The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1884-12-18
THE TRUE WAY.
The New York Eerald corrsspon
dent Sees the Point.
The South Affecting Northern In
dustry. The Remedy.

0N6b6Js 40S AbUmSAts
For the past % years the capital
and labor of the eastern and middle
states have been fully employed in
building up a new empire in the
west, and all that has been made
out of that wonderful contract has
been invested in additional plant,
such as railroads, manufactures,
farms, great trade centers and facil-
tiles to carry on the work of the fu
ture, which has been largely dis
counted at the high rate Of recent
growth. All this plant has been
fully employed, because it had first
to people this new country, then to-
equip and supply it, and then to
bring out Its surplus to the east for
consumption and export. But as
this western growth has already ex
ceeded its markets, which are being
lessened by competition, and as
this vast eastern plant is rapidly
becoming idle because Of diminish
ing power in the west to absorb its
products, it is well to consider
what mnst happen if the work of
this vast railroad plant gradually
dwindles to the carrying of di
minished surplus production and
the employment of this vast manu-
featuring plant shrinks to the mat
ter of repairs instead of construc-
ton, and to a divided market, in a
restricted field, growing out of
southern competition. 1t is just as
well to look this matter squarely IN
the face.
GROWING ACTIVITY OF THE SOUTH.
While the north is numbered with
too much plant, the south has been
freeing herself of old restrictions
and hindrances, and stands to-day
with her advantages of great natur-
al wealth, young giant stripped
for the contest. She can fight with
US or against us, and must do one
or the other. She will not stand
still. 1t is for the north to deter
mine whether the growth of the
south shall be of a character to re-
store and increase the prosperity of
the north, or whether it shall, by
competition with the north, disturb
its capital and labor and increase
its distress. The south has always
had the advantage of natural
wealth, but its development has
heretofore been INSTRUCTED. Now
it is different. The last few years
have changed AL this, and to day
southern advantages in the making
of iron are fully recognized in
Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio,
while her advantages in the manu-
facture of cotton are rapidly be-
coming known to New England.
Southern iron to-day is regulating
prices in Philadelphia, Pittsburg,
Cincinnati, Indianapolis, st. Louis
and Chicago, and every northern
furnace will feel the effect from the
capitalist to the laborer.
NECESSITIES OF THE ONE SECTION FOR
THE OTHER.
And yet, to one familiar with the
south, and travelling through it, the
reason of this is plain, and the rem
edy for existing depression lies
upon the surface to be seen by any
enc with open eyes. The develop
ment of the south has been local
in spots. Here and there you find
a blast furnace, with the finest of
iron ore in unlimited quantities
right at hand and coal close by, or
timber for charcoal all around it.
But for miles and miles around are
scattered farms, with patches and
little cabins, that use no iron. And
this is true Of southern manufac-
lures generally. The result is, that
with cheap labor, and the advantage
of proximity for every material
used, product is turned out at prices
with which the highly organized
manufacturing communities of the
north cannot compete, and it is
shipped to the north, over the CON-
paratIvely small transportation sys-
tenn, which is not crowded with
freight because exchanges are rela-
lively small, and sold at prices
which regulate northern prices, and
must, if this goes on, compel a gen.
eral reimbursement of all values, both
of property and labor in the north
That is the situation.
The way out is plain one, and
is within reach, and perfectly prae,