Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1884-05-15
The sonth and Its Development.

AS staff correspondent of the Phila
ner member of the Tariff Commission,
has entered upon tour of the Southern
States, the object being to note the pro
gress which that section Of the country
is making in agriculture, manufactures.
mining, and transportation. The Press
publishes his initial letter, which con-
tains such general information as will
be found valuable in instituting COM
parisons between the past and the pres
ent. Excluding Maryland and Missouri,
he points out that the thirteen Southern
States have an area of 797,125 square
miles and S1,S74,812 acres of improved
farm lands. Compared with the rest of
the country, he says that the Southern
area is 26.S per cent. of the whole, while
of improved farm lands the South has
2S.7 per cent. He shows that the South
ern area exceeds that of the ten great
prairie States by 1sO,73O square miles,
but the latter possess population two
millions greater. Relative to population
we learn from his letter that the growth
in the Southern States during the decade
ended in 1880, was 35 per cent, being
within one per cent. Of the rate of in
crease of the Western States and Terri
tories combined. Tbs estimated value
of all farm products in the United States
for 1880 was S2,213 4O2, 2,564, of which the
Southern States were credited with
1851, ,639,367. According to these figures
the population of the South was 2S.5 per
cent. of the whole. Mr.. Porter furnishes
table showing the increase of the cot
ton crops from 1866 to 1888, both years
inclusive. This crop. which is practic-
ally raised in ten of the Southern States,
increased from 2,154, ,476 bales in the for
mer to 6,949,756 bales in the latter year
Mr.. Porter points out that half of the to.
bacco crop of the Union is annually
grown IN two of the Southern States
Three of them produce 100,O0O,OO0 ou,
of the 11s,OOO,O60 pounds of rice grown
on this continent, while Louisiana fur
nishes 172,000 out of the 17S,000 hogs
heads of cane sugar produced, and r.
100000 out of the 100000 gallons OF
molasses manufactured. While all thi!
is highly satisfactory, Mr.. Porter claim,
that the Southern need is diversified in
dustries. Under the old slave system
this was impossible. The'planters under
= that system were content to purchase
: their manufactured goods in the North
Free labor at home received but littlt
encouragement at their hands, aad as |
consequence the mineral resources oi
the South remained undeveloped. Al
this is undergoing change, and to wha
extent the change has progressed VI
shall learn from Mr.. Porter's futur,
letters. Of one thing our readers ma,
assured. The industrial progress of tb,
,i South will not be rapid until the polit
i. ical complexion of that section under
j. goes change. All citizens must stan,
;, on level as respects civil rights. AL
: must enjoy the same privileges at tn,
ballot box and be permitted to vot,
without moleststiOn. Individual senti
: ment must be respected and free spesel
permitted. The ballot box must be kep
= pure and elections honestly conducted
Life must be made secure. and the pro
lection of the law extended to all alike
When all this has been secured, popula
s, tion and capital will seek the South. an
r rapid development of her vast resource
will be the happy result. -Clevelsn
Leader.