Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-04-02
TERRITORIAL AREA or THE SOUTH.


ton.
TERRITORIAL ARIA or THE SOUTH.
In arriving At the truth in regard to the above
points. II it necessary 10 take into consideration
the vast territorial extent OF the South the COM
Darative small number of the Southern people
who have been withdrawn from pursuits during
the last three wears; and the temper and feeling
of the Southern people in regard to the war
The States of Massachusetts, Connecticut and
New Hampshire occupy AN area OF quite respect
able size on the map. Yet these three States
together only occupy an area of 81 ,154 square
miles. while the State of South Carolina alone
has an area OF "a 500 square miles The great
State of Indiana contains of 81 eO9
square miles. But North Carolina with its 45 =
900 square miles. il larger in territorial extent
than Indiana and Massachusetts together. How
many people in The North believe that Louisiana
exceeds IN territorial extent the Empire State
itself with the 40 900 square miles of the latter?
l ct such Is the fact. The State OF Mississippi
has A. 900 square miles, ami is therefore larger
than either New York or Pennsylvania The
State OF Alabama contains ~. 700 square miles,
aud is. therefore larger than New York and Con
necticut together. person who has travelled
over the whole length OF the \ shaped lllinols
Central Railroad. from Chicago and Galena on
the north to Cairo the south. has some idea OF
the vast extent of that State Yet Georgia has
$4,000 square miles and is therefore larger than
Illinois. And Florida. which the President sent
Mr.. John Hay to conquer, contains 80 900 square
miles aud Is, therefore. larger than Peunsy lvana
Massachusetts, and Connecticut. all together
Finally Virginia is still larger, containing oil .OOO
square miles AMI even when the bogus State OF
West Virginia" is taken Off the Old Dominion
j. still larger than Ohio. We saw nothing OF
Texas in this connection. because. although II
contains the enormous extent of 237 600 square
miles, (and is therefore. larger than the seven
great States of New York. Pennsy lvana Ohio
Illinois. Indiana, Massachusetts. and Connect-
cut. all together still it IL practically useless To
the South Tor the present
AREA UNDER CULTIVATION.
So much for the territorial extent of eight OF
the Southern States. which, vast as il is. Is the
least important feature in the case. In these
eight Stales-namely, in Virginia. North and
South Carolina. Georgia, Aaboma. Florida
Louisiana and Mss.sippi-there ole hund
red ana four millions OF acres of land vet I'M
touched by the farmer or planter. to say nothing
OF twenty millions of acres ia the same condition
in Texas. In the eight States above named moi
counting West Virginia. there only forty
two millions i've hundred and ninety Thousand
acres under cultivation; and This includes all thu
cotton plantations. sugar plantations and rio,
fields OF the entire South. The staple produc
tions of course monupolized the attention OF III,
South until ls6l
COTTON ABANDONED GRAIN AND CATTLE.
During the first year OF the war, the nexpedi
ency of raising any more cotton. and the neces
sity of raising more wheat. corn. beef and porL
than had formerly been done became evident :,
the Southern people This necessity beca m,
more and more apparent iU 1862. aud cause,
numerous public meetings TO be hed All over th,
South These meetings couv entons. for the,
were usually composed OF delegates fr7m ever,
county in State. we're always the sponta
neous action Of the PEOPLE But when
they held. pains were takel
by the Confederate Government to Law beiOr,
the meetings representations of the pro-
spective needs OF the army in th
matter Of provisions, and to urge that the cul
ture OF cotton should be abandoned. and th cul
ture of wheat and corn. aud the raising of csttl
and hogs be substituted. wherever practicable
The idea WAS enthusiastically adopted by all thes
meetings and conventions. and what Is of la
greater consequence. il has been practically c,r
Red out by the people of the South. partially il
1862 but almost universally VI 1863 The sta
tlstical bureaus At Richmond are not vet so per
fectly organized : TO enable exact statistics &
be furnished. showing to what extent the culIur
OF wheat corn aud potatoes has superseded IN
culture of cotton. But the following Is AN Nd
prVximdte table. believed bv the best nfoI me-
men IN the South 10 be substantially correct. An,
used. indeed. ny the Confederate War Depart men
IN making estimates for the supplies OF the Con-
iederlie army Ia 1851:
NUNAER OF ACREs DEVOTED TO THE RAISING o