The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-27
NO SECTION MORE HARMED
 BY STRUGGLE THAN SOUTH


 of electric development of the south When these plans were perfected and the power developed by them made available Tor commercial use there would have been an increase of cotton mills and man ufacturing establishments and very great transmission system whereby elec- tfic power could be carried many miles rom the place where 1t was generated. The success of what may be called the Duke undertaking in Piedmont Carolina, persuaded Mir. Duke and his associates to undertake investments elsewhere. The electric furnace. when brought to high state of efficiency, MT. Duke and his associates believe, win revolutionize industry to considerable extent. That Is one of the reasons why MT. DuNe has been acquiring options on power sites in Canada The vast deposits in iron which are known to exist in Canada may be utilized for the cheap manufacture Of steel rails.
 In the Air for Awhile
 Many of these undertakings must be suspended for while. The capital which they need cannot be secured. Fortu- nately, the south is already developed. perhaps to greater extent than any other part of the country, through the utilization of waterpower for the crea- , great extent upon the advice of the late George Westinghouse
 Another mediate effect of the war is to be the one which is to be felt by the cotton growers in those states af the south where cotton is the chief harvest Few persons realize that the cotton mills of the south were taking approximately 100000 bales, and unquestionably will take that amount this year if war condi- 7 industry. As the product of the southern cotton mbills is for the most part of a more costly kind of cotton than is manu- factured in the mills of the north, and as the imported dyestuffs of German make are needed by most of the northern manufacturers are not essential to cotton manufacture of the south it may be that if there be a heavy falling off in the ex- ports of raw cotton to England, as there certainly will be in exports to continen- tai cities. the cotton mills of the south will find themselves face to face with unexpected and very great opportunities.
 The Cotton Situation
 The European war will certainly not i'm pair the cotton growing industry of the south. although it may for a time cause certain financial endorsements. The American banks, however will be likely
  ment prevails.
 Notwithstanding the fact that the sugar industry in Louisiana is presumably to decline, nevertheless the energetic people of that state have been considering the best way to utilize lands which heretofore have grown sugar cane. Louisiana has been for some time attempting to per- suade foreign capital in large amounts to make investment in that state. 1t was the hope q few weeks ago that agencies of Canadian banking institutions and of large banking institutions of Paris would be re-established in New Orleans. espe- cially in view of the expected increased commerce of that port after the Panama canal is opened. But until the war is ended it is not likely that agencies of great foreign banking institutions will be established in New Orleans.
 One of the German steamship lines had perfected during the summer plans for establishing a direct steamship route from New Orleans to the West Indies and to South America, Of course. these plans must be for time abandoned There will necessarily be considerable re- adjustment, financial. agricultural and in dustrial, throughout the south as the con sequence of the European war.