The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-02-23
OPTIMISTIC VIEWS OF SOIjTH'S
FUTURE BY LEADING men

vances made by the Southern states
of recent years, but when think of
the south's advantages in natural re-
sources and geological location, can
see in the future still greater prog
ress along all lines, and especially in
agriculture. With the progress made
in the diversification of crops, in the
eradication of the cattle tick, in the
Improvement of cotton by seed selec-
ton, and in the very remarkable in
crease in the corn crop, agriculture in
the south has the brightest possible
future. Perhaps the best reason of all
| for taking the most optimistic view
possible of the future progress of the
south in agriculture is the awakening
of the farmers to the possibilities of
their occupation. They have every
reason to look forward with conf
.dence to a bright and prosperous flu
ture, with ample reward for their in
dustry and intelligence"
Secretary of the Treasury Franklin
McVeagh who has always had an
abiding faith in the wonderful future
of the south, writes:
ut is safe to assume that present
manufactures fall very far short of
what they will become with the next
few years for there is every economic
reason why Southern products should
be prepared for final consumption in
Southern manufacturing establish
ments. The opening of the Panama
Canal will carry to the South great
new possibilities; and it behooves
your people to be active, even already.
in order to come into their rightful
heritage. So that from all points of
view know of no section of the coun-
try whose future possibilities are
more certain or more attractive"
The Importance of the Panama Ca
nal is emphasized, also, by Secretary
of War H. L. Stimson, who writes:
'"I have a strong belief that the
opening of the Panama Canal and the
consequent development of American
influence and trade throughout the
West Indies and along the coasts of
the Caribbean Sea will have a potent
influence in developing the business
Of the Southern United States For
example, look to see New Orleans
and the mouth of the Mississippi be
come the gateway of great volume
of trade between the States of our
Mississippi Valley and the new mark
cts which will be opened through the
Panama Canal and throughout the
West indies"
Speaker Champ Clark, of the Ma
tional House of Representatives, be.
lieves that the most wonderful growth
in the country will be in the south
and he says:
1.-THE growth and development Of
the south during the last four decades
has been phenomenal, and all signs in
dictate that it will be even greater in
the next 40 years."
, Governor Woodrow Wilson of New
= Jersey, like Speaker Clark of South
ern origin, writes:
. mo one who knows the south car
, look forward to her future without the
} most confident expectation of an eX
, traordinary development. The charac
ter of her people. of her resources and
: of her climate assure a development
= which will be one of the most notable
features of the growth of America il
years will be but an imperfect indica
, ton of what the next 80 days will
bring forth"
| Former Vice-President of the Uni
, ted States, Charles w. Fairbanks o.
, Indiana, writes:
; 1.-THE New South is not an idle
fancy; it is a real and substantial
fact. The expansion of manufactur
ing, the growth in the upbuilding o
/. cities, the improvement of railway
: transportation, the development o
mines, and so on, are, ! believe, only
the beginning of a greater south
There is no portion of the United
States which is so full of opportuni
ties along wholesome lines as thu
: great SOUTH"
| Other expressions are as follows;