The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-12-23
S0UTH'S RAW MATERIAL.
One of the Best Advertisements Of
Southern Manufactures.


BALTIMORE. Dec. 22-Special.-ln
some quarers there is an inclination TO
regard as a weakness the attitude Of the
South az an exporter of raw material.
The criticism is made In friendly tone.
and IS based upon belief that the South
still clings 10 its supposed economic faith
Of half a century ago In spite of Its man
fest destiny as q manufacturer. With
out forgetting the obvious facts Of South
ern Industrial ambitions and achieve
ments in the period preceding the war
between the States, facts which are fire.
quently overlooked in surveys from the
standpoint of ev0lutions Of the past hf-
teen years, II may be said that on the
surface, but on the surface merely. are
slight grounds for such belief. IL must
be conceded. however, that the enormous
exports of Southern raw material are
not necessarily a proof Of remnants Of
fondness for that sort OF policy. They are
the rather an indication that the COM
mercial spirit of the South Is exerting
itself in direction Of greatest profit 10
the producer OF the raw material. while
expecting the completion OF plants that
will be able TO consume more of the pro-
ducts Of the cotton fields the forests and
the mines than are used that way al
present Those cannot be built I'm day.
The Industrial Importance of other parts
Of the country is a growth Of nearly
century. twenty years of which meant
partial paralysis OF the South's manu-
featuring power. But there IS no reason
why the South should not go where Penn
sylvania. Minnesota and other producers
Of raw material go. AMI why 1t should
not fix the price abroad and In this
country OF such raw material on the
contrary there IS every reason why the
South should open for itself and maintain
channels Of commerce for It's raw ma
teriaf while It is equipping Itself with cot
ton factories. iron and steel works and
the establishments wherein will be han
died fits raw material I'm more complex
movements. Southern raw material for
manufactures is one Of the best adver-
tisements in the world OF Southern man
ufactures
Compared with other parts Of the coun-
try the South industrially is I'm its youth.
It Is lusty youth however. Many are
the cities and towns where the number
Of Industries are increasing and whore
energetic men are working persistently
10 upbuild mills and factories There is
Birmingham. for instance. ana its vicin-
fly. Work on the various plants al Ems
ley City is being pushed and the place
IS filling up with enterprising men. The
choice OF the location of the plant Of the
Addystor Pipe works is narrowing and
will probably be soon made. And while
new plants are being attracted 20 Ala
bama's iron centre the Industries there,
both small and large. are closing a year
Of satisfaC tory achievements and turn
ing 10 the future with bright hopes.
Then, there are Charlotte y. c., Rich
mond Va. Pensacola. Fla. Galveston.
Texas Louisville, Ky. and other cities
which have definite facts OF Industrial
progress or increase Of commercial inn
portance to show. These facts. together
with the indications OF health i'm the rail-
road situation. are encouraging TO every
body DESTROYS OF the Souths fun adj
vancement Another index is given I'm the
talk Of a representative OF a New York
business firm. which for years has had
close relations with thousands Of NOR
chants I'm the South. II IS represented
In the principal communities and depends
upon this portion Of the country for a
very large amount Of its trade II IS ac-
cordingly in the best position to obtain
an accurate idea of general Southern
trade. In an interview for the Manufac-
turers' Record. the Southern manager OF
the firm said:
Judging from our collections. Southern
tradesmen are In very good shape. They
are paying their bills promptly. and we
have very little trouble on that score.
do not think they have been surprised al
the low price Of cotton. and have been
for H. During the last few
years those who were not financially able
10 do business have dropped out, and tho
Of merchants In the Southern
communities to-day are sound Expert
srce has taught them economy. and be-
ieve they will plan they business for
the next year 10 suit the changed cOndl-