The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-08-25
The South.

It is fact that is attracting attention
throughout the East, that the tendency of
capital is to the South now. rather than to
the West. The vast railroad combinations
which have been recently effected in Vir-
ginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Louisiana,
Kentucky and other Southern States. will be
followed by tide of healthy immigration,
that will contribute largely to settling the
question whether a Northern citizen can
locate in the South with the assurance of
undsturbed social and political relations
The sagacious business men of the North
begin to understand that it is not the West
that is ''new," but the South, and that it is
in the South that the surplus means and
the active energy of the country are to find
profitable employment. 1t is one OF the
strange things in the progressive business
ventures of the age, that it has not long
since been discovered that where the natu-
raj advantages are so abundant. there is
the locality for successful industrial enter
prises. The cotton, the wool, the iron ore
and coal are to be found in almost every
Southern State, and yet the factories and
furnaces for their utilization are few and
far between. The opening up of the re-
sources Of the South, first by means OF the
fresh activity in railroad construction and
| combinations, and then by the establish
| ment of iron furnaces and cotton factories.
will date the new South, with all that it
means. Wear just beginning to feel re-
lief from the thraldom of slave labor. and
the inspiration and activity of Free Labor.
Factories will be followed by towns and
cities, and these give encouragement to
farming operations, offering remunerative
returns for investment in each and every
branch of industrial endeavor.
| New Orleans and Atlanta, notably, are
beginning to realize what this new dispen-
former city, so sudden and remarkable,
brings back the remembrance when the
| Crescent City was the reflection Of the in
telligence and wealth of the South, aud held
a pre-eminent commercial relation to the
South and West She is now resaining her
lost Mississippi Valley trade, and is destined
to greater Importance than was ever
dreamed of in her halycon days.
Atlanta is putting on the armor of a
young giant, and is pushing forward in all
the elements which go to make commu-
nifty wealthy and prosperous. Her railroads.
factories, and general business activity are
drawing capita! and population rapidly.
and soon she will be noted as one of the
most fourishing cities of the country. All
these indications point to new South, with
new inspirations, new business methods
and new political and industrial relations
In the near future the tide of population
and surplus means will be directed South
ward. The tendency is that way now, but
it will take some time to undo the education
of years and subordinate prejudice to prac-
teal business considerations. The western
fever will burn out. and instead of ''go
West" it will be Ego South, young man -
to seek fortune and fame, and become a
factor is the industrial era which is now about
to dawn upon the neglected and practically
unknown Southern section OF the Union.