Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-07-14
MANIFEST DESTINY
OF THE SOUTHLAND
MORE coAsTLlNE THAN ALL THE
REST OF THE UNITED
STATES.
EXPORTS EXCEED NOW THOSE
OF PHILADELPHIA AND
BOSTON.

Atlanta, Ga, July Sc Grosvenor
Dawes. Managing director of the
southern commercial congress. made
an address yesterday on the potential
greatness OF the southern states, be-
fore the meeting of The southern com
merclal secretaries association. Mr.
Dawes said in part:
NieWed from the point OF eoastline
~ IS we'll to understand that the
Southern States possess an enormous
advantage over the other two-rhirds
OF the United States; for the coast.
line OF the southern states is 300-
miles, while the coastline of the north
atlantic states is SIS miles OF the ma.
citic coast 1857 miles.
The antural advantages of coast
line are already asserting their in
nuence for We are able to say tina, n
southern port still holds the second
position for exports among all the
ports of the United S ates-New Or.
leans in 1900, and now southern
port that nine years ago was wrecked
and rent by storm-the port of Gal
weston
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 he
longs to the overshadowing port of
New York. The tables of exports for
1900 aud 1908 show that 81 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
In the matter of imports-goods
coming TO America for distribution.
you will find that while the three
great ports above mentioned have in
| creased q per cent the southern ports
have increased 81 per cent. Is 1t not
reasonable to claim that the southern
states, by reason of their coastline
are coming to occupy an important
relation to the maritime future of the
| United States?
When we consider also that all
this swing of commerce is taking
| place prior to the completion of the
Panama canal and that the Panama
canal will help to pub southwark ev-
| cry interoceanic movement, you must
realize that the southern ports will
be on the very front door step of the
|
I'VE also declare that the rivers of
the south, navigable, and therefore
some day to be brought into coopera.
ton 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
nayigabIe streams amounting to &C.,
4l0 miles How much of this Is in
TIE south? Over 1925 miles.
This enormous total does not in
| clude a single mile of the Ohio though
it benefits southern states through
900 miles. Neither does this total In
clude any portion Of the Missouri
river. If the Mississippi be regarded
as a feeder for the gulf commerce the
mileage should be 1851 miles. This
leaves only 2,7l9 miles of nayigable
| streams to affec' he commercial pros
poets 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
plentiful rainfall. is producing, at
present Embarrassed. every moment
OF every day five million horse power.
The day is coming when. through con.
servation 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 regard
ing the iron ore life Of the United
States. you viii see that the southern
\ Appalachian region is expected - en-
1 dUre a hundred years after the Lake
Superior region is stripped and ex-
hausted Yet. with all the advantages
belonging to the southern extremity of
The Appalachlans, advantages so great
that Birmingham sets the price for pig
iron. yet at present only about 10 per
cen OF The pig iron of the United
states Is made In he south Then
| look At the size and energy Of Birm-
/ ingham-tha Birmingham district,
/ Chattanooga and other cities in Ten
aesseo and III Alabama dependent up
on iron ore. then realize that their
} marvellous grown to present dimen-
sions has come through the creation
I OF Ia rely 10 per cent Of the pig iron
/ Of the United States. Then let your
I imagination run rot and picture 10
/ Yourself what will be the Development
! Uf those portions of the country when
instead Of 10 per cent they are produ.
ing % per cent OF the pig iron Of the
l.uited States and largely giving that
/ iron It's final form
The southern states as a whole
possess more general accessibility 10
/ coas line, and therefore 20 the com
1erce NJ the world than either of the
/ 0iher III rds Of the United States. A
string and a pin wheel wiil enable you
/ 10 prove this. You men who think on
commercial subjects do not heed that