The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1886-10-14
An Experts Opinion OfsOuthern
Progress,

IL has taken the North good many
years to fully comprehend the indus
trial possibilities of the South, and it
has even been harder for the people
and the press of that section to be-
lieve, or at least admit, that the South
is to be the manufacturing center of
the country, and that Southern energy
is equal to the work Of bringing this
about. At last, however, these truths
are beginning to make deep i'm
preston throughout the North, and
the work Of the Manufacturers Record
in persistently championing the cause
of Southern progress is forcing the
people of the North to investigate for
themselves, and the more they inyes-
tigate the more they are amazed at
the South'sprogress and the'marvellous
energy OF Southern men in redeem
ing their country from the destruc-
tion Of the war and developing its
material interests as they have done.
For it is Southern energy and South
ern money that are mainly response
bic for the industrial progress of the
South. 1t is true that large invest
ments of Northern capital are now
being made in the South, but if we
count up the big mills and furnaces
that are now in operation there, we
will find that they are largely the re-
suit OF Southern money, backed by
Southern enterprise. An illustration
OF the change of opinion in the North
regarding the South is found in the
last issue of the New York Engineer
ing and Mining Journal, a very high
authority, whose editor has lately re-
turned home after thorough inves-
tigation Of the South's iron interests,
or rather OF one part of the South's
iron field, in leading editorial, after
paying high tribute to the wonder
full energy displayed by the South dur
ing the war, says.
If the achievements OF the South in
war were surprising, its industrial
progress during the past ten years has
been simply marvellous and unparal-
leled. The South has awakened from
its hstlessness and dreaming, and is
advancing in the development of its
industries and in material wealth at q
rate, perhaps, unequaled in any other
part ofthe country and the most en-.
couraging feature in this industrial
revival is the fact that Southern mer
are at the head and Southern money
at the foundation of the greater mum
Der OF the new enterprises this
surely, is a fact most promising anC
inviting for Northern capitalists tC
consider.
Though the spirit of progress has
taken or is taking possession of every
part of the South, and is showing it
self in the establishment OF ever brancf
of industry, our readers are, Of course
most interested in the development 0
the mineral resources with which
Nature has so lavishly endowed tina
part of our country. Virginia, th,
Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, ant
Tennessee have been favored will
rich deposits Of minerals, and in Ala
bama especially the coal and irol
industries are making such wonderful
progress that they must attract doubl
attention, first, on account of thei
serious affect on similar industries il
the North, and, secondly, for the oper
, ing they offer to the safe and proitabl
investment of Northern capital j
their development. A recent exter
| sive and close personal inyestigatio
of the Alabama and Tennessee COT
and iron fields, and OF their economi
advantage and relations, has afforde
us q vast amount OF interesting dat
on which we shall from time to tim
draw literally for the benefit of oil
readers. The bare statement thi
Alabama is destined in the near fl
: ture to make or regulate the iro
/, markets Of this country is alone suf
: cient to insure the attention of a
4 those engaged in the iron busine
I throughout the country to what v
shall have to say, while the facts v
shall cite will have an equal intere
to capitalists seeking profitable i
yestments.
Such testimony as the above to Il
resources and energy Of the South
now becoming very common, al
this time it is the Northern peop
that are wakening up as these fac
are being daily pressed upon thel
They begin now to see that Il
Manufacturers Record and 9th
papers that have been constantly te
ing of the sonth's marvellous l
sources and rapid development ha
hardly told one-half Of what their ov
Investigations reveal.
The man who talks about hims,