The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-12-23
KELLEY, OFPENNSYLVANIl,
MAKES ANOTHER REPORT OF
WHAT HE SAW
At the South, Indicating Rapid
Progress and Growth Ia Manu-
features and Trade.

Tbs Hon. william ID. Kelley, OF Penn
sylvania, who has lately made an ex-
tensive trip through the South, con-
tributes TO the Baltimore Manufactty-
ers' Record Of December 25th lengthy
article reviewing the progress OF tnat
section, in which he presents some
striking facts as to the great industrial
development now in progress there.
Referring to bis visit to the South
in 1867 Judge Kelley:'sys: "The South
was a land OF Oscillation; her fields
vera fenceless and uncultivsted, and
her people were without reproductive
stock, or that with which to impel
modern agricultural implements bad
they been bestowed upon them gra-
tuitously. They were, numerically
speaking, without seed for food crops,
except what was bestowed upon them
by personal friends or the government
through the Freedmen's Bureau and
the agencies Of the Agricultural De-
partment."
Contrasting this with what he saw
on his late trip, he says: "The pro-
gress in wealth, in the mea, Of indi-
vidual comfort and productive power,
has been marvellous and that the
change wrought from then until now
in the immense development Of the
coal and iron ore OF the States, and the
increase in number and extent Of in
dustrial centers may justly be regarded
as the work OF Titans. The SYSTEMS Of
railroad that now traverse the South
are as perfect in the construction OF
road bed, track and bridges and in
passenger cars and the means provided
for the transportation OF freight as
those of the North. Lateral roads
branch from them into such valleys as
are known to be specially rich, notin
iron alone, but in other minerals, come
OF which are found In such prcfusion
and juxtaposition as to seem to defy
geologistc laws as elsewhere illus
trated."
"Prior to the war;" Judge Kelley
writes, "the South neither had nor
desired TO have large cities, 1t is also
true that her ttatesmen preferred that
their workshops should be in foreign
lands and that the ships that exported
their products snd brought them COM
modities in exchange, should be built
and owned by foreigners. In this re-
epect the contrast is most striking"
Nashville he found to be a beautiful
city, which surprised him by the ex-
tent and variety of its manufacturer
and the msgnincence Of its buildings.
Chattanooga aud Birmingham are
each marvel in its own way. In the
former he visited the great industrial
enterprises that are in operation there,
snd it was here that his attention was
first attracted to the neat, commodi-
Gus and well painted homes Of the
negro laborers in mining, smelling and
mechanical pursuits. The mechani-
cal skill of the colored laborers in
some OF these enterprises surprised
him and convinced him that with an
industrial art school they would coon
produce gratifying evidences Of the
adaptation of negro labor to mechani-
cal pursuits requiring high degree OF
skill.
Referring to the prox nifty of coal,
iton ore and limestone at Birming-
ham, he says'that it is not surprising
that the over sanguine men OF that
city really believe that they will be
able to make iron SO cheaply as to
soon close up the works of Pennsyl-
vania and force her iron masters and
their employees to 70 establish them.
eelves at Birmingham. This, he
states, has produced speculation in
town lots that may retard the imme-
date growth of Birmingham, and
time, by various processes, will deter
niue the actual value Of corner lots
IN a CITY whose success ID to extin-
guish tho furnace fires OF Pitlaburg,
Braddock, Johnstown, Bethlehem and
generally throughout Pennsylvania.
At Admission he spent t9n days, max
ing @ thorough investigation OF the
resources OF the country tributary to
that place. Here he found extensive
ironworks, machine chops, rolling
mills, carworks and other industries,
beside a largo cotton mill, which
shipped q considerable part oil its
product direct to China. The com.
pany which planned and built Annis.
ton owns 30, 900 acres of land in which
are immense deposits Of brown and
red hematite, fossiliferous, spec.
ular and magnetic ore, noun
tains of Limestone and seemingly
inexhaustible supply of wood and
cooking and gas coal. They had just
completed q sixty.mile railroad and
will build another sixteen miles in
Length, besides two furnaces and other
enterprises. He predicts that though
Auuiston has never had ."boom,"
and though It's planting and develop.
ment have been managed 30 quietly
that it's name is hardly recognized by
the popular car, it will, before two
decades snall have passed, be one OF
the most remarkable csnters OF iron,
steel aud kindred industrieS to be
found in these wonderfully endowed
States Georgia, Alabama and Tonnes
see. The growth of Atlanta surprised
him. In 1867 he found it in ruins
aud ashes. Now IL has over $4,000 in
habitants whose prosperity is atested
by everything seen there.
In closing, he says: 81 have given
but faint intimati ons OF the re-
sources Of the mineral regions OF the
South, Of the impulses that now ami
mate her controlling people and Of the
controlling people, and Of the rapid
strides with which the spirit Of the
nineteenth century is changing not
only the aspect OF the country, but
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