New-York tribune., 1908-12-08
SOUTH'S GREAT FUTURE
ROSY PROPHECIES MADE.
Secretaries Straus and Wright Spedk
at Commercial Congress.

Washington, Dec. with prophecies OF an al
most unparalleled economical and commercial ad-
vancement near at hand for the South. the move
ment for a still greater development Of the natu-
raj resources Of that section formally launched
at the first meeting here to-day Of the Southern
Commercial Congress. The vast possibilities that
await development were referred to IN glowing
terms by the speakers. THE South was pictured as
a land where nature had been lavish with her
gifts which thus far hardly had been touched
The prediction made that a great commercial
awakening soon would come over the entire
section.
Some Of the reasons advanced by the speakers
why the South has not made greater progress IN
the development OF its resources were that it had
suffered to q marked degree because OF the lack
Of adequate transportation facilities A factor
which had prevented better railroad transportation
facilities 1t was pointed out had been the alleged
hostility Of some Of the Legislatures of the South
ern States to the railroads But change OF senti-
1nent had come: the railroads were planning for
increased facilities and with improved waterways
and harbors nothing stood in the way Of greater
progress
The opening session was marked by the presence
Of two members Of the Cabinet-Luke F. Wright,
Secretary Of War and Oscar S. Straus. Secretary
Of Commerce and Labor. A number OF Southern
members Of Congress were present, and Governor
Hoke Smith headed the Georgia delegation
The so-caIIed sectionalisn of the South was first
referred TO by Secretary Straus, who said IN his
address,:
I'VE are at the crest of a great commercial era
and the. South economically and commercially has
come out from its secuonaIIsn, and It IS part-an
important part and growing part-of the whole
country"
The gacratary said he believed that the time
near at hand when even politically It will be
rnisnoner to speak OF the solid South HIS re-
marks furnished the for the speakers who
followed who made especial reference to the fact
that sectionalisn practically had disappeared ana
the only rivalry that now survived was that for
commercial supremacy.
Secretary Straus referred to the wonderful strides
made by the South IN commerce IN the last forty
wears The product OF the factories OF the South
In 1870 amounted to s165 100000, said Mr.. Straus,
while in 1905 It had grown 10 the enormous extent
OF S113O0OO,O0 In the last five years the IN
crease in the manufacturing products of other parts
Of the country amounted IS per cent, whereas IN
the same period this production OF the ten Southern
states has increased Sc per cent Mr. Straus spoke
Of the necessity OF fast steamers plying between
this country and the southern continent, by which.
he said the South probably would be more oene1ted
than any other part of the country
At the morning session the principal addresses
were made by Secretary Wright and Surgeon Gen
eraI Wyrnan. Of the Public Health and Marine
Hospital Service
Secretary Wright carefully analyzed the trade
situation in country and throughout the world
in relation to the Panama Canal and declared
that it was not possible fully to predict the effect
Of the isthnian waterway commerce Though
we shorten The distance that separates from the
markets we desire to reach" said Mr.. Wright. we
give similar If equal advantage to cOmpetI
tors. Though we add to industries. n
courage the industries Of others. though We in
crease our own transportation facilities. afford
opportunity for the greater increase else
where. All this. truly, is for the progress OF
the world and for the benefit Of mankind; yet it
is doubtful If these altruIstIc purposes would be
sufficient in themselves that the canal would
now be building II could not reasonably ex-
pect TO profit commercially than the others
help.
THE products of the South now find their for
egn markets mainly IN Europe Mr.. Wright con-
tInued. but they desired In greater or
degrees by nearly all countries, those of the Pacific
as well as those of the Atlantic. Because OF its
geographical position the exports OF the South
cannot now readily reach the market Of the
Pacific, but with the completion OF the canal they
will be placed in the most favorable position Of all
the for the creation OF a great Pacific COM
merce 1t seems inevitable that the proximity to
the canal OF the Gulf states and the Gulf ports In
comparison with the north Atlantic section OF the
country. will develop direct trade through the
canal and draw large amount Of the export and
import trade OF the Mississippi Valley TO the Gulf
ports
DR.. Wyman spoke OF the climatic conditions OF
the South far they affected settlement and
development. He declared that the Southern
States healthy any part OF the United
States. and said that the yellow fever epidemic
could be controlled easily and need not be
-la1a