Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1890-12-11
Prosperity III the South.
From the journal of Agriculture

From the journal of Agriculture.
In 10 one thing, outside of her own
boundary is the State of Missouri, or
anv of the other great grain and meat
producing States more interested than
in the prosperity of the cotton growing
States south of us. The seven great,
Central Western States. Missouri, Kan
sas. Iowa, Nebraska. Illinois, Indiana
and Ohio, produce grain and stock, far
in excess oftheir biity to consume. If
they do not find a market for their
surplus in other States o. in foreign
lands. farming would he far less prof
liable business than it even now Is.
And in order for the States of the South
to be the best markets possible, they
must not only grow profitable crops of
cotton, but must develop their manu-
featuring interests. Readers of the
Journal of Agriculture will be glad to
read the general evidences o. prosperity
which are now being made public. We
publish below some figures, showing
how these states have recuperated from
the condition of Indebtedness that ex-
listed few years after the war.
Especially noteworthy has been, for
instance, the experience Of South Car
olina. In 1860 the taxable value oil
property in that State was $500 900, 900,
and the taxes were lite less than $500, :
600. In 1871 the taxable value had
shrunk to S184 600 900. yet tue taxes
had risen to S2000,00 Throughout
the carpet-bag period the shrinkage OF
property continued, while the expen-
ditures and the State debt increased.
Since 1876 there has been an Gmaziug
change. Instead of salaries costing
$3.50 900. as in 1872, they were reduced
| to S1O6, 1000 in 1890. Instead OF an out
| lay OF S712, 200 for legislative expenses,
as in 1871, this item was cut down To
| S42 900 in 1880. The public printing,
which cost $3.50, 900 in 1872, was done
| for Sc 900 in 1873. The interest on the
public aebt has been paif, ana instead
| of six per cent bonds Of the state he-
| ing sold at thirty cents on The doiiaF.
the four and a half per cent. bonds are
now bringing more than par. more
over. the counties, towns and scnooi-
districts have now no Hoat1ng oeob,
and all obligations are paid as they
mature. AS might be expected, the
Substitution of thrift and honesty for
nroflipacy in public business has given
| q strong stimulus to the deVeiopnen'
of the resorccs of the State.
| Look now at the case of Georgia In
| 1868 the State debt was So, ,S27 .0BG. Al
The end of Governor Bullock's admin
;stration. the debt for which the State
was responsible exceeded $4,000 ,oOe'
and its bonds were no longer market.
able except at ruinous rates. Now tbs
state bonds bearing four and hal
mar cent. interest command premium
Of 20 per cent; the f. tax xable property Of
Georgia. which in 1860 had amounted
to S672. 900 600. had fallen in 1870 tc
s22e, ,ooo, 900, but had risen in 1889 te
e345 900. 900, exclusive OF railway prop
erty. It should. also, be borne il
mind that the school attendance
" nich in 1870 was but $1,000 s~hits
ana 10000 colored, had Increase li
1855 to zoo 900 white and l20,0cJ col
ored.
The history Of Alabama has beer
Isimilar, and with the experience o
Georgia and Alabama raay be 4piee
that If Arkansas. for which interest
ing data are accessible. Perhaps how
ever, the most striking exhibition o