The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1904-03-03
PROSPERITY IS REAL
Southern Development No Loagsr a
Matter of Prophecy
A MOST INTERESTING REVIEW
The Southern Bankers Furnish the
Manufacturers Record With Facts
and Figures.

Baltimore, Special.-The value OF the
past seasons cotton crop. about $780,
600 900. as compared vkh the value.
1925 600 900, of the crop OF the season
OF 1sss-s9, added to the large grain crop
In the South, has placid that section
In better financial shape than ever BE-
fore It now has agricultural pros
perity In connection with foIrishing
Industrial interests Tlis is reflected
in a mass OF letters from Southern
bankers published in last weeks issue
of Tie Manufacturers Record In reply
to inquiries made of them for their
views:
% Or the general Southern business
situation present and prospective.
CD On the improvement in agricul-
tural conditions as tending to place
the farming interests OF the South on
a solid basis for general prosperity.
lessening their dependence upon crop
liens in making the coming crops and
resulting in a decrease Of farmers in
dertedness on personal credit and
mortgages.
The responses wer prompt and graf
flying Their general tenor is Of de-
cidedly positive character. Thee is
agreement of opinion that finances in
the South arc upon most healthy and
substantial basis. Increased banking
capital is recorded. larger deposits than
ever before are shown in national.
State and savings banks and. at the
same time. much local money is going
into new industrial enterprises or into
the enlargement OF existing ones.
Many municipalities have been infused
with the spirit of progressiveness able
to find expression in t!ie general finan-
cial prosperity and On many sides are
definite plans for the Detterment Of
city properties and the improvement
Of streets. schools and rOadways.
Prosperity In the South Is no longer
a matter Of prophecy, writes one bank
er. II is an existing condition which
one may see and feel on every side
and it is attributed Immediately TO the
high price for cotton received by the
producer and to the immense, gains
made by the actual holders Of spo:
cotton. Back OF it all, though, is the
| wisdom gained by the farmers In the
situation five or six years ago when
! much cotton was raised at loss. Then
the farmers were compelled to prac'
| t!ce economy Of the strictest sort ir
all their methods and to turn their st
| tention to diversified crops Compul
! SIGN in many instances had become
| choice, and, consequently, the opening
| OF the season found many farmer:
ready to take the best advantage O
the high prices of cotton Now the!
are paying cash for their supplies in
| stead OF subject;rg themselves to Gei
merchants, they have relieved them
selves from their Indebtedness or hav'
reduced it to marked degree, they ar
swelling the bank deposits and in SOM
communities the dependence upon crol
liens and mortgages to make the com
ing crop will be confined almost en-
| tirely to the negroes and to the les
thrifty class Of small white farmers.
A note OF caution. however, is sound
ed here and there in reference to th
tendency to spend the surplus earning
Of the year in greater quantities Q
fertilizers and a largeranumber
mules, indicating the planting Of
more extensive acreage, in spite Of tn
hard lessons of adversely But tn
general situation seems to be wei
summed up in letter from banke
| IS thu N1;ddia South rh0 writes.
municipal improvements in the wa
of electric lights. water-works an
schools are increasing in all direction:
and planters and Others who wer
willing a few years ago to live !
houses without any comforts, now re
cnire all modern coEveniences such a
water, gas. electric lights, musical III
struments and intact, everything tins
money and culture will demand. III
applies to people in all walks OF LIE,
course; however. it is in proportion I
their means that these comforts al
indulged in. Comparing the price
cotton in 1s5S-$20 to $25 per bale
with the average price received by IN
PLANTER this year-not less than $55 pt
bale on an average-cotton seed Drln;
ing 81 to s6 per ton more than 1t d
| wear dSU, / tuiAh sou SoAA SNI ~ w "
that the South will realize for her co
ton crop and by-products. not countir
the large number OF bales manufa
> tured into cloth and yarns, at lea
s7o0, ,000. 600. 1t is not only cotton TIL
we realize upon now. but every man
featuring interest that can be thougl
Of is at present in the South and u
number is being increased almost dali
( gi7ing employment to all kinds Of l
/ Dor. Many of these industries are ca
ried on by families. The South h
been very free from strikes and tn
fact commends it to those seeking ne
< homes. Our schools are on got
: basis, our people law-abiding and {
right hand of fellowship is EXTENDED
=. every one who locates among US. wi
or without money, who shows disp
= sition to work and help build up tt
part of our great republic"
Doosevelt Endorsed.