The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-01
President Finley Writes
 0pen Letter.
APPEALS TO soUTHs FARMERS
Subjeet of Great Importance to .l Future Prosperity.
Hs Says ssuthern Railway stands nssdy At All Times To Cooper
 at. win All Individuals a.d Conmunities.
Washington. D. c,


 te July 31, 1908. Eaiter The Advertiser. Montgomery, T Dear sir:-It hes occurred to me tbst jt may not be improper for me to sddress you and other representa- tive editors in the Southern States on n subject which I believe to be of srest importance to the future pros peFity of our section.
 Ny duties require me to keep in touch. as nearly as possible. with bust neps coalitions throughout the coun- try and especially in the South. Since the beginning of the business depres- sion from which the country is now rScevering. I have been greatly iEn- pressed with evidence which came to rne that while business all over the United States has been unfavorably af- fseted. the effects of the depression have been felt most severely, as gen. erai srufe. in those communities the eisersies of which are devoted princi- paily to the production of a single com noaity, or of q few commodities. and that business has been relatively less affected iu those, communities in which pFoduefion is more diversified 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 ana vagetehies.,s There has been a Ateedy mark ct for these products. and. although prices have not in some ir- stances been as high as in other sea- sens, I believe they have generally yielded profits to the growers.
 '.The press of the South has already accomplished much by advocating di-. versIfication of agricukure and manu- featuring, and. looking back over the past twenty i've years. we can realize that much hes been accomplished In this direction. believe, however, that the time is especially opportune for continuing our efTorts In this direction apd for urging that each Southern com pupIty shall make the most of the opportunities which revival of busi- nSgs will open up to 1t.
 Mature has faevred. the South with medically inexhaustible resources Of great variety, and the 1ndustrious and reeource9ai Southern people, have shown their ability to take up and carry to success new lines of indus- try. believe. therefore. that you will agree with nas as to the deeirability of. encouraging still greater diversifi. cation of industry In the drection of uSilixing to the fullest extent the nat- ufat resources of our section.
 
 the lines in which progress in this direction is possible. I would suggest that, in many localities, agricultural prnsPerity might be advanced by fur ther Liberalization of farming especially in the direction of produc- fog the fruits and vegetables best suited for each locality: that live stock and daIrying might profitably receive more attention in some localities. and that in connection with larger pro- duction. of fruits and vegetables. there afe many localities in which canning and preserving industries might profit ably he carried on more extensively than at present.
 }'TndnstriaIiy, believe it should be the aim of the South to add to the p6rfifs of producing raw materials the profits of manufacturing, by convert Ing Southern raw materials. as far as possible. into articles ready for use. As indicating what may be done along this sitne, I may refer to the cotton tex tie industry. Although the South has asubstantial a monopoly in the produc- tfon of the most widely used textile fibre in the world, some of us are told enough to remember when 1t was be- Iisved in many quarters that cotton manufacturing on a large scale could net be esfabilshed successfully in the South. The Southern people first deinonstrated their ability to make the ceaeser grades of cotton fabrics. and they are now demonstrating their ability to make the finer grades as well and to bleach and finish the products ofstheiE miils think we may look sorweFd with confidence to the fur ther development of this great industry and of industries depending upon 1t, suchI as the manufacture of cotton goods iato articles of clothing ready for wear.
 T might enumeTate a long list of opportunities for the further develop ntept of manufacturing. It would in- dude the conversion. on . larger scale, of Southern made leather into boots and shoes, harness and belSlng, in Southern factories, and the conversion of the products of Southern forests and. mines into a long list of articles ready for use. I have said enough,
 r........... =.