The Forrest City times., 1897-07-16
NEW SOUTH A REALITY.
New and Promising Fields Laid Open 10
 immigrants and Capitalists.
The old Advice of ''Go West, Young Man Has Been Changed to Go soutb. Young Man, and Grow Up With the Coun- try-Kew Legislation, New Laws
 and New Conditions.

Suppose you were to go back into business again." said a reporter to ex- Senator Sawyer, of Wisconsin, "what would you do. or rather, what would you advise young man to do, who has but little money and is ambitious to make fortune?" The millionaire ex- senator's reply was: If had but small capital and wanted to make fortune, would go south and buy all the land my money could purchase" The new south is to enterprising home-seekers and capitalists what the great west once was, in modified sense. It is field for investment as well as cheap homes. without the inconvenience and discom- forts of a new country. The west was few years ago in a state of rawness, requiring in its settlement and develop ment an expenditure of muscle and money, besides time, to bring aboutwhat are termed conditions of comfort, but not so of the new south. It is streaked and gridironed with the denotements of civilization, an old country with back ward improvement, country which has been inhabited many years but not developed. The force of circumstances and general awakening of the pro- gressive elements of the south have brought certain sections of that region into prominence, notably Arkansas, known as the central southwestern state. Foreign capital, directed by Kansas City enterprise, did much toward pressing the event to the present issue by the construction of the Kansas City, Pittsburgh and Gulf railroad, which traverses the western border of the state The new railroada lone, in so far as it affected local traffic, would have been great help to the state, but it's construction has compelled other roads to construct parallel lines to the gulf and one or more of these lines must pass directly through Arkansas, throw ing open to settlement the interior counties, which embrace almost one half of the area of the state, a region peopled with farmers whose operations have been conducted largely in lines established by the pioneers, owing to isolation. The reader who is not in- formed as to the object and purposes of the Kansas City, Pittsburgh and Gulf Railroad company cannot easily see how the building of that road should exert so great an influence in railroad circles.
 Change in Ocean Traffic.
 The secret is in the bearing it will have on the commerce of American seaports Ocean traffic is embraced in the scheme, in fact, may be said to be the primary object. As soon as Port Arthur is opened as a seaport, a line of European steam CTS will operate in connection with this railroad and the supposition is that ocean freight rates will be much more reasonable from southern than eastern ports. New York grain shippers fully understand the situation. It is generally known that the commercial wheat crop is practically raised in the middle states of the west, at least the wheat product of this section forms the bulk of the crop for shipment, besides the cattle, corn and other farm products which find market in Europe, come largely from the region known as the Mississ- ippi Valley, the volume of which, or at least the greater part, will eventually be transported to the gulf seaports. It is therefore no mystery to the thought ful reader that the opening of the Kan sas City, Pittsburgh and Gulf railroad has caused stir in railroad circles which calls for readjustment of meth ods. Already the new road is opening a line to Omaha, with view of connect ing with St. Paul, thus forming a con- tinuous stretch from Minnesota to the gulf. It is obvious that the construct ion of other lines to the gulf is matter of necessity to roads now headed south ward. And the effect on eastern ship ment is easily imagined. It will check the diversion of western grain and products to the eastern ports and also cheapen rates. 1t is evident, too, that important changes will not only occur in railroad service, but that there will be general shiftingo of capital and en- terprises. The homeseelIer who hesi- tates to establish himself for life on the high attitudes of the west will permit his thoughts to dwell seriously on the central southwest, where crops are more certain and the frosts of winter are less severe. Those who possess cap ital and energy, with an ambition to win success and fortune, will avail themselves of the opportunities which the neglected southland presents.
 Immigration Forced to Follow.
 Southern newspapers are boasting of the tide of immigration flowing into that section of country, and in all parts of the south commercial clubs and immigra- tion socities are formed for the purpose of encouraging immigration and the establishment of new enterprises and industries. The new south is reality It exists today in fact as we'll as in name. A new departure has been taken by the cotton states as we'll as those bordering on Mason and Dixon's line. It is not the old south masquer- ading under a new name. That fair region rich in natures resources and