Daily Republican., 1883-10-31
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 81, lss:
Southern Grow tn.

journals in the South, not satisfied with
the slow process of taking United
States census every ten years and being
conf lent that the Southern Safes were
going through an era of prosperity
such as they never before experienced,
has actually taken census of its own
of all the Southern States except Del
aware. Maryland, West Virginia and
Missouri, which are more assir:lilated
with Northern than Southern indus.
tries. The Times Democrat census
relates entirely TO industrial interests in
general without going nto specific 'le-
tails and was obtained by addressing
the Governors and heads Of departments
of the States. The great industrial
NOV ment which is so completely al
teriny the condition of tn" South had
but httle more than commenced when
the last census was taken, 80 that in
relation to the real industrial condition
of th- South now, the figures OF 1880 are
more or less IN sleading. In 1879, the
year the ccnsus was computed, the
total assessed value of property the
twe, We States alluded to was s., l84 ,2T :
547 in 1883, only four years later, 1t
hal Increased to 81, S2i ,935, 575, a clear
incrra,e ,e in tina. time of 500, 7V7 ops.
This Is equivalent to nearly thirty per
cent. Increase IL four years and the
same raj 10 Of increase would double the
assesslEellt by 1889. The average tax
rate OF the twelve States in 1879 was
five and one.twelfth, but in 1883 1t had
dropped to four and six.twelfths. In
Georgia the tax rate is now on.y two
and one-hali, reduction of one ha,f.
Tennessee, which only paid IA tax rate
of one per cent, had doubled to two per
cent. People who read this neel
not wonder that Tennessee was com.
pelel to repudiate her honest debts
and even at two per cent. We cannot
see how she can pay them. Another
point noticeable is that Virginia,
which, in 1879, under Bourbon rule,
paid a tax rats OF SIX per cent. and even
thea defaulted in paying the interest on
her pubic debt, is no" under Read us
ter rule only taxed rve per cent. and
defaults no more in paying her interest.
In those four years Virginia has in
creased in assessed valuation Sl7 200,
600. Florida has almost doubled hei
assessed value III four years Arkan.
sas follows next in ratio III prosperity
and close upon her heels comes Texas
The latter STAGE was assessed m 1879 al
$3O4, 40, 736, and III 1888 at SJ3S, 900, 900
FLORIDA, Arkansas and Texas are profit,
ing more from Immigration and the
influx of Northern capital than any
other Southern States. They have
been more secure from p.litical dis
turbaucrs than any otaer Southern
States and are now reaping their TT.
ward iii an unparalleled ratio Of pros
perty ana wealth, only one State Of
the Twelve shows a Gcrrc ,se in the as
sessed value OF property, aud that Statt
is South Carolina. Her valuation il
1879 vas SI}2, 257 9SG now 1t is $50,
000,0"0 Possessing Superior advanta
ges III location and fertility Of soil
South Carolina >huud have ranked
with Texas and Florida. Why is She
the ou.y State il the South that show,
a decline!
1h- answer l., that freedom of speech
and pOl lCal action is not permitted il
South Carolina. Immigrants shuu the
State As the traveller III the ii ser
avoids the deal-nlug shades Of the
upAs Tree Life and property in thai
State are Ouy safe to those who are III
party, and everybody who knows any
thing ab,ut polite, knows what party
that is. South Carolina in 1872 CAV
56, 5l2 kepubliran majority, in 1880
gave ~, ljj Democratic majority. II
1874 she polIed ~, 4O3 RepubIIcan votes
IN 1850, \ 81. IL 1872 the Democrat
poled - 50! votes, III 1880 they counte'
III, ~ Democratic votes. The,4 figure
Celi the tale ,Or SJlch Carolina, AMI sh'
is reaplus her reward in the decreaser
valuation OF her taxabte prop :rty
Toe Times. Den DcrAt b tS pad som'
attention tu raj road statistics in til
South, and mtkeS . very favorable
showing. Ia four years the Increase il
railroads has been :, ,ISJ miles, one
IIrfh flu nj tIt4 u hnll. | n II "a
Texas make, the biggest show in thi
RESPECT, having increased from z, ,42S {
J,16j IN four years. Florida las II
creased from ~ to l,O3S Arkansas fror
1888 to l,j7i and Virginia from / $40 ,
2,JGO. After the Atlanta co ton expos
rlun in 1881, Il period VI RAPID deve. OI
ment of the cotton manufacturing il
terestS Of the South sci in. Alabama
the only southern States IN which co
ton fartorI-. drc located to any COZ
siderable extent. la 1879 there were /
those States l2S mills, ijl, spindle
and 9 800 looms. In l8Sj, there are i;
mills, SLG,7tl spindles and ~ o18 loom
1t is said hat these mills pay fro
fifteen 10 twenty per c.ut. on the capit
Invested, which /, more than can !
said o; the capita, uve,ted IN Nocther
States. This great increase in the i
dustriaI con iitOH of the SonIh col
pete,y rrvoluronih~s Southern SEM
ment a~ il existed before the civil wa
when Shr attempted to found u COVER
Lnent Of urr own, the CHIEF corner stol
of ~hJrh vas to be slavery. 1t W
always maintained by nor hern sent
rnent mat only avery prevented Il
South from Dreaming competitor wi
the North i'll wealth and prosperity, Al
every wear atlpStg the truth rf tb,t q,