The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-11-08
NEGRO N THE SOUTH.
His Progress rs Indicated al the At
Iantn Exposftfon.

Edward Atkinson. IN New York Post.
Aside from these conspicuous exhibits. the
less conspicuous but more important dexel-
opment OF Industry m the negro building
and its contents will be manifest to every
roinking man. The superficial person may
pass py ana through this building withour
being very much attracted by what he secs.
but anyone who has watched the progress
Of the colored race under all the disabili.
ties 10 which they have been subject vii
cause for encouragement I'm what he wit
nesses. In point Of fact the recognition OF
the negro by the managers of the Atlanta
exposition, their assignment OF a place for
the building aud the encouragement given
TO It's occupancy. coupled with the recogni-
Principal Booker 7. Washington at the
opening of the exposition. marked a dis
tinct parting OF the WAYS in the question OF
race. color and condition. None are moro
enthusiastic I'm praise of the dignity and
statesmanlike speech of Principal Washing
ton than the southern people themselves
AZ Was pleasant TO meet Mr.. Washington
as one OF the forty eminen. men. nearly all
leaders In science. who formed the judges
CHOSEN 10 pass upon the exhibits at At
an evidence that the economic fact is be-
coming a part of the common knowledge
OF the people OF Georgia. namely. tina in
the development OF Industry and IN the
progress of the material welfare OF THAI
state there can he aud SHALL be no distinc-
ton based upon color The fact is admitted
IN which the colored race is necessary, that
mere are very many branches OF Industry
IN which u matters not what the color OF
the man OF woman may be: while there are
some other branches Of Industry In which
me negro excels in which he has not at
tanned a full standing, while there arc some
from which he is sill excluded. A great
change Is in progress on all these lines.
II was interesting TO be informed by one
OF the greatest makers or steel in this
country that at his works in Pennsylvania
he has a large gang OF colored men who are
employed at one CT the vital points In maxi
ing steei OF the highest type. for the rea-
son that they do better work than the
average workman In the steel works. and
can be depended upon more fully for the
timely attention and Tor accuracy In judg-
ment such as Is required at a critical point.
The employment OF the colored race in
constructing mills and works OF every kind
ana upon toe railways is noticeable. In
point or fact, although perhaps not yet ad-
mitted, IL is manifest that the people OF
Georgia mean to take advantage Of tbs
plumbers OF their neighbcrs in the treat
ment OF colored workmen: and by giving
them equal opportunity and by treating
them justly they may bring over from
most skilled and effective workmen without
distinction OF race or color. The fines inn
posed upon agents who enter certain neigh
coiored emigration will have no effect There
used TO be an underground railway among
derground teieeranb. And VIII Their erow-
ing intelligence the colored men as well as
the white men trend TO that point where
llitN Cdn taIH II pest wages unQcI inc
best conditions. enjoy the best schools. and
produce their goods or render their service
at the lowest cost TO their employers
A conversation with a very intelligent col
ored man from Mississippi may be noted. I
asked him IL the educational test OF Mis-
sissippi was adverse TO the progress of ths
colored people in gaining political rights. He
answered: mo. IL they will continue IL =
sufficient number of years the colored people
who can meet the test will exceed the white
people. The colored people are more urgent
In their efforts to attain the elements or
education than III poor whites yet are"
One disappointment is met The improve
ment of cotton is i'm the air-in ginning.
making up the bales, and sending IL to mar
ket. yet this branch was not extensively
shown at Atlanta. the reason being that
hardly yet a year old. From having devoted
too much time and attention to cotton i'm
their former exhibition. perhaps too little
time and attention has been given 10 Gotten
in it's primary stages In this exhibition. but
that fault will not be obvious except 10 spe-
cial experts whose interest has been devoted
to the. cotton plant.
One factor in Improvement is very con-
spicuous i'm the building devoted TO agricul-
ture. namely, the great number of the
leeuuninous plants-peaS. beans. clover and
the hke-which.s drawing nitrogen from. the
atmosphere, reroyate the soil. Among these
the peanut nav become one of the most
conspicuous. Having fourteen years ago
made a complete forecast of the future OF
the cottonseed-oil industry. OF which the
product is now rated at Sso.ooo.ooo 70
hilton to predict as great a development In
peanut oil. meal and fodder as has oc-
Cured during the last fourteen years in
respect TO cottOnseed.