The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-14
SOUTHERN PROSPERITY.
The Views OF an Intelligent New York
Observer.


Observer.
From the New York Tribune
One OF the stirring business men Of New
York is James :. Lewis, who is connected
with a rock-drill company, and has occa.
sion during the course Of the year TO visit
many parts OF the country. His oppor-
tunities for comparing the relative growth
Of the different sections are excellent
Within two or three years he has become
impressed with the "New South" as a
growing field of industry TO an extent
amounting in theeyesof some Of his friends
TO southern fever. Mr.. Lewis remarks
There is no fever in my views of the
south. II is the simple result OF obserya-
ton. II Horace Greeley was alive today
he would say. 60 south, young man. The
secret Of southern growth il easily under
stood after few visits. The war left
the young men OF that region inn
poverished almost TO the verge OF starva-
ton. They became Injured 10 privation,
They learned what their fathers with big
plantations and droycs Of slaves had never
dreamed Of learning They learned 10
labor and save their earnings. They have
become moncy-maken and money savers.
They know the value Of wealth by the bit
ter experience OF lack Of H. They will earn
and save dollar where we at tho north
would spend five. Tho war LETT US up here
In q state OF stimulated prosperity. II left
them on bare bones. They had 10 do or
die. They decided 10 do and not 10 die
In travelling through the south two
parts have struck Mr.. Lewis rs having OK.
ceptionally strong points OF advantage and
future promise. One Of these regions Is
southwestern Virginia, beyond the Sho-
nandoah valley. which has already dcvel.
oped into wonderful country In the
Clinch river valley and the country to-
ward Tennessee. lie describes IL M being
fertile, full Of minerals, and capable Of re-
markable development by railroads which
are now being built or projected there. II
II, however, In talking Of Tennessee and
Alabama coal and iron fields that he he
comes most enthusiastic. Said he: "North-
ern men who pooh pooh the iron manu-.
featuring growth In this region ought 10 DO
classcd with tho old foles. Why, l
counted up In my own knowledge today
the product OF furnaces in these two States,
In what IL known IN tho Birmingham or
Tennessee section, and found that
II actually amounts 10 400 or
100 tons daily. This IL one
fifth TO one-fourth Of the entire product Of
the United States ] took out my pencil
and figured out the capacity Of furnaces
which personally know 10 be In process
OF construction and sure 10 be finished
this coming spring Tho total was 800
tons daily. That IL 10 say that this region
will bo producing this year over 5000 tons
Of iron daily. Thcironly drawback IL in
lack Of an ample supply Of fuel. The
opening Of their mines has no, kept pace
with the building Of their furnaces. That,
however, ~ comparatively small matter.
The coal is there, and they have only 20
got II out"
I asked Mr.. Lewis why Nwas, II his
ruscate views were correct, that there was
an inclination among some northernes TO
discrcdit this field. lie said: There
have boon two phases OF lis development
Ono WINS the genuine honest toll that has
really made the region 10 expand Into n
great industrial center. The other was
speculation. Tho results Of the former
are what have told you. ] know about
tho other only what have seen In the
papers. II has been like most other things
that Wall street gets chance 10 play foot
| Dhll Wlu1s ~ kOt bia'h 'lto uhh hoIt
shins The speculator had various fort
uncs But can tell you that the region
itself will not fly away. Lot mp show you
how things move there. year and a
half ago I saw the flst stakes driven for
this new town Of Bcsscmcr In Alabama.
late last fall l was there and
found q place Of 1900 inhabitants, daily
paper. n blast furnace, aud all the accom-
modaiions Of busy city. This is the place
In which Mr.. Burke, Of New Orleans Il
Interested. let mo tell you another thing.
Tho enormous production Of iron In this
region will he almost all consumed there.
Manufactures are growing up In almost
every city and town. and new enterprises
arc being promoted and courtcd TO use up
the product right on the ground. II IL q
wonderful dcyelopmentalready and II has
only just begun"