Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-12-14
THE REAL SOUTH.

is being taken by the country as a
whole. AS the feeling of sectionalism
is disappearing and as more and more
people from the northern states visit
the territory across the Mason and
Dixon line, it can be seen that there
yet remain many of the scars that
we're wounds during the civil war
These scars, while they are not in
The minds and hearts of the people Of
The south. are still to be seen in the
business life of the states that were
pf the confederacy years ago, and the
whole country is anxious to aid the
south in its efforts to regain it's old
prosperity Congressman Boutell in
! recent speech in New York, threw
father new light on the condition in
he southern states. He stated that
he commercial and industrial develop
nent of that large area lying between
Mason and Dixon's line and the gulf,
mas been greatly retarded because Of
the sparsely settled rural districts. He
points out that the crying need of the
south is for men. While in Ohio there
are l02 inhabitants per square mile,
across the river to the southwark
here are only twenty-nine inhabitants
% the square mile. There is a funda-
mental difference also, between the
two peoples. In the south there is
temperamental and inherited inapti-
tude for the thorough cultivation of
ne south's rich soil; for the develop
pg OF her mines, and for the manu-
hcturing from the abundance of raw
lateral the goods to draw from the
4 Markets. of
bat, like new blood. would further
Emulate activity and promote growth.
The south needs men, but from
thence must they come? In answer,
Ir. Boutell recites that between 1920
nd 1900 about 20,000,O0O immigrants
anne to this country and that practic-
lily all OF them made their homes in
Re north and west 1t is within the
pwer and province of this govern
lent to aid in diverting this tide of
Immigration to the southland, there to
istill its leaven of industry and fr,l-
hlity among a people who promise a
hick response to strong enlivening
lfluence.
There is no desire on the part of Mr.,
outell to convey the impression that
le south has stood still since the
Jar. On the contrary, he shows that
Re most hopeful signs have been the
feak1ng up of the large plantations
ITO small farms and the growing ten
sncy to more diversified agriculture.
he figures he quotes show that be-
veen 1880 and 1890 the south's invest.
cent IN agriculture increased II per
snt, while that of the rest of the
2untry increased 81 per cent The
llue OF farm properties in the south
avanced from $2,3O0,OOO 900 to 81
9O,O00,OO0 and the annual value of
rm products from 66O,O00,OO0 to ST.
lO,0OO,OOO. During the same period
Ie5 south's capital invested in manu-
cturing increased from $257 ZOO, 900
S1,153, 100000. or 34s per cent, as
Eainst an increase Of 242 per cent in
e rest Of the country.
Mr.. Boutell's optimistic view of the
ture OF the south is certainly timely
a encouraging. Through liberal fed
Rl appropriations the ports of
tarleston, Savannah, Mobile, New Or
ms and. Galveston are now, or soon
u be, in a position to make strong
as Tor large proportion of the coun-
rs export carrying trade, especially
cotton, sugar, lumber, rice. tobac-
grain and live stock products. The
mpletion of the Panama canal will
Re the gulf ports a peculiar advan-
90 in competing for the Oriental
de and the southern ports will vir-
lily control the South American
lrkets. AS part of Mr.. Boutells
~ for the identification of the south
suggests that the negroes should be
zen wider distribution, making
IN for more progressive and intel
ent settlers in the regions where the
cks now outnumber the whites
zee to one.
ne suggestions coming from the
nols congressman are certainly
ely and appear both rational and
slble. Were the south given her
2 share of desirable immigrants
P annually flock to these shores
re IS reasonable certainty that
lethargy, haunting prejudices and
stent sectionalism dominant there
yield to healthy, industrial assim-
ion.
THE ALIEN PERIL.