Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-01-04
RANDALL AT CHATTANOOGA.
The Day Given up to the PrOYerbial
Speeches and Feast.


CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, Jan. 3.-Hon.
Samuel J. Randall and party arrived in
this city this afternoon at 3 O'Clock from
Nashville by special train. The party
stopped at the leading cities between
Nashville and Chattanooga, and at Muir
freesboro and Cowan immense throngs
met the train, and Mr.. Randall was called
to the platform and made a few remarks.
At all the towns the train was greeted
with cheers. At Stephenson, Ala, a
committee met the party and escorted
them to this city. When the train en-
tered the depot thrOng OF nearly thous-
and of the leading citizens were assem-
bled, and as the crowd divided to let 1t
pass, cheer after cheer rent the air for
Randall and high tariff" hen the
train stopped Mayor Hugh Whiteside
stepped upon the platform and welcomed
MIR. Randall. The latter made suitable
reply.
The party were conducted to carriages
in waiting, and left the depot amid shouts
from hundreds of throats for Randall
and a high tariff" The party visited the
leading iron and wood working industries,
iron furnaces and all points of interest
about the city. At 7 O'Clock this after
noon there was a mass meeting at the
court house, which Mr.. Randall addressed,
and at 8 o'clock a reception was held at
the Stanton House. closing with a grand
banquet.
In the evening Mr.. Randall and party,
escorted by the committee having them in
charge, repaired to the court house where
such an immense crowd had assembled
that there was hardly standing room in
the building and many were turned away,
being unable to gain entrance. Mr.. Ran
dali was introduced by the Chairman of
the County Democratic Committee.
Mr.. Randall thanked the gentleman for
his kind utterances. He gave glowing
picture of the future prospects of Tennes-
see and Alabama. He said that under
the bright influence of protection to home
industries it was possible to estimate the
progress of the South.
TRIBUTE TO THE SOUTH.
In closing Mr.. Randall said: ''This is a
wonderful people that / have been among.
They have arisen from disasters with
courage, with an energy that stands with
out parallel in history. They convey to my
mind a bright future, and [ am
proud that came among them, not on any
political errand or with any personal or
political motive. l came into this cOun-
try to look into the business ques-
tion of iron and coal, and | 60 away
happy and satisfied. / see that there
is to be an awakening all along the line
of the industrial energies of the Southern
people, and | rejoice at it. Let us forget
for the time at least political matters, and
let this Southern country do as | sug-
gested in the matter. Stand together
all of you. Wherever the commercial and
industrial interest of the section is
concerned the South wants to live within
itself. Then these great national gifts of
iron and coal and cotton can be made to
work together faithfully and well, and
they will be enriching beyond measure
and beyond description. l want, of course,
to see the Southern people plant more of
these things than are necessary to main
tain manufacturers.
COTTON PRODUCTION.
'ENOw,i is very often thought that there
ought to be free trade to the advantage of
cotton. That was an old theory that
| originated with the planters during the
slavery period. Now, l want to state
| little fact in connection with the increase
| of the product of cotton in the United
| States. In 1860 the production of cotton
in the United States was about 4,000,-
| 600 bales, say. | will Illustrate:
don't know the figures eX-
actly, bat l will approximate.
In 1880 the production Of cotton was
| 100000. There was. therefore, between
lCOO anu lCOV du lllCIGdSS VI O,UVO,UOU
bales. Did that 60 to foreign markets?
More than so per cent. of that increase of
cotton in the United States along tee cot
| ton belt, was consumed at home, and less
| then 20 per cent. went abroad. Why
talk about foreign markets when the
| great market we want is right at our
| door? Now to illustrate further. In
Birmingham is shown Oneof the most re-
markable developments of iron ore in the
| United States or anywhere else. never
| heard of its equal. In 1861 there
was about 5,0HA tons of charcoal iron
produced in the State of Alabama. To-
day they are producing in the State of
Alabama 100000 tons OF iron. 1t Is mar
velOusl And that increase is not con-
fined to Alabama. / think that
the statistics of Tennessee will
make as remarkable a showing.
In 1867 there was mined in the whole
State of Alabama about 160 tons of coal
and iron. To-day there is a single mine
at Birmingham which can produce coal
to the extent Of 5000 tons day, twice
the amount in day that was pro-
duced in 1867 in year, and then
tell me that we want free trade. Take
your own State. 1t is most remarkable
in this development. There is a charcoal
| furnace in Alabama, or a plant, as it is
called, where there has been an eXpendi.
ture of 100000, and Alabama is
sending that charcoal and iron
into Canada. Yet would you
have this great industry that is wakening
up in the South depressed and destroyed?
No, my friends. Let us keep on in
the path that is Indicated
in our past experience as the most
profitable, and let this great people reach
that destiny which God in His infinite
wisdom has marked out that it should
occupy, and be the greatest nation in
Gods world" Mr.. Randall was
frequently applauded, and after
he had concluded his aG-
dress loud and vOciferOus
cheers rent the air. He was followed by
Congressman McAdoo in speech of some
fifteen minutes duration.
The party adjourned to the Blanton
House, where a magnificent banquet was
spread for their entertainment. Fully
200 sat down to the table.