanta & Charlotte Air Line, it
constituted a link in the great thor
oughfare of travel from New York to
New Orleans.
For years, the Charlotte, Columbia
and Augusta was the only direct all
rail route from Augusta to the east
ern cities. Consequently, it has al
ways enjoyed a fine patronage.
It runs through the finest country
in South Carolina and therefore its
local traffic is enormous, in addition
to the fact that it, traverses the Ridge
section, between this city and Colum
bia, a splendid truck farming and
fruit producing country, it runs
through the famous Horse Creek Val
ley, with its big cotton mills and
kaolin mines.
The stations along the C. C. & A.,
and they are every few miles, are
thrifty and flourishing Some of the
handsomest towns and villages in the
state are on this road.
The Atlantic Coast Line.
For many years the Southern Rail
way was the only direct rail line from
Augusta to Washington and New
York. But at length the Atlantic Coast
Oine built a short cut from Sumter
and Orangeburg to Robbins on the
Augusta and Port Royal railroad, giv
ing It an entrance Into this city.
The Coast Cine then put on a special
through train from Augusta to New
York which has been well patronized
«ver since. The Georgia railroad has
recently inaugurated fast trains be
tween this city and Atlanta and their
schedules are made to conform at Au-
Kusta with those of the CoaHt Line.
It is probable that the running time
on these roads will be further short
"nd when it it is found to be consist
ent with economy and safety, but this
"ill not take place until experience
has shown where the requisite changes
can be made
It is furthermore, probable, that this
fast service will be extended to New
Orleans via the Atlanta & West Point
Road and Montgomery. Thus Augus
gusta will be placed on a through line
of travel from New York to New Or
leans, what she has greatly lacked
and desired tor a long time past.
The Atlantic Coast Line has few
curves and grades and Is well adapted
to the movement of heavy traffic and
to fine service. It is now engaged in
double tracking its line between Flor
ence and Richmond in anticipation of
the large increase of traffic expect
ed.
The Port Royal & Augusta,
In 1873 the Port Royal and Augusta
railroad was completed to the finest
harbor on the south Atlantic coast.
Great hopes were entertained of mak
ing a great port of Port Royal. The
ships of all the navies in the world
ride at anchor within its protecting,
landlocked roadstead, and the expense
of pilotage is eliminated as there are
no tortuous channels nor obstructing
bars to prevent vessels sailing right
up to the docks.
The United States government con
structed a great dry dock there and a
fine grain elevator was erected. There
was quite a good deal of activity for a
time, but finally the expensive works
were allowed to fall into disuse and
ruin and Port Royal’s dream of great
ness failed to materialize, for a time
at least. The rival ports of Savannah
and Charleston, combined against it.
were able to postpone the grand de
velopment of the magnificent harbor
that inevitably must come.
The Port Royal and Augusta rail
road became a part of the Atlantic
Coast Line which owns the Savannah
& Charleston rialroad. Consequently,
both these ports arw reached and
there was no immediate need for an
other harbor, so long as adequate ship
ping facilities were furnished by them.
But the numerous and superior ad
vantages of Port Royal remain dor
mant. She is destined to rise fromi
her ruins and take her rightful place
among the ports of the world. Her
career has been only interrupted; she
is bound to come again.
The Augusta & Knoxville.
The Augusta & Knoxville railroad
was designed to furnish an outlet to
the west and northwest. In the first
instance, the road was intended to
run to Knoxville, Tenn. But the Au
gusta & Greenwood railroad was
graded from Greenwood to Walton’s
Island, and the city gave the bridge
which spans the Savannah, and the
road was diverted from its original
course, going to Spartanburg, Green
and Anderson instead.
BJ - the opening of the CUnchfield
route, which runs from Spartanburg
into the extensive coal fields of Vir
ginia and Kentucky, the Importance
of the Augusta & Knoxville has been
greatly increased. The vast region of
the northwest, teeming with wealth,
Georgia and Florida Opens Up a Virgin Empire
Best Farming Lands in the Entire South
South of a line drawn from Augusta,
G a., to the Northeastern terminus of
the Georgia & Florida Railway, through
Macon to Columbus, Ga., on the Chatta
hoochee river, to the State's western
boundary, there lies AN EMPIRE In
LAND AREA, in Virgin Forests, in
Fertile Soils, in a large and intelligent
cultivation of all staple and diversified
crops specific to Southern temperature,
such as cotton, corn, wheat, oats, hay,
the typical Southern fruits of strawber
ries. peaches, pears, blackberries, water
melons, cantaloupes, grapes, figs and
every vegetable known in the wide,
scope of market gardening, which, under
the favorable climatic conditions and
fertility of soil, planted in winter or
earliest spring, mature quickly, assur
ing prompt marketing at satisfactory
prices, and enable standard crops to be
planted for fall maturity, and thus de
monstrating capacities for two or more
crops in the same year, on the same
land.
