ON THE COVER
This is a scene that needs little explanation to our readers in the "cotton belt" states. It shows a bale of cotton being loaded for shipment over Southern Rail- way lines to one of the many textile mills in our territory.
Last year, this action took place over eight million times--once for each bale of cotton hauled over the Southern in carload lots in 1954. An equally impressive volume year after year helps our railway maintain its rank as "The Nation's No.1 Cotton Carrier."
In the picture, each bale being loaded is recorded by Keith Neill, assistant superintendent of Gulf Atlantic Warehouse Company's Tri-State Plant in Memphis, Tennessee.