The Savannah morning news., 1903-05-01

epoch in the history of the industry
began in 1895. when it was demonstrate
ed that Alabama pig iron could be
laid down in Liverpool, grade for
grade, at less than the price of Mid
dleborough iron, shipped across Eng
land to that point. Exports to Eng
land, continental Europe, and Japan
in 1896 amounted TO $1,000 tons, and
in 1900 to lis, 1855 tons, a quantity great
ly in excess of that reported for any
other state. The total production of
pig iron in the state in 1860 was valued
at $64,590. in 1870 at $21025S, in 1880
at $1,405. $50. in 1890 at $40, 315, 691, and
in 1900 at $13, SIS The most i'm
portant grade manufactured in the
state was foundry iron, no other state
producing so large a quantity.
1.-THE recent wonderful growth of our
country in all the forms of wealth
and in population, the expansion of
our territory over the islands of the
Caribbean sea and the Pacific ocean,
and the diffusion of our political in
fiuence over all the world is due main
ly to the industrial development which
has occurred in this country through
the great combinations of capital
which commenced scarcely more than
a decade ago. The flag follows trade;
and trade follows the flag. The flag
is the emblem of our political power.
Trade is the assertion of our industrial
power The former is but the out
growth of the latter. The flag of a
puny, thriftless nation is but laugh
ing stock. The flag of a nation whose
resources are boundless, whose trade
extends to every part of the earth,
whose ships cover every sea, whose
armies are every ready to vindicate
the rights of its merchants in any
quarter of the globe-the flag of such
a nation is a controlling power, in COM
merce, politics, diplomacy, and in all
the elements of civilization. While our
country is to-day great, we are but
at the beginning of our international
career. The building of such institu-
lions as that whose commencement we
now celebrate, taken in connection with
the construction of the Panama canal,
and our sovereignty in Asia and the
Caribbean Islands, foreshadows for us
the ultimate domination of the earth,
both land and sea. These are some
of the reasons which make me an ex-
pansionists; and 1 predict that before
the first half of the present century
has closed the whole South will be ex-
pansionists, and will hail our new &C
ouisitions as it now halls the Louisi-
ana Purchase, and the Mexican cession,
as blessings of the highest order"
which the party returned to the city
and enjoyed a banquet in the ball
room of the Oglethorpe Hotel. Col.
w. E. Kay presided as POSTMASTER,
and responses were made by President
Umsted Col Machen, Judge Spencer
r. Atkinson of Atlanta, President
Merren of the East Alabama National
Bank, Eufaula; Mayor Chappell OF
Columbus, Col. c. P. Goodyear of this
city and others.
In accordance with the proclamation
issued by Mayor Crovatt the day was
observed as a holiday; the public
buildings, and various business houses
of the city were closed. between the
hours of 10 and o'clock and a general
gala day was enjoyed. The livery sta
bles we're taxed to their utmost ca
pacity to take care of the large crowd,
and every transfer and delivery line
in the city had its hands full. A spe-
cial train arrived this morning over
the Brunswick and Birmingham, bring
ing in several hundred citizens from
the interior. A special train was run
from the Union Depot to the site this
morning, which carried very near one
thousand people to the exercises.
Tonight prominent delegations from
Eufaula, Ala, and Columbus, who are
here to interest Brunswick and Bir-
mingham officials as to coming to their
respective cities, are being entertained
at the Oglethorpe.
All in all the day has been christen-
ed Brunswick's industrial birthday, and
it marks the epoch of new CONNER
cial life for this city. Millionaires,
from various sections of the country
interested in the construction of the
plant, are here, and without exception
they are greatly impressed and very
II. l.
ments offered by Brunswick for this
great enterprise.