Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-09-23
THE NEW SOUTH.
Texas Rides on the Crest of Prosperity IS
Wave.
Boston Advertiser.

Boston Advertiser.
1t has been apparent to all who have
watched the progress of the South IN re-
cent years that there has been a steady
increase in the values of property in that
section; but the statistics in the matter
| are not so generally known. The infiu-
| ences which have led TO this increase are
popularity supposed to have. been, in the
main part, tWo-manufactures and mir
ing. But from the different statistics
now available there appear to be other
influences at wOTk-not the least import
ant of which is the increase in population
and the development of agricultural re-
sources.
Under the present conditions perhaps
the best means by which a good compari-
son can be arrived at is by collation. of
the statistics showing the assessable
values of taxable property in the differ
ent states in the years 1879 and 1888, and
by q calculation of the increase in values
shown thereby, as well as the percent
ages as compared with the values of ten
years ago. So far as percentages are to
be taken as showing the relative in
crease, by far the most noticeable
cases are those of Florida and
Texas, the former showing an
increase of over 1875 per cent. while the
latter follows with gain of nearly 1875
per cent. So far as Florida is concerned
it will be admitted with but little dispute
that the rapid advance in financial pros
petty must be attributed to the increase
of population caused by immigration and
also to the development of fruit culture
which has been so noticeable a feature of
ho Il Of 10
is so noticeable as to deserve more ex-
tended comment.
In 1879 Texas was the third of the
Southern states as regards the value of
assessabIe property, Kentucky ranking
first with S3l8 600 900, Virginia second
with S30S 900, 900, and Texas following
with 1904 900 900. To-day Texas leads
with SG6l 900 900, while Kentucky fol-
lows with $3.50, 900 900 and Virginia
with 1866 600 600. The enormous in
crease shown by Texas is part
and parcel Of the new wave
of prosperity which has swept
over the South, and is due to the deveI-
opment of the many resources of which
that state can boast; of its mines and
smelterS; its herds and focks; its agri-
cultural and manufacturing industries;
and more than all, to the large number
of immigrants and to the influx of ont
side capital, which has developed its re-
sources, as well as to the railroads which
have been so instrumental in aiding the
growth of the largest state in the Union.
Taking the South as whole, the gen
eral showing is quite favorable. With
an increase of population of less than SO
per cent. the increase in the assessed
values of taxable property has increased
nearly "A per cent. while the increase in
actual wealth is estimated at about three
billion dollars. or over 80 per cent. The
railroad mileage and the value of manu-
features produced has more than
doubled. The number OF cotton mills
has grown from forty live to PA and the
spindIes from 542, l48 to ,859 ,627. There
seems to have been q large, but not
especially rapid increase in the value
of agricultural products for the
entire section, and in the value of live
stock. The value of the manufacturers
is undoubtedly the source of much of the
in wealth, although the steady
growth Of the agricultural and livestock
interests shows an increase of over S435,
900 900, as compared with 1886 900 900
increase in the value of manufactures.
So far as the percentage showing Is con-
Cerned by far the most sensational in
crease is in the value of the mineral out
put of the South, from So $50 1000 in
1880 to S29 AS 200, or $50 per cent
but il is scarcely possible that the next
ten years will show a corresponding ad-
vance.
Taken altogether, the presentation |
made is a highly favorable one. Al |
though the great proportion of the in
crease in value is due to development |
Of the agricultural and livestock ntsr- |
ests of the South, yet the development !
Of the manufacturing and mineral re-
sources of that section by Northern CAPT
tai has been so large as to be especially |
But the outlook is not only
favorable from business and economic
point of view. The business activity
and growth of that section
should, and we believe will,
0eget a discontInuance of the serious po-
itical evils which have come to light
rom time to time. The maintenance of
business integrity, which is of itself
prime necessity to the successful exist
,nce of a business community, must
eventually induce a better and more
honest system of political methods. The
honesty which is the best policy in the
mercantile world will induce a resump-
ion of honest elections. The moral
# those four Southern states
which have been most to blame
n this matter is most obvious
hey show the least increase of all the
tates in the ''solid South. - As they
tand at the foot of the list in political
lcnesty, so they lag behind in the march
f improvement. When South Carolina
ees fit to throw aside the olgarchical
nd unrepublican methods which char
cterise its present methods of election
nd government, it may hope for high
T increase than l715 per cent, but it can
ot hope TO progress far ahead in one re-
pect and lag behind in another. ass{I5
Salt Yourself
ut there is no other remedysfos Sick headache,