The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-08-05
HOW TO MAKE THE SOUTH GROW
President Finley, of the Southern
Railway, breaches the Gospel of
Diversified Industry.
TO the Editor Of the Daily Item:

/ TO the Editor or the Daily Item:
1t has occurred to me that it may
not be improper for me to address
you and other representative editors
In the Southern States on a subject
which believe to be Of great import
ance to the future prosperity Of our
section.
My duties require me to keep in
touch. as nearly as possible, ith bus
mess conditions throughout the
country. and especially in the South.
Since the beginning Of the business
depression from which the country is
now recovering I have been greatly
impressed with evidence which has
come to me that, v lie business all
over the United States has been un-
favorably affected, the effects of the
depression have been felt most Sc
verely. as q general rule. in those
communities the energies Of which
are devoted principally to the pro-
duction OF a single commodity. or Of
a few commodities, and that business
has been relatively less affected in
| those communities In which produc-
| ton is more diversified. I have been
impressed especially with the fact
that the business depression has been
relatively less severe In those South
ern localities in which attention has
been given to the growing Of fruits
and vegetables. There has been a
steady market for these products and.
although prices have not in some in
stances been as high as in other sea-
sons, believe they have generally
yielded profits to the growers.
The press Of the South has already
accomplished much by advocating di-
versification Of agriculture and man
ufacturing. and. looking back over
the past Is years. we can realize that
much has been accomplished in this
direction. believe. however, that
the time f. especially opportune for
continuing our efforts In this direc-
ton and for urging that each South
ern community shall make the most
Of the opportunities which a revival
Of business will open up to It,
Nature has favored the South with
practically inexhaustible resources Of
great variety. and the industrious and
resourceful Southern people have
shown their ability to take up and
carry to success new lines OF industry.
I believe. therefore. that you will
agree with me as to the desirability Of
encouraging still greater diversified.
tion Of industry In the direction OF
utilizing to the fullest extent the nat
ural resources OF our section.
Without attempting to enumerate
the lines In which progress in this di-
rection Is possible. I would suggest
that. In many localities, agricultural
prosperity might be advanced by
further diversihcation Of farming, es-
pecially in the direction OF producing
the fruits and vegetables best suited
for each locality; that live stock and
dairying might proftably receive
more attention in some localities, and
that. in connection with a larger pro-
duction Of fruits and vegetables, there
are many localities in which canning
and preserving industries might pro.
htebly be carried on more extensively
than at present.
Industrially. I believe IL should be
the aim Of the South to add to the
profits OF producing raw materials,
the profits Of manufacturing. by con-
verting Southern raw materials, as
far as possible into articles ready for
use. As indicating what may be done
along this line. I may refer to the
cotton textile industry. Although the
South has a substantial monopoly in
the production OF the most widely
used textile fibre in the world, some
OF us are old enough to remember
when 1t was believed in many quar-
ters that cotton manufacturing on a
large scale could not be established
successfully in the South. The South
ern people first demonstrated their
ability to make the coarser grades OF
cotton fabrics, and they are now de-
monstrating their ability to make the
finer grades as we'll. and to bleach and
finish the products of their mills. I
think we may look forward with con-
fidence to the further development Of
this great industry and Of industries
depending upon 1t, such q, the manu-
facture Of cotton gooGs .nto articles OF
clothing ready for wear.
might enumerate long list Of op-
portunities for the further develop