The morning news., 1892-03-14
industrial progress Of the South"

Industrial Progress OF the South"
Gen. z. p. Alexander, In q very interest
ing and suggestive paper in the Forum for
the current month. discusses the Industrial
Progress Of the South" In a manner that
must be gratifying TO every American, and
doubly so TO the southron. To help the
reader TO a correct conception Of the pom
derous strides forward that the south has
made, attention is drawn TO the des-
tttute condition Of the southern states
at the close Of the war. Sherman had
literally made it necessary for a crow flying
over one section OF fair Dixie TO carry his
rations,n and other warriors against the
principles for which the south fought had
done about the same thing for the other
sections; 90 the aggregate and average con-
dition Of the south was poverty-her riches
were ashes
From this condition OF prostration the
south has, in little over a quarter Of a
century, rsouperated and expanded beyond
ante-war limits, until to-day the southern
people live In prosperity, and behold
future of greatness not far ahead.
While according recognition to the
intelligence and energy Of the people, Gen.
Alexander attributes the south's con-
dition at present TO the wonderful re-
sources of her climate and soil, which even
the people themselves do not yet fully sp-
preciate But there are other considers
tions, geographical and physical, which
exert powerful influence on the present
and future OF the south to make the section
in the near future the most advanced in the
tod Sfafa in oil nf ind md
commerce. Among these are changed
methods OF agriculture, including intensive
farming, improved railroad systems aud
shorter distances from the west to southern
than to northern ports.
The discovery of phosphate deposits in
Florida and the consequent cheapenIng Of
commercial fertilizers together with the
improved methods Of farming, are depended
upon to maintain the south's supremacy as
| a producer of cotton, tobacco and rice. The
decreasing tendency to make a problem"
Of the negro in the south augurs well for the
labor question. Each race is learning that
it needs the other, that there is room and
work for both, and that schemes for the
deportation Of the negro to Africa or else
where are idle and silly. The negro suits
the south, the south suits him. Here he
will stay, and help to work out the coun-
try's destiny while achieving his own.
The signs of the times point to greater
new south. 1t win be the manufacturing
and commercial csnter of the North Ameri-
can republic. Geographical position, soil,
climate, immigration, water powers. deep
| harbors and minerals are the principal
| factors that will bring about the desired and
desirable end. The movement has already
begun and gathers force as 1t progresses.
One Of the chief agents In the work is the
railroads. Until 1885 the railroads in the
south were poorly equipped, weak in hauling
power, laid with iron rails and of various
gauges. making "loDg hauls" very expen-
sive-almost to the point of prohibition.
Since 1885, however, the roads have been i'm
proved and gauges made uniform until it is
possible to run one car the length or breadth
of the continent without change Of trucks.
Consultations have formed great systems,
| operated at a minimum expense, thereby
making 'long hauls" of freight not only
| profitable but frequent and increasing in
frequency. Distances to southern ports
have been decreased until at present all of
the territory west of a line drawn from
Norfolk via Cinciusati to Chicago is nearer
to the southern ports than to the northern.
Savannah, for instance, is 200 miles closer
to st. Louis than is New York. Such diff
ferences in distance In these days of quick
freight dispatch are bound to tell, and the
southern ports offering the best facilities
for foreign shipments will be made the gate
way through which western grain and pork
will be sent abroad.
Deep water at Savannah, which is as
sured, will put her iu a position to compete
for large share of this business, and with
the railroad systems centering here work.
ing in her interest. there is no reason why
she should not get it.