The morning news., 1892-02-08
A WORD FOR THE SOUTH.

The Southern States Can Now Afford
to Produce and Sell Cotton Even at
Cost and Yet Prosper.
From the st. Louis Interstate Grocer.
The editor Of this paper while visiting
New York last week had conversation
with F. B. Thurber, the head of that
great grocery house, the Thurber, Whyland
Company.
occasion arose to mention the prevailing
newspaper comment on an alleged fiuan-
clal depression in the southern states, which
was by them attributed to the overproduc.
tion of cotton, the lack Of a variety of in
dustries and production, the advancement
system. etc. etc.
Mr.. Thurber, who is close student Of
the trade conditions in the south, his firm
having an extreme business patronage from
the southern states, spoke of the condition
OF the south as follows:
"Ine depression in business at the south
just now, IN consequence of the low price
OF cotton, is striking illustration of south~
ern character. which is either sanguine or
the opposite extreme. The southern people
ara impulsive, warm-hearted and ohival-
rous, but they lack some of the sturdy stay
ing qualities OF the people Of the north and
west.
Contrast the condition of the south to-
her natural resources were then great, they
were not developed to nearly the extent
they now are. Cotton occupied far more
commanding position than it does at press
ent.
within ten years her coal and iron in
dustries have been developed with q train
OF resulting industries Cotton factories
haye sprung up all over the south. Her
lumber interest has developed enormously.
Her phosphates, which, ten years ago, were
confined to South Carolina, are now putting
millions of dollars each year into Florida.
Her sugar, rice and tobacco interests are all
prosperous. Her fruit and vegetable crops
bring hundreds of thousands of dollars,
where ten years ago they brought tens.
Her canning and preserving Of food prod
ucts and fisheries are growing rapidly,
whlle her minor products, such as turpen-
! tine, resin, etc, commonly known as naval
stores, and dried fruits, peanuts, etc., all
contribute their quota to the general pros
perity.
Her railroads have been largely ex.
tended, aud transportation facilities have
80 improved that the south is in much closer
connection with the principal markets of
tue country than ever before, and this year
planters have generally raised their own
supply OF corn, when last year they were
paying 81 a bushel for it to the western
states.
NO oUner section or the country has such
resources as the south, and because they
have been blessed with too big a crop OF
cotton, and prices have declined to a point
which is generally considered unremunera-
tive, some people seem to think that the bot
tom is going to drop out oi the south, when,
In point of fact. it may be a positive
benefit TO them. 1t will doubtless lead to
further diversifying of her crops, and the
study of economical production of her great
staple. but If the south had to make cotton
for cost from this time forward, she would
still have greater elements of prosperity as
the result Of reasonable effort than any
other section of the United States.
This is the result of her range Of climate
and the natural resources of her fields,
forests and mines"
From this opinion of one well qualified to
express it, it will be seen that the workers
in relation to the "impover1shment of the
south" "the financial crisis in the south,n
ETC., etc, are long way Off from the cor
rect estimate Of the actual condition. 1t is
time that merchants generally who receive
a large business from the south should, like
Mr.. Thurber, speak good word for that
section and not stand indifferently by while
her credit is being unjustly and untruth-
fully essai!ed in the hope thnt competitors
will be scared out of the field and they be
left to enjoy it. The south is all right.