Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1893-04-21
The Southern Governors.


character.
The conference created basis for future
action by approving plan of having in
each State working board of six men,
bers to look after the States material
interests. One member of the proposed
board is to look after exports and i'm
ports, another is 10 consider commercial
relations, a third is to study mining in
terests, a fourth Is to deal with sgncul-
ture, &c. The several members are to CO.
operate with each other and with like
members of the board of the other south
ern States. By this concerted effort and
by the publication Of documents setting
forth the real condition and prospects of
the South, all the objects of the conference
will, it is believed, be in time achieved.
The suggestion of Governor Flshback OF
issuing an address to President Cleveland
showing the injustice heretofore done the
South by abuse and vilfcation in the
North, and asking him to give the South
majority representation at the foreign
ports from which immigrants chiefly come
to this country was not looked upon with
favor by the meeting, and was not report
ed back by the committee to which it was
referred.
The address to the public, which is TO
supplement papers prepared by each
southern Governor, is regarded as the
most important work of the meeting. 1t
sets forth the true condition of the sec
ton, without establishment, and having
the sanction OF the executives OF fourteen
States of this Union, 1t is expected to re-
suit in good and do much toward building
up the sparsely settled communities.
The following is the address read by
Governor Stone:
"Ihe Governors OF the States Of Mary
land, Virginia. West Virginia, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Ala
bama, Kentucky, Tennessee. Missouri,
Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi, as
sembled in convention at the city of
Richmond, Va, on April u, 1893. for tie
sole purpose of advancing by cooperation
and concert Of action, the industrial in
terest and we'll being Of their several
States, do Issue the following address to
the people of the United States and those
in Europe who may contemplate making
Investments IN this country or immigrat-
ing here in search of homes.
"The states represented at this con-
vention comprise substantially the south
ern half of the American republic. Its
eastern and southern exterior limits are
bounded by the Atlantic ocean and the
Gulf of Mexico. The interior is traversed
by many of the most important rivers on
the continent and by some of the greatest
IN the world. The surface is diversified
BY mountain chains and beautiful valleys,
by long stretches of fertile bottom lands
and broad expanse of picturesque ard
productive pralries. The climate is tenn
perate, changing more or less with the
seasons, and is pleasant, invigorating and
healthful. The resources of this vast area
are distributed with a wonderful and sur
prlsing equality, and its adaptation to
natural and TO industrial productions is
almost llmitless.
"All. or nearly all, of these states have
inexhaustive deposits of coal, mostly BIZ
luminous, which can DO mined less ex-
pensively, perhaps, than elsewhere in the
world. In every section OF tho area en-
braced by these states are enormous and
Unreasonable supplies Of iron, lead, zinc
and other metals useful in the industrial
arts. Multiplied thousands are already
engaged in mining and reducing the's
metals TIE value Of these mines and
mineral deposits have already long since
passed the period of experimentation; and
vet they are in the infancy of their de-
velopment.
Scattered through these states are,
also. great areas of forest lands, on which
are growing in superabundsnce as hrs
timber as can be found in the world.
"Ths soil and climate unite to give to
these states unsurpassed adaptation and
capacity for the productions OF agricul'
ture. Tobacco, cstton, sugar, Indian
corn, wheat, rye. barley, oats-all the
cereals-are grown here in prOfuss sbun-
dance. Nowhere in the world does the
earth yield a nore prompt, certain and
abundant return.
Gas much NAV be said of horticulture.
Nowhere can richer or swSeter fruits, such
as oranges, bananas. apples, peaches,
plans, grapes and berries, be grown in
greater profusion. Already are to be
found here very many Of the most extern
slye and profitable orchards, vineyards
and gardens on the globe.
Hitherto immigration and capital have
flowed more towards the western and
north western states. This was due, no
doubt, largely to the fact that these were
new states where immigrants could fnd
free homes by right of settlement on the
public lands of the United States, and
due partly, 1T may be, to the fact that
most of the states represented in this con-
yention were the theatre of war during |
the struggle between the states, and were
in their pro .ress by the some
what turbulent conditions Immediately
following the cessation of hostilities.
"Happily, all these disadvantages are
low at end. The desirable public lands
If the northwest are practically absorbed
The south has begun q new era of pro-
.ress and prosperity. The tide Of immi
.ration has been diverted southwark, and
$ pouring in upon us in steady and
stream. Peace is smiling
,verywhers, and is striving to win her
-ictores no less renowned than those Of
var.
cat this auspicious period in southern
history the governors Of the states here
hava INIT To giya the world az :