Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-06-09
The South's Future

Nowhere II the unwisdom OF emigrating
from the South pointed out more clearly
than IT Is In the articles on the advantages
Of the South that are constantly appearing
In our northern and western exchanges.
II a scrap-book made up Of this class OF
articles could be placed In the hands OF
every southern yousg man the emigration
fever would never get 80 much rs o start ID
our midst. Throughout the Northwest
and New England especially IL seems to be
generally recognized that IL is only ques-
ton OF time when the South will outstrip
all other sections OF the country In the race
of wealth. a recent issue OF the Provi-
deuce journal contains an article on " The
Material South" which, after contrasting
the systems OF farming North and South
before the war, says:
"To day the agriculture OF the South Is
larger and better than ever before, while 1t
is based upon truer theory aud more intel
upent practice. But the South Is destined
10 be great manufacturing section. In
seven wears its manufacturing establish.
mems have increased $4,000. During the
wear 1885 the amount Of capital AID capital
stock invested In new enterprises aggre-
gated the sum OF SG0,000,0 900. The South
has inexhaustible beds OF coal and iron;
she has timber Of the finest qualities; she
l. turning her attention 10 business rs bust
ness. There will be some improbable
speculation. some cities will be built up too
rapidly for sohd and immediate profit, but
ali the elements Of success and prosperity
are there"
The Journal then declares that the South
has some other than physical advantages,
and that she will be exceedingly careful as
10 what immigration she invites, and adds:
"As matter OF fact, capital is likely TO
60 South quite fast enough, aud the EN-.
ployment Of capital necessitates the Use OF
labor. The laborer will DO found; and
from present appearances the labor OF the
South will be, for long time, more trust
worthy than that OF the North, insofar as
large manufacturing enterprises are con-
cerncd IL Is not so much a matter OF con-
sequence as to each years growth rs 1t Is
that the important facts should be cOmpre-
hended; the resources. the spirit OF the
people, the possibilities In the various lines
OF trade and commerce. There are draw
backs; they will be overcome by time and
the light and ambition OF younger genera
fions."
The Journals article Is specimen artl.
Gle upon what our northern contemporaries
generally term "the new South" and does
not overdraw the picture In the least, either
As regards the possibilities Of the South for
development or the conservatism OF our
working classes. The conditions In the
South are all such as TO attract capital.
Good government Is now guaranteed,
our labor Il quiet and lsw.abi1ing,
and even should we have serious dii-
ferences between employees and en-
ployers, il may be regarded as certain
that neither class will tolerate the violence
that has characterized the labor troubles in
many places In the North. The South Is free
from the lawless and vicious elements that
swarm the northern cities, and il those ele-
ments know what is good for them they will
continue to give the South wide berth.
Neither our capitalists nor our workipgmen
have any use for them. IL southern young
men viii reflect upon these Iacts tney must
realize that our northern contemporaries
have good grounds for their predictions as
10 the future OF the South. They must
realize that the southern man who emigrates
makes q great mistake. They must see that
all the capital the South needs is bound to
find IFS way hero in the near future That
this influx OF capital will demand southern
cooperation and utilize southern pluck and
energy goes without saying. As rule.
the enterprises already started In the South
by northern capitalists owe much OF the
success they have met with to southern CO.
operation and the employment Of southern
labor and brains, and il is not likely that
this fact will DO lost sight OF by those who
shall start enterprises here In the future.