Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-01-01
PROGRESS OF SOUTH.
THE LAST YEAR ONE OF MARVEL
LOUs ADVANCE.
The Atlanta Exposition-Its Benefits.
Newport News ship-Building Plant.
Baftleship COntracts-Cotton-Mtll
Int rest-Im ma Y atfOu,
Interest-Im migration.

BALTIMORE. MD, December 81
In a general summary OF the business pro-
gress OF the South during the past year,
the Manufacturers Record says.
THE year just ended has been one
which for all time to come will be nctsd
in the records OF southern progress as one
OF the most important periods in the
business history OF the South. 1t has
been a year OF marvellous achievement
II was year free from speculative az
tivity, ana a year in which there was no
hurrah or booming BUSINESS seen ia any
part OF the South, but in ali tins great
territory there mas been solia. substan-
,ial foundation for greater growth than
was ever before known IN the south, II
not In any other part of me country.
Standing out oonspicdodsly in history
VIII be the Atlanta EAposi lon. and The
results wnicn must necessarily how from
that Undertaking. the greatest goOG
from the exposition viii be the stimuli
ton into increased activity VI the PEG
pie OF the entire south. Quickened into
iivelier realization of the unequalled on
portunities which their section affords
stimulated by what has been accomplished
In Atlanta and elsewhere. the effect o.
the exposition Will De TO double. possibly
quadrupie,, the aggregate energy ais
played In the active upbuilding of tn
Who'll South by the people of the South
The broadening influence of such an expo
sition upon the people OF this section, tn
educational effect which ii has ALREADY
had, cannot be measured. 1t marks. not
single period from which the
Industrial interest OF the South must
henceforth date but IT marks a new pc
riod in a broader spirit OF patriotism for
our entire land
NEWPORT NEWS.
Possibly the most important event IN
the industrial history OF the South for
many years was the recent award to a
southern sh.p-buildng concern Of a con-
tract for two battleships. TO cost $500 600.
Nothing which has occurred, excepting
the Atlanta eypositi n, has more fully
emphasized the growing power of the
South in the business interests OF IN,
country. The Newport News ship-yard
now has on hand an aggregate of over
100000 worth of work-an amount which
might justly be regarded as OF grea,
magnitude for even such a concern as the
Cramp Ship-Building Company.
The revival OF the iron business du-
ring 1895 put into operation many Idle
furnaces, made heavy increase I'm the
output of coal and iron-ore, and at the
close of the year the production of iron
and the output of coal is at a heavier
rate than at any former time in the his
tory OF the South.
With all of its iron and kindred int
rests on a basis now acknowledged
throughout the world of the most Solid
thn Of
these Industries in the South is far more
promising than during the boom period
of few years past, when the world at
large had not comprehended the nasnl-
tude and the solidty Of the metallurg.cal
interests Of the South.
At the close of the year arrangements
are being completed for blowing several
other furnaces which have been I'M
dergoing repairs, and i'm the early part
of the new year the already heavy pro-
ductiOn of iron in the South will be ma
terally increased.
COTTON MILLS.
Cotton-mill building In the South in
1895 was phenomenal. The aggregate
number of spindles for new mills UNI
dertaken during the year, and for en-
largements OF old mills, was, In round
numbers, about 100000, or probably
twice as many as were ever before re-
corded I'm one year. During the year the
South's pre-eminent advantages for
this industry were for the first time.
fully and completely admitted by the
foremost textile authorities OF the world.
In round numbers. the South has now,
including mills i'm operation and those
under construction or FOR when the
money has been raised about 100000
eli oil ~ VI a
In full operation before tne close OF the
present crop year.
The to- of population which for
year or more has been slowly turning
southwark. has swelled during the past
. twelve months to great magnitude
Through the North and West. thousands
OF people are turning southwark, and
the outlook indicates that within the
next few years, as many settlers from
outside will come into the South as
went into the Northwest fifteen or twenty
years ago when that country was be-
ing opened up 10 civilization.
The old year has wiped out many OF
the scares and business disasters follow
ing the panic; II has cleared much OF
the uncertainty of the past, and given
the South an opportunity 10 demonstrate
TO the world the inherent soundIess OF
ALI its business interests, and 20 prove
and have this proof everywhere ACCEPTED
that no other section of this or any other
land offers such phenomenally favorable
conditions for the support or a great
population, the development OF 'nlustriil
interests, and the creation OF weal,h. IN
brief. such has been the record or 1870
The new year opens with every as
surance TINT. cesuite the uncertainty
,vhich overhangs the country because or
financial affairs and of the Venezuelan
situation. the South at least VIII move
steadily forward. and in 1896 VIII snow
even greater advancement than It's record
shows for 1888.