Goldsboro semi-weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1909-19??, 1909-07-14
SOUTHWARK, HO!
Some Side Lights On Po-
tentiaI 0ppor-
tunitieS.
AS Soon as the Tariff Bill Is Settled
Business VIII Adjust Itself to
Conditions and Go
Forward.
Forward.

| Considerable business activity dur
ing the year 1910 is forecast by condi
| tions. 1t is stated that the railroads
| during the past few months have
placed contracts for 45,500,625 loco
motives, including a few orders fo1
Canadian lines and for export. Rail
contracts, which during the first quar-
ter of the year were less than 275,00O
tons, were increased to 100000 tons
by the first of July, cars and orders
placed during the second quarter ex-
ceeding 100000 tons.
Prosperity in the agricultural dis
tricts is indicated, it is said, by the
immense business in wire products. 1t
is reported that in January and Feb
ruary, when other lines were Ian
gushing, the wire mills were pros
porous, with a fair grist of orders
During the last four months, begin
ming with March, the American Steel
and Wire Company have booked con-
tracts calling for $4,000 tons, and
for the first half of the year about
100000 tons. Crediting the indepen-
dent interest with 100000 tons the to-
tai of contracts for wire products
during the first six months of the year
is 100000 TINS. AS the agricultural
implement manufacturers are the
largest consumers of steel bars, the
heavy contracts placed for the latter
product are not surprising, but the
railroads, indirectly through the
equipment shops, have also been
responsible for very large tonnage.
It is estimated that contracts have
been placed for about 100000 tons of
steel bars.
With the tariff bill in such shape
that it will most likely soon be out of
the way, there is every reason to be-
lieve that all business will adjust it
self to conditions, whatever they may
be, and go forward without further
hindrance.
Coming down to our own section-to
the South and it's potentialities, the
Southern "Lumberman," in presenting
the opportunities here afforded, in
vites young men of energy and capi-
tai hitherward for investment.
Says the Lumberman:
"To him who likes to figure with a
pencil on the possibilities of acquiring
wealth-and it is usually by looking
into the future that wealth is acquired
we commend the following figures
of the government as to the money
nr0ducinQ mower Of the streams of tha
South. And this, by the way, is but
one of our side lines
According to estimates made by
the United States Geological Survey
there is a minimum of about 2,SOO,000
indicated horsepower developed by
the rivers having their headwaters in
the Southern Appalachian mountains.
Mature consideration of the condition
leads the survey to estimate that at
least so per cent. and probably much
more of the indicated waterpower of
the South is available for economic
development. This represents merely
tn minimum horsepower.
'"1he rental of 100000 horsepower
per year would amount to an annual
return of $28 100000. This amount is
equal to a gross income of per cent.
on capital of about 1898, 900.
Some of this power has already been
developed. but very small proportion
hardly enough to make any appre-
cable showing when the resources of
the region are taken into account"