The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1891-05-07

writer may choose All the southern
State, have mineral products
except louisiana, Mississippi and
Florida. II nature has given them
minerals, the geologist and prospec-
tor must discover them in the future.
Then the mineral products OF the
ten other southern States amount to
4,127749 tons. To this add the pro-
ductions of gold amounting to the
annual average of, for Georgia and
and South Carolina, $50, 15S to this
$4,000 worth for Virginia and we
have $50,15S worth OF gold in the
South. The amount OF cotton pro-
duced by the South, West Virginia
and Kentucky not included, amounts
to 1,S92,570 bales. This is not the
total amount but will answer for the
purpose of this article. The
quantity of manufactured products
lumber included is valued at 1928, 439,-
SIS. This production represents 49,
903 establishments. These establish
ments represent $57, 346,027 as an in
vestment, Sugar Sand kindred pro-
ducts is represented by 1877 1888 hogs
heads olsugar and 13,652,341 gallons
of molISes. Florida is not included
in thes statistics except in the num-
Der Q,tgallons OF molasses produced,
but yewill deal with her later on. 1t
is Impossible in the limits OF this arti-
cA to give a grand total OF the pro-
z lctions Of the South. Then we trust
lTn tcritical student of progress will
EeYdeal with us harshly as the stats
tin at hand are only partial. Byron
SECS: The only criterion OF the future
ish history Of the past. Then with
the imperfect sketch of the South that
we have given, the student asks !:
"What is the industrial future OF the
South?" Brilliant says the sage, and
to prove his assertion, he points to the
condition of the South in go, 20 and
80, and last but not least, in 1890.
What caused this development? Aside
from the natural advantages there are
four direct causes; the Centennial ex-
position of 1881 the Louisville expo
sition of 1883 and the exposition at
! New Orleans in 1884 and So The indi-
rect causes, we leave the conjecture.
The first solid movement toward inc
development of Southern resources
was given by the cenntenial OF 1876.
Prior to that time sectionalism per-
vaded both North and South. Each
hated the other with hatred almost
deadly. shut when the one hundredth
year OF our national independence
came around, all were invited to unite
in one grand national exposition. In
this exposition the States were to CO.
operate with the general government
in exhibition of their manufactured
and material products to make it a
centennial exposition indeed. To
this invitation the South respond
ed by making a grand and COM
plete exhibition of her products.
People csme to the centennial from
all parts of the Nation; and when they
saw the represented resources OF the
South they found it an "undeveloped
empire" indeed. Then Northern
capital sought investment in South
ern property. Very little, however
seems to have been done until the
Atlanta Exposition Of 1881. That ex'
position was Southern in character
and exhibit The progress the South
had made and Southern resources
alone we're seen by Northern eyes
And so astonished were the Northern
people that they sought to know more
about this undo veloped section. Cap
itaI was invested with greater rapidity
and with more faith as to the divi
dends Welded. Two years NOR G
passed by, and we had another strict
lv Southern exposition-thata at Louis
Vile in 1883. This gave the South re-
newed energy, and while she saw
what had been done, she knew more
could follow. It also gave additional
knowledge to the North. Still North
ern capitalists continued to invest in
the South. Their faith was renewed
and the future prosperity Of the South
assured. But When the New Orleans
exposition of 1SS4.85 was made al
traces of former sectional jealousy
were obliterated, and the sections
were united more closely. While
this exposition was sectional in char
acter, it was National in scope. BY
that stroke Of Southern genius the
South showed she was not unworthy
the admiration of her wealthy North
crn sister. At that exposition ne 'rly
all powers we're represented by the
products of industrial skill. Fol
them, as we'll as for all others, thu
South had attractions and advantages
From that time on the South hal
been bounding onward, today We
stand on the top OF OUR Mt. Pisgat
and overlook all of our southern "lanC
OF promise" TO the artizan it is {
Gland flowing with milk and honey"
But of what is the industrial future
of the South to consist ? The statisticI
are suspicious for the future, and wher
the census Of the present year is com
piled and published it will ill every
southern heart with joy Georgia i,
now the machine shop of the South
but she must look well to her laurels
or some sister will distance her in thu
march to material supremacy for nov
Nashville, Birmingham and Sheffield
are striving with Atlanta for the ma,
terry. The region composed OF north
ern Alabama, northern Georgia, south
west Virginia, western North Carolina
and East Tennessee, will make a sec
ton as rich in mineral wealth as tn,
: solid old State of Tennsylvania. Ant
this is the section which is undergoing
such marvellous changes today. B,
nature it is abundantly blessed, an(
men are bending their energies t
utilize the vast resources at hand
Skilled labor is pouring in from every
quarter Of the globe, new railroads arr
being projected, machine shops ant
forges are being built, and ere lonl
our skies will be blackened by the as
cending smoke OF toll. The section
under consideration will then be tn,
,,,oh;,,, shon of Tho South and he