Within this general South Georgia ter
ritory, traversing twelve among ils more
prosperous and highly developed coun
ties, as described in detail in this Rail
way’s advertisement in this Trade issue
Edition, the Georgia & Florida Rail,
way’s main line—Augusta to Madison,
Fla., 250 miles; its Millen Branch, Millen,
Ga., to Normantown. 48 miles; its Moul
trie Branch. Nashville to Moultrie, 2.1
miles; its Broxton Branch, Douglas to
Bvoxton. 20 miles, as located, totaling 252
miles which became, in 1000. created out
of a series of detached and incomplete
as well as separate corporate properties
respectively connected by the necessary
constructed links into a unified, stand
ard gauge line uniting the important ci
ties and towns of Madison, Fla., Valdos
ta. Moultrie. Nashville, Douglas, liazle
liu'rst, Vidai'ia, Swainsboro, Millen. Mkl
ville, and StillmoVe, Ga., and various
other prosperous towns along its line
into close commercial relationship with
each other and witli Augusta and Sa
vannah. and all other Southern and
Western and Northern markets, and im
mediately addressing itself to all the
forms of local development that the
abundant resources of the territory, /so
well enabled, has been gratified at the
prompt and remarkable responsiveness in
materially increasing population and the
constantlv enlarging of agrieultuVnl cul
tivation of standard crops, increasing the
number of cotton seed oil mills, cotton
ginneries, and till forms of manufactures
of forrst products concurrent with these
remarkable evidences of prosperity, that
of diversified agricultural productions
has been most noticeable.
11l Bill there was, outside of territory
Immediately around Valdosta, no acre
ages of perishable products on the Rail
wav's own line. In 1914 ihere has been
planted and a constant gathering of
perishable crops therefrom since May,
and still continuing. 2,908 acres, all with
in an area of less than 200 miles on
the Railway's own rai's, or 15 acres lo
the mile. It Is the constant work of
the Railway's Industrial Department to
stimulate this diversified production, to
suggest crops and methods of cultivation,
to find markets East. North. West and
at near-by points to bring produce
commission merchants at distant points
Into personal contact at producing points
wilh growers, to effect sales on board
ears at shipping stations. Resulting
from such efforts, satisfactory results
have followed and It Is believed that In
1015, 5,000 acres in perishable crops will
he grown along the company's own
rails.
In 1901-7 there were handled by the
Railway, from along its line, 22,000 bales
of cotton. In 1912-12, from the growth
on its own rails, it has handled 100,000
hales of cotton.
It encourages everywhere on its line
the formation of Farmers' Clubs, and
population and products, both agricul
tural and mineral, thus secures a
shorter route through the mountains
to the Atlantic coast.
When the contemplated improve
ments are carried out of straightening
the curves and cutting down the
grades in order to handle heavy traf
fic, the Augusta & Knoxville will be
come one of the trunk lines to the
west. Its opportunities for
ment are practically unlimited ana
the road, having passed into the hands
of the Atlantic Coast Line, this would
seem of easy accomplishment.
Through trains from Augusta to Chi
cago by this route are among the pos
sibilities of the future.
The Augusta Southern.
The Augusta, Gibson & Sanders
railroad was first a narrow gauge
line. When the gauge was broadened
it came into the possession of the
Southern railway.
It was later extended from Sanders
vj Hr to Tennille, where it formed a
junction with the Central of Georgia
and the Wrightsville .& Tennille.
Having no through connections, it
is. run as a local road. Its natural
destination, however, is Macon, where
it would connect with the various lines
of the Southern.
This could readily be done by build
ing a short line of thirty miles across
from Warthen to Macon. This would
give it through connections, east and
west, by the main stem of the South
ern and would afford it an excellent
outlet into the rich and flourishing
territory of southwest Georgia via the
Georgia Southern & Florida.
The road is capable of further de
velopment by building from Tennille
to Cochran, which would give it a
short line to Hawkinsville and Cor
dele. This is a splendid cotton pro
ducing section, Oordele alone having
received one hundred thousand hales.
If either or both of these extensions
were made it is belioved that the
road’s standing would be greatly im
proved. Its local business is growing
all the time.
The Georgia & Florida Railroad.
The Georgia & Florida lias been
completed from Madison, F 10.., to
Keysville on tlie Augusta Southern.
Keysville is about twenty-five miles
from this city and a traffic arrange
ment has been made with the Augusta
Southern whereby their trains use
the Southern’s tracks to effect an en
trance into this city.
The Georgia & Florida runs through
the finest section of southwest Geor
gia. It connects, probably, a greater
number of flourishing towns of that
fruitful section than any other roa'’*
of its mileage. No other road is likely
lo parallel it and consequently its lo
cal business is destined to be great.
