The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1893-01-19
SOUTHERN INDUSTRIES
Wilmington Star,

The last number of the Baltimore
IIanfafturcrs' Record contains a COM
rehensive and valuable report OF in
Gu>trial progress in the South for the
asst wear, which on the whole makes
an excellent showing, and gives proof
That this section is not only holding
is own but is making progress not
outstanding the depression in agri-
culture, the low price OF cotton and
the scarcity of money.
During the year there were estab-
J shed 1858 new industries, a falling
cH from some of the " boom years
receding it, but still good showing
considering the depression that has
revailed more or less throughout the
Juntry. The industries started are
al of substantial character and are
t JUS classified, the figures embracing
only the larger ones: Eighty-two ma
chine shops and toundries, 4S iron
and steel works, 63o wood working
Establishments, 20 furniture factories,
canning factories, 43 cotton seed oil
ills, 0S ice factories, IS textile mills,
II Touring mills, and 261 mining
I'd quarrying enterprises.
The output of pig iron, notwlth-
: anding the decrease in price, was l.
t54,2o5 tons an increase Of 245,S3o
iDns over 1891. The production OF
Dal was 4,512,647, against 1885,
IL tons in 1891. The new railroad
mileage 1,o52, against one-fourth OF
ne total mileage for the whole country.
tf the 163 National banks established
i the country during the year, 81
ere in the South, with capital OF
2,70o, 900.
There are now in the cotton mills
the South a,375,eoS spindles and
1887 looms, an increase of 559,1SS
s ,,indles and 1879 looms since Sep
! Timber 1st, 1891. The consumption
oi cotton by our mills was 6S2,297
/ ales, an increase of 79,164 bales over
1891. The increase i'll the exports OF
;mber amounted to S6,ooo,ooo
The movement to establish direct
trade with foreign countries is making
rogress, the movement being coop
Grated in by railroads having term!-
al points at Southern ports, several
S Gamers now being employed in
running between Southern and Euro
ptan ports.
The reduction of cotton acreage was
:. 200, 1000 acres, with the result Of a
smaller crop. with better prices. Much
Of the land taken from cotton was de
voted to grain, and as result our
painters are better provided with home
supplies of their own raising than in
p.evious years, when many OF them
give their attention exclusively to cot
ton and bought the greater part, ifnot
|, of their provisions from the West.
This is matter of even more i'm
p)r,ance to the South than the in
cease in the number of her industries,
for it means, if it be followed up, a
reformation in her greatest industry,
the one on which the bulk Of her peo-
pc depend, and on which the pros
p:rlty of all, to greater or less ex-
te Mt, depends. There is evidence in
tie increase of our manufactures, in
tie change OF views on the one crop
S stem, in the progress that has been
n.adc in establishing direct trade with
Europe, and in the steady increase of
II railroad facilities, &C., that we are
t coming yearly more independent
AID self-sustaining section, and that
We are learning some Of the possibill-
t eS of this favored land. In all the
y sst we have Contented ourselves with
ing the producers of certain raw
Il aterlals which we sold to other
S c,,ons or to other countries and
b ,ught back from them this material
r anufactured into goods, paying
tl,em the profit which we should have
h ID ourselves, and thus annually
illions of dollars vent out from the
Juth to enrich the manufacturers and
aders of other sections.
1t is so yet, to greater extent than
i should be. We still import too
n any OF the things which we should
n axe at home, and which we could
make at home with we'll directed
.ort, because we have all the mate
rails in our fields, forests and mines to
n axe them.
Why, for instance, should we i'm
port our wagons. buggies, &C., from
Chic? Why import ou, agricultural
achinery and implements from Ohio
ald Illinois? We have the best of
timber in our forests and the best Of
iron in our mines to make them, and
d. we need is the labor and capital to
H. it, both Of which could be com
L :nded by cooperative effort, if