The Wilmington morning star., 1946-02-17
City Has All Advantages
Saws Commerce Secretary

many of these people are poor, al
though undeveloped wealth lies at
their doors. This future market for
the export of the industrial East
also is 3-art of the United tSates. !!
consisting Of the contiguous states /
of Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia,
North Carolina, South Carolina,
Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi,
West Virginia and Virginia.
while this vast region contains
20 per cent of our population, and
embraces 80 per cent of our farm
population, it receives only IL per
cent of our national income and
receives only 20 per cent OF the
farm income. Figures are dry, IN
deed, compared to the lines OF
play, but in these figures lies the
challenge to the South - the drama
of sleeping empire. And as long
as it stays down we all stay down.
II the income of this region were
raised to the per capita level OF
the United States as a whole, 1t
has been estimated that the ma
tional income would be increased
by ten billion dollars annually"
This is money with which to buy
goods in the East and elsewhere.
"While this region has the high
est ratio of investments in war
plants and facilities during the
war, in terms of population, it had
the smallest volume of war con-
ira cts-only SO per cent more than
it's 1889 production. And this great
region, believe it or not, has only
10 per cent of the nations manu-
featuring. These war plants and
facilities, for the most part, con-
sisted of shipyards, airplane fac
tories, and chemical plants, all
requiring high rate of invest
ment. One by one, these industries
are ceasing to operate. Workers
are drifting back to the farms.
Most of the farms are poor. And
labor will be poorer when electric
cotton pickers and other mechani-
cal farm implements begin to do
the work of millions.
What is the chance of boosting
the income of this region?" asked
Mr.. Krug. Ha answered by say
ing, ut looks as if it may sc down,
rather than up. 1t will unless we
act, and act soon. And remember,
if the workers of the South have
no jobs, they can't buy goods, and
our Eastern industries go to pot
and the Eeastern workers lose
their jobs ~
I think Krug's words are timely.
and furthermore, l know that many
visionary industrialists and busi-
nessrnen in the II Northern States
where for the past fifty years in
dustry as whole has grown and
grown to the point where it is
economic ally over balanced. I
have just come from a highly in
dustrialized State, Michigan. I
have talked to many industrial
leaders, and the are doing some
deep thinking these days and are
making some drastic moves. They
are planning to move South and
West.
know Of two large Michigan in
dustrial firms who have opened
new and large branch plants in
lneighboring states. I have talked
to other industrial executives who
are planning to move South Or
West. Foresighted business men
who realize that the trend in the
postwar era is for the decentraliza-
ton Of industry from the II North
ern States to other sections of the
country. They are seeking the light
the light for more favorable
economis balance and stability
spread over the country for in
creased industrial production; to-
create and maintain higher levels
Of productive employment; and
more profitable sales.
Good Position
Wilmington fits in to this picture
beautifully for industrial expansion.
We have the resources, namely:
ideal location with natural water
borne facilities which can be and
should be expanded. We have
population, our housing situation
is not as acute as other comumni-
ties, excellent city transportation,
a labor market (Which I will touch
on in minute or so), our tax
rates are comparable to other COM
munities and lower than in many
other States. We have excellent
utility services. ample coal and
fuel oil supplies at most favorable
rates. We have rail and motor
freight transportation which is
bound to expand and improve, and
perhaps we will have air freight
transportation service established
in Wilmington in the immediate fu-
ture. Our port facilities are good
but could be expanded and i'm
proved.
We are blessed with ideal in
dustrail sites along our water
front, and acreages abutting rail
tracks. Living conditions for wage
earners in the Wilmington area are
good. We have been and no doubt
will be free from labor disputes.
Wilmington is also blessed with the
most even climate Of any place in
North Carolina, and elsewhere in
this section of the country. Our
fire and police protection enjoys
high rating and excellent reputa-
tion. We rank high in our cultural,