The Georgia & Florida will ulti
mately be extended to Tatnpa on the
Gulf of Mexico, which is spoken of as
Ihe American Moditer:; noan. When
this is done, it will constitute a trunk
line from the cities of the northwest
to one of the most convenient ports to
to the Panama Canal.
it is one of the best located railroads
in the south and must become a crert
factor in the transportation problem.
Its business shows a gratifying in
crease notwithstanding the road has
been harrussed by freshets and wash
outs.
Truckers’ Associations, and. In such !
methodical manner, stimulates all forms:
of miscellaneous crop production, and j
brings into existence knowledge, in
each locality covered, of the quantities, i
character, prices of lands available, for
purchase by incoming home-seekers.
This railway, while eo-operating im- j
partially with all reputable real estate |
dealers and land companies along its
line, is in no manner interested in any |
of their holdings or operations.
Believing that a most effective object
lesson could be offered farmers along j
its line, as well as all home-seekers
seeking locations within its teiTitory, it, j
in 1913, purchased, along its main line j
in Coffee county, 11 miles north of Doug- |
las, fifty acres of the average land In j
that section, applying all improved meth
ods of clearing, draining, cultivating, I
constructing farm managers’ dwelling j
and laborers homes, thoroughly economi- j
cal in cost and suitable to the climate; j
also a model bavn, complete in all re
spects; an artesian well with an abso
lutely unfailing supply of pure water,
thoroughly distributed by suitable pip
ing over the farm. It lias been partic
ularly gratified at the results of all the
forms of crops—staple and perishable,
gVown in 1913 and in 1914, and thorough
ly evidences, by the intelligent farming
employed, the absolutely reliable capacity
ol tlie soil tor two or even three crops '
in tlie same year, on the same land, and
unhesitatingly invites a most critical in
spection of all intelligent farmers from
every section of the United States to the
methods employed, the character and i
va'.’ieties ot crops raised, the results ac
complished.
Do Bull Moose Like Sugar?
(The Boston Herald.)
Louisiana congressmen have regu
larly been amoing the staunchest of I
high protectionists. They have been!
republicans in everything but the I
name, and from that they shy on ac
count of the tales of the carpet-bag
regime. Accordingly, the business ele
ments of that state have decided to
rebuke the Wilson administration by j
becoming progressives, and it is not
unliktly that 'they will actually elect
several third party congressmen in the j
coming November polling. If so, it will
he the mots significant trumph fori
the Roosevelt party since Its organism-!
tion. Such a victory may inspire his !
followers to believe that they can di
vide the Solid South on economic is
sues. a task in which the republican
party, because of its sectional tradi
tions, signally fails.
But the progressive movement start
ed in a revolt of Western senators
against the Payne-Aldrich tariff hill.
They were particularly hostile to the
New England leadership in the com
mittee which drafted it. Their first
issue was resistance to the Aldrich
program, but with that the louisiana
senators were acquiescent. Is the pro
gressive organization to forget all this
and as a move of expediency become
the most extreme of protection par
ties? This is something for Mr. Roose
velt and his associates to decide.
THE AUGUSTA HERALD, AUGUSTA, GA.
IN OLD l KENTUCKY
Tile eugenic law in eKntucky? Im
possible! There must be some mis
take in the announcement that Ken
tucky is worried over its human breed,
and lias enacted a law which requires
candidates for matrimony to give full
and satisfactory particulars as to their
physicn condition befoer al icense will
be granted.
Mtters haev come to a pretty pass
THE GEORGIA AND FLORIDA RAILWAY
IN 1914
THE SHORT LINE from Augusta, Georgia —its North Eastern Terminus—through an unsurpassed section of
Southern and South Western Georgia into Central Florida. A Railway standardized in Service and Safety in all the
requirements of National and State Laws, and satisfactorily serving all people in its large territorial area.
The territory reached, its resources and development, in Agriculture, Forest Products, Manufactures, Miscel
laneous Industries, Population; its Cities, Towns, Villages, their Banks, Mercantile Establishments,Manufactories, Pub
lic Utilities, Schools, Churches, Homes.
Junctions with
Other Railways
Augusta —
All lines diverg
ing.
Keysville—
Augusta Southern
St. Clair—
Sav. & N. W. R>
Midville —
Central of Georgia
Stevens Crossing-
Sav., Aug. £
North.
Swainsboro—
Wadley Southern
Wesley-
Central of Georgia
Milien —
Central of Georgia
Garfield —
S„ A. & N.
Stillmore—
Central of Georgia
Wadley Southern
A 7 idalia—
Seaboard Air 1..
Macon, Dublin &
Savannah.
Haze'.hurst —
Southern.
