Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-11-03
HON. EDWARD ATKINSON.

This distinguished writer on cotton manufac
lures and questions of public interest is now
In Atlanta, accompanied by several large mill
owners or cotton factory officials, their pur-
pose being to examine the exhibits of the EX
position and visit the great cotton factories of
the South. Both bere in the Exposition as
we'll as in Augusta and Columbus, the great
cotton manufacturing cities Of the South, they
will find much to please and instruct their
minds.
The idea that Mr.. Atkinson first sugges ted
the Exposition is an error. He was the first
person to act in the matter, but not to suggest
such an enterprise. That honor belongs to
Mr.. Thomas p. Stovall, an American gentle
man doing business at No. 79 Mark Lane, Lon
don, G. who, under date Of January Goth,
1880, wrote as follows to Mr.. ]. A. Ansley, a
prominent real estate broker Of Atlanta: In
my first letter suggested that an organization
be formed and money raised to place the ad-
would also strongly urge that Cotton Inter
national Exhibition be held in 1881, say in Au-
gusta, to bring together cotton spinners, ma
chinery, cotton growers, ETC.. with a display
generally" This was the first suggestion, and
Mr.. Atkinson deserves credit for having Sc
cured its adoption.
1t is a matter Of small Importance beyond
the truth OF history" who first suggested the
Exposition. 1t is enough to know that IL il
here, and that 1t has so enlarged its original
scope as to be hardly recognizable as a cotton
display in any sense. Mr.. StoYall and MIR. At
klnSon have very small interest in the matter
compared to that which the people of the South
should feel They suggested the plan. other
men carried it into execution, and to-day we
have at our very doors a school Of instruction
that can be made worth millions Of dollars to
the new South. II Is vain to call it Yankee
show, or TO suggest that Western manufactur-
crs are to be mostly benefited by it. / deny
the proposition. On the contrary, these North
ern and western manufacturers come here
with their exhibits at great expense for what :
To show the South how to weave apd manufac-
tur9 at home her cotton crop; how to take her
coal and iron ana manufacture it into agricul-
turAl and other useful implements; in fact, to
cover the South with the busy hum of industry
that now makes the North and West our mar
kets 10 which to purchase fabrics and articles
itor from the North or West can hope to reap
greater benefit from the Exposition than he
will bestow upon the South.
THE soUTH's OPPORTUNITY.
The North and West have sent here numer-
GUS exhibits of an attractive character and
expended large sums of money in putting their
displays in good shape at the Exposition They
have done this in the belief that the people Of
the South would hock here by thousands to be-
hold an exhibition such as has seldom been
seen In this country. Shall they be disap-
pointed, and be made to feel that they have
labored in vain and spent their money for
naughtf hardly think so. It appears to me
that whenever it is officially announced that
the last new building is finished and the last
exhibit In place, thus giving completeness to
the Exposition, our people will flock herein
appreciatiDR crowds
The Southern States have not been asleep in
the matter OF an attractive representation.
There Is hardly any part of the South unrepre-
sented in some way. Tennessee, South Caro-
lima, Florida and Georgia are foremost In the
van, and make exhibits that none need be
ashamed TO indorse. And what have they
done this forf Not to show the people of the
South what they are doing in manufactures,
agricultural products and progressive indus.
tries. That is unnecessary, for va all know
- 10 crrir on at in ID d.
we have invited the people Of the North and
the West to come here and witness the evil
dences of our recuperation from wars dire
mense resources OF wealth we have in our eli
mate, soil and coal and iron mines II these
people stay away We lose the value Of our ex-
hibits, aad IL we stay at home they lose the
value OF their displays. We are allin the same
boat.
Now the question arises, 'How shall we each
help the other to get the crowds hsres'' Chart