The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-06-01
THE SOUTH'S ADVANTAGES.
"A Isoseato View OF tho Future-As,
tOnishin2 Figures of tho Present
Situation,

"A Roseato View OF tho Future-As
tonishin& Figures of tho Presen
Situation.
Richard II. EdmOnds, editor an,
general manager of the Manufactures
Record OF Baltimore, Is general
looked upon as one Of the best-informe,
men in the country on the general com
morcial status.
In discussing the general busines
outlook for the country Mr.. Edmond
said last night I'VE have entered
upon an era in business and CONNER
cial affairs with which there is nothing
in all our history to compare. The
revolution through which we are pass
Ing is the most wide-reaching upor
the worlds affairs that has ever beer
known. Before the civil war and after
IL. even up TO about 1890, we were busy
developing q continent. The opening
tho building OF about l50, 600 miles OF
railroad, which we have done in the
last 40 years, the creation OF our vast
industrial interests, now employing
from 100000 TO 100000 hanus anu
turplng out annually between $4,000,
OUO, 600 and sis. 600, Que, 900 worth of pro.
ducts, or about four times the total an
nual value Of all our agricultural pro-
ducts, wore tasks sufficient to employ
our energy and capital. No oLher
nation ever made such q record, and
We may well afford to boast Of what we
have done.
" But what we have accomplished Ia
only an Indication Of our future Until
about four or five years ago we wore
not counted as factors In the worlds
commercial affairs, except as an OK
porter Of grain, provisions and cotton
in the worlds Industrial activities.
We are fixing the price for every ton
OF pig iron and steel rails which the
world Ia consuming. 1t matters not
how distant the country, nor how
great the undertaking, American iron
and steel set the price which all other
producers must meet or else lose the
business.
=" n few years ago we were import
ing an average OF about 200, 600 tons
year OF iron and steel. Now tho con-
ditions arc reversed, and we are OK.
porting as much as five years ago we
imported. Our bridge builders arc
capturing contracts in Africa and in
Asia our locomotive shops are export.
ing almost Us many locomotives as
our metal and woodworking machinery
makers are finding an ovcr-expanding
market In Europe, in tho Orient and
in Africa.
These are new conditions. They
are 30 rcvolutionizing in their effect
that We have scarcely had time to
comprehend their foil meaning With
in iivo years we have become creditor
nation instead OF q debtor. The
balance OF trade In our favor-the cx-
cess OF our salos to foreign countries |
over our purchases from them during
the last three years-amounts to about |
81 ,oCO, 100000. In all our history we
have been dcbt0r nation to Europe |
unit! nn": when Europe is largely in !
debt to us.
1--WE have had little or no part in
supplying the worlds demands for
manufactured goods, but now we arc |
crowding our old world competitors.
England stands amazed at our progress
and German iron makors find their
own home markets invaded by our
products. In Is years England has
made no progress In iron production,
her output Of 100000 tons in thut
time being practically tho highest
point reached, while we have doubled
our output and against Englands
o,oO0,00O tons OF pig iron will this year
produce l3O0O,OO0 to IA 600, 900 tons
The opening up OF Africa and Asia,
the development OF great navics ana
the now use to which iron and steel arc
being put make the world hungry for
iron and steel. Consumption is every.
where increasing at u marvellous rate,
and until China In tho distant future
develops her iron and coal resources
the United States must OF necessity
supply the crater part Of this increase.
Whether China will ever become an
important factor In the worlds iron
interests need not concern this genera.
ti0n.
I'm this mighty advance-t the most
marvellous that the human race has
scen-an advance which must affcc,
the dcstinics Of every country, there
may and likoly will come hating
periods. There will be times OF re-
actlon aa In the past, but with the
foreign markets Open to us 1T is reason
holc TO h0pe that our periods of de.
preston Will DO less severe and OF
shorter duration than heretofore.
The very magnitude and financial
strength OF our great corporations will
be strong factor In pushing our manu-
lactured products into all foreign mar
kcts.
81 this great revolution the South
must necessarily be q large gamer. AS
the South can make iron at lower
cost than any other section as It has
greater resources OF coal and iron
susceptible OF development than anv
other country; as 1t produces about
three-f0urths OF the worlds cotton
crop and has more than one half OF
the standing timber of the United
States, 1T possesses an unequaled COM
olnation OF ad Vantages. 1t is on a
solid basis, It's industrial interests aro
rapidly expanding, and its foreign
commerce Is growing at an astonish-
ing rate. Its future is certain, but
even the most conservative forecast of
IL you'd bo regarded as q dream of an
enthusiast"
=" II | were to select the prime re-.
qulsltes for success" says Mr.. Beve.
ridge, would pav frat ri o,I -