The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-09-18
mn pRospERous sourH.

446 xS006 1&S0V0 00O q &&e Those who have failed to read the letter of Richard H. Edmonds from Atlanta to The Manufacturer Record. and which was printed in Tuesdays Advertiser, should get that paper and read 1t. The figures are both interesting and instruct ive and such exhibits will go far to do away with the doleful arguments about the poverty of the South or the Southern people.
 The simple truth Is that ours is fast becoming the most prosperous section of the Union. Financially, industrially and otherwise, the Southern States have reached, or are fast reaching, a most en- viable position among the States and countries of the earth. Alabama today occupies a position in advance of almost any of the Northern, Eastern or West ern States, taking ours as whole. Some of the States are largely ahead of us ia manufacturing industries. some grJw much larger crops of grain, some excel us in tobacco, others in cane and rice. bus none of them have all these blessings combined. What some have a surplus Of others lack. and some which have an overplus of one good thing are wanting in others.
 Alabama, taking the State "by ani large." has something of all the good things which go to make a prosperous people. Already there are mills and fac tories and shops of all grades and all de- partments of industry, with millions of capital and giving employment to thois- ands of working people. The rejuvanesc- ence of our practically unlimited water powers, used directly as motive power or secondarily in the production of electric ity, is adding immeasurably to the manI- featuring and tractive power of the State It is a movement which will grow and | increase until the hum of machinery and | the rushing of cars will be heard all over this great State of ours.
 The mineral resources of Alabama are | vast, varied and almost inexhaustable Our coal is driving ships on every sea- | trains on every railroad and machinery all over the land. Our iron and steel build houses and bridges. machinery and tools, equip railroads and mills in many lands And we have gold and copper and other minerals of which the world knows little, but which are being devei' oped. and for which there will always be demand. In the extent and variety of mineral riches Alabama is exceeded by but few States of the Union
 What section of the country has more varied and productive agricultural re- sources than the South? From the or anges and the pineapples of Florida to the tobacco of Kentucky. Virginia and North Carolina the entire range Of eartns pro- ducts abound and flourish. Grains anu | fruits. cane and tobacco. cotton and nay the South has all of them in profusion. Our farmers are fast adopting the sell sustaining policy which makes any coun- try prosperous and contented. We are not starving and dependent people. We are not a poverty stricken or bankrupt people. We are thriving. getting rich and envied There is no better region than the South and there is no better State than Alabama.
 The efforts of certain misguided speak 1 CTS and writers to show that the Soutf is on the verge of bankruptcy
 that 1t Is helpless and hopeless, 1:
 hurtful and pernicious. It spreads
 abroad wholly false impres
 sion. It keeps capital from investing here
 and 1t keeps out immigrants. For one
 The Advertiser refuses to be party t.
 such misrepresentation. We speak fo
 the South. generally, and for Alabamt
 especially, and shall continue to do so
 We refuse to remain quiet while our Stat'
 and Section is being traduced and be Titled. We have a great State and thu
 world ought to know 1t. Let the pessi
 mists hang up their harps and sit be
 meath the willows and weep, if nothing
 else will suit them. This paper. at least
 refuses to join in their wailings or echt
 their mournful strains. If those who in
 dulge in such doleful sermons would turI
 themselves about and use their hand
 and brains to upbuild the South the.
 would do more good and do themselves
 more credit. Our section will prospe
 without them and in spite of them, bu
 they ought to join those who are build
 ing instead of trying to retard the wheels
 of progress. If they can do no bette l lat thau1 suhade