The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-11-17
DAY..NOvEMBER II. 1900.
Weather forecast for Fred
erickSburg and Vicinity.
Fair and cold er aOiM fresh
/7seSt minds
THE sOUTH's POSSIBILITIES.

Evidence is cumulative that the
agricultural and industrial interests
of the South have not been fully
developed from their embryonic
state, and that 8 great future
awaits the Southland.
The New England Cotton Manu-
fseturers' Association recently con-
vened in Washington, D. C., and de-
cided to make trip to some of the
important industrial centres of the
South. Several years ago this asso'
citation met in Atlanta. Ga. This
was the Arst meeting it ever held
outside OF the New England States.
1t is apparent that they were favor
ably impressed by their meeting in
Atlanta, and caught glimpse of the
South's resources and possibilities,
otherwise they would not have enter
tanned favorably the idea Of their
recent trip in the South. Referring
to this visit q writer says:
1.-THE travellers through the South
during the past week had an opPorIu'
nifty TO observe many evidences OF the
wonderful progress made by that seq
tion since their last visit. In their
own particular field they could note sn
increase in the interval Of the number
of mills from 352. with 2, 400 600
spindles and 55 900 looms, using o62.-
600 bales of cotton 70 663 mills, with
4. 800. OOO active spindles and l22. QUO
looms. using more than l. 500, 600
bales Of cotton, while 1900, 600 adj
ditionsl spindles are being installed In
new mills, the most notable increase in
mill building and mill enlargement nav
ing taken place in the past eighteen
months
Not only we're the visitors graft
fed at the rapid advance the South
had made in the number of its fac
tories, but also that the manutac-
turers were turning their attention
more especially to the finer grades of
goods. Millions Of Northern capital
have been invested in Alabama and
Georgia in augmenting the msnufac-
turing industries of those States; and
the visitors were well pleased with
the results and believe that the day
;s not distant when Northern
money will seek profitable invest
ment in many other cotton'growing
States. More, the visitors were also
astonished at the marvellous growth
Of iron and steel industries, notably
in Virginia, T, nnessee and Alabama;
and the most significant fact that i'm
pressed them so favorably was
the proven ability of Alabama pig
iron to undersell English iron in the
markets of England.
While cotton may be "King" of
the South, her vast lumber resources
are of gigantic Importance, and
spurs of great railroad systems have
been extended into the forests, feed
ing mills and causing mills of greater
capacity to be erected.
In Florida, Tennessee and South
Carolina the phosphate industry is
destined to become Of great impor
tance, one district in Tennessee al
ready producing 100000 tons of rock
yearly.
In addition to the above articles,
the same writer to which we have re-
ferred says:
"In connection with these products,
the New England visitors might profit
ably study she development OF the
marbles Of Tennessee, Georgia and
Texas the lead and zinc OF Missouri
and Arkansas; the 1our.spar OF Ken
lucky; the rock salt Of Louisiana the
building stones Of the Oarolinas and
other States the petroleum OF Texas
and West Virginia; the ship yards OF
Maryland and Virginia; the car works
Of Alabama; the wood working plants
Of North Carolina; the semi'troplcsI
fruits Of Florida. Louisiana and Texas;
the peaches Of Georgia; the apples OF
Virginia, North Carolina. Missouri
and sArkansas. and the truck farms
stretching from the Virginia capes to
the Rio Grande."
Surely the South has untold posi-
bilitiss which. are being recognized
and sought after by Northern capt.
tai, and it is not fulsome eulogy to
picture her future among the most
progressive and prosperous sgricul'
tursl and manufacturing centres OF
the world.