Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-11-30
SOUTHERN TRADE.
Gratifying Record Made by the
Different Enterprises.
Prospect For an Increase In 1901 OF More
Than Two Billion Dollars Tho Lumber
ing Intorests Evidences of Progress.
(special to NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

Especial to Virginian-P ilot.)
Baltimore, Nov. 29.--In the building
Of cotton mills. in the development of
iron, lead. zinc and phosphate mines.
in extension of railroads, in numbering,
in activity of domestic trade, and In
enlargement of foreign commerce, the
south has made q gratifying record
during the past year. For that 1t is
thankful. The feeling of thankfulness
is intensified as the south calmly and
reasonably faces the future. for, ac-
cording to a broad estimate by the
Manufacturers Record, 1t has the pros
pect of Il years income of at least 81
100000 00 This is to be derived as fol-
lows: From corn, wheat, sugar, rice,
early fruits and vegetables. and other
agricultural products, S50,OOO,O00; from
the mines, including about 50oOo,OOO
tons OF coal, and from manufacturers
of iron and other raw material, not
including cotton, S1,500.000000, and
from the cotton plant including the
manufactures of the staple and the
products of the seed, $3.50 900, 900. Here
is a broad prospect which may be hileu
in with many interesting details. In
itself 1t Is sufficient to indicate that
the south as an important part OF
great country now entering upon
larger financial. industrial and COM
mercial career, has vital interest In
the country's prosperity. and is pre-
pared to enjoy it's share of the good
things of America.
LUMBER TRADE.
The Importance of the south in lum-
bering is becoming greater every year,
and the prospect for steady develop
ment in that line Is excellent. During
the past week the situation in North
Carolina pine has been satisfactory,
and the inquiry for Georgia pine is bet
ter. There is activity among the mills
generally. Those in regions nearby
Mobile are fully occupied and have or
ders to keep them occupied until the
turn of the year. AT Pensacola there
is n good inquiry for all desirable
grades of lumber, and the mills tribu-
tary to the port continue to receive
orders for near future shipment. The
demand from European ports seems TO
be on the increase, while from South
and Central America and Cuba there
is good inquiry. The improvements
now under way in and near Pensacola,
especially that connecting Pensacola
bay by an inland water route with
Perdido will increase the facilities of
the lumber companies. The cypress
trade at New Orleans is fairly active,
and all the mills are running at their
full capacity and making shipments as
fast as possible.
While the developments at the ports
indicate strength in the outward move
mnt Of lumber. plants here and there
in the south for handling timber at
home nre making improvements, and
new ones are being planned. Among
these announced during the week by
the Manufacturers Board is another
box factory at Ridgely. Md; q trunk
factory at Columbus. Miss; sAwniill
Mt Fairfax. Ga; n furniture fuctory at
Ilrpvlam TeSnS. improvements in
Guiding large planning mill at Ellis
villo. Miss: a eawmiil at Decatur, A'a..
nnt ono al Tuscaloosa. Ala; an In
crease In the capacity or the cooperaSe
plant ut Demopolis, Ala: crate and
basket nctory a MorgOntown. w. Va,
and n flreproof-wood factory at Rich
mond, Va.
OTHER EVIDENCES.
Among the other evidences OF south
ern progress are the award of contract
for additional machinery for the ship
building plant at Richmond, Va, to be
operated by electric power generated
by the water of the James river; and
plans for sewerage Improvement. cleo
trio lighting and the manufacture of
ice in n number of towns.
Work is being pushed upon the con-
struction of the Great Eastern Rail-
rond in Eastern North Carolina, which
is to be 160 miles long. travcrsing
fertile country and opening II to deep
water transportation and railroad con-
nection with north and south. 1t is
expected that the road Will be compile
ted within two years. Another i'm
portant railroad development is to be
had In the construction of raod east
. and west through Southern Louisiana
which is expected to be n valuable
feeder to the Illinois Central