A glance at the State map must convince even the most casual observer that
Montgomery possesses rail and water transportation facilities, which not
only bring her in easy reach of the varied resources of the State, but
also connect her with the large commercial cities of this land, and with
foreign ports.
The Alabama river, which is navigable from Montgomery the entire year, is
her water way to the Gulf, and is an important factor in the question of
freights. Connecting her with New York and foreign ports, it is a
perpetual check to freight discriminations against her by railroads. When
the obstructions to the Coosa river are removed, a matter now engaging the
attention of Congress, Montgomery will have water communication as far
north as Rome, Ga., which will open up to her a country rich in mineral
and agricultural wealth.
The great Louisville and Nashville system, which has contributed so
largely to the development of the State, reaches out from Montgomery in
two directions. It connects her with the markets of the entire country,
north, northeast, northwest and south, and supplies her with coal and
other products of the mineral districts of the State, and lumber from the
timber belts.
[Illustration: Residence of John R. Tyson]
The Western Railroad of Alabama, from Montgomery to Atlanta, connecting
with the Kennesaw and Piedmont Air Lines, is a link in the great line from
New York to the Gulf. At Atlanta it connects with the Georgia Railroad,
giving it a through line to Charleston, and at Opelika with the Central
Railroad system, forming a direct route to Savannah, two of the most
important ports on the Atlantic.
[Illustration: Opera House]
[Illustration: Montgomery Theatre]
[Illustration: Views from Highland Park]
[Illustration: Club House Montgomery Shooting Club]
[Illustration: A Glimpse of Jackson's Lake]
[Illustration: Exchange Hotel]
[Illustration: Windsor Hotel]
The Montgomery and Selma division opens up to her the rich agricultural
districts of West Alabama and Mississippi, giving her a valuable trade.
The Montgomery and Eufaula Railroad, runs southeast from Montgomery,
through rich, black prairie lands to Eufaula, where it connects with
steamers on the Chattahoochee river. This road is a part of the Georgia
Central system, and forms a direct line from Montgomery to Savannah. It
offers unsurpassed facilities to Montgomery shippers, giving through bills
of lading over its own rail and steamship lines, to New York and Europe.
It is the most popular through route from the West to all Florida resorts.
The Florida and Northwest Railroad is being built south from Montgomery,
and is now running fifty miles through a rich agricultural section to
Luvern. From Luvern it will pass through the finest timber belt in the
country, to some point on the Chattahoochee river. While this road will be
a great feeder to Montgomery, it will also form the most direct route to
Florida. Its extension from Montgomery, northwest to Maplesville, is
generally conceded, where it will connect with the East Tennessee,
Virginia and Georgia system, that great artery of commerce, that stretches
its arms of steel from the Atlantic to the lakes, and from the mountains
of Virginia to the plains of Texas. This system now enters Montgomery over
the track of the Louisville and Nashville road.
The above is but a meager statement of Montgomery's transportation
facilities.
[Illustration: Residence of Judge D. Clopton]