Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1897-02-18
THE sOUTH's ADVANTAGES.

If the present era of financial depres-
sion, says the Atlanta Constitution, is to
continue, there is no section Of the coun-
try which can endure the ordeal with bet
ter grace than the south.
This is no idle boast In proof of the
statement 1t will be sufficient to cite the
record of the past year which, from a ma
tiona1 point of view, was one Of the hard
est years through which the country has
ever passed. Not so, however, with the
south. In many respects the year was
one of industrial growth and activity so
far as this immediate section is con-
eerned. While the total exports for the
country, not including the south, in
creased only is per cent. over the preced-
ing year, the total exports for the south
alone increased SO per cent.
Expressed in figures, the net increase of
our southern exports last year aggre-
gated 500, 400, 900, the total exports for the
year being 1851, 100000, against $25S, AGO.,
900 in 1895. AS for the balance of the
country, the net increase in the value of
exports aggregated only sS7,500,OO0, or
$500, 900 less than the south alone.
These figures scarcely need elaboration,
In most convincing measure they show
that while the south may have suffered
in common with other sections of the
country during the past year, the damag
ing effect of adverse conditions is much
less serious in the south than elsewhere.
Instead of feeling depressed over the sit
uation, therefore, our people on the other
hand should feel encouraged.
The net increase of the past year is
dixiG
ports, as follows: New Orleans, S24500,-
900; Galveston. $4,000, O00 Newport News,
$4,500,O00 Pensacola SO, 2OO,0 600; Norfolk,
$S.700,O00; Wilmington, $270000O; Mobile,
81 500 ,00o Baltimore, $21 600, 600; Charles
ton. 81, 100000 and Savannah, $1,000,000.
What explains this magnificent increase
in the value of our southern exports DUR
ing the past year? Nothing more or less
than the natural advantages which the
south enjoys over other sections of the
country. From Texas to Maryland the
south is one continuous stretch of fertile
acres, broken only by mountain ranges
of imprisoned mineral wealth. In our re-
sources of field and forest there is no
section of the country, not even the
prairie lands of the west, that can COM
pare with the south. Other sections, of
course, have their peculiar advantages,
but the south in abundant measure pos
sesses the resources of all of them COM
bined. But aside from the natural wealth
of this section. the people of the south
have long since become Injured to hard
times. In the years which have followed
the war they have practiced self-denial
until economy has almost become second
nature, and should the next four years
entail similar burdens upon the country
to those which have already been en-
dured. the south will not only be able to
meet the situation with her splendid re-
sources, but, in spite of adverse condi-
tons, she will even manage to prosper.
On the other hand, If times improve dur
ing the next four years, there is no Sec
ton of the country that will respond
more readily to the vitalizing touch of
changed conditions than the south. In
either event the people of this section can
rest serene in the confidence that the
south is bound to prosper. And If our
brethren of the north and west wish to
partalxe of the advantages which are here
offered, we pledge them in advance a
bountiful measure of content and happi-