The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-10-09

increase IN railroad property. Ii lS1U tne
total capital invested In manufactures in
the United States was ~, 11S, 1908, 600 By
1880 this had increased to 81, 1890 a72, 900.
Between 1880 and 1890 the increase was
phenomenal, and the census Of 1890 showed
atotal capital of Sc, 1894, AIS, 900 The num-
Der of hands employed in factories increased
from 2, 732, 900 in 1880, whose aggregate
wages amounted to s947, 9b3, 900, to 4,7l1,-
s32 In $780, with aggregate wages Of S2,-
2S2, 1923, 900. Keeping pace with manu-
featuring growth, the mining interests of
the country turned out 1856, 900, 900 worth
of products in 1890 against 1869, OO0, 200
ten years before.
In 1880 we had 90, 900 miles of railroad
in 1890 we had 1866, 700 miles, gain Of
73,700 miles, or about 80 per cent. The
number Of locomotives in use in the Unit
cd States increased from II, 900 In 1880 to
81, 900 In 1890, and the number of passen-
ger, freight and baggage cars from 656, 900
to 1909, 900. The deposits in savings
banks rose from 1919, 900, 900 to 81, $780,
OO0, 900.
The eastern farmer knows full vol that
1t Is competition with the great western
prairies where millions Of acres Of new land
were opened up by new railroads and settled
by millions Of foreign immigrants (nearly
100000 having come to this country
within the last 90 years., that first made
wheat growing less profitable to him than
formerly. Then came the enormous in
crease in grain production In this country
and in others, which necessarily caused a
big break in prices The decline in the
price of wheat came about from the eco
nomic change brought about first by west
ern wheatfields and later by the increase
of wheat growing in other countries, sup
plemented by the decrease in cost of har-
vesting and transportation. Five or six
years ago we were cultivating about CO.,
600, 600 acres more than we should have
been cultivating at that time, based on the
average acreage per capita in 1870. Our
grain production increased much more
rapidly than our population. In 1895 We
raised 90 bushels more per capita than we
did in 1866, and over 10 bushels more
than In 1870. This would mean that our
aggregate grain crop of 1895 was about
700, 900 bushels larger than it would
have been at the rate of production per
capita of 1870, and 1,400, 000, 900 bushels
more than at the rate per capita in 1866.
Such rate of increase beyond the growth
Of population could only result in depres-
sion in prices, regardless of tariff or flnan-
cial laws.
Through the whole range of human af-
fairs this wonderful era of inventions, this
quarter of century, unlike any other in
the worlds history in the wide sweeping |
effect of its new processes, new methods,
has had tho effect of causing steady do |
cline in prices. If we are to find the real |
cause of this very general shrinkage, we
must seek 1t here. Instead Of decrying the |
decentralization Of silver, we must decry
the ingenuity of the human mind in bring
ing forth so many inventions that have
cheapened the cost Of everything except
labor.
Mr.. Edmonds then considers the section
al argument and outlines the marvellous
growth and development of the south in
this way:
Between 1880 and 1890 the south gained
$8, 800, 600, 900, or an increase of so per
cent, while the New England and middle
states combined, starting with $17,533,-
OOO,0 900 in 1880, gained only $8,9OO,O0O
900, or an increase of 20 per cent The
south, having in 1880 total farm assets,
including the value of farms, implements,
ETC., of $2,314, 200, 000 made an advance
by 1890 to IS, 1872, 600, 900, or gain of 81
per cent During the same period the in
crease in farm values in all other states
and territories was from 80, 700, 900, 900 to
$12, 797, 900, 900, or 80 per cent-the per-
centage Of gain In the rest Of the country
being less than In the south, notwith-
standing the opening up of the great west
by the enormous immigration that poured
into that region between 1880 and 1890.
The increase In the value of western
property was &c. 100 900, 000 or two and
one-third times as much us the gain in the
New England and middle states combined.
The Pacific coast alone gained 81 200, 000,-
600 in value against IS, 900, 900, 900 for the
combined middle and eastern states.
In 1880 the south had $685., pa, sol in
vested In manufacturing. By 1890 this
had increased to 1865, 1908, s17, gain OF
1866 per cent, while the gain In the entire
country WAS 1870. 70 per cent. The value
of the manufactured products of the south
rose from s457, 454,777 in 1880 to $0l7,-
5s9,04b In 1890, gain of 100 nor cent,
against an increase of only so. 81 per cent
n the whole country The factory hands
If the south received s75, 9l7, All in wages
n 1880 and In 1890 s222, 11S, sos.
In 1880 the south had S2l ,976, 900 in
rested In cotton manufacturing. 1t had
1t that time 161 cotton mills, with 667,-
700 spindlos and 300 looms. BY 1890
his industry had increased to 254 mills,
With LOO, 900 spindles, 80, 900 looms and
'61 10000 capital At the present time
tho south has in round figures about 500
'otton mills. 1t has nearly 1000, 900 spin
lies and capital invested in cotton man.
ifat turing Of about Sis, 100000 to $780,.
'OO 600
The cottonseed oil industry has been
created since 1880 At that
inc there were 40 mills, with capital Of
10, 100000. This industry now has II cap.
tai of upward Of $50, 600 600
The railroad mileage Of the south has
zen increased since 1880 by the addition
+ over 5000 miles, representing an out
ny in the building of now roads and in
he improvements of old ones Of over ST.
90, 900, 900.
In 1880 the south made 1907 900 tons Of
ig iron, and in 1895 it made 1702, OsS
ons The south's coal output in 1880 was
100000 tons AT the present time it is
t the rate of over 80, 900, 600 tons year. {
These are but a few Of many facts Of {
quail significance. They show that be- I
ween 1880 and 1890, prior to the period Of t
epression now existing, the south was I
laking a rate of progress greater than any I
ther part of the country; that even tho 1
aiddia staias end Now England were not l