The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1911-07-20
PRES. FINLEY
At KNOXVILLE

ley, OF the Southern Railway Com
,pany was the principal speaker this
T evening at a meeting of the Directors
Of the Appalachian Exposition and
business men of Knoxville, his sub
ject being THE Development of the
Appalachian Region
He emphasized very strongly the
economic strength of the Southeast
ern section of the United States,
growing out of its natural resources
and climatic advantages, and express
ed the opinion that no locality was
more favorably located or better fit
ted by it's natural resources for pro-
gressive development than the. South
ern Appalachian region.
He. pointed out the great advantage
enjoyed by the south in it's supremacy
in cotton production, and urged the
Importance of constantly endeaVoring
to strengthen this advantage by bring
ing about the general adoption of
methods that will result in the more
economical production of cotton by
obtaining larger yields per acre and
that will enable the Southern cotton
planters to keep pace with the ever
increasing demand of the world. He
did not advocate doing this by grow
ing cotton to the exclusion of other
crops, but rather by diversified agri-
culture and live stock raising as a
means of conserving and building up
soil fertility. After citing statistics
showing the increased yields per acre
obtained by Tennessee farmers dur
ing the past five years as compared
with the ten years from 1876 to 1885,
Mr.. Finley said:
"This shows that the farmers of
Tennessee have learned and are ap-
plying scientific methods of soil con-
servation. The averages for the past
five years. including the bad with
the good, fall far below the yields of
which Tennessee soils are capable
and far below the results obtained by
the most progressive farmers. For
the State as whole, the = average
yields per acre are still far below
what they ought to be and below what
viii speedily be attained when the
great body of. Tennessee farmers have
E&dBpfed the methods now being prac-e
ticed by the most progressive Year
by year, more farmers are adopting
the best methods and, year by year,
larger acres of soils are being bene
flied by scientific treatment. We may
expect that, in individual years, some
crops will suffer from adverse wea-
ther conditions, but / believe I'VE may
safely predict that each successive
fve-year period will show better re-
suits tina nthe preceding five years
for long time to come. The reports
of the United States Agricultural De-
partment on the condition of this sea-
sons growing crops bear out this pre-
diction. They show the condition of
cotton, corn and wheat IN Tennessee
as better than last year when the
average yield per year of each of these
crops in this State was in excess of
the five-year average"
Speaking Of the advantages of the
Southeastern States for raising live
stock and for the dairy industry, Mr..
Finley referred to the accessibility of
markets, to- the mild winters and long
grazing season, to the increasing de-
mand for meat and dairy products
and to the fact that, as a result of the
cutting ur of the Western ranges into
farms larger proportion of the meat
supply of the country must be farm
grown. He spoke of the cattle as
having been, in the past, handicau
to the live stock and dairying indus
tries of some parts of the South; and
said:
"The management of the railway
company that / have the honor to re-
present, considers the development of
live stock and dairyipg industries in
the Southeastern States of such great
Importance that we have recently ap-
pointed a Live Stock Agent and a
NoiV 10 fhoiTs fro
time to working in cooperation with
the farmers along our lines for the
development of these industries. In
cooperation with the State Commis-
stone, 9 of Agriculture and the United
State~ : gricultural Department, we
info ton as to the Importance of
eradicating the cattle tick and the
best methods of doing it,
Mr.. Finley spoke of the splendid adj
vantages of the Southern Appalachian
region for a great and varied indus
trial development, referring to the
accessibility of supplies of timber,
iron ore, cotton, marbles, building
stones, coal, and water powers. He
urged the Importance of conserving
these natural resources through wise
use and the elimination of waste.
He spoke of the intimate relation
existing between agricultural devel-
opment and industrial development, !
pointing out that the best market for
the farmers, and the increase of their
perishable products, is a nearby city
or manufacturing town, and that the
merchants and manufacturers areY
vitality interested in the prosperity of
the farmer, especially for all of his
purchasing power.
Referring to the Appalachian Ex-
position, to be held during the COM
ing autumn, Mr.. Finley said:
S Among the many factors in bring
ing about higher degree Of agricul-1
tural and industrial development,
none is more helpful than great
fair or exposition such as the Appala-
chian Exposition, to be held in your
enteEprising city during the coming