The suburban citizen., 1900-03-17
WASHINGTON, D. c., SATURDAY, MARCH II, 1900.
SOUTHERN DEVELOPMENT.

Though many years must pass before any
southern state will possess such variety
and so great number of industries scat
tered all over its territory, that the general
activity Of the whole state will not permit
any one undertaking to be distinctive, great
strides In that direction have already been
made. The Manufacturers Record, allud'
ing to this, points out that the South hos al
ready its centres OF manufacturing OF one
kind or another which come to mind when
ever the name OF certain localities are men
toned. Newport News, with its shipbuild-
ing Charlotte with its cotton mills, Blrming-
ham with its iron and steel Mount Pleas
ant with its phosphates Corsicana with ita
petroleum. Pocahontas with its coal, and
Beaumont with its lumber are illustrations.
or course there are other places Richmond
with its locomotive works, its tobacco fac
tories, woodenware works, iron working es'
tablishments ship yard and abattoirsi NOR
folk with It's lumber mills woodworking
establishments, machine shops and other
activities growing from its Importance rs
railroad terminal and point OF exports An'
nston with It's iron interests and car shopsi
Knoxville, Chattanooga, Nashville Green's
boro, Augusta, Georgetown, BRUNSWICK,
New Orleans, Little Rock, Houston and Cal
weston. where diversihcation OF industries
has assumed more or less large proportions
while In other cities aud towns too the IN
dustrlal and commercial life has been
quickened, and week by week one under
taking after another is entering the field rs
business organizations are putting forth
efforts in support OF established industries
and for the purpose Of inducing others TO
come In their direction.
The experimental stage Of the South's
return for n cultivation Of its industrial en-
erges has been passed. With increasing rail
road facilities, with a market close at hand,
mado by the development Of the large enter
prises dealing with raw material from the
forests, fields and Mines the reputation OF
cities already established In special lines
must become greater, while the number OF
cities occupied IN diversified industries and
the number OF those industries must in
crease. The time required for realization
of the possibilities IN this direction is de-
termined by the Southern people themselves.
For the impetus given to industrial actiyl-
ty in the South the development OF the
iron manufacturing has been largely respon-
sible. II has become Of such Importance
that the South Is now vitality interested in
everything pertaining to iron at home and
abroad. The statements OF Mr. William q.
Dreher, OF Berlin, Germany, in special cor
respondence Of the Manufacturers Record
this week will therefore attract wide atten-
lion. He writes that the situation In the iron
trade In Germany seems TO grow stronger
every month and that contracts are in hand
for so long a time in the future that any
marked fall of prices for more than year
seems we'll nigh impossible lie adds
"Many facts could be adduced to support
the view that the iron trade will continue on
its present great wave Of prosperity for a
long time to come, There are many second
ary railways, electrical and others that will
be built In tho near future. The Prussian
government has recently introduced a bill
into the Diet which calls for the expenditure
Of considerably more than 100 900, 900 marks
for building such railways and the railway
authorities are ordering every year larger
and larger supplies Of rolling stock. Only
recently the authorities had a conference
| with the coal and iron producers OF upper
! silesln to discuss the amount Of increase that
( will be- reouired in freight ears for that dis
! trlct and it was decided that about u per
/ cent. increase upon the present stock wouid
/ be necessary to handle this years business
Many cities. too, arc only awaiting favorable
! conditions in the money market to raise
loans for putting in electric light and trae'
| tion plants, gas works, water systems, etc
/ The shlpbullding industry has the brightest
! Of prospects. This industry consumed 80,
| 900 tons fron last year, against an average
/ OF s., 800 tons In the two preceding years
| And the immense demands for the new wal
vessels which will soon be voted by the
Reichstag will add greatly 10 the eensump'
/ ton Of IRON