The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1894-04-19
Manufacturers Record

rover, OF the ILLINOIS central Railway,
writes to the Manufacturers Reco,a
regarding the business conditions OF
the Southern States through which that
road passes as follows:
In my opinion the present outlook
for industrial growth on those portions
of our lines south of the Ohio river has
never been better. During an ex-
perience Of nearly eighteen months in
looking for the location of factories, l
have never seen the time when there
has been SO much interest manifested
in the South for the requirement OF
new industries. Traversing, as we do,
the States of Kentucky, Tennessee,
Mississippi and Louisiana, in sections
of the State where we have no coal or
iron to draw upon for raw materials,
the character of industries that could
operate to success in utilizing the raw
materials is necessarily limited to those
working cotton, wool, clay and hard
and soft woods. The extension of the
manufacture Of cotton the part year
has been greatly curtailed, as the
majority OF concerns have contented
themselves with saving themselves
from loss, and have not been disposed
to branch out in the way of location OF
new factories for the manufacture of
this staple. In the North the depres-
sion has been most general, and has
affected, amongst others, the successful
operation OF woodworking establish.
ments which have been in existence
tor years. Many of these, which
would have sought locations in the
South, have had all they wanted to dc
to keep in existence, without attempt
ing to branch out to new fields.
In spite of this depressed condition
of affairs the fine character of timber
and the greater cheapness at which il
can be obtained, together with the
comparatively new markets open to
Northern manufacturers, have induced
quite a number of woodworking
industries to locate in the South or
the line of the Illinois Central anC
Yazoo & Mississippi Valley roads
Many of these industries have come
from Wisconsin, Iowa, Indiana, Ohio
and Pennsylvania, and as the character
of timber and the prices at which i
can be had become better known, the
prejudice that exists amongst Northern
manufacturers against locating in the
South will be gradually overcome, ano
do not hesitate to say that within ;
very few years there will be large in
fux OF the woodworking industries
now SO plentiful throughout thos.
States, for whenever Northern manu-
facturers have been located along ou
lines each industry SO located ha
proved the best sort of an advertise
ment for the country and for tn
people.
While the condition of depression
has been almost universal Throughout
the North, l do not find any such con
dition of affairs south of the Obi.
river, especially through the territor
which our road runs. In most cases
find hotels full of travelling salesmer
selling dry goods, shoes, hats, cap:
clothing, hardware and other article
which do not come under the head {
provisions. The sales of Wester
provisions in the South have fallen O
enormously, and do not think it
extreme to say that where one no
was raised ten years ago, to-day ther
are 100, and the same holds good fo
corn, while in early vegetables an
fruits the increase is astonishing. Th
hog meat and corn are raised no,
largely by the holders of small farm:
who heretofore have raised nothin
but cotton, have depended upon th
merchants to take care of it, Will
buying all other supplies from tn
merchants. In every place hav
been during the last two months
have interviewed the presidents of tn
different banks, and they all tell m
that they have more surplus funds o.
deposit, and that the applications 70
loans from the small farmers are yer
much less than they have been 70
years, and, in many cases, for the frs
time in twenty years the small farmer
have gone out of town with cotto
still to sell and money in thei
pockets.
As an instance OF the self-supportin
character of the farmers of the Soutl
to-day, farmer told me that he hat
raised on his farm last year all tn
hog meat necessary to carry hir
through this present years crop; h
had sufficient corn to last him owe
this season, with surplus to sell I; h
had all his cotton seed, and the onl
thing he would have to buy would b
hay. When asked why he did nc
raise hay last year he said that he ha
been too poor to buy a reaper, bu
this year he had sufficient corn to Sc
to buy all his hay and the reape
beside, and from this time out l.
expects to be self-supporting. He ha
! contracted tor the growth Of five acre
: OF potatoes, seven acaes of onions an
was going to plant tomatoes to Sc
what the result would be. He tol
me that he had been able to raise h
: cotton this las, year at cost OF f'
' cents per pound. He said what W:
r true of himself was true of all h
l. neighbors. In a number of plac'
canning factories have been establishe
on the line OF this road, which, whi