The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1898-09-08

and iron and cotton. In these three
Industries its supremacy has passed:
this country controls them and the
South can take the lead over any
other section OF this country. The
field for expansion in the develop
ment of Southern cotton, iron and
steel is as limitless as are the world 5
requirements for centuries to come.
But even this is not all. One-half OF
the standing timber of the United
States is reported by the United
States authorities to be in the South,
and this will furnish basis for great
woodworking business in every
Southern State. When we come to
producing at the present time nearly
81 .OO0, 900, ,OJ0 worth Of agricultural
products although it has as yet bare
" scratched the surface in its agrl-
cultural development as compared
with what the future may be. With
the increase OF manufacturing. the
creation of home markets for agrlcul-
tural products, intensive farming,
the reduced cost of fertilizers, the
South seems to be preparing for as
radical change in its agricultural as
it has accomplished in the last ten
wears in its industrial advancement.
"Moreovcr, when the situation is
studied, it is seen that the South
with its genial climate, its abundant
and even rainfall, its magnificent
rivers and great water powers, the
nearness Of its ports to the produc-
tive centres of the West, furnishing
the most direct outlet to foreign
markets. presents peculiar combl-
nation, one that | believe has no
parallel in the worlds history and
one which | am sure must have a
more far-reaching effect, not only
upon our own country, but upon the
world in general, than has yet been
fully grasped either by our North
friends or by the people of the South
themselves.
Il am sure that a study OF the
South's advantages will cause any
one to be more and more impressed
with the fact that there has been
centered in this region possibilities
for the creation of wealth, for the
development of enormous industrial
enterprises and great shipping in
tercsts and for profitable agriculture
that cannot be duplicated in any
other equal area on earth. am sure
that as these facts are more and more
impressed upon the people of the
North and Of Europe. now that every
trace Of sectionalism has been blotted
out bv the war, those who have held
aloof from that section because OF the
sectional question will see that in
this favored land are unequaled op-
portunities for the display Of energy
and for the development Of business
such as can be found nowhere else
The development and enrichment OF
| the South means greater prosperity
to the North and West. the eNpan-
sion of our commercial power and a
vast strengthening of the dominating
| influence of the Algo-SaNOn on the
worlds future. For we have now
entered a new poriod in the world S
affairs. Every day brings out more
clearly the commanding position
that our country is to hold, and
shows how our great financial and
business institutions are to play the
leading part in the control OF the
eyer-eXpanding trade and commerce
of the whole world. The very mag
nitude of our great institutions and
their splendid management, acquired
through years of training, fit them
now to enter into the struggle for the
worlds trade, and so we see that the
policy of combination and consollda-
ton. which is but the working out OF
an ineXorable economic law, has put
us in position to enter the markets
of Europe and Asia as "a power to be
reckoned with To the extent that
the South appreciates this and takes
advantage Of its opportunities will
be its share in the rapidly growing
wealth-creating trade.
"Coming back, however, said Mr..
EdmOnds. ''Of course, the fact that
our country as a nation Will more
and more attract attention, greatly
strengthens the South's position. 1t
has been we'll said that no other
country. no other age in the world :
history. can show such progress III
the creation of wealth and such wide
spread prosperity among the people
LAS the United States. Our natura
resources, greater than those of al
Europe combined, have only beer
touched on the edge, the outcrops
so to speak; while in England anC
some countries of continental Eu
rope. the cost of production ir nearly
all industries is increasing because
of decreasing supplies OF materla
and their consequently increasing
cost. With us the cost Of production
is decreasing day by day, and We
open up our richer regions to capita
and labor. We have more than hal
the railway mileage of the world ano
water transportation by sea, b.
rivers and by lakes, and have onl y t'
adjust our varied productions OF tn
:, farm. the factory and the mine, Il
right proportions. in order to permi
,, unlimited increase in wealth an'
prosperity. We have the materla!
with every natural condition 10
making it useful in the highes
degree: we have over 1O.0J).otD PeO
: pie to work it up: we have the skill
, Intelligence, industry. thrift and en-
terprise to carry on work on seal
never dreamed of in any other coun
try or age The ability Of the Ameri
: can people to adapt themselves t
the work in hand. TO catch on. ha
o long been proven to be superior t
. that of any other people. The re
. suits they have attained in the crea
tion of wealth. comfort and progres
: are entirely without parallel in tn
history OF the world. What the
have done and are doing i the be>
h guarantee of what they can do,
t With an area equal to that of a
/. Europe and natural resources ia