The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1890-11-21
AN ENGLISH VIEW.
What Il Leading Manufacturing journal
of London Has To Say About the
Resources and Future OF
the South.
Uontion City l.ca,l"r.)

Resources and Future OF
the South.
(Inndnn City ica,l"r.)
The city is full of rumors regarding
coming boom in American lands. Extraor-
binary statements arc being made as to
the enormous mineral wealth of the South
crn States. which. if correct, must make
that district the b0naza of the future. Sir
Lowthian Bells advice to the members OF
the Iron and Steel Institute. to inspect the
iron works of the Southern States, where
the national resources are so enormous,
has done much to direct the English mind
TO the wonderful Developments now III
progress in those districts. The return OF
the delegates is awaited with some cx-
pcctatiun, rs their statements Will, we
think he favorable to the country: for no
one can study the remarkable combination
of resources which the South enjoys with
out being convinced that in natural
advantages this section of The country
is the finest in the onion. if not in
the world In climate, soil, rivers, min
cra and timber wealth. Nature seems to
have done her very best for the South.
Although crippled by Il disastrous and de-
plorahlc war. she is now again leading the
van of American progress. And it is
largely Northern capital which is aiding
her in her rise, and finally cemcnting
union that legislation could never perfect.
The whole country pul'atc> with industrial
activity Districts which Il few years back
were wholly occupied by farms. or which
were unrcclaimcd from the forest. are
now becoming ccntcrS of important manu-
featuring and commercial industries. The
cry is no longer "Go West, Young man.
but eco South" Pennsylvania ironmas-
tiers are realizing the meaning of this
Southern competition in coal and iron.
whilst many Northern industries are being
transferred en- bIoc to the more favorable
district whore material and transportation
are cheaper.
There is no doubt but that the center of
industrial development is gradually being
trans fcrrcd from the North to the South.
Mr.. Carnegie indeed, regards the South
las PENNSYLVANIA : most formidable indus
trial enemy in the future" Another au-
lhority, the Hon. Chaunccy NJ. Dcpcw, says
'thc South is the bonanza OF the future.
while equally potent is the statement made
hy the Hon. W. y. Kelley, "the South is
the coming Eldorado If American adven-
lure" But coming nearer home. and to
an authority better known To English pcO-
pie we will quote Sir I.owthian Bell. He
states: ultimately there seems nothing,
so far as our present knowledge permits
us to judge, to prevent these Southern
States from becoming The cheapest IRON
making ccntcrS in the Union IL prophecy
not far from iuliimcnt. Despite low prices
of iron and steel. and all other causes
which generally rctard the development
of Il country. the South is still moving
forward with accelerated step. Nothing
seems to check it, From the Potomac
river to the Rio Grandc there is nothing
but progress. Ten wears ago the wealth
of the United States WAS computed at Sil,-
000. 900, 900: now that wealth Is estimated
to be $64 900 900 ,000,a increase of T2,OOO,
000. QUO for every year during the past de-
cadc. How rapid the tide is flowing
Southwark Il few hard facts will show. The
miles of railroad built in the United States
during the first half of the present year
were .S9S miles, of which III were
built in the South.
Even increased railway facilities cam
not cope with the amount Of freight bust
mes. the Southern railroads have placed
in their hands During the past nine
months upwards of 5000 new enterprises,
including almost ever new line Of indus
try. from the small saw mill to the great
steel and iron works. lave been organized,
whilst the first week of last July saw
started over twelve industrial undertake
in.S. the aggregate capital of which cx-
ccejcd $l2OO0. 600. Take. finally, the
furnacc.incrcaSc OF the thirlv-six iron
furnaces now under construction in the
United States. twenty-five are in the
South. Moreover, wi lie there are few or
no other new furnaces projected in other
parts of the country, there are probably
at least twenty that " II be put under con-
tract in the South curing the next few
months Such dctiis are significant
enough But admitting all this Industrial
activity. the question naturally suggests it
self j. the boom likely to be real one?
or. to use an Amcrican>m, has il come to
stay: After Il personal inspection OF
those districts most affected by the pro-
srcssive movement. We are bound to con-
icss that we have considerable faith in
tHc lIpOm
Speaking generally. We believe the
Southern boom to be Il real and solid al
fair. The resources of coal and iron are in
cxhaustiblc. The minerals crop out upon
the sides OF the valley, and give no trouble
in working. whilst trucks can be loaded
by gravfration from the mines. The i'm
portamt point, however, is that most Of
the furnaces OF the Southern States have
their supplies of iron ore, coal and lime
stone at their doors. Consequently, in
important item ttran> portation alone they
have Il great advantage over their COM
pctitors in Pennsylvania and other North
crn and Western States, whose freight
bills are particularly heavy. Further, the
Southern ironmastcrs have generally
water transportation of the most perfect
kind. which has the beneficial effect of
Keeping down railroad rates. Hence.
whilst new furnaces are rapidly being
blown in in the South, despite declining
prices, many of the Pennsylvania furnaces
are lying idle in preference to selling their
products without 4 margin of profit or at
actual loss.
Wedding at the Capital.
WASHINGTON, Nov. l5.-Thc marriage oi Mrs.