The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-01-24

Department OF Agriculture, who dis
cusses in the Manufacturers Record the
resources and progress OF the South. tax
ing as his topic farming as the founda-
ton OF material progress, says that III
the wonderful progress made Throughout
the country IN agriculture during the last
ten OF twelve years the South has richly
shared"
An immense lot OF mortgage indebt-
edness," he adds, has been lifted from
Southern plantations. and he sees no
reason why the old condition should ever
return" The South. says Secretary VII
son, has future soIidly based On an i'm
proving agriculture, and the natural adj
vantsges OF this section for a profitable
agriculture are becoming better appre-
ciated every day immigration Is certain
10 increase as It's advantages become
better understood, and more and more
VIII capital seek investment in the South
rs its advantages are made known TO the
world
Pointing to the inquiries that come 70
the department from people OF other
sections desiring 10 know where TO buy
Issd. Secretary Wilson says;
I remind them that the cheapest lands
are now in the South, and that these
lands, as a general thing. need nothing
but skillful handling 10 pay well"
Minerals in the South.
Dr.. David T. Day. Of the United States
Geological Survey, an expert Of world
wide influence, in a comprehensive dis
Cussion OF the great wealth Of the South
in oil. natural gas. sulphur. salt, and
other minerals. discusses the natural out
come Of these conditions in the inevitable
development on q large scale OF great
clinical industries, especially in South
ern louisiana
1t is not too much. he says. TO say
that there is no known locality in the
world where the natural resources are so
combined as TO make possible the pro-
ducti0n of suIphuric acid, soda, caustic
soda, and similar products al a lower
cost than any other place on earth.
Ten times the labor could be probably
employed. the property OF the regions
mentioned could be greatly developed,
and the wealth Of all Southern Louisiana
great chemical centers Of Europe and be
yOnd any other place which could be
mentioned IN the United States
The development Of such industrial en-
terprises in the near future is a foregone
conclusion. He suggests that in con-
sidering the development OF chemical in
dUstries too much emphasis cannot be
laid upon their importance If agriculture
is 10 be placed on a permanent basis in
dependent Of the richness OF the soil
For a supply OF potash, q chemical which
should ind its development IN the South,
Dr. Day says We must look 20 the field
spars Of the Appalachian Mountain re-
gions, Prof Cushman, Of the United
- States Department Of Agriculture, IN his
recent wonderful work. having shown
how these can be applied as a fertilizer
SHOULD Use Coke Products.
a suitable supply Of nitrogen should, -
he says. come first from the complete
utilization Of all the ammonia from the
manufacture of coke, but that still more
effective viii be the utilization OF what
IS now wasted waterpower for the devel-
opment Of cheap electricity to utilize the
nitrogen Of the atmosphere 10 the ines
Unable benefit Of the Southern States -
On the development Of these great chemi-
cal and fertilizer pOtentialities Re says:
we can not only prevent soils from be-
coming barren. but exhausted soils can
he brought again into fun fertility, and
the old way OF allowing the lands to lie
fall0w can be easily avoided, and any
crop can be made successful any year"
The meaning Of the Panama Canal TO
the South is discussed by John Barrett,
director of the International Bureau Of
American Republics. formerly minister to
Siam and Argentina
The South" says Mr.. Barrett. ''has
become one Of the great factors in the
growing strength Of the nation and the
natural resources there have only begun
TO be appreciated Briefly reviewing the
foundation OF Southern development he
then discusses the territorial extent, the
population and the resources Of the coun-
tries OF Central and South America
which viii be opened up TO commerce
with the South through the construction
OF the Panama Canal. and presses upon
Southern business men the Importance
Of cuitivating the growing trade south
Of them.
Influence of Railroads.
The influence Of railroads in the I'D
building Of the South is discussed By
Mr.. v. J. Meany. Of New York. in an
elaborate statistical presentation cover
ing the last twenty years, in which ne
takes the ground that Ito keep up with
the march Of progress the South should
build in the next ten years at least forty
thousand miles OF new line and Increase
her auxiliary trackage until its length
is one-third as great as that Of her main
track"
Including the building Of new lines and
the betterment Of existing trade, he saws
s'@These necessary additions and improve
ments viii cost not less than s. 90. 900 900
which must come from without the South
To secure such an amount Of capital upon
any terms competition must be entered
into with all the lines Of human industry
and endeavOr throughout the world
What the South may accomplish, richIv
endowed by nature with weaith-DrOducing
capabilities. through the construction OF
railroads, he illustrates by a comparison
OF Massachusetts,, Pennsylvania Ohio
and Iowa with the Southern States. The
four States mentioned have TWENTY-FIVE
miles Of railroad for every one hundred
square miles OF territory. Their combined
wealth is Sc. 900 009, 600, equal TO $3.50 per
capita. The South, with nearly six times
the area and a population ten million
more than the four States mentioned. has
total wealth Of s15,5o00O0,O00, OF 500 per
capita
With the same ratio Of mileage and
population 10 territory and wealth Of pop
ulatiOn, says M Meany, as obtains
IN the States named. the South would
have more than 100000 persons whose
wants would be served by I92eoe miles
Of railroad. and whose combined wealth
figures are stUpendous. but the construc-
ton Of railroads has wrought greater
wonders than would be then realized IN a
place as favored by nature as the South"
Resources of Oklahoma.