Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-10

( uncommon In the valley country anC
the prices ranged from 70 cents to $l.G
| per bushel.
| IMMIGRATION FROM THE NORTH
AND WEST.
Another thing tending to agricultural
| prosperity in the South is the increasing
| immigration from the North and West.
| Most of the farmers from the Northwest
| have gone into fruit raising. Several
| colonies from the North have been
| founded along the line OF the Southern
| railway, at Missler, Bremen. Fruithurst,
| Toccoa, and Fitzpatrick where large
tracts of land were purchased by COM
! panes and sold to settlers in small farms
for orchards and vineyards. These colo
MES have been uniformly successful.
Lands are now being selected for the
location of three or four colonies that
are coming from the North this fall.
RAPID GROWTH OF MANUFAC-
TURES.
There has never been such activity
among southern factories as at present,
so many men employed, nor so great and
so healthy an increase in the number
of manufacturing plants of various
kinds. The figures showing the growth
In some industrial lines in States east
of the Mississippi are simply wonderful.
These States, owing 10 peculiar adj
vantages in obtaining raw material, cost
OF power, whether steam or water, and
labor have not suffered like the indus
tries of the North and West since 1893.
Indeed, in many respects, southern in
dustries, from the natural advantages
possessed by them, have steadily grown
and prospered, and now, since a change
has come in the business conditions of
the entire country. they are enjoying a
most prosperous era.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE TEXTILE
INDUSTRY.
The growth of textile manufactures is
the frequent subject OF discussion and
comment. The Secretary OF the New Or
leans Cotton Exchange recently pub
Iished a report, showing that in 1890
southern mills consumed 1864 bales OF
cotton, and in 1861 they consumed l.
0i2,6n bales, an increase OF 1871 bales,
or over Sc per cent In the same time
the Increased consumption in northern
mills was only from l,7ss,25S to 1891, $50
bales. In 1890 the southern mills took
only % per cent. Of the cotton con-
sumed by American mills. In 1897 they
took nearly 81 per cent. In the eight
States traversed by the Southern rail-
way there were in 1880, according to
the census report. in operation in south
ern cotton-miils 1888, go spindles and
IS 266 looms. There are now in the same
States 345l,63l spindles and 90.i6s looms
a gain of 1,91S3Sl spindles and IS. 902
looms, or ia and las per cent, respec-
lively In 1894. when the Southern rail-
way was reorganized there were on its
line l402l9l spindles and 39Ssi looms.
This year there are 1884, 1857 sp.ndles and
1851 looms, gain in three years OF
176 spindles and 26.677 looms or the
2i9 mills along the line of the Southern
road, seventy-eight have been erected
since 1884 A number OF new mills are
now building In North Carolina, South |
Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama, which |
will increase the spindles by 100000 1t /
has been estimated that in repairs, ad- |
ditlons, and new mills alone, there will |
be invested in the South this year near |
ly SIS 10000 Nearly every one OF the |
mills is now running on full |
time and making money. ard they have |
been busy all this year. save where IL |
became necessary to curtaii production |
from the scarcity Of raw cotton The
big Eagle and Phoenix mill at Column
bus. Ga. has started to work. operating
On an all-night schedule. and other mills
ire reported equally busy. More labor
han ever is being employed in south
ern cotton-mills. There are nunlerous
woollen- and knitting mills I'm the South,
Ind. like the cotton-mllis, they are
pushed with orders. Some Of the mills
ire shipping cotton goods and yarns 10
china and Japan. Our Land and Indus
rial Department has an exhibit at the |
pittsburg Exposition. In which ara nm !