New-York tribune., 1897-08-18
GOOD TIMES IN THE SOUTH.
WHAT MR. THOMPSON REPORTS AFTER Toui
THROUGH HALF DOZEN STATES.

WHAT MR. THOMPSON REPORTS AFTER A TOUR
THROUGH HALF a DOZEN STATES.
Atlanta. Ga. Aug Il (speciaD.-That brighter
dav is at hand for the South is shown in hundred
different ways but Of the most Important CON
tributions the testimony on this point IS irhshen
by j s Barbour Thompson. assistant general super
intendent Of the Southern Railway. Mr. Thompson
h.s inc, returned from a tour embracing South
Carolina Georgia. Alabama. Mississippi. Tennessee
ard a part OF Kentucky. lie said:
While 1t is true that in some sections me corn
crop is short, and the fru, and melon crops. Which
are confined TO limited area. were not success
still. taking cotton the staple product Of this Sec
lion the outlook Was never more favorable and
unless some very unexpected and decided change
occurs this crop will bc very large one. The
whea, crop in Tennessee and Kentucky is the !arg-
est in many years and the prices are better The
hay crop is good one The yield of a" other
farm products likewise good. ard the prices OF all
are on the advance. Planters appear to be in better
condition than they have been for years.
THE cotton mills all running on fGl time ani
are doing good business: some Of them, on account
OF the large amount Of business they are doing, are
exhausting their stock OF cotton on hand. The
lumber interest Is improving and the demand for
lumber Is greatly the Increase. The iron and
coal interests ale Going well. Some furnaces which
have been OF blast are arranging to SO In again.
Engascments are already made for exporting during
the next few months large quantities OF iron which
have been SOLD aDrOtG w me, on account or IOcut
troubles. a few OF the coal mines closed. the
mines as a whole IN the Tennessee. Alabama and
K.Ltucky districts aIe being scd 70 their fill
capacity and almost all o: them report ;nat their
ORDERS daily exceed their output Many companies
are making arrdnYcin'nts :6i incr. a>ing their
put and new mines being opcnco up.
.'fh,ra seems TO b. very uccidcJ Improvement
I'm the establishment Of new enterprises, such
the bui ding OF cotton comprcsses, OIL nils. cotton
mills and large plants for the saving OF timber and
The manufacture OF its product
Indeed. through this section The peop.c in
better spirits and consider the outlook most fay
able The indications that the transportation
lines OF the South will find themselves taxed TO
their utmost 10 move the business during the
greater part Of the next twe.ve months. Most OF
thcse lines have been and are now making prepara-
lions for the of this business. All OF tho
freiebt-car cquumcn IS being put In proper cOndi-
lion 10 be sod TO the best advantage One cannot
travel through ths section Of TN" country observe
for hiusef the general condition Of the crops and
The times and converse with the people. without
being convinced Il very decided improvement ~
going On Az! better dimes arc 10 bc expected: in
decd these ba.,er times are now 81 hand, ard VIII
continue 10 improve. 49,. .
'There are a thousand evidences OF this-the
standing croDs the fields and the gathered crops
In the barns and warehouses the business which is
actually moving. the factories and furnaces which