The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-12-25


 visit constantly and over which l travel intimately-the Central South, comprising middle Kentucky and Ten essee,Alabama as a whole, west F1ori- da and south Mississippi and Louisiana never was so prosperous as today. Why? Simply because of combina- | tion of a few conditions, first among which, but not so marked and easily identified as the others, Is the Pana- ma canal, now assured. This canal, as all know, provides the road Columbus | sought to the Indies. Through 1t will pass stream of maratine commerce the like of which the world has never krown. The Caribbean Sea and the Mexican gulf will inevitably become the commercially active center of hu- man effort. That the gulf ports, New Orleans Mobile, Galveston, Pensacola, etc. will largely and profitably parti- cipate in this uprising is obvious. In such activity the roads running north and south appear likely to be increas- ingly prominent factors. Today the great lines are reaching out for touch with these ports.
 Take a map and hang 1t on the wall. The average man who has not given this fact special thought will be sur prised, if he hangs a line on that map, with the upper end at Birmingham, Ala, to note that the plummet will sprint out in the Pacific Ocean a full degree west of the west coast of South America. This means that the great Iron deposits of Alabama-lying with in 200 miles of tide water, are directly north of a part of the world which, when America was discovered, was the richest on the planet, Peru. Chile, etc. That this country will awaken when thus brought into intimate touch with Yankee activity is plain. Those in- formed insist that the United States | of Columbia contains greater deposits | of gold than the Rand and Klondyke l combined. A pan-American railroad vii. rext engage the attention of the restless Yankee, and the youth of today will take Pullman from Detroit for Rio Janeiro with as little surprise as he now undertakes a transcontinental | trip. The boundless resources of South America lie. through the canal | at our doors. The demand on what the South has in the way of iron-iron Is made at Sheffield. Ala, at a lower cost than at any point on this continent save 1t may be in Nova Scotia or the Messaba field, must constantly increase | This iron and steel-excellent steel is now being made of Alabama iron at both Birmingham and Gadsden-must because of location, command the new | markets of the Central and South America as well as those certain to originate in the long g-dormant South | Along the gulf coast the most casual l observer will today discover innumera- ble indications of what is rapidly con- ing to pass; new enterprises; new | buildings, growing towns and cities wider understanding of rational agri- | culture. and better economic conditions | Cities and towns are developing, farm CTS acquiring modern machinery, and | taking up wiser methods of farm work and all hands progress apounds. Irue the conditions have been backward and 1t iSnot extravagant to admit that in that which has made the United States famous that part of the coun. try has been fifty to one hundred wears behind. But this is rapidly chang. ing. Northern immigration ana norrn. ern capital is being introduced and this is having effect. The wide streaches of territory formerly burden. ed with the yellow pitch pine hay, been engaged. But now newer eff. forts occupy the thought and atten. ton of this progressive class, and beet cattle are grazing in these rich past. ures and moving machines and shred
 oers are to be seen at times.
 Chances for Young Men,
 But this Is all general To partic. ularize, the Central South today offer, remarkable opportunities for those who wish to work. Countless opening. exist for the young manor old mar -who desire freedom from our winters And cheaper, although quite as fertile land AS to individuals, the part O. the South with which I am familiar IS today practically out of debt. Flo, generations cotton has been the stapl, I Nyin1
 money crop It is estimated that thu cotton crop of 1904 will aggregate be tween 1O,5O0,000 and 12,0OO,OOO bales bale Is 500 pounds At an averag, or 10 cents per pound. this means tha the cotton crop will bring in the neigh borhood of $600.00O.0O0. This year thi. Is velvet crop. In other words tn, crop was large last year and the pric, high. As result the planters entered the season of 1904 out of debt Nov mark you. The part of the South t, which I am referrine-f am told 1t i! the same throughout Georgia, Misss sippf and Texas-has the largest corr crop this year 1t has gathered for forty years. This makes 1t true that tn, planter will largely have his own corr for hogs. cattle, mules and negroes Why his negroes? Because the negro in his Southern habitat, is dependen on the white man. He has no lanC hunger. as has the Saxon. His want. are simple and he cares naught for the morrow. Give him fat meat and ba- con sufficient for Tuesday and he vii - -