Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-17
PROGRESS OF THE SOUTH,
Superintendent Porter Shows the Advance
I'm Industry, Agriculture and Population.

EnoonISc VT AhL ooCIh.
Superintendent Porter Shows the Advance
I'm Industry, Agriculture and Population.
THAT SECTION PRODUCES TODAY AS MUCH COAL.
IRON AND PIG IRON AS THE ENTIRE COUNTRY
DID IN 1s70-woSDERFUL INCREASE IN THE
SIZE OF MANY CTTIEs-EDUcArIoSAL FAcIIl-
TIES AND THEIR DEvELoPMrSr-A MARVEL
oUs SHOWING
The Mdnufdct,vers' Record Of this week con-
tains an elaborate review by Hon. Robert P.
Porter, superintendent of the census Of the
industrial and agricultural progress Of the
south during the last ten years, based on the
official statistics Of the census Mr.. Porter at
the beginning Of his article, referring to 1.-The
wonderful progress of the south during the last
decade" says: The mineral DEVELOPMENT and
the increase in manufactures during this period
have been Of such magnitude and Of such i'm
portanee as to seriously 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 1870. With fact
like this established by official statistics it is
not to be wondered at that as careful n statisti-
clan Edward Atkinson should say that
standing on the top of the highest peak Of the
great smoky mountains. he would find in a
radius of seventy-fve miles the future iron
producing center of the United States.
Those who live in the south and in the midst
Of all this progress know it and realize il far
better than people here in the north.
TO my mind the progress of the southern
states in the manufacture of steel will be as
great during the next ten years it has been
II the production Of coal and pig iron during
the past decade. The class of labor attracted
to these rich mineral regions will be of higher
character than of the past; that is to saw. there
will be artisans and mechanics who will COM
unand n much higher rate of wages and hence
increase the consuming power of the south
THE GROWTH OF CITIES.
I'm no way, however, is the remarkable de-
velopment of the new south shown in a more
striking degree than by the history of the as
tonishing growth OF individual cities in this
section during the past decade. Admission, Ala,
increased from si2 people in 1880 to 9,o16 In
1890 Birmingham, which was unknown when
the census of 1870 was taken, and which in 1880
had q population of 3.086, had grown in 1880 to
a iourishing city of 26, l7S inhabitants-in fact,
a center of industrial activity OF 5000 people,
and showing an increase within the corporate
limits of nearly $50 per cent IN ten years. The
value of land in and around that city has in
creased at a rate which Is almost incredible
and one land company of that city, which was
incorporated with 500 900 cash capital, paid in
five years-from 1888 to 1SsS-over 5000 per
cent on its cash capital, or total Of $780,
600, and now has property worth probably
$50, 0OO, eco. Sheffield in 1885 hardly existed,
while in 1890 il had 2. $50 inhabitants and will
soon have 5000. Chattanooga had a popula-
ton of II 1872 in 1850 and 80 100 in 1880. Little
Rock had 1888 in 1850 and 25.S 74 in 1880.
Knoxville increased from 1858 in 1850 to about
10000 in 1890. Middlesborough, Ky, had no
name and no inhabitants two years ago, but to-
day has close upon 5000 people and some of
the most gigantic enterprises of modern times.
johnson City had 655 inhabitants in
1880, and now has nearly 5000. Roanoke. Va,
which does not appear at all in the census OF
1880, Is now a city of 6,159 inhabitants This
is the northern gateway of southwest Virginia,
which has developed as one of the most i'm
pOrtant coal and iron ore fields OF the United
States Atlanta, Ca, which may be termed the
metropolis of the new south, according to the
census of 1880 contained 81 400 inhabitants and
In 1880, Is, 533, an increase of over 10 per cent
MANY OTHER INSTANCES.
'These," says Mr.. Porter, ARE only some Of
the striking illustrations. 1t is no exaggeration
to say that a hundred similar examples could
be given of small towns that have been thus de-
veloped in Alabama. Georgia, Tennessee, Ken
lucky. North Carolina and Virginia The
greater part OF their growth has been due to
the development OF their mineral resources.
COAL OUTPUT INCREASE IN THIRTY YEARS.
'ln 1850 the best estimates that can be OBJ
tanned showthat the southern states produced
less than a million tons Of coal and in 1870
about 100000 tons In the year 1880, as
shown by official data, this production had in
creased to 5,616.l60 tons. According to the
eleventh census returns the production in 1890
was II, ~, 945. This gives an output in the
ceal-producing states of the south in 1880 of
more than twice the entire output OF bitumi-
nous coal in the United States in 1860 and nearly
1900, 600 more tons than the total production
Of the United States in 1870.
PRODUCTION OF PIG IRON.
These same states show far greater progress
~ - -. m
of these states producing pig iron in 1860 and
1870 was Tennessee. which. in 1860 produced
1874 tons: in 1870, Is, 6Ss tons, jumping to
s0.S7S in 1880 and in 1883 producing 267 .931
tons The entire production of all of these
states. including Tennessee, in 1850 was
Sy7 sol tons. which had in 1890 increased to
nearly 2.OOO, 900 tons. The production of iron
ore in these southern states now almost equals
the total production of the U. s. in 1870 In
that year the United States produced 8. 1853. S39
tons, while in 1880 the production of the nine
iron ore producing states Of the south was
2,sl7 ,529.
GROWTH OF MANUFACTURE.
This development of the mineral resources
Of the south has not been at the expense Of its
other industries. The manufacture of cotton. |
FOR example. has increased to a wonderful de-
gree, as Will be seen from the fact that in 1850
the amount Of cotton consumed in the south |
was $50, 600 bales, while in 1880 it used 4e7 900
that since 1865 nearly 5000, 600 900 have been
brought into the south to pay for cotton ex-
plains In part the marvellous recuperative pow
ers of this section since the war. 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 IL carried on
intelligently and on a cash basis
THE COTTON PRODUCT.
The south produces about three-fourths Of
the worlds annual cotton crop, but manufac-
lures only about or per cen. Of what it
raises, the balance furnishing the material for
spindles in New England and in Europa. The
total cotton crop of the work. now runs from
about 100000 to IL ,0O0. 600 bales of which
the south raises on an average Of late years
100000 bales. The valus of the south agri- |
cultural products in 1859 was over ESQ. goo 900
greater than III 1879. ,rd the value of its live
stock sl77.10O 600 greier.
INCREASE OF RAIRoD MILEAGE
The railroad mileage has increased from DO
6l2 miles in 1850 to 40 52l riles in 1889, the as
sessed value Of property from q. 9l3 OOO, 600 to
4.22O, 900, 600, q gain of over 81 800 900. 900.
while the true value increased over $4,000. OOO.-
90.
EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS.
Educational progress has been much greater
than the percentage of gain in population and the
- ~ u.