The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-04-18
GROWTH OF THE SOUTH.

In an interesting article which appeared III
the last number Of the Manufacturers Record,
Hon. Robert 7. Porter, the Superintendent Of
the Census, presents a number of facts which
throw a very gratifying light on the progress
which the South is now making in the devel-
opment of its industrial interests.
One Of the first indications Of this progress
upon which Mr. Porter dwells, Is the rapid
growth of the cities of the Southern States in
the course Of the decade so recently closed.
In 1870, for instance, Birmingham had no
place ON the map From population Of
3.O56 in 1850 it has now attained to popula-
ton of 26,19s The number of the inhabitants
in its immediate vicinity is estimated 10 be not
less than $4,000, very large number Of per-
sons being employed on the coal and iron
lands contiguous 10 the city, but not actually
included in its corporate limits.
The population of Florence has increased be-
tween 1870 and 1890 from 1897 TO 1884, or $50
per cent: the population Of Admission from 9J2
to {, $50, or $50 per cent; the population Of
Chattanooga from 1852 to -, 100. or rs per
cent; the population of Little Rock from
3,13s to 25,s74. or 81 per cent; the population
Of Knoxville from 1858 to 10000 Gncluding
East and North Knoxyille) or 300 per cent:
the population of johnson City from Gs5 TO
5000; the population OF Roanoke (Which does
not appear in the census of 1850, being mere
village bearing another nance 10 1919 the
population of Atlanta from 81, 400 10 65, 533, OF
70 per cent
These are only few of the remarkable in
stances Of the expansion ia population. which
has. in the course Of the last decade, been
observed in all of the principal Southern towns
and cities.
An equally striking indication Of tho growth
of the South is TO be found in the present
production Of coal. iron ore. cotton and corn,
rs compared with the amount Of the same
products ten years ago. In 1870, the coal pro-
duction Of the Southern States did not ex-
coed 1000 O)O tons; in 1850. it had risen to
5.679 100 tons In 1890. it was II, 72O Gas tons.
In 1850. the production in iron ore of the nine
iron ore producing States of the South was
7546l4 In 1890 this had increased 10 2,9l7,-
529 In 1890 the production in iron ore. pug
iron and coal Of these States exceeded the
production Of the same materials in the whole
United States in 1870 by 2.747, 544 tons.
OF the entire cotton cropof the world, which
amounts to II, OO0, 900, the South produces on
an average at least 100000 bales. Prior 10
1850. only about $50 900 bales were consumed
in the Southern States in the form of manu-
featured cotton. In 1890 the number of bales
which was used for manufacturing purposes
in the South was $4,000 bales an increase in
round numbers of l75 per cent. The number
of cotton mills in this section in 1850 was only
1876 In 1870 there were 3C6. The cotton crop
has advanced from 5,755,3J9 bales il 1879 TO
100000 bales in 1859.
In the same length Of time. the increase in
the gram crop of the South has mounted from
4Sl ,0H.6 $50 bushels to 652 29l 900 The value
of the live stock has increased from 1891, 4i2.-
25i in 1879, TO s569. l6l $50 in 1883. The total
gain in the value of the agricultural products
OF the Southern States in 1889 over 1879 was
not less than $3.50, 900, 900. The aggregate
value Of these products in 1889 is estimated at
$3.50, 600 600.
The growth Of the timber interests has
been enormous, and is still far from having
reached It's limit, for the South in spite of the
inroads which have been made upon its for
ests. contains at this time one half of the
merchantsble timber in the United States.
The value of the assessed property in the
Southern States was 81, lO5, 9l7 800 in 1880
In $780, this value had advanced to slO,293,-
OSs, gain of over $4,000, OOo,O OO
In closing his article, Mr.. Porter uses the
following significant words I'm the spring of
1884" SAYS he. 81 visited all the Southern iron
producing regions, and ! repeat now what
said then. namely, that the great need of the
South is still further liberalization Of in