The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-11-30
Progress ,f the South.

ne SOuthern states on a solid basis.
AT Charlotte, North Carolina, four
arge cotton mills are in process Of erec-
ion, one of which has Just been put in !
lull operation, and the other three will |
be ready by January LIST.
AT Birmingham, Alabama the follow
ing report is given:
Eight years ago this city was only q
village, and the development of the
coal and iron resources Of this section
had just begun. Four years ago many
furnaces were in blast. Coal mines
had been opened and the success of
iron making in Alabama had been full
ly established. A comparison of the
trade and manufacturing of this city
with four years ago shows that both
have more than quadrupled within that
time, but competition has perhaps
slightly reduced profits, although there
is plenty of margin yet especially in
iron making. Recently numerous small
industries have been established, and
in every instance they have been very
successful. An unusual amount Of
building is being done this year, and
both skilled and common labor finds
ready employment at good wages. Six
new furnaces have gone in blast since
Jan. l, and FIVE others are building and
will go in blast by Sept. 1889. Sam
uel Thomas u Sons, of Pennsylvania,
have commenced the erection OF sec.
ond 150-ton furnace and 100 ton roll
ing-mill. The first furnace went in
blast in April and has been a complete
success.
The reports from Atlanta, Georgia,
state that during the last four years
business has increased wonderfully, and
the territory covered from this point
has been greatly enlarged. Eight years
ago the business interests of this coun-
try were exceedingly active. The peo-
pie had about overcome the vicissitudes
of war and had capital to invest Ad-
ded to this, Northern capital began TO
pour n and the scope of manufactures
to widen; cotton in manufacturing,
plough works, wood works and all the
handicrafts were represented. 1t was
in consequence of this activity that in
1880 Atlanta appeared on the census
tables as the second city in the Union
for the number of its inhabitants en-
gagged in mechanical pursuits. The
trade in mercantile lines kept pace with
the increase in manufactures and the
foundations of many large fortunes
were made.
The most glowing account comes
from Tennessee. In 1880 Chattanooga
had only fifty-four industries employ
ing $2,792,00O while at the present
time there are 149 industries, giving
employment to 81, 100000 of capital.
While it is true that for the past few
years iron has commanded very low
figure, all the furnaces in the Chatta-
nooga district which includes South
Pittsburg, Dayton and a number of
other iron centres, have been running
on full time and have been able to dis
pose Of all their products at fair prices.
This condition of affairs existed when
the Presidential campaign opened this
year. Business went along Just the
same as if there had been no National
election on hand. All the factories in
Chattanooga have been running on full
time, and a careful survey of the field
shows that the average increase of bust
ness concerns during 1883 will be at
least 25 per cent. over 1887. Yet last
year was the most prosperous year in
the history of the city. At the pres
ent time and since the beginning of
tie year more than $2,5OO,O0O has been
invested in new buildings, exceeding
the operations of 1887 by $1,000, 900.
Nor is this true of Chattanooga alone
but in the past three years, for in
stance, seventeen furnaces have begun
operations within radius of $50 miles
There are two here in Nashville, two
in Florence, FIVE in Sheffield, one in
Decatur, four 10 Ensley and three in
Bessemer. All these are doing salts
factory business now, and so far as the
iron industry is concerned, it is very
much more fiourishing than four years
ago. This is the leading industry OF
this section. All our industries, how
ever, felt much more settled this year
than in 1884, because there was much
uneasiness then as to the result. Now,
however, that the Democratic Admin
lstratlon has not done anything 10 rad
ically change the natural order of busi-
ness, there was general feeling that
the country was safe in the hands of
either party.
From Roanoke, Virginia, comes the
following:
No section of the South has prosper
ed more than southwestern Virginia in
the past eight years, and no place has
grown more rapidly than Roanoke City.
In 1880 it was known as Big Lick, and
had q population of $50, one tobacco
factory, one tavern and two or three
stores.
The completion of the Shenandoah
Valley Railroad to this place in 1888
and erection of the Grocer Steel and
Iron Works and the Roanoke Machine
Works in 1884 swelled the population
to 5000. Since then it has continued
to grow with scarcely check, and to-
10Y eho Oi'y haS lf,UUu lHndDllantS.
The Grocer Steel and Iron Works has
a capital of 100000, and EMPLOYS
here and in mines $50 men. The cap
ital stock of the Roanoke Machine
Works in 1884 was O,OOO, and 500
men and boys were employed, the an
nual payroll aggregating 100000.
During the past year employment was
given to 1000 persons, and the payroll
footed up to 100000. In addition,
several hundred men are employed in
the general offices, depots and yards
of the Norfolk and Western and the
Shenandoah Valley railroads. The
same is true of other corporations here.
A rolling mill has lately been erect.
ed and the largest fruit osnnery in the
South has been in successful operation
for several months. In addition there
may be noted three tobacco factories,
an ice factory, two large planning mills,
a sash, door, blind and wood turning
factory, five brick factories, steam
Touring mill and tw carriage factories.
All have sprung up in the last fonr