The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1894-08-14
THE RECORD OF A DECADE.
A Gratifying Exhibit of Southern
Progress i'm Ten Years.

In his recent speech before the
Southern Exchange Association, in
New York, Mr.. II. HI. Edmonds, editor
of the Manufacturers Record, made q
statement Of the progress of the South
in ten years. Speaking Of this period
he said:
cit has demonstrated to the world
that in iron, cotton and lumber manu-
facture it is no longer q question as to
whether the South can compete with
other sections, but, it is q question as
to whether other sections a hold
their own against the South. Southern
cotton mills practically monopolize the
coarse goods trade and are rapidly
pushing into the production of finer
goods. Alabama is today making iron
at less than $3.50 per ton, and able OK
ports have lately reported that the
Carolinas can produce tho best grades
Of Bessemer iron for steel making at
less than So u ton.
SIN 1880 the South had total farm
assets OF $2,314, COG, 900, by 1890 they
had increased to SO, 1872, DOC, 900, an in
crease of 81 per cent, while during the
same period the increase in all other
States and Territories was only 80 per
cent. This. it should be remembered,
was accomplished by the South with
out the aid Of immigration, while the
West had the benefit of nearly 5000,
600 foreigners, who settled there with.
in that period.
THE total value of the farm pro-
ducts of the South in 1880 was $685.
600, 600, against 81, 55 600, 900 for the
remainder of the country. II 1890 the
South produced of farm products $773,-
100000, q gain of $107 900, 600. or 16 per
cent, while the gain in all other States
and Territories was only $141, 900, 600,
or 8 per cent. With total farm assets
Of SO, 172, 600, 900 in 1890 the South's
farm products were worth $773, 900, 600,
or a gross revenue of 2.1 per cent. on
the capital. All other sections com
bined had $12, 797, 900, 900 in farm opera
tions and the product was 81, 1887, 900,
600, or l3.1 per cent gross Thus
the South's farm interests yielded on
the capital invested nearly So for every
dollar yielded in other sections. More
living, because of less fuel, less heavy
clothing and less expense in all farm
operations, the net results in favor of
the Southern farmer are still greater"
In manufacturing, the figures adj
duced by Mr.. Edmonds are even more
striking, as the following extracts will
show:
Turning from agriculture to manu-
featuring we find that in 1880 the
South had a manufacturing capital of
$l51, 600 900, which by 1890 had increas-
ed to 1868, 900, 600, a gain of 1856 per
cent. while the gain in the entire coun-
try was only 120 per cent. The value
of the South's manufacturing products
rose from 1857 ,000, COO in 1880 to $917,
OOO, 900 in 1890, q gain Of 100 per cent.
aDalnSt an innraaca 0f nnly 40 rnr Govt
in the whole country. The wages paid
to factory hands increased from $75,-
$780, 900 in 1880 to 1922. 900, 600 in 1890.
The cotton mills of the South repre-
sented and investment in 1880 of $21,-
100000. Now over $97, DOC, 600 is invest
ed in Southern cotton mills.
AS late as 1886 Southern mills con
sumed only one-fourth as much cotton
as those Of New England-now they
use one-half as much. Cotton seed
was a waste product fifteen years ago;
now nearly 800 cotton seed oil mills
represent ar investment of about $40,-
OOO, 900. In1880 the South mined 6 ,OOO,-
600 tons of coal in 1890 nearly 2S,OOO,-
DOC tons. In 1880 the South made 397,-
600 tons of pig iron in 1893 nearly
900, 600 tons.
Turning to the census report of
1880 the true value of the property
shows the most wonderful revelation OF
Southern advancement. In 1880 the
South had of real and personal prop
erty o total of 81, 600, 600, 900. Between
1850 and 1890 there was an increase of
500, 600, 1000, against an increase of
So, 200, 000,0 600 in the New England and
Middle States combined, the percen-
tage OF gain in the former being over
5O and In the latter % per cent. only"