The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-08-13
Fortune BeCkons
Toward The South
From the Philadelphia Times.

From the Philadelphia Times.
There is reasonable prospect that labor
will be much more generally employed
during the coming fall tnan at any time
within the last several years, but the
fact remains that when our industrial
channels shall rave been manned up to
the line of generous prosperity, there
must be many scores of thousands with
out permanent employment and thereby
unable to earn a comfortable livelihood
for themselves and their families. What
shall be done with this surplus labor?
There is but one practical solution of the
question The young men OF the country
have left the farms to enter the mills,
shops and other skilled industries until
all the industrial circles outside of the
farms have been crowded to an extent
that even in the most prosperous times
there cannot be employment for all This
leaves but one resource, ard that Is the
farm. When a man can acquire land at
prices within his ability to pay for it by
his labor, he and his family are abso-
lutely free from want. and most OF them
not only can live well, but with care and
economy can save something each year.
o
The great mistake of the Industrial
classes, especially during the last score of
years, has been in seeking the West in
which to settle. In the improved sections
of the West which are accessible to
transportation, lands are much higher
than they are in the great agricultural
regions of the South, where there Is the
most genial climate and reasonably ac-
cessible markets for all the surplus pro-
ducts of the farm. There is a wide field
in the South for all our surplus labor
that is willing to go to the farm for in
dependence and comfortable Mving, and
many years ago we earnestly urged the
tide of emigrants to turn from the West
to the South as offering vastly the best
opportunities for prosperity There are
few of our people wko know that Ala
bama Is the richest state Of the union.
It's wealth far surpasses that of Calfor-
mia or Colorado with all their gold and
silver. 1t has as fine wheat and corn
lands as can be found in Lancaster coun-
ty; it has the richest cotton belt of the
South; it has 5000 square miles of virgin
timber, and as many square miles of al
most virgin coal; it has natural highways
into the very heart of its wealth, and
has as genial q climate as can be found
on the continent. 1t Is rapidly develop
| ing the countless wealth of the forest
| and mines, and yet it's lands are cheap;
| cheaper than in the West and vastly
more productive.
Not alone in Alabama are these great
| advantages offered to our surplus labor.
| and Georgia like opportunities are offered
| for the small farmer who needs little or
no capital beyond honest industry to ac-
| quire a home and to live in plenty from
| his own labor. These states have been
remiss in their duty to themselves by not
presenting thoroughly and aggressively
| the great advantages they have to offer
to those who are dependent upon their
labor for their livelihood, and who often
| are sufferers from enforced idleness In
the North. These Southern states with
their cheap and fertile farms and their
| genial climate should draw a million of
tho surplus population of the North to
| enjoy their better advantages within the
next year. and it can be done II they
shall make inteliigently organized and
| systematic efforts to accomplish 1t.
| There are homes for the homeless and
bread for the breadless in the south with
less and better requlted labor than in any
other section Of the country today, and
we earnestly hope that a successful move
ment may be made to give homes, en-
ployment and plenty to the scores OF
| thousands of sturdy men in the North
who have been suffering for want of la
| Dor and bread.