Evening star., 1901-06-14
Delegates to Southern Industrial Con-
vention Talk Interestingly.
The RAILROAD and NEWSPAPER
Regarded as Potent Factors in
Developing the Country.
ESSION CLOSES TODAY

PHILADELPHIA. June 14.-The conclud-
ing session of the southern industrial con-
ventiOn one of the most interesting of
the meeting.
The Railroads and Their Work for the
south was discussed by NJ. V Richards
land and industrial agent of the Southern
Railway Company, and Alexander Helper,
jr.. Baltimore.
The Press of the South and It's Relation
10 the Industrial Development of the
South was presented by Col w A
Hcmphill of the Atlanta Constitution and
discussed by representatives, of other south
ern newspapers.
After calling the convention to order
President Hargrove. in a brief speech, re-
signed his office in favor of Col. w A
Hemphill of Atlanta. first vice president.
Mr. Hargrove has been in i'll health for
some time.
VI v. Richards Remarks.
On the subject of the work of railroads
in the development of the south NJ. V.
Richards said the railway system increases
the needs and demands of the people and
furnishes the means of supplying these
demands Railroads. he said, develop and
foster industry. and lead to progress by
broadening the lines of business
The railways of the south, said Mr.. Rich
ards. have given labor and money to
further the industrial progress of the
southern states
Alexander Helper. jr.. of Baltimore. read
paper entitled why Our Manufa cturers.
Our Merchants, Our Farmers Throughout
the Country Should Be the Stanch Friends
of Our Railroads."
He said. in part:
The vigorous and progressive south OF
today owes her activity and advancement
chiefly to the railroads that traverse her
territory With them she Is growing and
making agricultural and commercial his
tory. Without them she would be almost
as inactive as a snail in winter. Today
We have 1S9.2S4 miles of railroads in the
United States. a quarter more than all
Europe.
1T is a fact beyond contradiction" con-
tinued Mr. Helper, that wherever good
railways have been constructed the cost OF
transportation has been enormously de-
rreased-'
Effect of the Southern Press.
President Hemphill introduced the SUBJ
ject of newspapers by stating that imme-
i:ately after the war he established the
Atlanta Constitution on the line of indus
trial Improvement. and has since been
Steadfast to that policy. THE day is
breaking said Colonel Hemphili. The
sun is beginning to shine over the south.
and the newspapers are the great agents
IN bringing about this happy condition..
Norman Walker of the New Orleans
the subject
He claimed that the beginning of indus
trial development in the south was due to
The southern press. In ante-belIum days
the newspapers had considered Industrial
tens of no Importance and had not then
published them. but, beginning in $780,
they had gone to work to get the facts. 1t
required labor and the expenditure of
money. but it proved successful that
the southern papers were able to see that
Industrial news is the most valuable they
can publish.
Permanent Commission Recommended
The following resolution was adopted
That the southern Industrial convention
respectfully recommends to the Congress of
the United States the creation of a board
or commission, to be composed of eminent
civil. military and naval engineers, to
which shall be committed the care and i'm
provement of our rivers, harbors and con-
Meeting waterways, In which tenure of of
fce shall be permanent unless removal is
made Tor cause, and In the service OF which
promotion shall pe made In accordance
with ability
A resolution was adopted indorsing the
action Of the industrial commission las
looking to the good of the whole country
through a scientific solution of the whole
question by nOn-partisan business body"
Other resolutions were adopted indorsng
the proposed national convention In sup
port of the improvement Of rivers and har-
Dors; tndorsing the Louisiana purchase ex-
position; indOrSing the movement to estab-
nSh steamship line between this city and
New Orleans. and memorializing southern
state legislatures to improve the roads
The convention adjourned at 1915 O'Clock