The Forrest City times., 1911-04-14
Fifty Years of Achievement.

futy 1eafS O1 Acnlevement.
 Fifty years ago this week the south was on the eve of great war Wrought up to state of tension by the prospect of conflict with the north, which however it ended. it was recognized, would involve the expendi- ture of millions of treasure and the sacrifice of thousands of lives, business was at standstill. The pail of con- mercial stagnation had spread it's panoply over both sides of the Potomac and men without employ oyment roamed the streets, hungry and anxious. For four years the hands on the clock of industry stopped moving. When they resumed, half a million brave fellows had been laid away beneath the sod and ten billion dollars had been con- sumed in powder and armament.
 No fifty years in the worlds history have seen greater changes anywhere than have been wrought since then in the South, which rising from the smouldering embers of industrial prostration has taken her place among the most progressive, and most enter prising sections of the nation. Unaid- ed by the rest of the country it has solved the tremendous problems thrust upon it at the close of the war with an intelligence, initiative and courage in keeping with it's best traditions. Beser with discouragements on every side, handicapped by lack of capital, and encompassed by difficulties that called for the exercise of extraordinary tirmness, tact, industry and judgment, it has enthusiastically kept it's face to the rising sun and succeeded where pessimism suggested failure. It has stimulated agriculture and given new impetus to manufacture. It has encouraged the extension of the railroads through undeveloped con- munities, promoted irrigation for the arid wastes and fostered drainage for the lowlandS. It has infused new life into the cotton industry, now worth S900, GOO 000 year to it, and vies with the west in Us ambition to wreSt from England, through the help of the OK ford processes, which do here in two days that which requires thirty weeks to accomplish ahroad, that country's centurie, ul'i control of the world s linen market.
 Comparatively a new conner in the textile field, it's miles already challenge those of New England and 5000, 900 of the 2i,000,000 spindles in the United States hum their song of industry within it's borders. It's factories boast oi S3S,717 horse power, employ capi- tai of S1,287, ,92l ,o34 and annually produce goods of value of sl, 300, 0O0,. 900. Barely explored yet, with only their surface deposits touched, its coal mines, richer and more extended those of Pennsylvania, yield S3,596, 30: tons a.year and apace with its develop ment in other directions it's railroads provide transportation over 66,3S7. & miles of it's territory, with an aggre gate wealth of s7, ,331 ,929, sos and year ly accretions of many millions, 1t i; stronger and commercially more for midable than at any time in it's whole history. Looking back through the half century of its unceasing constuc
 tive effort, the South pausing to review
 it's accomplishments in the various
 has applied its energies, can feel proud
 of its superb record. For it the fifty
 years that have rolled by have beer
 years of distinguished achievement
 and steady progression They have
 been years worth the while.