The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1888-03-08
THE AGONY OVER.
The New Tariff Bill Dissi-
pates the Dread.
The South's New Industries are not
to b Strangled by Legislation.
The Rush of Enterprise and Capital Be
oeives New Impetus Towards the
South,
DECATUR ON TOP.

DECATUR ON TOP.
A long drawn sigh of relief was
breathed by the south last Thurs
day when the new tariff bill was an
nounced. Hon. Tom Browne says
it was conceived in the interest of
the south, but whether true or not,
it gives great satisfaction to those
who are most interested in southern
development. Capital was under
nightmare. 1t was frightened be-
cause large and respectable mum
Der of men were advocating meas
ure that meant death and destruc
ton to the new industries strug-
Cling into being at the south, but
that fear is now removed.
There is nothing in the sariff bill
taat will injure the south. On the
other hand, its terms are so favora
BILE that northern men are opposing
it on that ground. and it partakes
so much of protection that such lib
eral and progressive free trade jour-
nails as the Memphis Avalanche OPP
pose it.
One thing is sure, whether the
bill pass or not, the south is in no
danger. 1t goes to the very utmost
limit that free traders dare attempt,
and that limit is acceptable to man
ufacturers and investors.
With capital emancipated from
this dire dread, there is no impedi-
ment in the way of rushing devel-
opment. Let's stop and consider
what has been done and which way
the star OF empire is tending.
The readers of The CITIZEN need
not be reminded of the state of af-
fairs south of us few years ago.
Fifteen years ago ithe North d
South road existed only in the fe-
vered imagination of theorists like
Sykes. The state of Alabama was
a waste. A mans life was In dan
ger from highwaymen if he attempt
ed the passa &c of Sand Mountain.
Blackjacks grew on the site of Bir-
mingham. The backwoodsmen
thought the ore was nothing but
poor red dirt and they had no idea
what coal was for. The Warrior
coal regions was a bowling wilder
ness and deer and bear ran wild
over the iron belt.
Decatur was an old, Anticipated,
tumble-down village and it's people
dealt principally in ginseng and
coonskins and talked through their
noses and went to bed at dark.
Every body here knows these
things. There are boys not grown
who can remember them. In 1882
one Pulsskian went to Birmin ham,
a village, and bought lot for SIl00.
We have heard that it is worth $40
600 now. Six, five. four, three,
TWO! years ago the rush was just
beginning. The world never saw
such development before. A will
derness is turned into a teeming
workshop.
Think of it! Fifteen years ago
the road from Decatur to Elyton
was a trackless wild. To-day be-
tween Decatur and Montgomery IS
trains a day are run. A train pass
es o given point on an average OF
every % minutes. 1000 freight cars
and 81 passenger coaches run over
it daily carrying l50O passengers.
During January $4,000 passengers
passed over the road and not a sin
gle one hurt. During 1887, 100000
passengers were hauled and only
three hurt 500 new cars were
placed on that division last year. 1t
employs 1900 men and Its monthly
pay roll is $125,00O.
These figures are an index to the
business. Birmingham has been
the center of all this push but it is
now coming this way, We see it
here in Pulaski. A man can never
look south without seeing the smoke
of q locomotive. Get on the train
and the lrst man you speak to
soupds his RS like bnzx-saw-he's
a yankee coming south, bound for
| Decatur.
Birmingham is a great msnufac
turing center, destined to be the
headquarters of the world for iron,
| but Decatur is on a big river and is
the coming center of diversified
manufactures and comHeyce. She
does not take from Birmingham
she adds TO her.
The Chicago Journal of Com
MERGE last week enlarged upon the
ideas With degree IT seeming ex
ageration that amEouIted to ap-
parent fulsomeness. 1t says:
At last the tide of the south's pros
perity has set in to the fullest, and this
| should be the signal for general pros
country. The oRererQw4ipg Of the CEN
trail and western and northwest IN
statesis relieved and the tide is going
southwark and the prosperity of the
country is assured. Now that the fear
4 dnu U1StIuSb vi tuC SOutucTu ClIludtc,
| southern institutions and peculiarities
have vanished into thin air and the
country is found wholesome aud pos
sessed of all the material resources of a
doubly profitable industrial condition
| the wonder comes up most wildly as to
why the same convictions were not APP
parent ten or fifteen years ago. For
4 the next ten years the old shops will
4 have all they can Go to furnish new
machinery and appliances newer and
more economical processes by which
the new country will produce and pro-
| vide for itself. During tie next ten
years the southern states will make
their cotton into cloth tor export in
stead of exporting the raw material /;
viii have 2 sugar product ten times the
presenti will raise and make the jute
bagging for their cottons will produce
ramie for product rivaling silk; will