The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-04-09
TWO DECADES IN THE SOUTH.

TWO DECADES IN THE SOUTH.
The Macon (Ga) Telegraph has tn
following to say regarding the wonder
'ul progress Of The South:
IF one will only recall what the
south did not enjoy twenty years ago
ana compare its condition then with
that OF to-day. he must IN all con-
science forbear from further croak-
ing. Twenty years is II short space
OF time. To those who have been
busily employed 1t is but yesterday.
Now. what are some Of the things
mat have come to pass within this
brief space of twenty years? Where
the proud city of Birmingham stands
to-day there We're IN 1877 only worn
out fields. Chattanooga was a dilapi
dated village. Atlanta still sat in the
ashes of war. Florida was almost
rs much Of a wilderness as in The
days Of Spanish rule Texas had
made no impression upon the worlds
markets as cotton producer. The
states Of Louisiana, Mississippi and
Arkansas were in povcrly and de-
SPAR because Of the miScrcs of the
reconstruction period. The coal and
iron mines of Tennessee, Alabama
ana Virginia We're practically un-
discovered and unopened. There was
no serious competition by any South
er1l port with New York and Boston
for the export and import trade.
with 4 single exception there was
not one great railroad system in the
south, and that did not touch the,
Southeastern part. This cx-
traordinary Improvement in superb
transportation facilities has all been
brought about since 1871 and this
alone is enough 10 make one believe
That some Aladdin had stretched
forth Il wand over the Southern land
and made 1t suddenly blossom with
blessings Of IL marvellous commercial
progress. TO what part OF the earth
shall one so to find the record of a
change 50 instant, SO astounding ana
so magical? But the pen would run
OF Unfortunately If one should at
tempt to indicate all the details Of
the wondrous advance. We may
only hint at them. Why, men and
brethren, twenty years ago the man
utacturc Of cotton in the South was
wholly an infant industry and cities
now known as textile working CEN
trrS were mere trading posts at the
crossroads. The fruit and vegetable
business Of Florida was SO small as
to attract little attention. while the
lruit and melon business OF Georgia
did not exist at all. Southern farm
''' tiiSil ptuSu lnHlf corn ana
meats. instead OF raising them as
they do now, ana the cotton crop OF
Georgia, Notwithstanding the COM
paratively low prices, and notwith-
standing the cities have absorbed so
much of the rural population, is
twice as large as it was then
How absurd then, Is the pla int that
the South is in hard lines and is
laboring under adversely The in
All
South during the last twenty years
is to be reckoneu by hundreds Of
millions, and there is nothing in the
way OF Il like increase during the
next score Of years. Her export ana
import trade grows in volume every
day. The divcrSiiicatiun Of her in
dustrics continues. Presently We
shall see new towns spring out OF
waste places, and The census Of 1910
viii note the evolution OF many fun
ticdSed cities from the hamlets; OF
to-day"
This is an interesting review Of Soull
rrn development ana is all the mo,
valuable because /, IS the truth. p,
The Nirginian would like TO say SOM
thing in addition to the progress mao
in the Old Dominion during the DeriC
named. Few States in the South ha,
made such strides along the highway
development as Virginia. ThouSaut
upon thousands OF miles Of her tcr,i,or
which were but barren wastes at II
close Of the war. now team with plent
aud many 4 town has been establish,
where once great forests reared the
heads. Railroads now penetrate section
heretofore only trarerscd by man c
foot or beast. Our great water cours,
and magnificent streams presents Graf
lnnumerabie with the products Of II,
soil. and great ships from beyond II
seas come to us heavily iadened wit
wares, and in exchange carry away Il
proofs Of her enterprise. wealth and il
duStry. Virginia IS a vast field Of plen,
a great domain of enterprise an
thrift. Her Jocks feed upon innuner;
bic hills; way down deep in her SO
treasures. hidden for ages from II
sight of man. have been dug up for III
enrichment. and her Factories and forg,
are constantly increasing In number.
AS the Telegraph says. the progre:
Of the Southern States has been wondc
ful and Virginia is abreast of them al