Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1891-07-09
rrn GROWTH AMAZING.


- -
RapAi f5svslo pnent III fhe sousI, shownby
Figures from the Census.
The Manu- actatyers' Record contains
an elaborate review, by Robert 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 cen
sus. Mr. Porter. ait the beginning OF
his article, referring TO the wonderful
progress Of the South during the last
decade, says:
The mineral development and the in
crease in manufactures during this PEI
Rod have been of such magnitude and
of such Importance as seriously to at
tract tile attention of the world. The
South is to-day producing as much coal,
iron-ore, and pig-iron as the entire
United States produced in 1870. In no
way, however. isthe remarkable devel-
opment OF the new South shownin more
striking degree than by the history Of
the astonishing growth of individual
cities in this section during the last de-
cade. Birmingham, which was un-
known when the census of 1870 was
taken, and which in 1880 had a popu-
lation of 8, 0S6. had grown in 1890 to
fiourishing city of 26, 17S inhabitants,
in fact, a center of industrial activity of
rs, 900 people, and showing an increase
| within the corporate limits of about 70
| per cent. in ten years. The value of
land in and around this city has in}
| creased at rate which is almost in3
| credible.
Chattanooga had q population of 1914
1872, in 1880 and 90, 100 in 1890. Little
Rock had 13, 1873 in 1880 and 1854 I'M
1890. Knoxville increased from 1858
in 1880 to about 40, 900 in 1890. Mid
| dleborough, KY, had no name and no in-
habitants two years ago, but to-day has
close upon 5000 peoIl lie and some Of the
most gigantic enterprises of modern
times. Roanoke, Va, which does not
appear at all in the census of 1880, is
now a city of 16, 159 inhabitants. This
is the northern gateway of Southwest
Virginia, which has developed as one of
the most important coal and iron ore
| fields of the United States. Atlanta,
| Ga, which may be termed the metrop-
| oils of the new South, according to the
census of 1880 contained "a, 499 inhab
itants, and in 1890, SO, 533, an Increase
| of rs per cent.
These, says Mr.. Porter, are only some
of the striking illustrations. The OUT
put In the coal-producing States of the
South in 1890 was more than twice the
entire output of bituminous coal in the
United States in 1860 and nearly 2,000,-
600 more tons than the total production
of the United States in 1870. These same
| ka+o oh fo1 aknr. he
production of pig iron. The only one of
these States producing pig-iron in 1860
and 1870 was Tennessee. The entire
production of all these States, including
Tennessee, in 1880, was 3O7,301 tons,
which had in 1890 increased to nearly
| 100000 tons. The production of iron
ore in these Southern States now al
most equals the total production of the
United States in 1870. In that year the
United States produced 8, 1868, 1871 tons,
while in 1890 the production of the iron
ore producing States of the South was
2,917, 500.
The development of the mineral re-
sources of the South has not 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 $50. 900 bales, while in 1890
it used 497, 900 bales, an increase of 175
per cent. The South produces about
three-fourths of the worlds annual cot.
ton crop, but manufactures only about
or per cent. of what it raises, the
balance furnishing material for spin
dies in New England and in Europe.
The value of the South's agricultural
products in 1889 was over $3.50, O00, 600
greater than in 1879, and the value oil
its live stock SIT, ZOO. 900 greater. The
railroad mileage increased from 20,612
miles in 1880 to 1881 miles in 1889,
the assessed value of property from
50, 913, O0O, 900 to "a, 900, 600. 600, gain
of over 81, 300, 600, 600, while the true
value increased over $4,000, 900, 900.
Educational progress has been much
! greater than the percentage of gain in
population and the number of period
icals in the South has increased from
1925 in 1880 to 4, 1856 in 1890. The tim.
Der resources of the South, Mr.. Porter
says, are much greater than those OF
any other portion of the United States,
or indeed of any civilized and well-set.
tied country in the world
4 n.,.-