Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-11-19

|
| Johnstown, Pa, Nov. IA, 1896.
| Editor State Herald
Since the election have had occasion
| to visit number of our northern anc
| eastern cities, in the interest of contem.
| plated industries for this city. This has
| brought me in close contact with leading
| financiers, as well as DEVELOPMENT brok.
| ers, and from these sources 1 have gained
much information that wish the south
| and especially Alabama, could realize
| just at this time. In Philadelphia lead
| ing newspaper proprietor called my at
tention to recent order placed by the
decentralization Iron company, of Bes-
semer, Ala, in Boston, Mass and he
said IF that company can sell its prod
uctS In these far eastern markets, why
does not Birmingham press these facts
before the public?" In other words, he
wanted to impress the idea that Bir-
mingham was sleeping on her possibili-
ties, and that she should foster the de-
velopment of diversified industries, as
the surest means of promoting growth
and business. This same gentleman, who
knows me as southern man, and who is
warm friend Of Alabama, said further
that he anticipated a period of wonder
full development in all branches of in
dustry, and that he would like to see Bir-
mingham fulfill its great destiny.
L want to say something right here,
sub rosa, and that is that the iron men of
competition they experience from Ala
bama than they are over the "pauper
labor question of foreign countries. L
have heard it frequently expressed in
proposed changes in the tariff that in adj
Justing the schedules, the duties should
be the difference in the cost of American
and foreign labor; but at once they adj
NIT they are at sea as to what part of
America this difference shall be taken
as guide. IF you tax Alabama" they
fore, because Alabama can now under
sell us in many of our own markets."
1t seems to me this one fact should fire
the spirit of every citizen of Birming-
ham, and it would be the Shibboleth of
her future strength and progress. But
even this fact will not bring Birmingham
her merited quota of capital or business
unless she makes proper use of it. Some
of her more active rivals will reap golden
harvests even before she begins to SOW.
1t Is the old question, docs it pay to ada
vertise?" In my judgment, there has
never been a period since Birmingham
wonderful boom when advertising would
pay her better than now. There has
never been period since then when there
was more idle capital that will now be
anxious for investment, and the west is
no longer the favored section in that re-
gard.
The south has wonderful opportunities
before her, but every agency within her
power will be needed to utilize those OPP
portunities. Since the activity of other
localities will absorb this idle capital be-
fore she wakes up, unles her public spir-
tied citizens at once grasp the situation
and act on 1t.
Then Gov. Johnston will pardon me,
1 know, for one other suggestion that
will help Alabama and sgnalize his ad-
ministration above all others since the
war, and that is the creation Of a bureau
of immigration for his state. Alabama
is the richest in undeveloped resources
of any state in the union, and her people
would reap thousand fold benefits from
such a bureau properly conducted.
believe he is going to make a splendid
Governor anyway, one that will do Ala
bama great credit, but l know that she
needs bureau of immigration, and with
one that will not be filed by some old fos-
sill, but by live, active man 1t can be
made of untold value to the state and
right now Is the most opportune period
to inaugurate it.
In this connection I wish to say that
while in New York, had the pleasure
of witnessing Miss Lucy Morrow in two
entertainments in James A. Hearn's great
play, "Shore Acres" She has unques-
tionable genius of high order, and Br-
mingham will some day be called on to
share her fame with the entire country,
as was the case with Mary Anderson,
whom the world recognized as the great
est American actress. 1t was quite a
coterie of old Birmingham citizens who
gathered to greet and congratulate her
after the performance was over and they
all expressed the pride they felt in her
splendid success. The number included
DR. Morrow, Col. e. T. Taliaferro, Chap
pei Cory, Lewis A. May, John Patton, J.
E. Dubois. and the writer. l had the
pleasure of a talk with Mr.. Hearn him
self, regarding Miss Lucy, and he ex-
pressed much qualification over her pro-
gress and said he felt certain that she
would develop rapidly in her chosen call
ing
l am watching Birmingham, and, Of
course, never omit any opportunity to
talk up for 1t, and am as strongly i'm
pressed as ever with the resources that
should bring supremacy not only in
America, but throughout the world.
N F. THRJJP