The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-08-15

extensive field for the diversification of
Industries.
What may be accomplished in this d.
recton may be illustrated by citing the
iron and steel industry in Pennsylvania.
In 1905 the total value of the products of
this industry in that state amounted to
81, $50, So, 1882, of which only SAIL 2Ss,S44 rep
resented the value of the products of
blast furnaces, steel works and rolling
mills. In other words, on this relatively
small basis of primary manufacturing.
there had been built up secondary manu-
featuring industries, using these primary
products as their raw materials, with an
annual production amounting to $1,4SA-
3a2, 1888
As [ have Indicated the south has al
ready made considerable progress in the
development OF secondary manufacturing
industries, but the opportunities for ex-
pansion in this direction are almost I'M
limited. Without attempting to enumer-
ate all of the directions in which this
development is possible 1 may suggest
some lines along which there are I'M
doubtedly opportunities for industrial
diversfication.
The most widely developed industry of
the south-that of cotton manufacturing
Is capable of a much larger expansion,
both In the mill industry itself and In the
utilization of mill products. Even in our
cotton mill towns a considerable proper
ton of the cotton goods sold-especially
In the finer grades of piece goods, laces,
and embroiderles-are manufactured in
New England or in foreign countries.
me south sells the raw material for these
goods at. say, 10 cents a pound and buys
IL back, in some cases. at the rate of sew
Neral dollars a pound-the difference hav-
ing gone to pay the wages of operatives
and the profits of manufacturers in other
localities. The south also buys consider
able quantities of cotton garments and
other articles made of cotton, which are
manufactured elsewhere. The home mar
ket, therefore, holds out inducements for
the further expansion of both primary
and secondary cotton manufacturing and
with its manifold advantages, a more d.
versifed southern cotton manufacturing
industry could compete successfully In
the markets of the world
southern forests and southern iron
mines provide the bases for building up
extensive and widely diversified indus
tries. The figures quoted above as to the
iron and steel industry of Pennsylvania
are suggestive of what may be done in
this direction. The exhaustion OF the
timber supply in many parts of the Uni
ted states greatly strengthens the posi-
ton of the south with respect to every in
dustry using wood alone, or WOOD in
combination with iron, steel or other ma
terials. From any such Industries, in
Guiding vehicles of all kinds and agricul-
tural implements and machinery, the
southern demand affords market oppor-
tunities In the SAND way. the Industrial
development of the south Itself is con-
stantly widening the opportunities for a
diversified iron and steel Industry, es-
pecially in the production of tools and
machinery used in cotton mills and other
factories
The southern farmer already supplies
the cotton mill and the cotton seed oil
mill with their raw materials. He is now
deyoting increased attention to live stock
which will broaden the foundation for
meat packing, the industries using pack
Ing house by-products, and tanning, with
all the secondary industries using leather
as their raw materials, such as boots
and shoes, betting. harness., travelling
bags ETC.
| might go on and write of the op-
portunities for enlarging the use of
southern building stones, brick and pot
terry clays and other material resources,
but to do so would unduly prolong this
letter, the object of which is to invite the
attention of the newspapers of the south
and of their readers to the vast range of
industrial opportunities In our section.
Yours truly, w w. FINLEY, President.
Washington August ~, 1910.