The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1898-03-29
NEGLECT OF OUR RESOURCES
The Government handicapped by
Having No Base OF Supplies in the
Southern States.
Manufacturers Record.

Manufacturers Record.
The present crisis in the relations of
the United States with Spain has strik-
ingly shown the neglect OF the govern
ment to appreciate the resources OF
the Southern States from IA military
and naval standpoint. Leaving aside
the TACT that the seaports in the South
nave been among the last to be pro.
Vlded with the means OF prOtoctIon.
and that the work OF bulldog fortified.
tions, and furnishing armament to the
Northern cities was taken up and mart
ly completed before work south OF t6e
Potomac river was begun. 1T NAV be
SAID that n government is acting at
u great disadvantage on account Of not
having bases OF military and naval
supplies in this section of the country
Daring the last few weeks guns, am
munltlon ami other equipment have
been shipped from rs far nor,h a. New
England In some instances, to the Gulf
cities, % distance Of "A thousand miles.
At present the United States mas M
plant Tor repairing It's warsnips south
OF the Norfolk navy yard. cXccDt. per.
maps, at Pensacola, although in case Of
war with SPAN Il plant Of this kind on
tne Huli coast, Tor example, would be
OF the utmOst value, as the seem nr
"N"A" ubNouOOCNlIk nc IN Inc
vicinity Of the West India Islands.
me gun factories owned by the United
states are entirely outside OF The
southern territory, the nearest to the
southern s%eacoaat bcing that at WASH
lngtOn, nearly two hundred miles from
Hampton Roads.
The coal fields Of Alabama contain
an lneXhaustible supply Of fuel. which
mas Already been proved by tests to DC
specially adapted to the use OF war
shlps. rms Is easy OF access, and
can pc shipped b. way Of New Orleans,
Moh'lc and Pensacoia, Fla. IL is nm.
necessary to refer to the rc,ourcos nf
the Birmingham and Tennessee dis.
trlcts, where the necessary material
adapted to the manufacture Of steel
Tor armor and ordnance can De obtain
ca, ant the cost Of manufacturing he
reduced to IA minimum.
Inc Manufacturers Record in pre-.
vious Issues has referred 20 Cue lriii.
Ties IN the Solth for the location of a
mrst-class government shipyard in Port
loyal, ). g., and other points on the
South Atlantic and Gulf coasts. in
proximity TO an abundance OF ship
timber and other requisites for con
struction. The question OF an armor-
plate factory, still unsettled. has al
ready shown the facilities which the
Soutn has FOR this branch Of Industry
also plant for making HmmuniJi, n
OF different kinds, for when the pov-
crnment Is nov spending millions of
dollars.
Such works as these would have
TIE advantage of being nearer the
a~ef.coast, where, in case of uos,iSle
war, their material could be placed on
board ship or in the coast deicnc,, at
a comparatively small co t.. AS il is.
however, southern forLIfcat ons are
receiving ammunition ana projectiles
from Massachusetts,, New York and
fehnsyivanla at the Increased expense
OF railroad transportation from these
points. With a tirst-class naval station
and shipyard on the Gulf, an ordnance
factory In Georgia or Alabama, and an
armor plant In any n of the dozen of
cities which might be mentioned
available in this locality for the pur.
pose, preparation against an enemy.
offensive or defensive, could be made
at great saving OF time, which is so
valuable in emergencies OF this kind
ana at very great reduction OF Is
penses.
1t Is to be hoped that the govern.
will no longer remain blind To
Inc necessity for taking advantage Of
the facilities offered in the Soutnern
States, and that another international
dlHculty will not find us so ~upprrpared
from this neglect.