Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-09-17
VIRGINIA VIRGIN FIELD
FOR GREAT INDUSTRIES
Why Men DO big Things in big
Way-Grcat Charm of
tho South.
FRESH DoMAINTo BE EXPLOITED

III ifaSal MntcrlaIS Tor Many iHihSS
Virginia and Other States Abound.
Not to BE Found Anywhere Else.
Great Day Coming.
One of the writers. among the many
who contributed to tho symposium on
the Chemical Potcntialitics OF the
South" in the current issue Of the
Manufacturers Record. WAS Professor
Charles Catlett. a distinguished Gcolo-
gist and chemist OF Virginia. whose
home is in Staunton. While Professor
Catlett treated his subject from gen
cral Southern standpoint. II is evident
that Virginia was in his mind all the
while as he wrote, and his article may
be regarded as an exposition OF the
industrial potcntialitics OF the Old DO
miuion. The article which iS here
with given, will interest every reader
OF the Industrial Section. lie writes:
I'VE are apt to discuss with en-
thusiasm the natural resources. or the
gifts. which nature has 50 lavishly be-
slowed on the South. while we are
moved to look with distrust and an
taGonism on the skill, the energy and
the capital which alone can make these
gifts of nature OF any value. The pub
lie not uncommonly hcIrudScs that
portion of the returns which goes TO
the contributors OF these latter forces.
1t is the bad and envious side of hui
man nature which is thus Instructive
~ distrustful OF the rich and the sue
cesSful. yet, above everything else, the
South needs the rich and the Skillful
to make available its natural resources.
and il makes a peculiar call upon these
men.
"As Astounding rs may he the OPP
portunities for moncy-making in the
South. am strongly Of the opinion
that money -making Is the least OF the
considerations which has and VIII at
tract great capitalists ana successful
business men. Il scheme Of develop
ment does not make money. II shows
il was not conceived along right lines.
or has no; been managed efficiently.
and no ono wants TO he associated with
n failure. and no section is helped by
a failure. But when an equal or
rection. why docs the man of large
means. who can choose his path, go in
another:
TIE GREAT CHARM OF
THE VIRGIN SOUTH
'.Oue OF the strongest OF human mo-
tivcs is the fear OF being forgotten and
the desire 10 accomplish something In
a material way that will live and grow
and be OF service to mankind. This is
not the less true Of the man who may
he credited with a course OF life which
seems to have been dictated by no
EcncrouS or Humanitarian Considcra-
zion.
The great charm and attraction of
II South il that il is still so largely
virgin. II * possible for one individual
or n small group Of individuals TO do
so much to change conditions over a
vide field and To upbuild and to vivify.
aud the result Of any such effort stands
out conSpicuouSly. 1t * this which
makes the strongest appeal To the sue
ccSStul business man.
surely II must have been some such
motive which induced Flagler To build
his Florida East Coast Railway. where
for so many miles the water is q wall
on the right hand and on the left; or
Rogers to build the wonderful Virgin
ian road, which has in one sense
moved mountains: or Duke TO harness.
develop and distribute the water power
~ the Carolinas: or group of capt
talsts to build the 'Clinchfield' road
in such mastery way that il is prob
ably the most economically operated
steam road in the world.
These men. with their large grasp
of affairs. could not have expected "A
return as Immediate or as large, in a
money sense, as they could get in some
other direction: but with a broad vision,
which looked into the future as far as
human eye could see, they must have
been allurcd 10y the difficulties to bc
overcome. the great influence which
their efforts would have on the course
of human events and the ultimate sue
cess which would come Tin their lives
or aftcrwards), and which must i'm
pcrishahly link their names with Il
great service 20 humanity.
BASAL MATERIALS TO BE
FOUND IN DIXIE
The South, Of all the sections Of
THIS country. is SIN most filled with
such opportunities. and which appeal
*'iEe TO the pioneer, the upbuilder and
Tho conservative business man. But
u" greatest Of these opportunities, IL
appears 10 ne. Is that which will come
from realization of the opportunities
presented for developing those indus
'fics which require for their successful
III" the use OF chemical processes and
changes
"In the basal materials the South
abounds in many things not found
elsewhere. II Is but necessary to cite
cotton and the cottonseed; the peanut
ana its great possibilities; the long
icai pine. with it's wonderful distillatcs
and derivatives: the stores Of pbos.
mike us realize how dependent other
parts OF this country and the world
ar" on that section.
IN" mana cement and owners of the
carolina. Clnchncld and Ohio Railway
''IluchhcidD seem 10 have shown a
p"cuiiar appreciation Of this opportun-
ny. and the work which has been done
ana Is being done on that line promises
10 make u unique as one of the cen
tcfs OF chemical industry In the South
hni!t AS one Of the great gutcways
bet"ccn the Central West and the
H'uthcast Atlantic states. it Is destined
10 be most important artery OF trade.
hnd because Of tho service II can rem
d"F II furnishes Il helping hand to the
transportation systems with which 1t
connects. TO the North, on the one hand
ana 10 IN" South. on the other De-
Nt'"pins enormous deposits Of high
N'fd" 'oking, steam, gas and domestic
c"nls, II leaps over or picrces through
"hH w mat sense destroys. the barriers
winch separate the great coal fields
IRON sections OF the country which
must always need coal for their sue
4 f,.,It ,,.s. a