The Semi-weekly leader., 1919-07-26
WHATS THE MATTER WITH
THE S0UTH"g

Whats the matter with the
South? is question one has heard
from time to time asked by politi-
clans and others not familiar with
that part of the Union. 1t seems to
mystify certain people in way not
readily understood by those who
know the south and the latter in
clude an ever increasing number of
business men, economists, engineers
and experts in various lines who
realize the possibilities of and op-
portunities latent in that section Of
the country.
And yet there is no mystery in the
lack of accurate information regard
ing the southern states being avail
able to the population and more es-
pecially to people in other sections.
1t is because generally speaking, no
body has made it business to get
the facts tabout the south and lay
them before the country. Meanwhile
the Pacific Coast, Colorado, the Ca
madam Rockies and other parts Of
the North American continent, not
to mention other continents, have
been put on the map, in the public
mind by judicious and Industrious
publicity. This is the frank opinion
of competent authorities who have
studied the situation south of Ma
son and Dixon's line and compared it
to the situation as regards other
parts of the United States.
The shortage of facts about the
south has been partly the result of
adverse SOCIOLOGY from which that
section of the country has suffered,
according to Clemnt S. Ucker, vice
president of the Southern Settlement
and Development Organization. The
four terrible years of the civil war
could not but have a bad effect upon
the southern people. True there has
been progress in the south during the
past fifty years, much progress es-
pecially in recent years, but it has
not attracted the attention it de-
serves in the country as a whole or
in the world. Combating this ad-
verse psychology is part of the job
of the Southern Settlement and De-
velopment Organization, and the eff
forts of this empire-building organi-
zation along this line are yielding
results worth while. Among the rea-
sons why the south has not devel-
oped as rapidly or become as well
known as certain parts of the west,
for instance, may be mentioned the
fact that the great trunk lines of
railroad generally run east and west,
and along the transcontinental rail-
roads were 100 acres of free govern
ment land to be had by anybody.
Again, the north and east had the ad-
vantage by reason of the fact that
all the immigrant ships touched at
northern ports and poured steady
stream of people into the industries
and onto the farms of those sections.
"The south has not taken the trou-
BILE to let the truth about herself be
known and the balance of the coun-
try have had their own selfish ends
to serve" said Mr.. Ucker. Consider
ed from the standpoint of climate,
rainfall, luxurious growth of all We
getation, possibility of soil develop
ment, nearness to markets, nearness
to the seaboard,, in my judgement,
the south will be equal to if she does
not surpass any other section of the
country"
Mr.. Ucker speaks with knowledge
gained by the closest study of the
states stretching from Delaware to
Texas, and especially the coastal
plain region, during period of years
and by contact with the leaders of
agriculture and industry in the south
ern states and the progressive peo-
pie of that section.
With the advantages pictured a
bove which the south possesses the
question may be asked,-why is not
the public informed? why should not
the people be advised of the facts?
If Californians spent $1O,0O0,00O to
advertise their state, as reported,
why not spend few millions to put
the SOuIu Ou JuO map III a NA6s
broad, constructive sense? Advertis-
ing western Canada is said to have
reduced the population of Iowa by
two per cent in 10 years. Thousands
of people from all states have be-
come orchardists in the west because
their attention has been attracted to
fruit lands in that section.
Western fruits have gained a ma
tional and world wide reputation by
publicity. Some years ago California
orange growers were suffering from
over-production. They organized CO.
operative associations and undertook
an extensive advertising campaign,
and "Sunkist" oranges became fa-
nous. A demand was created which
the orange growers cannot catch up
with, while in Los Angeles, where
they used to scrub floors with or
anges, the fruit sells for dollar a
dozen. The Oregon apple is the STAN
dard even in the royal households OF
Europe because it's growers thought
lit worth while to exploit its merits.
Again, back in 1912 California
raisins were selling at $50 ton for
the grapes, and it cost that much to
grow them. With ruin staring them
in the face the growers raised fund
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