Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1881-11-24
Southern Agriculture.

SOuIuOI Agriculture.
The present economic condition Of the
Southern States is calculated to awaken tho
profoundest interest, not only among the
whole American people, but generally
throughout the civilized world. 1t might
reasonably have been anticipated that
generation at least would 10 required to
calm the passions eDgcndercd by the war,
to assuage the sense Of its crucltics, to
erect new State upon tho old one which
it had demolished. But two-thirds Of
generation have passed, and we find the
South recovering itself with renewed
vitality that is little short of miraculous.
City after cty-Norfolk, Charleston, New
Orleans and Atlanta-has revived, and the
hum Of business activity rcsounds through
the streets and along the wharycs aud
levees. Forests arc being cut down, aud
lumber sent Northward; new mines arc
being opened and worked, and their stocks
furnish material for tho exchanges of New
Nork, Boston and Philadelphia; emigration
is not only cordially invited, but is nccept-
ing tho invitaion-as witness tho remark
ablo Rugby Colony in Tennessee; and
agriculture, beginning with an enormously
Cottou oCit
in all it's departments on scale never be-
tore attempted in tho South. Not only is
all THIS tho case, but manufacturing indus
tries arc springihg up all over The Southern
country, and we have tho seeming anomaly
of tho cotton mill establishing itself almost
side by side with the cotton field, let US hopo
with tho cordial recognition and acceptance
of Lowell, Lawrence and Fall River. A
significant fact in this connection is the
grand impetus that has been given to rail-
road enterprise in the South, The con.
solidation of minor roads into great trunk
lines, opening up new through routes to the
Atlantic aud the Gulf, displays better than
any other sign the solid foundation on
which the new Southern prosperity rests as
upon rock. Railroads which are the
pioneers of civilization and tho forcrunpers
of production in their Westward growth
and as they appear in sparscy- y-settled
countries are, longitudinally aud among
largo populations, more conservative and
less vcnturcsomo. llcro they mark the
awakening of trado which renders them
necessary We must, therefore, construc
the marvellous vigor of railroad enterprise
in tho South as one uf tho chief signs of
renewed prosperity and manifest activity
in production and 10 trade The South is
essentially on agricultural country. Despite
tho difference in methods, the lack of
capital since tho war, tho impossibiity of
its employing new inventions and discove-
ries to advantage, tho South has we'll held
its own against tho North and West in the
value Of it's agricultural products In 1879
tho average cash value per acre of crops in
fifteen States in the South was S13.72: that
Of fifteen States in tho North and West
was $1,000. In 1870 tho same average in
the South was 1855, and in tho North
and West $20.37. This shows that while
the panic of 1872 and other disturbing
occurrences had caused tho average crop
values per acre in tho North and West to
fall forty-fivc per cent. in tho nino years
in tho South these have fallen only IA
per cent. Or, to place it more clearly, the
average value fell in tho North and West
in 1873 to Sl293 per scrc, and in tho
South tho same year to $40 90. So that |
tho North and West, which had lost IS |
per cent. in 1878, had rcgancd but 0 per
cent, or little less than ono fifth of their |
loss in 1879; whilo the South, which had
lost 30 per cent. in 1878, had rcganed lG |
per cent, or moro than half the loss
in 1879. These figures certainly give
q peculiar interest to tho continuing pros
perity Of the South in the direction of
agriculture. In the hands Of their State aud
local Agricultural Associations and State
Commissioners Of Agriculture, and aided
by their Agricultural Colleges and periodi,
Gals, there need be no fear for tho future
of tho farmers of tho South. It is graft
fying for US to be able o state that tbo |
advent Of tho American Agricultural AS |
ISOLATION has been warmly welcomed ty the
Intelligent Southern armcrs.--Jou,na2 of
the american agricultural Association.