The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1897-05-06


cy NJ. Depew.
Mr.. McLaurin said:
ain taking up the manufacturing op
pcrtuLi,ies in the South, | will quote
from an article written by Mr.. NJ. V
Richards, land and industrial agent o
| the Southern Railway, which show:
much thought and experience. He
says:
| There is no section of our country
. better adapted to manufacturing in.
dustry than the Sonth. It has all need.
ed raw materials in the greatest abun.
dance and of the best quality. Its
iron-ore fields are practically inexhaus-
tible, and they embrace all varieties Of
ores, and many of them are Of surpass-
ing richness. 1t has coal enough to
last for generations, oven with the
most prodigal use. 1t has limestone
for reducing its ores and every facility
for making first-class quality of pis
iron as cheaply as can be one in any
part Of the world. 1t has also been
| demonstrated that steel making is quite
as easy and equally profitable as iron
production. It has also extensive for
ests of timber, with varieties suited to
! every kind Of woodworking industry
and any article that has timber for its
raw material can be manufactured in
the South and from materials that have
no superior anywhere.
"In building-stones it has granite,
marble, and sandstone, all of excellent
quality and in Unlimited quantities, as
we'll as clays for pottery and earthen-
ware, porcelain, brick clays, and glass
sand, ocher for paint, etc.
"Its forests produce tar, pitch, tur-
pentine and rosin, while potashis read
lily and easily made in many places.
1T has been shown that cotton
manufactures are more profitable in
the South than in New England, and
Southern mills have been paying double
the amounts in dividends that Eastern
mills paid. The advantages in this
respect have been so clearly shown
that Eastern capital is largely flowing
into the South to be used in this indus
try. And why should it not be so:
Cotton may be grown right by the side
of the mill; the water power is at hand
to furnish the motive power to drive
the machinery; the timber and other
building materials are easily and cheap
obtained 10 construct the factory; the
charges on handling the cotton Incl
dent to shipment are avoided. and even
if the same wages were paid as are
paid to New England operatives. the
savings alone alluded to would consti-
tute handsome profit.
"And what is true in regard to cot
ton manufacturing holds good in regard
to the manufacturing of wool. There
are millions of acres of land in the
South admirably suited to sheep hus-
bandry. These ranges afford pastur-
age for the greater portion of the year.
and the climate is so propitious that
little care is needed, and sheep raising
has paid handsomely to all who have
enga sed in this business. Sheep and
wool are two Of the worlds staples,
and when the sheep ranch and wooden
mill are brought together, as they can
be all over the South, why should not
these branches of industry 60 hand in
hand equally we'll with cotton raising
and manufacturing? The same possi-
bilities are open to both, and if there
be any advantage, It is in favor of the
WOODEN industry. Sheep raising has
proved successful in other sections
where it has had a fair chance and
where both mutton and wool had to
be exported to find market, but where
the wooden mills can be successfully
put up and operated at the very door
of the sheepfold, as it can be in the
South, success is doubly assured"
He also quotes in regard to agricul
ture, mining and other industries.
Mr.. McLaurin gives the following
statements, taken from an address by
General Longstreet, showing the COM
parative growth of manufactures in the
South
1.-The value of manufactured products
of the South in 1880 was s457, 554 900.
In 1890 it was $9l7. .5S9. .OOO-a gain of
100 per cent. In 1880 the factory
hands in the South received S75,9l7,-
900 in wages. In 1890 they received
1922, l1S,0O0. In 1880 the South had
invested in cotton manufacturing SOL
5000; in 1890, SCI, 100, 900; and now
about sl2O, 100000. In 1880 the South
had invested s3,50O.O00 in the cotton
seed oil industry. 1t has now more
than $50, 100000 SO invested. The
railroad mileage of the South has been
| increased since 1880 more than 25 ,000
miles, at cost i'll building new roads
aud i'll the improvements of old ones OF
over 81 ,OOO, 100000. In 1880 the South
the South made 1,702,08S tons. In
1890 the South's output of coal was
5000, ,00O tons. At present it is at the
rate of 80, 900, 900 tons per year.
Then he says:
"While these comparisons show a
large per cent. of gain, yet the aggre
gate is tecidely meager for the advan
tages presented. The Manufacturer
Record comes much nearer the real
situation:
Every man iu the South must real.
ize the importance Of factory develop
ment The manufacturing advance o.
this section is scarcely great enough tc
enable our people to see the value o
industrial interests. Think Of reg or
having 100000 acres Of land
stretching from the Potomac to tht
Rio Grande, admittedly having more
natural resources of coal, iron. cotton
timber. water powers and other ele
meuts of successful manufacturing thai
any other equal area on earth-with {
population Of 20. 600, ,O0O-and yet hav
ing $500, ,0O0, 900 less capital invested
iu manufacturing than the State 0
Pennsylvania-think of this and thet
imanina &c ron ,.an The acfi yifu nf In