West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1915-10-07
BUSINESS Of ALL KINDS IN
SOUTH RAPIDLY IMPROVING
Situation is the Most Promising for
Many Years-Spirit of Optimism
Spreading = Vast Expenditures
Are Being Made for Development
and Improvement

tsohS VI TIC oouti, the hauulaCluTers
Record OF las week says:
Not since the panic of October
1907. has the situation looked SC
promising for the South as at pres
ent
During the last eight years we
have had no period OF broad general
prosperity in this country. We have
had brief spurts in some particular
lines OF industry. and we had five or
six years OF exceptionally good condi-
tions in the production and price of
cotton. but in all this period there
mas been lack OF enthusiasm and
snap. Railroads were feeling the full
effect OF the hampering restriction
against capital and corporations, and.
therefore, could do but little improve
ment or extension work. New rail-
roads were scarcely to be thought of.
except where here and there some dar-
ing attempts was made to build a
small line.
I'm all that long period the iron
and steel industry of the South was
more or less depressed, and for a
great part OF the time was very seri-
ously depressed and operated at little
or no profit. The dullness in railroad
construction work brought about great
dullness In lumber. one OF the South's
largest industries. While cotton was
high during a considerable part of
that time. cotton goods were for most
OF the period low in price. and cotton
mills were run without much profit.
except in rare cases.
''One OF the most depressing and at
the same time most noticeable feat
ures I'm connection with broad study
Of the whole South was the lack of
that optimism and enthusiasm and
determination to achieve things which
lad been so pronounced for many
years prior to the panic of 1907.
Now the whole scene has been
shifted. The stage apparently has
been set for new order OF things.
The mighty panorama of broad Sou
thern development which has been
moving so slowly for the last eight
years begins once more to unfold
with increasing rapidity.
"The spirit of optimism is spread
Ing. Quickened by the very situa-
ton which the South faced last fall,
determined that this section should
not be downed by one year of adverse
conditions In trade, nor be made to
stand before the world as impoyer-
ished, unable to meet a temporary
difficulty. the people OF the South are
arousing themselves and preparing to
march forward to a victory over every
'unfavorable circumstance.
mo one can pick up a Southern pa
per anywhere from Maryland out to
Texas and Oklahoma without catch
ing the note of optimism which Is be-
ing struck by everybody in every di-
rection,
"The iron and steel industry is
crowded as IL has not been since the
early part of 1907. Some furnaces out
OF blast for ten or twelve years are
being made ready as rapidly as pos
sible to blow in again. Advancing
prices in iron are giving a broader
margin OF profit to the ironmakers
than they have known for years.
Cotton mills are fully employed,
and there are more signs OF activity
In the enlargement of existing mills
and the construction of new mills
than for eight or ten years.
"The lumber industry shows a re-
ylylDg tendency, with advancing
prices and heavy increase in de-
mand.
The phosphate rock industry, al
most dormant since last fall. begins
again to show signs of life, with in
creasing activity, mines long idle are
now being started up
Vast expenditures are being made
for the development OF shipping IA
cilities and port improvements along
tue entire Atlantic and Gulf Coasts
from Maryland to Texas.
Expenditures for municipal and
road Improvement work, and especial
ly for the latter, are on a scale never
known before in the South.
"The south's wonderful grain crop
OF 1.600000.OO0 bushels, or 346 900 ,OOC
bushels in excess of last years yield
has been an illumination TO the en-
tire country as to the grain growing
potentialities OF the South, Coinci-
dent with this is the heavy increase
N ihe production of meats and the
greater attention that is being given
to live stock raising, hogs and cattle
alike commanding more attention IN
the South now than ever before.
"And added to all this improvement
is the remarkable change which has
taken place i'm the cotton market
With a crop Of 100000 to 10000 900
bales now being picked added to tn,
stock OF 100000 or 100000 bales
brought over from last year, the mar
kel is eagerly absorbing the supply a
advanciug prices-at prices which, In
deed, you'd have been considered
very profitable only few years age
before the South was able to sell on,
or two drops at higher figures thar
for many years.
Running over the whole range o