Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1867-02-01
Southern Indnstrr.

| The natural resources of the South have
never been developed. A small portion Of
the soil, md much Of chat portion actually
among the poorer lands, has been brought
under the plough, depleted by q wasteful
| system Of culture, and either left to broom
! sedge or pines or cropped still at a great ex-
penditure Of labor for small returns. Some
Of it Is too rich to be exhausted By surface
working, and Is still very productive Even
that Whfch IS abandoned is not exhausted;
the culture received never went deep enough
for that. But BY far the greater portion of
the richest and best lands that the South
ever possessed is yet in primitive forest,
awaiting the axe and the plough.
The mineral resources of this region are
comparatively unknown. The whole Ale
gheny range is rich in iron, coal, gold, silver
lead. and many other minerals, with a great
variety Of earths valuable in the useful arts.
These mines Of wealth will not long remain
hidden. What is true Of a section Of the
original '0ld Dominion, is becoming true
Of the entire mountain region Of the south:
The manufacturing facilities of the South
are scarcely to be surpassed any where.
Already it is understood that this interest,
next to agriculture, is to become the most
important in that section and enterprises
numerous extensive, and various in charac
ter are initiated and in progress.
II is beginning to be seen that a subdi-
vision Of farms and the better cultivation Of
improved lands and larger expenditure of
capital IN labor saving implements, viii re-
suit in greater personal and general wealth,
and higher degree Of intelligence and cul-
ture.
The following paragraphs of the report of
the Commissioner of Agriculture to the
President, for the current year, are in point.
I'm the reorganization of industry in
these States it Is believed that the great
mistake Of the past, the concentration Of la
Dor mainly upon single branch of single
grand division of productive industry, will
be avoided This mistake has cost that
section one half the wealth it might have
attained and may have led to the sacrifice
in war of a portion of the remainder. -Ex-
ees=iye increase Of single product, tending
to over supply and reduction of price and
attend with heavy expenses for outward
treights, and TIA purchase of all farm and
family supplies burdened with cost Of car
riage and a long line of consuming commits
sions, points unerringly the way to national
poverty and individual bankruptcy. A pro-
per equilibrium of the products of industry,
saving untold burdens Of freightage, exces-
sive profits and extortions of middle men,
insurance, breakage and manifold losses,
prevents reduction Of prices from burdened
markets, lightens damages from failures of
single products, gives employment to all clas-
sec, cuuditiUuS, IN L capacities Of labor, IN
sures remuneratlYe wages for the Workmen,
renders possible necessary rotations and the
production Of farm manures, and increases
the wealth, intelligence, and power of a
State. In political economy the smaller
products of a diversified industry are far
more than an equivalent for a single result
of organized labor, however absorbing or
important. The cotton crop, for example,
OF the empire State of the South, in 1860,
was I01, $40 bales, yielding little more than
$50, ,000, 900, while the butter of New York
in 1865, one ofseveral products of the diary,
was estimated at SEQ, 900, 900; and yet the
census giye1t3 New York but 3T0,9l4 far
IneTs aaI iaCm laboreTs, and to Georgia
including Bhl,e farmers and farm laborers, |
and only the males Of the slaves, 3l6, AIS
persons engaged in agriculture. Besides |
the other dairy products, milk, cream and |
cheese, and the multitude of smaller pro-
ducts of the farm, the principal crops make |
an astounding aggregate-as in 1864, when !
the corn cTop Of New York was estimated |
at SIS, 600 coo, the wheat at S25, 600, 600.
the oats at $33 600, 600, potatoes at S19, ,OGO- !
600, and hay at $50, 900, 000 Including |
the minor cereals, products of orchards and |
gardens, the production of beef and mutton /
from pasturage, and q great variety of mis- !
ceianeous and exceptional products, the 1
currency value of the agricultural produc- |
tlons Of this enc State in that year was far !
greater than the money returns of any cot |
ton crop ever produced in the country, and |
the gold value Of such products would be /
more than equivalent to the gold value of |
half the cotton crop of 1860.
1t is evident that the diversihcation of I
farm industry, which secures these results
IN one location, must be applied to reorgan-
zed southern agriculture, with modifca-
tons such as climate and soil may indicate |
and while cotton, as is hoped and believed, |
will ever be prominent crop, and sure |
reliance for Immediate cash returns, it will |
never again ogershadow and dwarf other in
-erests essential to permanent success in ag-
riculture. And it is also equally apparent +
that portion of the labor of these States
will eventually be diverted from agriculture
aud expended upon other departments of /
industry, especially manufactures and that
the day is not far distant when a portion of |
this cotton will be exported from the States
IN which it is grown in the form of yarns
md coarse fabrics Of various grades and
styles, And such day win bring surer
prosperity and more abundant wealth than
eyer blessed those States in the past.
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