The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-06-08
DEVELOPMENT OF THE SOUTH
resources of this Section Are Being
More Thoroughly Placed Before
the People OF the Whole Country.

W. W. Finley, of Washington, ID
| g., Second Vice. President of tn,
Southern Railway Company, recent,
made the following statement to a cor
respondent Of the Now York Time,
with regard to the industrial develop
ment OF the South:
We are, in tho South, in an era OF
practical and successful developmen,
OF our great natural advantages. There
ls u unanimity among the people upon
the subject OF development, anu q
general disposition to foster industrial
growth. The plans and methods of
placing the resources of tho Southern
country before the outside world are
Systematically arranged and are
bound To be beneficial to th,.t section
Cotton manufactures have largely
Increased, and have proved to be more
profitable than in any other section.
Many new mills have been erected,
and many more greatly enlarged, as
well as provided with the most modern
machinery and appliances. 1t should
not be surprising TO see within short
time tee cotton produced in the Caro-
mas and North Georgia taken entirely
by local mills.
IA pIendid beginning has also been
made IN WOOd-wuI king. and there are
many OF these establishments in our
territory In successful operation. The
abundance Of valuable timber, suitable
Tor every branch OF building materials,
as well IN the manufacture of wage rs
carriages, railway, cars, furniture
and. indeed, about everything OF
which wood Is a raw material, not ONLY
makes wood working in all of its
branches possible, but profitable, rs
we'll. Atno distant day the South will
occupy the first rank In this important
industry.
Iron manufacturing in the South
Is forging ahead at a rapid rate. All
the conditions are favorable for sue
cess In this line of industry. 1t has
been demonstrated that iron can be
manufactured more cheaply and OF
equally good quality in the South than
In any other section The South is
already engaged in the exporting of
iron, and the prospects are most en-
couraging for q largely increased
foreign business from that section. IT
is not To be wondered at that this
should be so, for all the natural advan-
tages are on the side Of the South, the
only remarkable thing about it being
that this foreign business was not de-
yeloped sooner.
The cultivation OF tobacco and it's
manufacture into the various forms in
which the world likes to use it is max
ing cOmmendable advancement Bet
ter grades are being cultivated, en-
larged areas are being painted, and
the conditions Of this industry are ex-
ccedingly promising.
I The raising OF fruit is also com
manding IL good deal of attention
That the South is well adapted TO fruit
raising has been proved by actual ex-
perience, and all who have engaged In
this branch of industry have been sue
cessful. Tho South has no fears OF
competition in This respect. The
South is convenient to tho best
markets. and can produce in abundance
the best fruit.
The railroads can justly lay great
claim in the progress of the Southern
development. They have opened up
rich and new territory to settlemen,
and added largely to the facilities fol
growth and development. They re-
cognize the fact that the prosperity o
the territory through which their
! lines run means their success, and st
I even from a purely selfish motive, il
for no other, they desire to foster anc
encourage all legitimate enterprises.
! The particular railway with which
| am connected Is no exception to thi
rule, as it Is maintaining an cffectiv,
department, whose work is directed t,
the development of the agricultural
and Industrial interests of the section
of the country tributary to it's lines.
Is also expending large sums of hone.
for the betterment of its propertie
and In increasing the facilities neces
sary to give the public superior advan
tages for transporting the products q
the mill and the farm"