St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-04-24
TILE IRON INTEREST.

1t may be new idea to many, that the
iron industry at the south may soon grow
nto such proportions, as to compete success
fully with the iron works Of Pennsylvania,
and other northern points. Such, however,
is the fact.
1t is getting to be well known that the
south is capable of beng developed into
healthy competition with all lines of manu-
features and industries that have already so
largely enriched certain sections of the
northern country.
The south has been dwarfed by slavery,
and living upon slave labor, its vast re-
sources have been undeveloped.
But the great incubus to enterprise, and
the development of its resources in every
line of industry and manufactures, being
lifted off, will put the South forward to com
pete successfully with, if it does not surpass
the North in all material activity.
The assumption that iron can be manufac-
tured as cheaply in Alabama as in Pennsyl-
vania, has been received with no little credrl-
lily, and has turned attention to the subject,
and produced no little discussion.
The fact was at first stoutly denied, but the
scales are fast falling from blind eyes, and
the possibility, and probability, nay more,
the certainty of the fact is at last being adj
mitted BY Pensylyanian's themselves, and
thus, intelligently looking at the subjectin al
its bearings fear no harm from this open in
dustry in Alabama or in other Southern points
The Philadelphia Times which truly and
faithfully represents Pennsylvania views says
sit is only a question of time, and of no very
distant time, when the South will control the
| markets of this country for certain grades oil
iron. Alabama and Virginia can now pay the
heavy cost of transportation and undersell Penn
sylvania iron for some uses, but it is foolish tc
| assume that such competition will destroy the
| iron industry in any section of the Union i
may measuraby revolutionize the iron business
but the general trade will be benefited, as vii
the general interests of the country, and the ror
business will speedily adjust itself to the new
and advanced necessities which will inevitably
bring new and enlarged circles of consumers
| The Times in a catholic and generous
spirit worthy of all praise, urges the South to
invite capital and hasten the development OF
its wonderful resources. It further says:
'sWhen the Southern States shall have done
themselves the justice to open their mines ant
merce, there need be no apprehensions abou
Pennsylvania. Let it not be forgotten that be
fore the Southern iron States shall be developed
into general competition with Pennsylvania il
iron, the population of the country will be nearly
or quite doubled, and the iron States of both The
North and the South will prosper together. Lee
our industry be diversified in all sections; le
home markets be created everywhere by multi
piled channels of capital and labor; let ever,
general productive industry be protected to the
full extent of the difference between like labor
home and abroad, and American competition will
end monopoly and give healthy prosperity to all
The Southern people have exceptional facilities
for the cheap production of certain grades of iron
They have coal, iron ore, climate and labor il
their favor"
Some of the New York papers are getting
furious at the lobbyists who are crowding the
legislature of that State. The N. Y, Herald
declares that the lobbyists ought to be driven
out at the point of the bayonet.