Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-04

luton Of 1888, which iurched forth its ex,
tstence from the guns OF the Olympia. has
been NO stlpendous that men have not yec
had time to appreciate It's importance: "
has smashed the lines OF sea travel, played
horse with ola conditions. thrown new
points into prominence. and has made the
Paciffc the great watercourse Of the future
Europe may SO to. Africa down the coast.
cut afforded by suez. but whichever way
she goes. she will hnd an American front
across the way.
Tbs South and the Canal.
How prominent this makes the necessity
for the Panama canal ana what that means
for the south. Take the map again, OBJ
serve the American continent in the CENTER
The merchant ship out from Sydney, AUS
tralia, points nearer even to Europe
through Panama than by the present
routes. but IL the Panama canal is passed
why continue to Liverpool for the very
goods which can be obtained IN New Orr
leans or Savannah The southern ports OF
Asia, up to Hong Kong and Shanghai, ard
on to Yeddo, in Japan-they have come TO
Honolulu, and that is nearer to the canal
than TO San Francisco. In their way again
stand the cities OF the south from Corpuh
Christi. around the gulf front and up the
South Atlantic even as far as Norfolk All
along this route they find the cotton man.
fractures of our mills, the iron and coal
OF Alabama and Tennessee, the marble Of
Tennessee ard Georgia. the woods and the
tobacco OF North Carolina, the sugar OF
louisiana, the live stock Of the mountain
ranges
Look then across the Atlantic, and there
stand the ports of Europe. and straight
across from as only 1000 miles distant. 10
the hungry continent OF Africa In
straight belt OF 800 miles in width encir-
cling the globe, with the Panama canal az
the center or buckle, the worlds conf
menee revolves. The Gulf OF Mexico Is 10
TINS section what the Mediterranean was to
the old world, and the country fronting
the gulf and It's neiRhbor the south At.
lsnte, will be the new Levant. The only
opposition could come from Venezuela or
Mexico, bat these countries are not
peopled by votaries Of handicraft the trade
Will fall to US. The worlds commerce
which does not go from the ports OF the
Will he IN hailing.
In anticipating these changes there Will
be no Ishmaelite feeling against other
countries, only a recognition of the forces
of nature. From the Persian gulf to the
Red sea, and out TO the great sea which
was supposed TO be the middle OF the
earth, ships went down TO trade. Wher-
ever they went empires were founded and
places deserted by them became deserts.
From Greece to Rome, across to Carthage
and back again, thence to Cadive. and
fbuUulUE me continent up TO the lSl9nuE
of the north, commerce established new
nations and gave Strength to new people.
With a mighty rush the penned-up millions
of Europe made the Atlantic their path
head OF the industrial procession and the
points of vantage belong to the water
fronts of the southern states of the Union.
Sending Iron to Pennsylvania.
While great prominence has been given,
as stated, to the cotton industry as a factor
which is building up the south, II IS by no
means the only treasure in our storehousA
The very existence of Birmingham, Ala.
tells of the rivalry of iron. 1t is but a
little more than a quarter of a century
since boom came upon this section of
Alabama While much that was connected
with the boom was hUrtful, 1t produced
good fruit, nevertheless. for 1t established
the existence of coal and iron and lime
side by side, and in such deposits that all
are illimitable; and 1t gave US Birming-
ham, town not unworthy OF the name.
Alabama iron has forced It's way through
the experimental stages. II has met Penn
sylvania in the market and carried away
the colors. Ii has even invaded Pennsyl-
vania Itself and found its way into the
miagham miners are stocked with orders
which they have placed on file.
I The coal and iron deposits of the south
extend also through the states OF Ten
nessee. Georgia, North Carolina, West Vir-
snia and Virginia, so that the industries
growing out of il will have a permanent
base upon which to build
The iron development has been marked
by the same peculiar phase which has been
noticed in the growth of cotton milling. In
difference at the first, sudden realization
of what the opportunity was, and then q
development so rapid and persistent as to
be startling.
In all of this let II be remembered that
the strong controlling factors have been
mi on "a "a 70 hn Nor str ,rFns-a
have Joined in and have met with welcome
and encouragement, but the people on the
spot have proven equal to the emergency
and they deserve full credit for their yg-
lance and ability. The people OF the south
have suddenly developed commercial,
manufacturing and agricultural skill not to
be despised even by veterans.
Varied Resources of the Section.
The general miscellaneous resources OF
the country are varied and useful Wood
and marble, all the minerals, the foodstuffs
OF every known variety, the fruits, cli-
mate healthful and invigorating-all the
elements which go to the support of life
or to render existence happy-are to be
found within this favored territory.
Perhaps the strongest has not yet been
said of the south. 1t is Questionable X
might minimize the Americantsm of the
people, should be continued. The states
in the southern half of the Union are
American, and that is the greatest boast
of their inhabitants. Whatever sentiment
chung around a distinctive appelation In
times gone by Is now Of the past OF
the Union and in the Union. the people
os the south have a laudable desire to
lead in the Union. They do not envy
the north Atlantic sea front the pros
perity which it has. had in times past.
They believe that they can offer their
brethren of other sections cheaper and
better road to the seas upon which sails