The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1909-07-08
SOUTH IN LEAD
IN It's. EXP RTS
Potential Greatness of the
Southern States Shown
by Dave.
PANAMA WILL HELP
To Make That Section of the
Country Greatest Water
Shipping Section.

All%fi3N La GH., July 1T. GfOS-
yenor Dave. managing director of the
Southern Commercial Congress. made
an address today on. the potential
greatness of Che Southern states. be-
fore the meeting of the Southern Com
merclai Secretaries Association. Mr..
Dave said in part:
Viewed frc, N the point of coastline.
1t Is we'll to understand that the South
ern states possess an enormous advan-
tage over the other two-thirds OF the
United States: for the coastllne of the
Southern states is 3.007 miles. while
the coastline of the North Atlantic
states is sss miles; OF the Pacific
coast 1867 miles.
The natural advantages of coast
line are already asserting their in
tiuence. for we are able to say that a
Southern port still holds the second
position for exports among all the
ports of the United States-New Or
leans in 1900. and now a Southern port
that nine years ago was wrecked and
rent by storm-the port of Galveston.
We are able to show you that the
exports along the gulf now exceed the
exports of Philadelphia and Boston by
81 per cent. and they equal more than
so per cent of the total which be-
longs TO the overshadowlng port of
New York. The tables of exports for
1900 and 1908 show that "a per cent
growth in exports has taken place In
New York, Philadelphia and Boston
regarded together. During this same
time the gulf exports increased 81
per cent.
I'm the matter of imports-goods
coming to America for distribution,
you will find that while the three
great ports above mentioned have in
creased 81 per cent. the Southern
ports have Increased 81 per cent. Is
II not reasonable to claim that the
Southern states. by reason of their
eoastline are coming to occupy an i'm
portant relation to the maritime flu
turc of the United States?
When we consider also that all this
swing of commerce is taking place
prior to the completion of the Pam
ana canal and that the Panama canal
will help pull southwark every inter-
oceanic movement, you must realize
that the Southern ports will be on the
very front door step OF the worlds
future commercial movements.
..NV Q
the South. navigable. and therefore
some day to be brought into coop
Grafton with the energetic men of the
South. are more than two to one when
compared with any other portion of
the United States. The National Con-
servation Commission has reported
that there are In the United States
navigable streams amounting to &c.
40 miles. How much of this is in
the South? Over 1925 miles.
This enormous total does not in
clude single mile OF the Ohio
though it benefits Southern states
through 800 miles. Neither does this
total include any portion of the Mis-
souri, river. II the Mississippi be re-
garded as feeder for the gulf conn
merce the mileage should be 23,691
miles. This leaves only 2,719 miles of
narigable streams to affect the COM
merclal prospects of the remaining
two-thirds of the United States.
The vast Appalachian range, the
greatest mountain range in the United
States lying within the region of plen-
tiful rainfall, Is producing at present
Embarrassed. every moment Of every
day five million horse power. The day
is coming when, through conservation
Impulses this water will be used to
drive the wheels Of industry and Of
transportation throughout the South,
thus indefinitely extending the life OF
power buried now in the coal fields
Of the South.
IF you look at the estimates re-
sarding the iron ore life of the United
States. you will see that the Southern
Appalachian region is expected to en-
dnre hundred years after the Lake
Superior region Is stripped and ex-
hausted. Yet with all the advantages
belonging to the Southern extremity
of the Appalachians. advantages so
great that Birmingham sets the price
for pig iron. yet at present only about
10 per cent OF the pig iron of the
United States is made in the South.
Then look at the size and energy OF
Notwithstanding Birmingham dis
trict. Chattanooga and other cities in
Tennessee and In Alabama dependent
upon iron ore. then realize that their
marvellous growth to present dimen-
sions has come through the creation OF
merely 10 per cent of the big iron oil
the United States. Then let your i'm.
asination run riot and picture to your.
self what will be the development Of
those portions OF the country wher
instead Of 10 per cent they are pro.
Continued On paee d,