Douglas—
A., B. & A. Ry.
Wi.lacoochee —
Atlantic Coast I.
Nashville —
Ocilla Southern.
Valdosta —■
A. C. L.
g„ s. & r.
V., M. & W.
Madison—
S. A. L.
Sparks—
G., S. & F.
Adel—
So. Ga. Ry . • ..
Moultrie —
V., M. & W.
Ga. Northern.
A., B. & A.
Broxton —
F. O. & B. Ry.
Counties
Traversed
Berrien
Burke
Coffee
Colquitt
Emanuel
Jeff Davis
Jenkins
Lowndes
Richmond
Montgomery
Toombs
Madison
Rivers Contigu
ous to or Crossed
by ths Railway:
Ogeeehee
Ohoopee
Oemulgee
Altamaha
Cauoochee
Alapaha
Willacoochee
Little
Square Miles of
Counties, 1,893.
Population, 1914,
318,950.
Land Area, acres,
4,411,520.
Improved Farms,
Acres, 2,915,530.
Number of Im
proved Farms,
21,800.
And in Addition Thereto
Cotton Mills, Oil Mills, Ginneries, Compresses and Various Miscellaneous
Representative Industries—2so
With an average elevation of its entire territory above sea level of 250 feet, with temperature aver
aging TO in Summer, 00 inSpring and Autumn, and 50 in Winter, and with the large bodies of superior agri
cultural lands obtainable at most reasonable prices, this Railroad invites the attention of Home Seekers of
every class to the many opportunities presented for all forms of diversified farming—Staple Crops, Cotton,
Corn, Oats, Hay and other forage, perishable crops of every description adapted to Southern soils and cli
mates, towit: English Peas, Snap and Butter Beaus, Irish Potatoes, Cucumbers. Cabbage, Tomatoes,Straw
berries, Blackberries, Asparagus, Cantaloupes, Watermelons, Celery, etc., etc., for all of which all markets
of the country arc available because of the excellent transportation facilities enjoyed through the Railway’s
many Trunk Line connections.
For detailed information relative to this territory, sec descriptive article in this trade issue.
If the state of handsome men and
beautiful women must take measures
to keep up the standard of perfec
tion. What must be.the conditions in
other states if the chivalry and beau
ty of the Blue Grass state are deca
dent?
No new-fangled law as necessary to
make the manhood and womanhood of
Kentucky great. Nature alone, work
ing in the .Eden known to mortals as
Georgia and Florida Railway Mfytt
Augusta, Ga., and Madison, Fla.
Total Mercantile Business
per annum, Augusta, Ga.
not included —
$22,500,000.00
Banking Capital paid up—
52,450,000.00
Capital employed in Man
ufacturing Establishment!
$2,500,000
Estimated Value of Prod
ucts Manufactured pel
Annum—
s2,3oo,ooo.oo
Bales of Cotton, Estimat
ed, 1914
350,000
Value of Public Buildings
including Public Utilitj
Works —
$1,100,000.00
Value of Churches—
ss2s,ooo.oo
Value of School and Col
lege Buildings—
s4so,ooo.oo
Total Taxable Value;
Counties named (excepi
Richmond), 1914
$50,064,232.00
Population of Cities and
Towns along line, not in
cluding Augusta—
-98,950.
Kentucky, developed a superb race.
The men were mighty of thew, tall,
impetuous in love and war, gifted
alike for the forum or the field, carry
ing all before them. And the women,
ah, the women of Kentucky! Poetry
and tradition wove around them a halo
of romance through which their beau
ty and charm shed a radiance that en
raptured all mankind.
If Kentucky thinks she can improve
Total number of Banking
Institutions—
-57
Average Production Spir
its Turpentine, bbls., pe.
annum—
-23,000
Average Production Rosin
per annum, bbls —
66,500
Number of Saw Mills —
72
Daily Production of Lum
ber., B. M. feet—
-650,000
Average Production per
annum of B. M. feet —
182,500,000
"‘AUGUSTA IN 1914”
upon the splendid type of humanity
she has developed, she is vainly trying
to gild refined gold and paint the lily.
Repeal this foolish iaw, which stands
as an admission that .humankind in
Kentucky is on the down grade. Stick
to the old standards, and thus ream
the envy of your sister states, which
would be happy indeed to share the
fame already achieved by Kentucky In
rearing brave men and lovely women.
Court Houses Cities and Towns
Augusta
Douglas
Hazlehurst
Milien
Other Important Towns on the
Line, All Trade Centers for
Large Areas of Territory:
Keysville
Midville
Gough
Vidette
Summertown
Wesley
Garfield
Moultrie
Nashville
Swainsboro
Valdosta
Madison
Summit
Stillmore
Vidahe
Uvaida
Broxton
Adel
Sparks
Ellen ton