Chapter C: S. Durling, of New York, was the originator of the refrigerator

business in Florida, being the first man to run iced cars for the transportation of fruits and vegetables to New York. Before he began to do so berries could only be shipped by express, and only then when the weather was cool and the berries sour. Now Florida berries are sent North as late as May 1.

A refrigerator company will begin business at Gainesville, Fla., this week, and for the extra charge of ten cents per package they insure the arrival of truck at destination in the same condition as when put aboard the cars here.

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Some of the cities of Tennessee have become interested in the idea of having an exposition to celebrate the State’s centennial. At a meeting of the Nashville Commercial Club a resolution was adopted providing for a committee of twenty-five members, composed of seven from the Commercial Club, six from the Board of Trade and three each from the Southern Engineering Association, the Historical Society and the Art Association, to make arrangements for a convention to be held in the city in March to discuss plans for an exposition.

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The Board of Trade of Nashville, Tenn., is one of the few such concerns that has life and activity and progressiveness. Major A. W. Wills, the recently elected secretary, is a man full of zeal and energy, and he will make the board of trade a power in the advancement of Nashville and the surrounding country.

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The stockholders of the Luna Cotton Mills, Fort Mill, S. C., have voted to extend the plant and add considerable new machinery, including 100 looms.

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Within the last twelve month taxable values in Texas have increased $30,000,000.

RAILROADS.

The Richmond & Danville to the Front.

The Richmond & Danville Railroad Co. has issued the following circular offering special inducements to settlers:

“The Richmond & Danville Railroad adopts this means as one of its many methods of bringing to the attention of prospectors and home-seekers the numerous advantages possessed by the territory which it traverses.

“Realizing that each section of this great land of ours is dependent to a certain extent upon the prosperity of the whole, we have no desire to depreciate any section, but to make known the possibilities which are within the reach of those who contemplate a change.

“We have received hundreds of inquiries from parties located in the North and Northwest who desire information in regard to a milder and more congenial climate, the character of soil, etc. Those and all others who may desire information, we invite to visit points upon our lines which cover the States of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi, and to induce immigration we will make to _bona fide_ prospectors special concessions in rates from our Eastern junction points.

“The climate and products of the last four States above named are well known, but Virginia and North Carolina have not been so fortunate in this respect.

“The climate in these sister States (Virginia and North Carolina) is about the same, showing an average the year around of about 55° Fahrenheit, with no extreme heat or cold, which enables farmers to raise two or more crops upon the same land in one season. The soil is adapted to any crops which are raised in the Southern or Middle States, and is especially favorable for trucking, the profits of which are enhanced by reason of the close proximity to the best Eastern markets, viz: Lynchburg, Richmond, Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York. It is also admirably adapted to fruit and grape culture.

“Without discriminating in favor of any portion of either of these States, we feel at liberty to direct especial attention to the Blue Ridge section of North Carolina as being excellently adapted to the culture of fruit and grapes, the mountains and hillsides at many points being now covered by vineyards and orchards, which yield handsome revenues to their owners, while the rich valleys are utilized for cereals and tobacco.

“Considering the productive qualities of these Virginia and North Carolina lands, they may be had at most reasonable prices and on accommodating terms.

“In order to protect ourselves against imposition, it is necessary to throw some safeguard around the issuance of reduced rates for prospectors, as above indicated, and as all prospectors, before starting on a trip of this nature, correspond with some land agency or real estate agent, we will request all applicants for these reduced rates to obtain identification at the hands of such agent or land agency as they may have corresponded with.”

Inquiries may be addressed to W. A. Turk, general passenger agent, 1300 Pennsylvania avenue, Washington, D. C.

Another Mississippi Bridge.

The Southern Pacific Railroad Co.’s bridge to be built across the Mississippi river at New Orleans, La., will, it is believed, be the largest steel railroad bridge in the world, considering the quantity of metal used in its construction and its length. It will be a double-track bridge about 10,500 feet long. The approach spans will vary from twenty-five to 150 feet in length, according to the height of the towers. The main river bridge will be built on the cantilever principle, and will be 1070 feet in length, with spans of 608 feet on either side. The pier foundations will extend from a point eighty feet below the bottom of the river, and will be sunk by open dredging. The estimated weight of metal required is 25,000 tons, or 50,000,000 pounds. The cost will be about $5,000,000.

The bridge will give the Southern Pacific system an all-rail entrance into New Orleans, and form a most important link in railroad communication between Texas and the Southwest and the Gulf States east of the Mississippi river.

The largest railroad bridge completed is over the Firth of Forth in Scotland. The main structure is 5330 feet long, but the approaches are said to be shorter than the New Orleans bridge.

A Judicial Decision of Great Interest to Railroads.

In two suits recently brought against the Texas & Pacific road, a New Orleans judge has rendered a decision that is of very general interest. The decision in brief is that a railroad is bound by the admissions contained in the bill of lading just as the shipper is bound by the terms. Several weeks ago two suits, exactly the same except for the amounts involved and the complainants’ identity, were filed against the Texas & Pacific road. In both damages was asked for cotton received in a damaged condition, which the bill of lading sets forth had been received by the road in good condition.

In both cases the plaintiffs introduced the bills of lading in evidence. They showed by the signature of the authorized agents of the road that the cotton had been received by the road for shipment in good condition. The road in its defense attempted to prove that the cotton was received in the same condition as when delivered, and that it had not been damaged in transportation.

The plaintiffs both proved that upon the receipt of the bills of lading, specifying that the cotton had been received by the road in good condition, they had paid for it by sight drafts in favor of the shippers.

In his decisions, both of which were the same, the judge held that evidence to disapprove the statements contained in the road’s bill of lading was inadmissible, and that the bill of lading placed the responsibility for the condition of the cotton with the road. For these reasons judgment in both cases was for the plaintiff. The conclusion of the court was that when the consignee pays by sight draft upon the averment of the bill of lading evidence that the goods were not received in good condition is not admissible.

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It is stated that in furtherance of a plan to shorten the distance between St. Louis and points in Western Texas and Mexico, a syndicate has been formed to complete the Red River & Southwestern road, which is projected from a point on the Rock Island road in the Indian Territory through Western Texas to San Angelo, to connect with the Southern Pacific at Spotswood Junction. It is estimated that the new route would shorten the distance between Mexico and St. Louis fully 600 miles, while points in Southwestern Texas will be 200 miles nearer the latter city.

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