South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1882-01-06
The Room" in Southern Dsvel-
opment.
Fron The Richmond Ioaustrla, South

.~ ,-e aAeN.oon1 l.oooU.af >oetn.
Not only IN all sections of this coun.
try, but In Europe too, the ewes of
capitalists looking for great fields for
large Investments are turned towards
tue South. And TO those who are
informed as to the vast and varied
resources OF the South, there is no
reason Tor wonder that it is so. No.
where else perhaps in all the civilized
world IL there land so attractive to
money and muscle as 10 THE southern
land OF onrs. Itnot only offers every
opTS rtunity and every means for ma
klng money, but it otfers also every
adjunct and association for the enjoy
ment OF msney after making it
These facis are 20 patent to all who
have acquainted themselves with the
capacities OF southern soils, with the
character OF southern climate. with
the qualities and quantities and va.
rieties OF southern minerals, with the
values OF southern forests, with the
manufacturing and commercial util-
itles or southern waters, that they are
telling with tremendous effect in favor
southern development, by bringing
money III millions tor investment, and
men IN thousands 10 cast their for.
tunes IN the South. 1t is not very
strange either that this boom in
southern development should have
been delayed 80 long. This whole
country is comparatively new; and
the South especially is 80, when we
regard it with reference to its im-
menss resources that have baen
brought so little into the large aud
general uses for which nature design.
sd them. A stranger from any one
OF the old countries on the other side
OF the sea, i'll travelling through the
South is doubtless astonished 10 sac
the woods and wilds that meet his
gaze, even in districts of country
which were among the earliest settle
ments in the colonies. lie ia etill
more astoDjshed when on inquiry.
and inspection of the mineral regions
of the old States of the South, he
learns that there are all sorts o. mines.
and OF almost unlimited extent, lying
there undisturbsd, with q wealth with
IN them that promises, and in the
near future, a degree aud a pertna.
nence OF prosperity such s, has not
been witnessed in the world before.
Tiiis long delay in southern develop.
| ment Is attributable TO the fact that
we have vast territory with sparse
population to the fact that We have
always been an agricultural, and not
a manufacturing people to the fact
which has been great iactor-that
"a long as the institution OF slavery
existed here the business Quotations.
the industrial ideas, the practical pur.
poses of our people, were always in
lines diverging from, instead Of con.
vergng towards, the utilization OF
those material resources which consti.
iute the clements and agencies that
make up the salient features of what
is know "a the progress OF the times.
The vocation of the farmer or
| planter IL, OF course, the one calling
upon which all other calln2s are
either dirsctlyo indirectly dependent.
1t Las always bean so-and it must
ever continue to be 50. Bat the
| mineral resources and manufacturing
Facilities OF country, especially III
! this age, afford means for making
money and for circulating it among
people OF all classes and conditions,
which give to trade and business of
| every description impulses aud innl>
cnces that show themselves in the
shining lights OF thrift and content.
ment in the lowliest as well as the
Ioftiest households in the land. Min
ing and manufacturing help agricul-
ture III unreasonable degree They
attract population, and put money in.
to the hands of the people to buy tie
products of the farmer. They create
railroads; and the railroads not ONLY
bring men and money along with
them, but they furnish the farmer or
planter with transportation to the mar
kets of the world. They clear away
the woods. and make smiling farms
ont Of the dreary Wilderness
They establish villages. They found
towns. They build up cities. They
break up the gorges produced by in.
activity, in the industrial system of
people, and set the likelihood to liow-
ing vigorously everywhere. Hence
the boom in southern development
which is now beginning to send
thrill of new life and vigor through
these old slave-holding States OF tn
Union, is an augury of great prospect
ty and harbingcr of happiness to our
impoverished people again.