The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1891-04-23


Porter says, has been shown by the South
IL the production Of pig iron. The entire
production South in 1880 vas 397 ,301
tons, which in 1888 had increased to
l ,192, 1858 tons, and in 1890 to 2,917, ,529
tons. In fact, the products of iron ore in
these Southern States now almost equals
the total production of the United States
in 1870.
Nor has this development, Superin-
tendent Porter says, of the mineral re-
sources of the South been at the expense
of its other industries. The manufacture
of cotton, for example, has increased to
wonderful degree, as will be seen from
the fact that in 1880 the amount of cotton
consumed in the South was 180, 900 bales,
while in 1890 it used 497, 900 bales-an
increase, in round numbers; of ITS per
cent.
The fact that since 1865 nearly SS, ,000,-
100000 have been brought into the South
to pay for cotton, explains in part the
marvellous recuperatiVe powers OF this
section since the var.
While bad agricultural methods have
made cotton raising Improbable to many
farmers, it is claimed that cotton is one
of the most profitable crops that can be
raised when its cultivation is carried on
intelligently on cash basis. The South
produces about three fourths of the
worlds annual cotton crop, but manufac.
lures only about or 8 per cent. of what
it raises, the balance furnishing the
material for spindles in New England
and in Europe. The total cotton crop of
the world now runs from about IL, 900, 1000
to 100000 bales, of which the South
raises on an average of late years 7,O0O,-
600 bales.
Of the agricultural development of the
South, Mr.. Porter says: The South has
also made great strides in agricultural
progress during the past ten years. This
has been the result largely Of diversity
ing her crops. At one time King Cotton
held absolute sway on nearly every plan
tation. The supplies of measi, hay and
grain, even for farm use, we're obtained
from the North and West. A vast in.
crease has been made in the rearing of
stock of all kinds, and grain, grass and
vegetable crops are grown upon con.
stantly increasing acreage. lens OF
thousands of acres in the Southern States,
that at one time produced a bale Of cotton
to the acre, are now covered with millions
of vines, peach and pear trees, while
trains and steamers for months in the
year bear Northward their burdens Of
vegetables and small fruits to supply the
markets in States where ice and snow
still hold sway.
This development, however, has not
been entirely the result of the increased
demand of their export trade. The
establishment of great industries, iron
and cotton mills, ETC., has developed home
markets in the South for fruits, yegeta.
bles, butter, eggs and variety Of crops,
and has given wonderful stimulus to
agriculture in the Southern States.
Superintendent Porter closes his re.
markably interesting and instructive
article by saying: "The advance and
development of any part of the country
is step forward for the whole. South.
ern progress, it should be remembered,
is national progress, and, as such, the
NORTH can ana Q0e8 lelO!ce ~ IL, auu
Northern men will note with gratiica-
tiou the wonderful results Of 8 decade OF
industrial development as revealed by
the eleventh census. In the Spring Of
1884 T visited all the Southern iron-pro.
ducipg regions, and I repeat nov what !
said then, namely: that the great need
of the South is q still further diversified
ton of industries. The next decade must
develop steel manufactures, the further
manipulation of iron and steel into ma.
chiuery, the manufacture of furniture
along the timber belt and of the better
grades of cotton goods in the vicinity of
the cotton fields. If the advance is along
these lines, the year 1900 will mark a
more remarkable and more satisfactory
industrial development in the Southern
States than $780,"