The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1891-04-30

Years and Giving an Idea of the
Mineral and Agricultural Re-
sources OF this Section.
BALTIMoRE, April 16.-The Manu-.
facturers' Record of this week contains
an elaborate review by Robert P. Por'
ter, Superintendent of the Census, Of
the industrial and agricultural prog
ress OF the South during the last ten
years, based on the official statistics of
the census. Mr.. Porter, at the begin
ming of his article, referring 70 the
progress of the South during the last
decade, says;
"The mineral development and the
increase in manufacturing during
this period has been of such magni-
tude and OF such Importance as to Sc.
riously attract the attention OF the
world. The South is today producing
as much coal, iron ore and pig iron as
the entire United States produced in
1860 With a fact like this established
by official statistics it is not to be
wondered at that as careful a statisti-
clan as Edward Atkinson should say
standing on the top Of the highest
peak OF the great Smoky mountains
he would find in radius OF seventy
five miles the future iron-producing
centre OF the United States" Those
who live in the South and in the
midst OF all this progress know it and
realize it far better than people here
in the North.
ITO my mind the progress of the
Southern States In the manufacture of
steel will be as great durin : the next
ten years as it has been in the produc.
lion OF coal and pig iron during the
past decade. The class of labor at
tracted to these rich mineral regions
will be of higher character than Of
the past; that is to say, there will be
artisans and mechanics who will COM
mand a higher rate OF wages and hence
increase the consuming power Of the
South.
GROWTH OF INDIVIDUAL CITIES.
"In no way, however, is the remark
able development of the new South
shown in naore striking degree than
BY the history of the astonishing
growth OF individual cities in this sec
ton during the past decade. Annis-
ton, Ala. increased from 942 popula-
ton in 1880 to 1876 in 1890 Bir-
mingham. which was unknown when
the census Of 1870 was taken, and
which in 1880 hac a population OF
1886, had grown in 1890 to a flourish
ing city Of 26,179 Inhabitants in fact
centre OF industrial activity OF 75,-
600 people, and showing an increase
within the corporate limits OF nearly
750 per cent. in ten years. Sheffield
in 1885 hardly existe while in 1890 il
had 2,73S inhabitants and will soor
have 5000. Chattanooga had a popu
lation of 1892 in 1880 and 29,100 ir
1890. Little Rock had l13, ,13S in 1885,
and 24,874 in 1890. Knoxville in
creased from 9,699 in 1880 to about
10000 in 1890.
"Middlesboroush, KY, had no name
and no inhabitants two years ago, bu
today has close upon 5000 people anC
some OF the most gigantic enterprises
Of modern times. This result has beer
produced by the efforts of q company
the stock OF which was originally pu
upon the London market at G6 pc
share and is now quoted on the Lon
don stock list at e20 Johnson Cit,
had 685 inhabitants in 1880 and nov
has nearly 5000; Roanoke, Va, which
does not appear at all in the census o
1880, is now a city Of 17,159 inhsbit
ants. This is the northern gateway o
Southwest Virginia, which has devel
oped as one of the most important Goa
and iron ore fields in the Unitet
States. Atlanta, GA, which may b
termed the metropolis OF the nev
South, according to the census Of 1888
contained 81 400 inhabitants, and il
1890 65, 5,533, an increase of over rs pc
cent.
These are only some Of the stril
ing illustrations. 1t is no exagera
ton to say that hundred similar e.
amples could be given of SIN Ill town
that have been thus developed in Als
bama, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentuck!
North Carolina and Virsinia. Th
greater part OF their growth has bee
due t" the development Of their mil
eral resources.
GREAT INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.
"The industrial growth Of the SoutI
ern States has been remarkable durir
the last decade, especially in the Stat
OF Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabam
and Georgia. This has been large
the result OF the fact that the ate
: ton OF engineers, manufacturers al
: capitalists has been attracted by Il
wonderful mineral resources OF Oh
region. Facts already published |
the census Office exhibit a mineral d
yelopment in the South which, il co
tinued through another decade, "