Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-05-06
4elisecllaaruus Aradina.
THE soUTH'S DEVELOPMENT.
Richard II. Edmonds Tells Of Outlook
For the Future,

Richard II. Edmonds Tells of Outlook
For the Future.
Richard H. Edmonds, editor of the
Manufacturers Record, who has just
returned from the south, in discussing
southern business conditions. said:
"A few days ago an oil gusher was
struck in Texas at much greater
depth than any well previously put
down in that state, thus vastly increas-
ing the available area of the Texas
field Experts regard 1t as the most
important event i'm Texas oil history in
the last five years This discovery only
illustrates how little is yet known or
the underground wealth of the south.
New discoveries are constantly being
made, widening the extent of the Oil
and gas field of that section, as well as
showing up far greater resources in
coal and iron and marble, GRANTEES and
other minerals than have heretofore
been known.
In every part of the south there is
some special line of development work
which is commanding public attention
to a greater extent than heretofore
while everywhere the general progress
of industrial and agricultural interests
goes on rapidly. In the coal fields OF
West Virginia and eastern Kentucky,
there is great activity, and sales aS-
gregating several hundred thousand
acres have recently been put through
or are under negotiation. New York
and eastern capitalists are the buyers.
An offer Of $3.50 an acre for 10000 acres
of West Virginia coal land was recent
ly refused, which indicates how lands
are advancing for a few years ago $50
an acre was considered a pretty stiff
price In eastern Kentucky, ConnellS-
Vile, Pa. coke men are preparing for
some large operations in coke making,
having satisfied themselves that some
of the coal in tnat region is superior
even to the Connellsville coal for cook
ing.
I'm the Piedmont region water power
operations are attracting much atten-
ton, and one concern, which has al
ready developed more than 100000 hy-
dro- electric power. has secured con-
troll, so ii is understood, Of water pow
ers aggregating 350,000 horse power for
future utilization. Partly in connec-
tion with this water power develop
ment some very large cotton mill en-
terprises are under way by the same
interests, and at one point it is hoped
to develop a Fall River of the south.
I'm eastern Carolina and in the Gulf
states land reclamation is the order OF
the day. Chicago capitalists lately
bought 100000 acres of overfiowed or
wet land in Louisiana, with a view to
drainage and colonization at an out
lay of many millions Of dollars. Many
smaller tracts have likewise been sold
lately to other western people and 1t
looks as though Louisiana will lead the
Union in the reclamation of its wet
lands, and thereby add some hundreds
of millions of dollars to its wealth.
These wet lands are among the most
fertile in the world. and only need
drainage to command from SIS to 500
an acre.
THE big cattle ranches of Texas are
being cut up into small farms to sup
ply the demand from settlers who are
rushing into that state from the west
at the rate of $4,000 to 10000 a month.
Within the last few days l heard of one
small Texas road so blocked with bus
mess from incoming settlers that it can
scarcely handle the traffic.
In Alabama the United States steel
Corporation is now spending s7000,000
in carrying out its plans for enlarge
ment of operations in that state. Ad-
joining it's great steel plants, a resi-
dence and business town Is being laid
out on what is claimed to be even more
modern and up-todate lines Of i'm
provements, conveniences and comforts
than any other industrial town in the
United States. In that state mineral
properties are rapidly enhancing in
value as the work of the steel corpora
tion has demonstrated to the world the
truth of the best points in the world
for iron and steel making.
Georgia with 100000 peach trees
promising a great crop this year is ty-
pical of the rapid growth of the fruit
industry of the whole south. And so
the story runs. In every part of the
south there is great progress and rapid
increase in wealth. In every industry
agriculture, manufactures, mining, rail-
roading and immigration-there IL
well-rounded development on a scale
of the next five years will exceed that
of the last ten years, and in some lines,
that Of the last fifteen or twenty years.