The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1898-04-07
NEGLECT OF SOUTH'S RESOURCES.
The Government Handicapped By
Having No Base OF Supplies In This
Section.
Manufacturers Record }

The present crisis in the relations
of the United States with Spain has
strikingly shown the neglect of the
Government to appreciate the re-
sources Of the Southern States from
a military and naval stand point.
Leaving aside the fact that the sea-
ports in the South has been among
the last to be provided with the
means Of protection, and that the
work Of building Notifications and
furnishing armament to the North
ern cities was taken up and partly
completed before work South of the
Potomac river was begun, it may be
said that the government is acting at
great Disadvantage on account OF
not having bases of military and
naval supplies in this section of the
country During the last few weeks
guns, ammunition and other equip
ment have been shipped from as far
North as New England in some
instances, to the Gulf cities, a dis
tance of thousand miles. Atpresent
the United States has no plant for
repairing its warships South OF the
Norfolk maynard, except, perhaps
at Pensacola, although in case of war
with Spain plant OF this kind on
the Gulf coast, for example, would
be of the utmost value, as the scene
of cotlict would undoubtedly be in
the''vicinitv of the West India Islands.
The gun factories owned by the
United States are entirely outside of
the Southern territory, the nearest
to the Southern seacoast being that
at Washington. nearly two hundred
miles from Hampton Roads
The coal fields of Alabama contain
an ineNhaustible supply of fuel, which
has already been proved by tests to
be specially adapted to the use of
warships. This is easy of access, and
can be shipped by way of New Or
leans, Noble and Pensacola, Fla. 1t
is unnecessary to refer to the re-
sources of the Birmingham and Tenn
essee districts. where the necessary
material adapted to the manufac-
ture of steel for armor and ordance
can be obtained, and the cost OF
manufacturing he reduced to mini
mum.
The Manufacturers Record in pre-
vious issues has referred to the
facilities in the South for the loca-
ton of a first-class Government ship
yard at Port ROYAL. 5. c., and other
points on the South Atlantic and
Gulf coasts. in proximity to an album
dance of ship timber and other re-
quisites for construction. The ques-
ton of an armor-platc factory, still
unsettled has already shown the
facilities which the South has fol
this branch of industry; also 4 plant
for making ammunition of ditferent
kinds, for which the Government i:
now spending millions of dollars.
Such works as these would have
the advantage of being nearer tn,
seacoast. where, in case of possible
war. their material could be place,
on board ship or in the coast de
fences at a comparatively small cost
As it is. however, Southern fortified
tions are receiving ammunition an'
projectilcs from Massachusetts,, New
York and Pennsylvania at the in
cEtaStu tNptuSc VI Idili ot't II ais
portation from these points. Wit
a tirst-claSS naval station and ship
ward on the Gulf. an ordnance factor
in Georgia or Alabama, and an armo
plant in any one of the dozen O
cities which might be mentione
available in this locality for the pur
pose. preparation against an cnem
offensive or defensive, could be mad
at a great saving of time, which
so valuable in emergencies of thi
kind, and at 4 very great reductio
of expenses.
1t is to be hoped that the Govern
ment will no longer remain blind
the necessity for taking advantag
of the facilities offered in the Soutl
ern States. and that another int
national difficulty will not find I
so unprepared from this neglect.