The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1906-01-28
A GATEWAY BETWEEN
THE NORTH AND SOUTH

tai of the nation onward and upward 10
brilliant zenith And this. I believe.
is its certain destiny"
The South's Prosperity,
Mr.. Richards discussed I'm an informal
way the marvellous development of the
South during the past decade and the
'seven-league boot" strides that are an
nually being recorded All this pros
perity to the south OF Us. ne thinks. will
inevitably be reflected in the growth of
Washington to greater extent than in
the case of any cities farther north
While the honor Of being great distrib-
uting centers has in the past rested in
territory far to the north of the Mason
and Dixon line. as the center of wealth
and of capital invested in manufactur-
ing enterprises gradually moves toward
the South the trade viii naturally crawl
tate toward a geographical center
This center. as all can see. is Wash
| ingtOn, which is the gateway between
the two sections of the country. 1t is
the great nerve center of the nation,
into which the hundred and one chan
neIs OF commerce send their quckening
| sensations, and from which all volition
will emanate. The twelve Common
wealths TO our south, which are showing
the most rapid growth IN manufactures
and in banking interests are looking
mere and more upon Washington as the
natural medium through which to
make their needs felt These States
are forging TO the front at a rate hlther-
/ TO unknown In the business world. Cot
/ ton factories, wooden mills, buggy fac
| tories, furniture concerns, and a thous-
and other industries are monthly re-
! corded as being established in the va
rlous parts or the section or the country
which is the wealthiest in natural re-
| sources or any land on the globe.
The Sun of Prosperity.
! In the fiorid. yet picturesque language
/ OF one of the orators OF this section.
| the hills of Georgia. Alabama. Tennes-
/ see. Virginia, and the Carolinas. are
/ described as vocal Mennons, which are
being kissed by the glorious sun OF pros
peTity, and senoing forth the song Of a
| thousand looms and million hands
! actively at work In rearing upon the
ashes of the Old South a New South
that will astound the world
! Washington is the natural trading
| ground for tho South in It's bartering
with the North II is here that We may
/ expect the future exchange of products
/ TO take place. for IL is centrally located
/ for both parties 10 this trading upon a
/ gigantic scale
The following statistics appearing re-
] Gently in the Manufacturers Record, Of
| relative growth OF the South compared
/ with less favored sections. From 1880 10
I 1900 there was an increase in the entire
| country of IS. IS per cent in the number
OF national banks The increase in the
| South. on the other hand from 1880 to
/ 1905 was more than Asa per cent The
/ increase in the capital stock OF these
I banks throughout the country was "a 70
per cent, while the Increase in the South
| was 116. IS per cent. The amount of de-
posits in the national banks OF the
| South have increased not less than 625
per cent in the same length OF time
Progress Ever Steady.
These figures, when viewed in the light
! of the fact that the South has rot yet
reached the heydsy IF her prosperity.
/ tell more elOQuenIiy than any words
| stands Ira the position of a natural mart
| for all this wealth and progress The
| development which is being carried on
| in. every section of the South is con-
/ tinually bringing to light hitherto un-
| imagined wealth. Take, for example.
the comparatively recent discovery o.
oil in Texas. the development of the gold
mines in Georgia. the extension OF the
coal fields OF Alabama All these enter
pr1SeS. though even now the source of
vast revenue 10 he people OF that sec
ton. are still in their very infancy
/ The construction Of the Panama canal
| Is certain TO nave a most gratifying in
/ ruence upon the growth of the ports OF
| the South With the deep water which
! Congress should secure for Washington,
this city viii be brought into even closer
| relationship with this Canaan OF the
/ United States. This is a land not merely
| OF promise but of brilliant fulhllment.
! Washington. once the desDised city OF
the New World in the matter of com
merce. has become the chief cornerstone
| IN the countFys upbuilding.