New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-12-26
GA0RGIA's PROSPERITY.
TALE WITTY EX-GOVERNOR BULLOCK.


POOH WHITES A. FMFIOYERs-PoLTIcAL
SENTIMENT. OF THr PEOPLE.
Ex-Governor Rufus 3. Bullock Of Georgia was IN
the city recently on his way his home in Atlanta
He was returning from a business VISIT to Maine
and Massachuse The object Of hrs visit was the
purchase of additional machinery for the Atlanta
cotton mil. Of which ne treasurer. This Is the
first steam mill started in the cotton belt. and has
a capacity for 10000 spndles. 10000 being now in
operation; the full number viii be at work in a
short time. Il il running night and day.
A TRIBUNE reporter called on Ex-Governor Bnl-
lock and conversed with him on the commercial and
political condition of Georgia.
Whence il" the reporter asked. " that the
production of cotton In the South is muen in
crcasedip
1.-The solution of the problem" said the Governor
" seems to me to be in the fact that the poor
whites proportion of the population amounting
to oue-third lay dormant and could not enter into
competition with the planters in the slave days
Land was almost of no consideration the owner
ship or control of labor then being vital. and COZ,
ton raising and the production being dependent on
the caprice or interest of the planters Now land
is cheap and negro labor can be employed by any
person able or willing to promise 10 pay far
wages. Under the Old system a who did
not own slaves could not utilize land
the same labor open to competition. The produc
tion of cotton formerly confined to the ability
of slave labor; the production is only restricted
by the power of the white and black races both Ia
raise it. This view appears 10 have escaped the
notice of Edward Atkinson in his recent letter
the increasing cotton production. IL is not that
the negro works better in freedom, but that the
changed conditions have rendered a vast amount
of white labor available and significant"
Are the poor whites on the same footing with
the negroes ~
No; they are not IN the market for wages,
as the negoes are. But they have become
farmers and employers of their aud other labor.
and are now perfectly independent. They raise
enough to supply themselves and families, and as
rule, the sale Of their cotton represents the
profits their years work Ir can easily
be seen how opportunity lone-third of
community having become Droducers
and increased individual interest and exertIon
have increased and will go increasing the yield
of cotton. In addition to this. sections Of coun
try are opened by the building Of railroads.
especially in Georgia. This Is markedly true of
Northern Georgia. which is an old settled portion.
but had not heretofore access TO market; so that
farmers there who formerly raised a bag for
home spinning now raise for sale. the railroads
affording them convenient cash market for their
crop. Where bag OF two were formerly raised Tor
home use, there are ten or fifteen bales raised
for market"
RAISING COTTON on OLD PINE LANDS.
Are other sections adding 20 this increaseV
Yes. The pney-wOods sections, which have
been opened ny railroads since the war. have all
been worked over for naval stores. Wherever tie
pines have been exhausted for this purpose it has
been found that BY the use Of fertlizerspnosphates
from Charleston. artificial manures from the North
guano from the Chncha Isles and home manufac-
tured articles-these light lands can be proftably
worked in the production of cotton. Thus it appears
that there il increase Of fully one-tbrd in the
available labor and One-half in the of land for
the culture of the plant"
Is the prospect of the cotton interest in Georgia
brightf'
" That depends the price, for greatly increased
production viii tend to lower the vaue. to be
governed. Of course, by supply and demand.
Another point "a worth considering The wheat
crop has almost doubled from what 1t was in 1850
The farmers. tie class have described are
putting in practice the policy of diversfying their
crops and they find that by planting wheat they
get two cash crops year. Wheat ripens and Is
marketable early in July. and is always in active
demand for export TO hot climates. for Southern
wheat Is never unfavorably affected bv hot weather
The cotton is marketable from September L till
January l."
What eject on the commercial prosperity of the
State has this order Of thing !"
Most iayorablei IN fact, 20 such a degree as 10
be astonishing. The City of Atlanta itself is an
evifence OF tins prosperity. Under the old
made by the of labor. and the
financial result of that labor was controlled
and discussed IN large sums by comparatively
few persons. Now the laborers disburse their
earnings. In addition 20 this is the money
made by the new class Of small white farmers and
the eject immense increase IN retail trade
Now at nearly every crossroads, and every railway
station there are one OF more stOrekeeDer whO re-
tai directly TO the labOrers. They buy from the
JObDers at home. who IN turn buy In Northern
markets, besides importing LARGELY from Europe
direct The accumulation OF cash capil al ID the
hands of retailers and iebbers il gradually siu-
nIng to show itself in our local commercial enter
prises. Banks, factories, railroads, improvements
and adornments OF our cities. give evidence of
this increasing wealth.
POLITICAL FEELING or THE BUsINEss CLASSES.
"What bearing has politics on this prosperity and
increasing trade y
This has all come IN spite of and independent
of politics. According to my best observation more
than twot birds of that class of people who are
engaged in business or IN planting, who have
cunulated property and enjoying the interest Of
1t, utterly opposed to any political course which
will excite passion prejudice or bring about a
feeling of secuOnalism in the North Fiue-spun
constitutional theories of the rights of the several
States and so forth and forth. very Ii. tie
thought of by people who are making an honest and
earnest eflUrt to become the OF that certf-
cate Of nationality known as the American Dollar
There IL no luminosity or ill-wIll, unknd feeling
among the business classes of Georgia toward the
people of the North vi toward the National Govern
ment.'
If this is true why is it that the sO-caled repre-
sentative men. ConRrcssmen and others,
hold different opinions and occupy different posi-
ton I"
The business class to whom hive referred are
not organized On any political basis whatever. Cap
ital, as you know, IS ever timld and, because Of
the animosities, Ill-eeling, and Dreudices engeu-
h. auf. of