Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-11-30
PROGRESS AT THE SOUTH.

PROGRESS AT THE SOUTH.
Whatever may be said in regard to
the business situation IN other sections
of the country, it is quite certain thai
for the South the indications leaves
n lthing to be desired. The fact of the
matter is, in the judgment of our wisest
6uanciets, it has been thoroughly es-
tabished that the southern States now
afford a field for financial operations
uugivalled 10 the inviting aspect OF pres
ent conditions and promising for the
future almost infinite possibilities for
development. IL no part of the couc-
Try is more satisfactory progress being
made, and it is evident enough that as
the manifold of advantages that section
come to be more generally realized by
all classes of people, population and
capital will be drawn thlther with COZ
stantly increasing attraction and the
work Of advancement will move forward
with increasing rapidly.
To our mindthe surprising develop
ment of the industrial arts in the
southern States is the leading factor 10
domestic history since the war. The
phrase "the New South" is not new
one, but it carries with it an emphasis
of meaning today which it never had
before. What g remarkable example
of versatility, of conformity to new
and strange conditions, of smsz-
ing energy, is presented in the
new chapter of southern history begun
in 1865. The world has not seen its
like before. Our whole country and
the civilized world regard it with an
unm;tigated admiration.
The old theory of az almost exclusive
devotion to agriculture as the staple
employment, has given place to very
successful experiments in manufacture
made on large scale and prosecuted
with such energy and with such ed-
yantages of flocation and other condition
as threaten the supremacy OF the
northern States in some industries.
Truly golden prospect lies before the
industrious and capable people of .be
south. The next quarter of century
will witness great development in that
section, of the cotton, iron, steel, wood
working, shipbuilding and other in-
dustries, which involve the use OF
enormous capital and can be carried
on most successfully, as a matter OF
course, where raw material is procured
% ost easily.
These reflections are suggested by
some facts that have recently come 10
hand in regard to the work that is b. :
ing done by the enterprising and pro-
gressive city OF AlexaDdria, Va, WASH
ingtou's next door neighbor, so 10
speak. This city, which numbers sone
20, 900 TO $4,000 inhabitants. has re'
msrkable advantages of various kinds,
aud number of public spirited citizens
are associated together under the sty le
of the Business Mems League, the oth-
GERS and directors thereof being Mr.. M
B. Harlow, President; Julian T. Burke
1st Vice-Presidenl; J Clinton Smoot, I'd
Vice President; VIM. F. Carne, Secre-
tary: Jno. w. May, Treasurer. Direc-
tors-George r. Hill, Park Agnew,
Charles King, Clarence G. Leadbeater'
Gardner L. Boothe, Ashby Miller, No
BILE Lindsey, Isaac Eichberg and Henry
F. Robertson
This league is doing work whose i'm
portance cannot be overestlnated. IL
is exploiting, in various ways, the ad'
yantages OF the city from manufactur'
ing point of view. and offers free sites
on railroad or water connections, to
manufacturers wishing to locate there
An official announcement now before
us states that under the municipal
law capital and machinery actively
employed are exempt from local taxa
lion. There are excellent oPportunl-
ties for shipbuilding plant, foundry,
nine works, chair, spoke and handle
and canning factories, knitting and sllk
mills. brick, tile and car works. The
Southern, the Baltimore & OLio, the
Pennsylvania, the Chesapeake q Ohio
and th. Norfolk & Western Railways,
and steamers to Baltimore, Philadei-
phia. New York, Boston, with connec-
ton by way of Washington and NoF-
folk with Charleston, Savannah, jack
sonville. New Orleans and Galveston,
olive Alexandria facilities for distribu'
iinp manufactured goods equal TO any
in the country.
Alexandria is advantageously stu
ated upon the Potomac river, SIX miles
south of Washington, D. c. 1t has
channel to the Chesapeake bay twenty
two feet deep, which will shortly be IN
creased to tWenty-six feet under an ap,
preparation made at the last session o.
Congress.
unity which many of the manufactuI,
ara who read this paper might do well
tn embrace. Labor is cheaper than at the
North or East, and handsome profts
esn he made even in the face OF Keen
competitions. ..;o, .,
orast CJmmonwealths Is relatively
higher as her splendid resources be-
come better known. To geographic,a
situation she is enviably fortunate, the
bappy possessor of a mild and heaitns
climate. perfecting the wealth due to
her fertility. And the salnbriousnes;::
of the State, which is known 80 wei
that to mention it cannot be necessary
is promoted by the character OF tns
soil ia large areas, affording the very
bes. helps TO the growth of trees. whlol
6ll the air with balmy and vigorous
quality. Hence the good old Common