The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-07
The south.

d
the accurate, interesting and instructive
articles now appearing in the Sunday
Sun, telling the story Of the marvellous
growth and development Of our South
ern cities, and, in fact, Of the whole
Southern country, II has become a trite
saying that the South Of to-day is new
/ South, and that the old South ruined by
the war, has well-ngh disappeared Few
people, nevertheless, really understand
how completely this is so. The impress
sions on the subject are apt 10 be those
gained from a hurried trip in the fash
iOnahle season to Palm Beach and st.
Augustine; these are that the South has
become great winter resort, abound
ing in magnificent hotels that are the
pride Of the whole country and the won
dering despair of foreigners. Mr. FLAG
LER'S superb investments In Florida
have done a great deal for that State and
the entire South. no doubt; but they are
really only small part, even if they
may be the showiest particular Of the
/ wondroris change, the deep and abiding
prosperity that has dawned upon the
Southern country How great all this
Is THE Sun is detailing each Sunday.
The articles thus far printed have re-
lated. mostly, 70 the extraordinary hap
peninGs in the Piedmont region. or in a
general way To the northern half Of the
South. lying between the Atlantic coast
and the Allegheny Mountains Through
out oil this country up to few years ago.
large class Of the population was what
used to be called poor whites an
ignorant, poverty-stricken and help
less people. The possibilities presented
themselves TO Southern business men Of
utilizing this mass Of unemployed white
labor in cotton manufacturing, estab-
l-hed, practically, upon the cotton fields
themselves, the enterprise being be-
culiarly aided. moreover, by the advan-
taGes en1oved by the Piedmont region
over many New England and Northern
localities in the matters Of abundant
water power, and proximity to seaports
and 10 interior trade centres SO cotton
manufacturing was started in the South
on small scale. 1t proved exceedingly
successful. Northern mill owners we're
attracted and now the Piedmont coun-
try is hummng with spindles and boasts
the finest cotton mills on the globe The
increase of investment in this one indus
try alone in the district in twenty years
has been over 500, 100000.
But cotton manufacturing Is by no
means all. 1t may be doubted. even.
II cotton manufacturing IL the chief
new business that has been started
in addition, Of course. TO the South's
ing. IL is the Souths vast trade in
lumber with its allied furniture manu-
f'cture; its exceedingly profitable gar
den truck farming; its coal and iron
and steel development; its quarries OF
granite and marble, and its mines of
precious metals by no means To be de-
spised-it is the exploiting of all these
on scale that is thus far the mere SUR
face tapping of Southern resources and
capabilities that has built cities in ten
years around the little towns Of Charlotte,
Spartanburg and Greensboro, that has
~
where seven trunk lines of railroads
and twenty-siS steamship lines termi-
nate, and has made Richmond tho
financial centre of the entire imperial
Southern domain
Tho proper history Of the railroad
development Of the South in dozen
years would also take pages of THE
Sun The efficient railroad service
there, in the hands of keen and ex-
perienccd managers, and backed by
tho greatest financial resources Of the
land, has perhaps more than any other
one thing contributed to the material
advancement Of the Southern country.
1t i perhaps not generally known that
the southern Railway now runs very
fast and exclusively mail train every day
to New Orleans, so that the Now York
morning newspapers are in Atlanta at
II O'Clock each night and are in New
Orleans at II 80 in the morning of tho
following day. Only few years ago
the mail business of the South would
have rendered tho service Of such a train
ridiculously supcrfluous. The beneficial
elects of railway consolidation have
done wonders for the Southern States.
The most prominent result of the process
is, of course, the requirement Of the
Louisville and Nashville road by the
Atlantic Coast Line. and the unity Of
effort that prevails between tho mana
gers Of tho new system and the Southern
Railway Company
Nor is the new wealth OF the South
wholly material An undoubted change
has occurred in the mental and intellect
ual structure of her people, or rather
reversion is making after the depression
of past years, to the appreciation of the
practical as well as the sentimental side