The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-11-23


In the natural resources OF the
southern States the nation has a
source q almost boundlcss wealth
creating personalities
80 one should for a moment think
Of the resources Of the south In soils,
in minerals. in timber ia water pow
ers, In GRANTEES and marbles. and sui
phur. and oh. and gas. and IN soil and
climatic advantages as possessions
simply of the South. or the people 81
the South. These resources are a
part, and very large proportion OF
the nations resources
Nearly one-third continental Tn. ed
States r. In the South. Three flfths %
Us coast lines Is la the South.
Practically all of the cotton produc-
ms capacity ~ the country ia in the
South and cotton. unlike every other
crop, is 70 largely exported that In
our international trade balance il he
comes FAR more important than wheat
or corn or other agricultural products
No one should think OF the coal re-
sources q the Southern States az
purely Southern asset. They are A
national asset. and their fullest de-
veiopment means the increase on
large scale 81 the financial strength
ana power OF this country
The South has five times as much
coast area as al Of Europe. except
ing Russia and twice as much even
including Russia. The coal area II
Europe outside 81 Russia Is about H.
geo square miles. TO which Russia
adds 25,eoO square miles. The coal
area az Tho South IS about S. 0o0
square miles. West Virginia aud ken
lucky each have twice as large
eoal area a. England Alabama has al
most as large a coal area as England.
hlvery ton OF coal that can 81
mined. every iron.ore property that
can be prOfitnbly developed. every
water power utilized or 20 be utilized. /
every acre Of timber lanu. every acre
~ soil which can product cotton or
roodstuffs, wherever 20 be found In /
tho South, Is a part OF the nations I
assets. and must be inventoriea in /
summing up the nations resources
ana the nations capacity for expan- l
sion
During the war this country de- 1
pended wholly upon the South for its ,
sulphur supply. without which we 4
could not have produced explosives 4
10 depended entirely upon the cotton .
81 the South for all the varied RANT
ncations ~ trade into which cotton
enters. whether Tor the tented battle
field, fer explosives. In the hospital or I
for clothing
il the natural advantages Of the
southern states the United states has
resources Of such dazzling potential Il
ties for the creation OF employment 4
and wealth, and for the strengthening
n this country IA any time e stress
that every patriotic American should
look with fun appreciation upon these
assets and rejoice in their
Every coal mine oisned tn the
south adds 10 the nations coal sup
ply; every acre added t. the produc-
lion ~ toodHtuffs or 20 the raising ~
livestock decreases our ability 90 feed
ourselves.
Every water power developed is a
source ~ new wealth % che country
Every furnace fire lighted enIarges
.hc output ~ iron and enables us to
carry on the further development Of
bur netallurgieai interests.
The south. therefore must -
studied by the Northern aud Western
man NOS from the geographical 0r SER
ional point ~ view. nor from the po-
tical standpoint. n must - studied
wholly with relation 20 It's strategic
advantage 20 thv upbuiiding and the
strengthening ~ cur country
We know nuf what problems the
.nIted states msy have - face in
.amlng years. W. know not what dam
fers we face In the inevitable struggie
or world supremacy which ~ before
=. nor when We may some time per
.Aance. 80 threatened by that ever
present danger uf the yellow races
.eekgng supremacy over the white
aces of the world Bur we 90 know
hat everything which strengthens !
ne business and the commerce and Z
sc wealth of eur land. whether g -
sroeiucea nn the Pacific Coast 81 the
actories 81 New England 81 the Iron
.n8 steel works - the Central West
"a he mines and the shops Il the