Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-07-21
The Atlanta Exposition.
WAVERLY, SUSSEX COUNTY. VA
Iiilv II 1Nn-
To the Editor OF the Dispatch:

July 10, loJO'
To the Editor OF the Dispatch:
The enclosed. copied by the Claremont
Herald from the Manufacturers Record,
should. / think, be printed by all the
leading papers IN the South. and our
people urged TO the necessity Of making
a creditable display Of the resources and
capabilities Of our Southland at the At
lanJa exposition.
The real estate agents OF the South
have been doing all they could 20 adyer-
tise the great advantages Of our section,
and it has been a penny-Yise and pound
foolish policy OF our legislatures that
their eflorts have not been more literally
supplemented by State aid. Had the Lee
gisature done so. our taxable values
would have been enhanced and our reve-
nues increased fourfold over any eXpen-
ditures that may have been incurred.
There is a tide in the affairs OF States,
as in individuals, II taken at the flood,
leads TO fortune" Thousands In the
North and Northwest are speaking Of
settling in the South. The tide Is turn
ing southwark, and for Virginia to get
her share OF the settlers she should be
fairly represented at the Atlanta EXPOSE
ton. Is. w. l.. HULL
MUST STIR ITSELF.
We clip the following from recent
issue OF the Manufacturers Record:
"There is a possibility that the Atlanta
exposition may in one way prove a
disadvantage 10 the South. Neither the
railroads nor the people OF this section
seem yet to have realized the import
ance OF a liberal expenditure OF money
in making comprehensive displays. The
Southern States have largely ignored the
matter, and. while southern railroads are
doing something, they do not seem 10
have undertaken the work on such
scale as the necessities OF the occasion
demand. II looks now as though North-
ern and Western States might pos
sibly be far better represented than
the South. Should this prove 10 be
true. the world would simply judge the
Souths failure TO be due 10 its lack or
resources, as compared with other sec
tions. and other sections would thus
get a magnificent advertisement at the
EXPENSE of the South. This Is especially
Illustrated In the movement now on foot
TO transfer from California 10 Atlanta
the splendid exhibit prepared by that
State for the Midwinter California Far
a year ago. This exhibit is said to equal
that made by Calihrsia at the
Worlds Fair. at n cost OF $JvocJV. Inc
railroads have already offered $1,000
tOHdluS NtIldglNS lNt tAPSAAHN' "a N'''f
ping the exhibit TO Atlanta. The people
of California, realizing the necessity or
working for immigration and OF trying
to stem the southwark tide Of population,
are taking up this matter with great en-
thusiasm. They are likely TO come into
the South with an exhibit which VIII
prove such an advertisement Tor Cali
fornia as 10 draw 10 that state some OK
our own southern people.
1T is unfortunate for the South that
its people are so well satisfied that II is
the best country In the world that they
do not realize the absolute necessity Of
eternal push and hustling and unending
advertising In telling others what We al
ready know. The opportunity presented
at the Worlds Fair was thrown away.
and II may be that the excellent chance
which Atlanta has presented VIII Ike
wise prove a disadvantage TO US, rather
than the greatest advertisement which
the South has ever had the opportunity OF
securing II IS time 10 wake up"
Virginia, more than any other Southern
State, should be largely represented at
Atlanta this fall. Our people should
wake up, organize, and place there an
exhibit of our resources and advantages
that would induce the necessary immi-
grafton 20 properly develop our State.
Shall we let the West beat us in our
own camp? Or. shall we strive to build
up our homeland by well-directed energy
and the judlcious expenditure or
money?