The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-12-29
ADVERTISING TIE SOUTH.

We note with interest that several Of
the Southern newspapers, including some
in Virginia. are saying that the South
now has great opportunity 10 develop
its natural resources. They declare that
there are yet thousands OF miles OF
railway TO be built in the South. Great
cities are to arise on the seacoast ana
In the heart of every rich State. Iron is
TO be manufactured in the South into
every article of use. from steel sea-going
ships. railway and bridge work TO COOK
ing stoves and other household utensils.
The forests are TO be converted into lum-
Der. and the treasures OF the mountains
and the mines are TO be dug out ana
converted into available wealth. All
Is to be done with money and by men.
Enterprise must be applauded, industries
stimulated and encouraged. and capital
secured. All the grand possibilities OF the
South must be co@yerted into :eai-'cs.
There is abundant capital for the ac-
complishment OF all this. If only 1t cen
be directed hither. This money is seek
ing investment. and for a long period
1t found employment in the west. The
West has been developed in excess OF as
necessities, and it requires time TO grow
up to It's railways and cities. In the
meantime the capital which r. being
withdrawn from the West must be used
somewhere. Why not. then. in the
South? Why shall not it be used TO
build Southern cities and railroads ana
factories? Everything depends on the
Southern people themselves.
And this In conclusion:
"What the South needs at this time
next to capital is to make known 10
the outside world the vast and profitable
field the section offers to those having
money TO invest. and when this is done
capital will soon follow"
This is good talk. and is the more In
teresting as coming from contemporaries,
which recently advocated free silver.
But let us ask: What are the Southern
papers doing to advertise tnsse great re-
sources and to invite capital? With few
exceptions our contemporaries are util-
izing their space in crying hard times
now and calamity 10 follow. They are
saying that the South is poor; that pro-
perty is amost worthless, and that bust
ness and industries are not profitable.
IL that sort OF advertising apt 10 in
duce capital?
Again we would ask: Whence is this
capital TO come? From the West? No,
Ii is to come from the East. from Eng
land and other foreign countries But
when the South goes to these people
these money sharks. ana bioated bond
holders and foreign plutocrats-to invite
them TO send money into this section to
develop II. will not these men be tempt
ed TO say unpleasant things in reply?
VIII they not be tempted to express sur
prise that the South so lately In league
with the Great West" TO throttle the
money kings OF the East should now
apply TO these same money kings for
aid? VIII they not be tempted TO refer
the South to its new-found friends In
the great West? WIN they not be tempt
ed to remind the South that during the
raised as n means OF enabling the
''debtor-ciass" TO pay of their obligations
sn money that was not so dear as gold
We believe that the South offers the
finest field OF all for investment. and we
believe that with proper EFFORT capital
can b. induced 10 come here for invest
ment. But such I'D, crtising as the South