The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-08-08
PROSPERITY.
Nature Is Dealing Kindly With People
In the Sunny South.
4 SEASON OF B0UNTIFUL CROPS
And a Notable Advance In the
Industrial Boom.
4 SEASON OF B0UNTIFUL CROPS

BALTIMORE, Aug. s.-Hoke Smith, sec
rotary of the interior, In a special inter
view with The Manufacturers Record In
regard to the business outlook of the
south, based on invest cations during his
recent trip, says:
II have never seen the south look SO
prosperous, especially Georgia. Hard
times are rapidly becoming extinct, and 1
believe that the southern states are NOV
ing on TO the most prosperous epoch In
their history. Georgia farmers will make
this year better corn crops and raise more
wheat than ever before. 1t Is safe To say
that the food supply OF that state, IL prop
erly distributed, will be sufficient for two
years consumption. The corn crop Is in
better condition than for years past, and
will probably exceed every former produc-
tion of the state. More fine hogs are be-
ing raised than for many years. The rails
ing Of all needed food supplies leaves cot
ton surplus crop, and proves the divers-
fed agricultural possibilities Of that SEQ
ton. VII
Cotton is sufficiently advanced to ia
sure d good crop, and, while Texas is be-
hind In proportional production, Georgia
and the adjoining states will furnish an
average yield. The crop will be produced
at less than usual cost. Many southern
farmers, because of enforced economy, are
unable 10 borrow money on their crops,
and on this account have made the present
crop with less debts than heretofore"
Boom In Peaches.
Secretary Smith Is enthusiastic over the
signs OF prosperity among the fruit grow
ers of Georgia. "More peaches" he said,
"have been raised and marketed than ever
before in the history Of the state. They
are large and juicy. The magnitude of
this industry can be appreciated from the
fact that during the season one railway
has been hauling from 90 TO 90 carloads Of
peaches IA day in refrigerator cars from
Georgia TO eastern points. These trains
have been run on lightning schedules,
making even better time than the vesti-
bule limited passenger trains. The water
melon crop in Georgia was n tremendous
one, and In most parts of the state u
profitable one. Grape growing Is making
rapid progress, and number of Swiss
settlers who purchased few years ago
some poor, red clay land have made re-
markable success in growing grapes and
making clapet"
Secretary Smith says he noted many
evidences of industrial progress, and be-
lieved that the industrial boom in the
south. which was temporarily set back by
the late panic, is on again. He says:
Cotton manufacturing was never more
successful than 1t is today, and all the cot
ton belt-mills are being Erected and old
mills are being enlarged. Much of this
Is being done by southern capital, al
though n numberof New Englanders are
making large investments in cotton
manufactures in the south. In the iron
district OF Alabama number of furnaces
have recently gone into blast, and the
workmen in that section are now fully
employed and many of them at increased
wages. All over the south the demand
for labor is constantly increasing and at
good prices.
IL look forward" said Secretary Smith,
'to the souths future more firmly than
ever before. Conditions were ne yer better
for return OF prosperity unexampled in
the history of the section. Ii our people
continue in thoir present conservative
way, much OF the now of eastern
capital, which has hither travelled else
where, will come to us. Unwise legis-
lation might prevent this, but do not be-
lieve such legislation possible. The place
for young man, an old man, rich man,
or poor man, willing TO work and anxious
to improve his fortune, is in the south"