The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-12-16
SOUTHERN CAM ERIES.
Diversified Manufactures as AuXiiia-
ries TO Diversified Farming.

BALTIMORE. Dec. Especial
investors are seeking opportunities Tor the
use of capital upon a large scale IN IN
dustrial undertakings I'm the South
largo portion Of the progressive journal
Ism Of that section - carrying on a Wig
orous campaign for the establishment or
small local Industries for the purpose OF
diversfying manufactures as auNiliaries
10 diversified farming. one Of the plans
which a present appears 10 be popular,
is the building Of canneries. and here and
there are indications that the success OF
such establishments already in opera
ton will encourage the building Of others.
Distinct accomplishments in Virginia,
Alabama. Georgia and other States prove
the value OF such factories 10 the South.
They are of positive benefit 10 the farmer
in widening the market for his products
The position Of the South as the market
garden of the country IS well assured,
but the season during which the various
fruits and vegetables have ready sale Is
limited. and consequently a surplus or
products is likely 70 exist every year as
the acreage Of the truck farms increases.
Northern cities, however, have reaped
great advantage I'm providing by canning
food for the millions during the season
when the varieties Of fresh fruits and
vegetables are few. Southern commune
ties close TO the farm are beginning 10
realize more strongly than ever the ad-
vantages OF such undertakings from the
agricultural. Industrial and business
sthndpoints In the meantime, the larger
industries Of the South are steadily pro-
crossing.
In iron as reflected at birmingham, con-
ditions have greatly improved in every
respect. The advance on all grades OF %
cents occurring at season Whcn the
demand IS usually limited, indicates the
belief I'm a further advance Most OF the
week business was for domestic ac-
count and was fairly distributed. 1here
was. however, some export demand ana
for the current year the export sales will
show appreciable increase over those OF
last year. the total approximating 10000
tons. The growth of this trade has in
creased with additional facilities and will
advance still farther il ship-owners VIII
supply ocean room, as the railroads are
doing their full share In fostering this
trade by liberal freight rates 10 ocean
ports. In this weeks Manufacturers
Record are letters from special cores
pondents, one in Berlin and one In Ha-
vana, Of special interest TO the indus
tries OF the South and tho rest or the
country. The letter from Berlin dis
cusses the prospects for American iron
point is made that although the financial
press Of Germany are apprehensive on
the subject the Germans have not yet
realized how intense American compe-
tition can become Americas productive
capacity I'm only about two-thirds real
lied and the scarcity of ocean freight
room that has obstructe1 exports from
Alabama 10 some extent, cannot last
long Ocean prices, too, are expected 10
come lower with the great activity I'm all
the ship-buiIdIng yards Of the world
Furthermore" says the correspondent.
iron prices are still rising here and I'm
England. whereas they are shading Off
with us, and beyond all this again, the
supplies Of the old world are becoming
exhausted in places. notably so in Spain.
the source OF the cheapest and best ores
in Europe So all things considered,
whether we look TO the immediate future
or to the times more remote. the pros
poets for American iron and steel pro-
ducts on the European market are all
that can be desired"
The correspondent also points To the
position gradually being assumed by the
United States In international banking as
one OF the indications that trade IL fol-
lowing mig iron. This correspondence
deals with one OF the basic elements Of |
industrial life In the South. Cores
pondence from Cuba suggests some Of the
directions into which diversified indus
tries may go. 1t shows that OF the 1863
central factories grinding sugar before
the war. 107 have been burned and that !
repairs and rebuilding will represent an
outlay OF about 100000 which opens
field for American iron works. contrac- |
tors for machinery and construction en-
gineers. II is thought that the houses
OF these factories which were formerly OF
timber chiefly. will probably be replaced
by steel and iron structures. Electric
plants will also have to be rebuilt and
many sugar houses will DO enlarged with ,