Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1883-11-01
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The Rise of the South.
N. Y. Herald.

/
Our enter prising contemporary
the New Orleans Times,Democrat
has rendered "a valuable service not
alone to the south, but to the entire
country. In its issue of October
30 it gives thorough and carefully
prepared review OF sixty columns.
showing the industrial condition OF
twelve southern states to>day. and
the progress that has been made in
them since the national census was
taken. The States are Virginia.
North Carolinr, South Carolina,
Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Missis.
sippi, Louisiana, Texas, Kentucky,
Tennessee and Arkansas. The
facts and figures were obtained from
the governors of those states and
other official sources. The COM
pleteness.a .and substantial accuracy
of the information are vouched for
by the journal which gives 1t to the
public.
For all practical purposes the
report may be taken as new indus
trial census of the South. It tells
"A marvellous story Of present pross
per:ty and recent progress. The
material growth Of the south was
rapid duiing the decade preceding
the last census yea. 1t has been
far more rapid and wonderful since
the last census year. According to
the report of the Times-Democrat,
the progress of the past four years
is greater than that Of the preceding
ten. Take the item of assessed yal-
ue Of property as showing the in-
crease of material wealth. In 1879
the year to which the figures of the
federal census apply, the aggregate
assessment in the twelve Southern
states aboye named was two billion
one hundred and eighty-four mil
lion dollars. 1t Is now two billion
eight hundred and twenty-five mil.
lions. This shows tie enormous
increase in fouryears of six-hdndred
and forty-one million dollars, or be-
tween a half and three-quarters Of
billion. At the SINE time there
has been a material reduction In the
rate Of taxation, while liberal ap>
preparations haye been made for
schools, public improvements and
other useful purposes. "Nor is the
marvellous advance in valuation -
says the Times-Democrat, ''the re-
suit of any imitation in value, but
the natural sequence Of grand crops
new industries developed, new man
ufactures, mines and lumber mills
established
The progress in railroad building
is equally striking. In the twelve
states which we have enumerated
the mileage of railroads in 1879 was
seventeen thousand. 1t is now
twenty six thousand, showing an
addition of nine thousand miles to
the railroad system Of these South,
ern States in four years, or more
than two miles year.
The cotton crop of four years ago
was five and three>quarter million
bales. The yield Of the past season
reached nearly seven millions. In
1880 there were in the four principal
cotton manufacturing States
North ard South Carolina, Alabama
and Georgia-12S mills, with 451,,
900 spindles and $500 looms. There
are now in these states 1851
spindles and 900 looms humming
in $50 mills. This shows an in
crease of more than sixty per cent
in mill capacityrwithin three years,
and The mills are reported to be
making handsome profits. Within
the past four years the amount of
raw cotton manufactured in the
south has more than doubled, the
consumption having increased at
far more rapid rate IN southern than
in Northern mills. X