The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-05-30
Needs and Advantages Of the South
""' FINLEY OF THE SOUTHERN RAILWAY, ADDRESSES
COLUMBUS GA, BOARD ON SOUTHERN PROGRESS.

$4,000, or 1S1,70O per cent for the
twenty years.
The Southeastern states have
made rapid progress during the past
thirty years. 1t is the present task of
all Of US who are interested in this
section to get together and co-ope-
rate with energy and enthusiasm for
the broadcast possible development
Primarily, we should aim to bring
greater prosperity for those already
living in our section by interesting
them in the adoption of the most ad-
vanced methods of farming, by en-
couraging the establishment of indus
tries, and by aiding in finding markets
for Southeastern products. Secondly,
we should all work together to make
the resources and opportunities of our
section better known throughout the
world, to attract to each locality the
character of immigration that may be
desired by the people already living
there, and by encouraging the invest
ment of outside capital"
After commenting favorably on the
organized development of agriculture
in the south, and the organized efforts
to improve health conditions Mr.. Fin
ley said:
eve have room in the Southeast for
all of the Industrious, enterprising,
and otherwise desirable people who
can be induced to come among us. We
have a hearty welcome for them and
opportunities in abundance for them
to better their condition. One of the
most desirable ways in which our
population can be increased is by
keeping our young men at home. We
are constantly losing a certain pro
and to the North. In the United
States, owing to the facts that the
first settlements were along the At
lantic seaboard and that, until recent
ly, there were great traces of public
/ lands open to settlement in the west
the idea has been traditional that the
West is the land of opportunity
Horace Greeley did much to popular
ize this idea by his advice to young
men to go West and grow up with the
country. Conditions have radically
changed since Mr.. Greeley gave his
advice, and believe that If the great
editor were alive today he would say
60 south, young man, and grow W
with the country" Our opportunities
are at least as favorable as those in
any other part of the United States
and one of the most important things
we can do is to impress this fact upon
our own people. This will be doubly
effective for If we can bring every
| body in the southeast to a full realiz
alton of our advantages and to theil
enthusiastic exploitation, we shall
have them spreading the knowledge
throughout the entire country and In
foreign lands. To accomplish this
most effectively we should strive tc
make our development at home SC
marked and so progressive as to com
mand attention and convince the rest
less spirits among us that it is to Their
best interest to stay here, and we
should see to it that the facts as to
our progress and opportunities are
made known. Local organizations and
local newspapers can be most helpful
In this. In many cases effective per
sonal work may be possible. II a
Southeastern farmer has an idea that
he can improve his condition by NOV
ing to the so-called corn belt" to
| grow corn, he should have the knowl