The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-09-11
SOUTHERN IRON.

Tho Philadelphia Bulletin Is one OF
the most rabli Republican pepers In
the North, and 1t can scarcely see any
thing good or commeDdabls in the
South. The Bulletin, however, can
no longer close its eyes to certain Limos
of industry and development South
that portend great changes, not only in
the South, but in tho relations of the
two sections.
To Pennsylvania It's iron interest Ia
everything. For years it maintained
practical monopoly in that direction.
Latterly the great iron regions of Ala
bama have been developed until
Southern furnaces can produce pig.
iron much cheaper than can those Of
Pennsylvania, aud tho Eastern people
are opening their eyes. But, as yet,
tho production of higher grades has not
reached the point that it has, or that is
at least possible in tho East. The
Bulletin, therefore, while forced to ad-
init the successful competition in tho
crude product, yet sees an avenue of
escape for the Pennsylvania mills that
will at once ba beneficial in more
ways than ono to both South and
North. 1t says on the subject:
"If Alabama can produce pig ron at
IS per ton cheaper than Pennsylvania,
there IL no occasion for Pennsylvania's
watching tho production with Jealous
oYo.' Tho advance from tho produce
ton of crude product To that of ono
uomanding q higher quality OF labor
IL omin0ntly desirable. So that the
development Of Southern iron means
tho raising of the quality OF labor in
Pennsylvania; IL means that asaocia-
ton OF Northern and Southern inter-
ests so necessary for the uuifying OF
tho country; it means the beginning
OF revolution In Southern opinion on
tho labor question"
II the North becomes purchaser
ofSouthern iron, If tho "higher grades"
are developed in Pennsylvania from
hoorude products ofAlabama, unques-
tionably the two States, 10y an extern
awe association of interests, will know
each other better and tina results DO
boneticiaily felt politically as we'll as
financially, ms tho Bulletin in,imates.
But that papers admission that
under uniavorablo conditions the
South has been able to compete with
and undersell the great mills OF Penn
sylvania, carries with it two more OK
tremoly gratifying reflections: 1t is Sn
admission that the high protection for
which the Pennsylvania people so Wig
orously contended is not necessary,
Tor Alabama under greater disadvan-
tages can make profit and yet sell for
IS per ton cheaper than tho Eastern
mills do.
But q yet greater satisfaction arises
from the promise of the future 10 these
Southern furnaces. II we can beat the
East in turning out the crude product
wa can also do tho same thing with the
higher grades. Our superior orc and
tho added facilities aud improved
methods and machinery which arc
being constantly looked aftor, will or
tsinly In very short time enable US to
control tho marketiu the higher grades
If now, in tho Infancy of the Southern
iron industry, we can do 50 much and
so we'll. This industry ia but jus,
started in the South. When East
Texas, North Alabama, East Tennos.
see, Arkansas and Louisiana turn their
attention, ~ they should do, to theii
inexhaustible supplies of superior
ore aud facilities for manufac.
turing, the South will lead In
iron,as 1t will presently In cotton and
woolen mills.
When the ship yards and railways
OF tho East come South for their iroi
and steel; and tho great wholesal,
houses of the North food Southern
factories with their orders, las they vii
in n few years DO doing, then will tn,
scspifo have departed from Pennsyl
vania and NewEngland. Tho South an,
the North will probably never fully up
preciaie each othor and neither ever
reacs the fun measure OF prosperity
until there is just such "sn assoola
ton o. interests" and mutual depend
onco as indicated. Tho South Is in
deed In the saddle again and rldin,
rap dly, but 1t IL not war saddle no
I