The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1907-06-06
The South's Development.

the convention.
The South's Development.
Raleigh Evening Times.
The A. & NJ. College was particular
ly fortunate in getting MIR. Richard
II. Edmonds, editor of the MauuEac-
turers' Record, to deliver the annual
address. There is perhaps no man
living who is more familiar with the
Industrial development of the South
and with his pen lie has done much
to bring about this great develop
ment. An address on subject OF
this kind is often dull but it all de-
ponds on the man who makes the ad-
dress, and whether he speaks of his
own knowledge or merely relates
what has been gathered by others.
There is a wonderful difference in the
two. Mr.. EdmOnds is thoroughly
conversant with every matter per-
tanning to the development OF the
Southland and his words made i'm
preston on his hearers and aroused
an enthusiasm that will have most
beneficial effect What a great thing
it would be ii Mr.. EdmOnds could
address every student body in the
South
Among other things he said:
The growth of the South has
scarcely commenced. Last year $
cotton crop of 13,5OO,OOO bales
has been worth over 100000, 900.
We have manufactured in our own
mills about 100000 bales, and III
doing so added nearly $3.50, 100000
to its value. We have utilized in our
oil mills 100000 tons of seed and
produced over 800, 900, 900 worth
OF products, making of this crop the
magnificent total OF $50, 600, 900
as its value to the South. These are
stupendous figures, but look ahead
ten years. Measured by the world 8
increasing cotton consumption dur
ing the last twenty-five years, the
South will be called upon to produce
not less than $4,000, 900 bales by
1917. Measured by the growth OF
the past, which in this case it is safe
to predict is minimum, we shall
have by that time a consumption in
Southern mills of 100000 bales.
The annual value to the South OF
cotton and its products will then he
81 600, 100000 Or more. Even these
vast figures will be nearly doubled
in the succeeding fifteen or twenty
years period. Looking out over the
world it i seen that for the next half
century at least it is safe to count
upon the South holding it's present
monopoly of the world cotton trade
With an average increase in the spin
ming demand of at least 100000
bales year, we are in sight of the
time when the South must produce
30, 100000 bales or more. All of
this will be accomplished during the
active business career of the men who
today pass out of the college to be-
gin their life work.
1.-THE development of our trans
portation facilities, by rail and river,
to meet this ever-expanding growth
in cotton and coal and iron and steel
will tax our power in brain and
Drawn and finance. Most of the 65,-
600 miles of railroad which the
South now has must be double
tracked to meet present needs, while
to meet the increasing demands OF
traffic in future we must rapidly ex-
pand to 100000 miles. This section
should build not less than 5000 or
1000 miles OF road year for the
fifteen or twenty years, and in that
time practically double our mileage,
while double-tracking much of the
present mileage. Even this would
not be sufficient to provide ample
transportation facilities. To this
we must add the improvement OF
rivers for transportation purposes to
lessen the pressure upon the railroads
and to reduce the cost of freight,
the deepening OF our habors and the
building ofthe most modern terminal
facilities. The expansion of industry
III cotton and coal and iron, in
railroad and river improvements, the
! utilization of the millions of available
water power now running to waste
will furnish employment for many
more trained experts than it is pos.
| slble for all the technical schools OF
the South to provide. We shall have
to draw upon the world for men to
aid and supplement what we of the
South are able to do. Connected
with this water power and electrical
| development will be the building OF
interurban roads, which are destined
to spread like a network over the
South, increasing the value of prop
erty, quickening transportation Of
people and of merchandise, and il
every way adding to the wealth O
the community.