National Republican., 1883-06-13
Tho New south.

Aho NtNN SOutns
Tho material improvement made in all of
the southern states and tho wonderful growth
in some of them within the past few years
can hardly be realized by those who wero not
Informed of tho condition in which this part
of the country was left after the war and its
present improved condition. With the excep-
tion of few localities, society and industry
were fifteen years ago in an almost chaotic
condition.
The Southern Lumbcrman, most valuable
journal, published at Nashville, Tenn,
itself an outgrowth of tho improved condi-
tion of affairs in that state, has very inter-
esting article on the subject, from which we
give some extracts:
Machinery was comparatively unknown, public
roads were misnomers for impossible highways,
intercourse with the outside world was luxury
OF the few, and even among noghborhoods was
but very menger Comforts were rare, and me-
chanical industries rarer. The masses were un-
educated, and lived lives of comparative indo
lence. Slavery constituted the principal wealth
OF the people, and the slaves performed their labor
Those who owned plantations stocked with no.
groes were the nabobs, and lived in comparative
luxury. Their plantations were made to produce
cotton, sugar cane, corn, rice and tobacco, but
they were invariably overwhelmed with debt,
which fact, added to their owners want Of energy
or opposition to progress, kept them in consant
dread of the sheriff. Merchants advanced
the supplies of meat clothes, and farming uteu-
sils, taking the crops In part payment Of their
outlay, and in addition mortgages on the
property for the remainder. Nothing for
home use was made on the plantations, and
the indifference Of both overseers and owners re-
suited in incalculable waste. These matters went
along until few capitalists commenced expert
menting with railway building. These iron
bands OF civilization inaugurated along their
lines wonderful changes. Small villages sprung
up, stores were opened and the light of the out
side world was for the first time permitted to
shine upon the benighted denizens of the land.
The immediate demand for new articles of COM
fort and use nocessitated the planting OF other
crops than the stereotyped staples, in order to
supply 1t. The negroes were awakened from
their slumber of ignorance and stimulated to
raise poultry, gather wild honey, save skins, and
when permitted by their masters, cultivate few
acres of corn or potatoes with which to trade for
store goods, things they had never dreamed
Of existing. Machinery was brought into
tho country, with which to gin cotton,
grind sugar cane, and saw lumber for
domestic uses A better and more improved
class of implements replaced the old agricultural
symbols of an almost prehistoric race, and in
very few years the slovenly plantations, unkompt
negroes carelessly cultivated fields and rude un-
comfortable dwellings and barns, gave way to the
more elegant and modornized ones. The land
owners appreciated the benefits of the railroads,
pRtronzed them freely and while enjoying their
advantages, added to the wealth of their pro-
Jectors More roads were built strangers immi-
grated to the hitherto unknown sections, schools
were established and the era OF enlightenment
dawned to brighten as does the day by the in-
creased coming in upon the people. Factories
became established institutions in many of the
towns, and though under the disadvantages OF
competition in New England, still were found
sufficiently remuneratiye TO permit OF their
growth. Slavery, however, was inimlcal to this
class of industry, and had 1t continued to exist,
no amount of effort on the part Of progressionists
could have succeeded In It,
The writer then speaks of the war period
and says:
This, of course, prostTated every industry, and
caused the slaves to be liberated which TO many
| seemed absolute ruin, though in reality, and as
time has eXemplihod, the abolition of negro
slavery was tho greatest event in the history Of
the country, and the one which struck the key
note of her wonderful present prosperity .
Railways have ramifod over large portions of her
territory, and when stupid legislation will cease
to be persisted in, and the native element of the
population sufficiently instructed TO do away with
prejudice, then will more capital and people come
here, and with money aud industry, go on in the
work of progress. More roads will be constructed,
mines opened and thousands of saw mills
and wood working factories will be busily en-
gagged in converting her vast forests into articles
of commerce, thereby creating a valuable source
Of revenue to the already large assured one,
steam machinery replaces the lazy slow going
negro labor and II ow that the plantation system
has been abolished, the land is being subdivided
into small farms and made to produce teniold
what 1t did besides quantities of delicious fruits
and vegetables are being cultivated us export
| crops, which the people Of by-gone days knew
nothing Of
These remarkable changes from the past to the
present having occurred gradually; they are
scarcely appreoiabe TO those living in their
midst; but were II possible for anyone Of the past
decades to come to life and see the country now,
he would not recognize It as the south of his
time.