The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1888-10-04
PROMISING OUTLOOK.
THE PROSPEROUS SOUTH.
s,dications of a Season OF Great Ac-
tivity.
Manufactures Record

The indications for a season of
great activity in the trade and man
ulacturing interests of the South are
exceedingly favorable. Rarely Ii ever
before, has the prospect been SO prom
ising. The corn and cotton crops Of
1887 were the largest ever produced
in the South, and, as good prices were
realized, the farmers found themselves
at the beginning of 1888 in a much
better financial condition than for
many years. Blessed as the farmers
of the South were last year with abun-
dant crops, present indications point
to season Of still greater agricultural
prosperity. The yield of fruit and
vegetables has been unprecedentedly
heavy, and the shipments North have
taxed the carrying capacity of the rail
roads. The yield of wheat in most
of the Southern States, especially in
those in which it is a leading crop,
such as Maryland, Virginia, Tennessee,
&c, has been phenomenally large,
and the aggregate yield for the South
will doubtless be the greatest on record.
Moreover, the shortage IN the West
ern wheat crop has enhanced values,
and Southern farmers are obtaining
much better prices than a year ago.
The acreage of corn and cotton is
unusually heavy, greater even than
1887, when the largest crops ever
raised in the South were produced,
and so far in the season the indiCa-
tions points to larger yields also than
last year. The corn crop is almost
made and this year the Southern far
mers will have less Western corn to
buy than for many years. In fact,
the South will almost be self-support
ing in the corn line. While the cot
ton crop has many dangers yet to
meet, its conditions up to the present
is almost all that could be asked, and
it is only reasonable to look for a
good crop, with strong probability
Of yield eQualing even the splendid
outturn of 1887. The cotton man.
ufacturing interests of the entire world
are in such aourishing condition that
the heavy crop Of 1887 has been alb
sorbed at good prices and stocks are
smaller than even year ago. Under
these circumstances it is but fair to
look for continued active demand
at profitable prices for all the cotton
which the South will produce this year,
even if we should again have a 7,ooo,-
ooo-bale crop.
The prosperous condition of the
agricultural interests is, however, only
one of the features of the brilliant
promise of the South. Two years ago
millions of dollars were invested in
the building of new furnaces, foun-
dries, rolling mills and kindred en-
terprises. Many of these great enter
prises have been under construction,
yielding no profits, but virtually
locking up all the money thus inves-
ted. Now they are all getting under
operation, and before 1888 ends there
will be such an enormous production
of manufactures in the South as would
have seemed impossible five years ago.
From mines and furnaces, rolling
mills and foundries, car works and
pipe works, cotton mills, woodworking
establishments and industrial enter
prlses of almost every variety, millions
of dollars worth of manufactured
goods are being turned out to help
swell the tide of Southern prosperity.
All of this is creating a vast amount
| of profitable employment for laborers,
and the South is rapidly becoming a
hive of industry. Heretofore thous-
sands and tens of thousands were idle
tor greater part Of the year because
there was no work to do ; employment
could not be had. Now there is work
for all in many parts of the South,
and the industrial development now
in progress is rapidly fastening the
day when no man need be idle be,
cause of the lack Of work. The com.
bination of great agricultural prosper.
ity-great at least compared with any
other year since the war-and vast
manufacturing and railroad interests
bringing wealth 20 the laborers and tht
capitalist alike, is rapidly making the
whole South rich. And unless al
signs fail, or some wide spread dis
arter overtakes the cotton crop during
the coming month, we may look fo
a season of such business activity a
the South has never known before.