New-York tribune., 1885-01-19
DETHRONING KING COTTON.
DIVERSIFIED INDUSTRIES IN THE SOUTH.
WHAT is SEEN At THE ExP0siTIoN-THk NEED VT
KDUcATIoS AND HONEST ELECTIONS
1unoM A srARr CORRESPONDENT or TIE TRIDONtI

n
xpUcATIoN AND HONEST ELECTIONS
fvpoM A srAyy CORRESPONDENT or THE TRibuNE'I
Nrw-ORiEANs Jan 4-The EXHIBITS maoe py
the Southern States of their industries ana prou-
nets is one of the most interesting features VI WV
Exposition. At the Philadelphia Ceh'en"i,'
Texas Iouisiana-tn fact nearly all of the South
erp States-made no exhibits whatever All vi
them display their products here Inc no,'oo'
able thing IN connection with these eAAi""'
is the increasing diversity OF tho inu"''''
of the South Cotton is mo longer king. IL ooou
pies minor place even in the SOutherh oAn'o'
That is chiefly significant m showing that the AT
tention of the people of the South is dverteu 'o-
ward other industries Cotton Is still the Leading
product. although tho yield for the current year
was about 8 500 900 bales-213 900 bales less than
last year. aud tho yield last year was l,23Iooo
less that of the previous year. Bat noarly twice as
much cotton Is now annually produced as Deioro
the
There is an industrial revolution gong Oh
in the Southern States as shown py
the variety of products of the field, the fores'
the mine the quarry and the mills exhibited mere
Southern pig iron competing successfully WIN
that of Pennsylvania. Four years ago there were
only $50, 500 spIndles in tho South Cotton mills
have increased 80 rapidly that now there are
I 300. 600 spindlss in the Southern States That
sp,ndles in the United States but it is lair
indication of the rapid Increase of manufactures IN
the South. Ncw-Orleans no longer gets her coal
from the North but brings it from Alabama ana
adjacent States. The ores and mineral wealth OF
tina South occupies conspicuous place III
tho exhibits of that section. Railroads are
being construc ed to reach these mines ana open
comparatively new territory. In Florida, Tor III
stance there are twenty-eght projected roads with
charters some of which have already begun work
In Texas there is average OF over dozen lie"
roads chartered at each session of the Legislature.
Tho numerous snail lines, which have been the
characteristic of the Southern systen, are consoh
dating into trunk lines with sufficient mileage anu
capital to assure their successful opsrati'n' Inc
effort to secure the adoption of the standard gause
on all Southern TO ids-nost of tho IN are broal
gauge now-Is another mpvs in tho direction OF
increased through ira nc This difference in gauge
has been ono of tho drawbacks in getting goods 10
the Exposition.
The Southern exhibits are largely made up of raw
materials but tho number OF oxhiOits OF theSe
sources of wealth, with the showing OF manuiact-
ures indicate that the people here begn TO reai1e
the neoos,i.y for a dIvcr3Ihsation OF ind ustry
This should have maraod effect on tho tenper OF
the Southern people. Hero in NeH-Oteans
the protection spirit IL IN ths as
cendsncY. ana am'nS tno com hi'7'oi'''
from the Southern States il noticeable that there
f. a goo deal of talk IN that direction Randall
seems to be a popular man with the II. The pro-
posed spanish treaty has apparently hil its eh'ot
in awakening the peoplo hsre t, the necessity oi
uoholding tho protection polioy. Wh3n a free
trade u ,cy touches their own pockets. or proPo-
stion Is ma ie to admit free Of duty sugar, tobacco
rice, or anything whlc1 conpote5 with their prod
ucts they un,paringiy douounce IL.
The progross in the south Is comparatively slow
for one thing booau of the iloraoY OF tine people
The total registration of voters in this state
nm TO the recent election was 2lS. .906 an increase
Of 26 Dor cent since 1880 The PIcayHas, leading
Democratic paper. says that tho registration Is
largely duplication and much VI Is iraudnlont'
While that il true II does not aiioct the percentage
of illiteracy as shown by that registration, which
WAS 81 per cent. In other words. considerably
over half OF the voters OF the state had to mako
their marks instead Of writing their names. he
number of white voters who made Their
OF tins city Is with the hoodium elonenL
'Cnero is a ring which is able to run the State by
the ard largely Of the ignorance Of Its followers.
The better element IN this city was arrayed against
thr ring at tlo last olty election ana was defeated
by the fraudulent practices OF the ring lcancTs'
10 reyoutlonzo the condition oi tho Sonih IL y
necessary TO eliminate the enOrnD IL percentage OF
Illiteracy. dYorsI;ication OF industries WIN 90
n great dcai but that Will not accomplish an
that is necessary. immigration II needed 10
infuse blood. but that WI hot
como until there - that elevation OF
the social and Industrial conditions which can
only be brought about by greater inteihgenc9
among tho laboring people. Honest elections VIII
be found equally necessary.
The desire for an improved condition, as shown
| by the Exposition rs hopeful sign. MANY oi tho
Southern States made legislative appropriations
I'M order 20 10 we'll represented here. In ie"
States the Legislatures are vet 10 meet ana thcy
will be asked 10 make appropriations IN orher n9t
10 be behind their noghbors. FOR that reason lhe
display from the South is not yet complete.