New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-11-07
TILL GEonLNG SOUTH.

The South has reason, and the country no less.
10 conglatulatc itself on the great development oi
industry in the Southern Statc. To appreciate
if Gully, we must remember the dcyI-talionS OF
war; and the destruction of system OF labor To
which all the people of the South had been cdu-
Gated for generations. 1t was not possible that
. revolution 80 profound and 80 sweeping
should pass without great pro>tIatlon oil indus
trial and commercial forces for a time. The
marvel i, that there should have been a sub
stontial recovery within the lifetime of any
who witnessed emancipation. The war also
WAS one of the most cxhau>tng and destructive
Of all modern wars. The civilized world has
been wont to marvel at the wonderful rccupcra-
tiou of France after an invasion of Germany
lasting only few weeks. But Che Southern
States were continuously invaded garrsOncd,
devastated and blockadcd for -four years, and
vet their recovery ha, been complete. Under
such Il combination of circumstances, II j, really
marvellous that we are able to say, only cigh
teen wear, after the close of the struggle, that
the South is richer, more productive, more
orderly and more prosperous than ever before.
But this is by no means Gll that can be said
with truth. The South has not merely rcgaincd
all that il lost, but has made surprising prog
rcss, far beyond even the most sanguinc cx
prctations mdugcd before the war. The census
of 1850 was received almost with incrcdulty,
in some respects because it showed develop
mcnt 50 rapid. But the gain during the last
three years has been still moro wonderful. In
1859 the South produced about as much cotton
as in 1878, but last years crop was about 10
per cent greater than that of 1873 or of any
Al, IL ,tt 4
in 1860 was insignificant five years ago il con
sumcd about llsOOO bales; but it is now
taking for its own consumption at the rate Of
$50 900 bales yearly II was some time after
emancipation before the South came 10 raise
such enormous corn crops as it produced before
the war; but in 1850 it raised 137 900, 900
bushels, in 1850 it raised 81 900 900 bushels,
and last year Gj 800, 600 bushels although
the aggregate yield of all the States was less
than in 1850. In manufactures Missouri,
MARYLAND and Delaware gained enormously
during the decade of war and emancipation, but
the other Southern states made great progress,
and their aggregate product was valued at
Sl93, 900 900 in 1860, at T27S, 600, 900 in 1870,
and at $339, 600, 600 in 1850, notwithstanding
the omission of thousands of mechanics shops
included under manufactures by the previous
census. No later record of the aggregate value
of products il obtainablc, but there is no room
TO doubt that the increase during the last three
years has been more rapid than at any previous
period, and the yearly value of products can
hardly be less at this time than 500, 900 900 in
the twelve States below the Potomac and Ohio
line, besides over S300,OO0,O0O in Missouri,
Maryland and Delaware.
The rapid development of the Southis, perhaps,
indicated more clearly by the records of rail
road building than in any other way. In 1850
the twelve States below the Potomac and Ohio
had 5000 miles of railroad, and in 500 about
IL 900, the cost of rebuilding having been very
heavy. But ut the end of 1879 there were
1G, 700 miles in operation in these States. an in
crease of over 80 per cent in ten years, and
there are now about 10000 miles, IN increase of
nearly GO per cent in four years. According to
statistics recently published by a New Orleans
journal, the assessed valuation of property IN
the same States is now over 81, S2j, zoo, 600 and
the increase since the census year has been
$641 100000, or nearly 80 per cent. In no
other large section of the country has the in
crease been rs rapid.
These facts will crafty every patriotic Amer
ican whether his home is in the Sunny South or
in colder dimes. 1t is with hearty rejoicing