Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-10-13
SOUTHERN POSSIBILITIES.
How Capital May BE Attracted and
Enterprise Encouraged.


We published yesterday an exceedingly
interesting interview with John H. Inman,
the successful Southern millionaire of New
York.
Mr.. Inman is a man of the finest personal
character, and this, in addition to his great
business capacity and immense fortune, has
secured for him The highest regard and con-
hdence Of the great business men Of New
York and the North.
Starting with the statement that there is
In New York an unprecedented amount of
capital idle or bringing low interest, he
shows that there are no good opportunities
left untaken In the East, North and West;
that the climate of the West is especially
forbidding and it's general condition unat-
tractive. In the South, on the other hand,
nature is lavish in her bestowments of rich
soil, mineral wealth, equable climate and
salubriOus air,
The main drawback OF the South so far,
he says, has been lack of capital among
her farmers, and he very properly reasons
that the fact that Southern farmers, in spite
of all opposing circumstances, such as
scarce capital and the consequent high
rates of interest, aud profits on advances,
and the new system of labor resulting from
the adjustment Of the slave system, have
not only kept their heads above water, but
have actually made money, is the very best
the farmers in America. As soon as capital
comes in that will enable farmers to get
money at low rates OF interest and supplies
at reasonable profits, as soon as they learn
to diversity crops, to run a farm like bust
ness man does his store, as does the Northern
farmer, the South will be the most prosper
GUS country on earth.
How can this be done? Mr.. Inman's arti-
Gle tells us. We have the railroads, which
he truly says are the greatest agents in the
development of a section. Aud the princi-
pal ones are, we believe, in the capable
management that he demonstrates to be
necessary to their fullest usefulness, and are
inclined TO make Of this place one of those
great 1nterior harbOrs" of which he
speaks. But what can we do to assist? In
the first place, he says, we must stop croak-
ing. The South is rich, prosperous, and
men working actively and intelligentlY are
making money. II you are not, it is your
own fault. But II you are not successful,
don't throw cold water on every movement
about to make some one else successful.
Encourage all such innovations and
you will soon see that the prosper
fly of others will react In your
favor. The success of the mass brings sue
cess to the individual. Be full of the future
greatness of your country, your section,
your town. Impress yourself and you will
Impress OJnerS. 6ucu course mau6 AT
lanta, Nashville and New Orleans what
they are, and will make them whatever they
will be. Whenever you meet travellers from
those places they are enthusiastic, even
unto ridiculous extreme, we sometimes
think, about their cities, but their predic-
tions are usually fulfilled. Initiate their ex-
ample, believe in yourself, and Others will be-
lieve In you. Treat them as they are enti-
tied to be, from the evident standing they
have at :heir homes. Give them informa-
ton. Show them what advantages your
place has, and get them to invest. Show
them your appreciation Of what they can
do, and your recognition Of the need OF its
being done.
Again, encourage the great railway com
binations reasonably. Let them get hold of
the short local lines, and incorporate them
In their systems. The railroads, as Mr.. In
man says, are the creatures Of the country.
The country makes them whatever they be-
come, and it is sense and justice, as well as
policy, to encourage them, and to enable
them to make the country as thickly settled,
as fully developed and prosperous as their
dictates of interest plainly demand.