Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-01-02
The South When Peace Returns.


have on the prosperity of the South?
There are economists who contend that the un-
paraIleled good fortune now enjoyed by American
and trade is due chiefly to war condi-
tons and that when the fighting ceases this coun-
trys business will be greatly curtaied if not de-
pressed. It cannot be denied that some special
fields of our industry will grow barren or that some
Of the peculiar advantages now have in foreign
commerce will end Most Of the mmiton plants
which have sprung up in the past two years must
be- abandoned or converted to other lines
Of production. Instead of having Latin
A nerica and other neutral markets wholly
b ourselves, we shall face keen and re-
purcefuI competition But the bulk of our vast
kports to Europe has not been munitions or other
ar stores; the bulk has been peace commodities
which there will be an enormous European de-
and long after a truce is declared. And the de-
hid for iron and steel viii be incomparaoly
Ereater than now in the period of reconstruction
which will follow the war. The competition we
hall have 10 meet in South American markets and
sewhere win be wholesomeiy stimulating; and if
are unable to compete, we are unworthy to
We Readjustments will be oscessary when
e rturns just as they were necessary when war
p. and, lin the season of transition there prob
viii be a slackening of business. But the
basic sources of American prosperity should
una and free in a world of concord as in a
L strife.
mis- is true of the country as a whole, it is
cuIarIy true of the South, which was the last
of the United States to feel the stimulus Of
business but which will be first to feel the
kening developments of peace. The South has
tie to lose IN the stoppage of munition orders;
has much to gain in the opening of Central Eu-
ne to cotton. Most of its important industries
e prospecting beyond precedent; none Of
EN-, as far we can see, will be affected I'M
vorably by peace. and some of them will be
ven new impetus.
The Manufacturers Record Interestingly points
II in this connection that the lumber industry,
hich has been depressed, will jump into almost
Immediate activity after peace treaty is signed"
Ind that the phosphate export business, at stand
Iii since the summer Of 1914. will leap forward
eEhen Europe once again can enrich its soil with
he phosphate rock of the South" So, too, with
be navaIstores industry and its wide range of re-
Ated interests.
The remarkable activity in shipbuilding now
6fest in the United States will become even
pronounced after the war; and the South will
literally in that construction. AS the Man
res Record observes:
New yards are now being established at
nearly every port in the South. Some of these
yards are for the purpose of building wooden
ships only but one by one they are turning
10 the building of steel vessels. 1t has been
bund that steel ship material, even if this
elton had TO depend upon Pittsburg, could
laid down at Southern shipyards at a lower
ost than to the yards of the Pacific Coast,
nd on the Pacific Coast shipbuilding is hav-
ing a wonderful boom. Already a number of
Southern yards have taken contracts for big
steel steamers, some of tP1m for Eastern buy
! ers and some for foreign shipowners The
GOuth. therefore. whether war or peace pre-
walls has started out for a great shipbuilding
activity This expansion of shipping in this
4 country and abroad will, to a very considerable
extent, take up the slack which will be created
when the armies of Europe cease to pour their
. flood of metal into the trenches Of that war
ridden continent. With continued war which
. we anticipate will last for at least year, the
prosperity of the present will continue and
grow steadily stronger in the South. With.
peace present prosperity will be given a new
impetus and 10 the Astounding activity in cot
ton and iron and steel and coal and coke and
many minor industries there win be added
I activity equally great in lumber, in naval
| stores, in phosphate and in other industries
OF all Southern interests that will be affected
favorably by peace, cotton, OF course will come
first For more than two years the Central Empires
have been of from cotton. Their mills will de-
mand thousands of bales as soon as peace agree
-ment lifts the British blockade. England and
France have been buying the Souths cotton freely
but their purchases will be greatly increased after
the war Russia would be importing large quaint
hes Of cotton if she had access to the Darda-
AeIIes Students of foreign trade predict that she
II be among the South's biggest cotton customers
the years following the war.