The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1911-04-14
Fifty YEARS OF
GREAT ACHIEVEMENT
A Review Of the south's Activi-
ties During the Past Half
Century


Fifty years ago this week the
South was on the eve of a great
war. Wrought up to a state Of
tension by the prospect of con-
fict with the north, which how
ever it ended, it was recognized,
would involve the expenditures
of millions of treasure and the
sacrifice of thousands of lives,
business was at a standstill. The
pail of commercial stagnation had
spread its panoply over both sides
of the Potomac and men with
out employment roamed the
streets, hungry and anxious. For
four years the hands on the clock
of industry stopped moving.
When they resumed, half a mil
lion brave fellows had been laid
away beneath the sod and ten
billion dollars had been consumed
in powder and armament.
No fifty years in the worlds
history have seen greter changes
anywhere than have been
wrought then in the south, which
rising from the smouldering EN-
beers of industrial prostration has
taken her place among the most
progressive and enterprising sec
tions of the nation. Unaided by
the rest of the country it has solv-
ed the tremendous problems
thrust upon il at the close Of the
war with an intelligence, initia-
tive and courage in keeping with
its best traditions. Beset with
discouragements on every side,
handicapped by lack Of capital,
and encompassed by difficulties
that called for the exercise Of ey.
traordinary frmness, tact, indus.
try and judgment, it has >pto-
mistically kept its face TO the RS
ing sun and succeeded whore pes
simism suggested failure. 1t has
stimulated agriculture and given
new impetus to manufacture. II
has encouraged the extension Of
the railroads through mdevcl0p-
ed communities, promoted li11ga-
ton for the arid wastes and iNs-
tered drainage for the lawlands.
IL has infused new life into the
cotton industry, now worth 5000,
100000 a year to it and vies with
the west in its ambition TO Wrest
from England, through the help
OF the Oxfird processes, which do
here in two days that wE;ch re-
kuires thirty weeks TO accomplish
abroad that country's Centuries
old control Of the worlds linen
market.
Comparatively a new conner IN
the textile field, its mills already
challenges those of New England
and 100000 of the - 0OU,G 600
spindles II the United States mum
their song Of industry within It's
borders. Its factories boast o
83S,717 horse power, employ a
capital of $1,2S7.921 ,094 and an
nually produce goods of a value
of 81 .500,000,000. Barely eXplor-
ed yet, with only their surface de
posts touched, its coal mines.
richer and more extended than
those of Pennsylvania, yield 3d.,
500 02 tons a year and apace
with its development in other di-
intersections its territory MS
transportation over 66,3sIS6
miles of its territory, with an ag-
gregate wealth of 1881 ,929, sos
and yearly accretions of many
it is stronger and com
more formidable than
at any time in its whole history
Looking back through the halt
century of its unceasing construc.
tive effort, the south pausing 10
review its accomplishments IN the
various fields of human service
to which it has applied its ener
gies. can feel proud of its superb
record. For it the fifty years that
have rolled by have been years
of distinguished achievements
and steady progression. They
have been years worth the while.
Moonlight Picnic