Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-08-11
SHOWING
The SOUTH'S
GROWTH
STARTLING FACTS SHOWN BY
INVESTIGATION OF THIS SEC
TIoN OF THE COUNTRY
AND IT'S PRODUCTS.

; BALTIMORE, Aug. e-The Manufactur-
ers Record has made a critical analysis
of the census bulletins, which enable 1t
TO make for the first time an exact state
ment of the development of the agricul-
tural interests Of the south in connection
with a review of the industrial advance Of
that section. This shows that the south
is now a 5000, 900, 900 section, the value Of
| it's agricultural and manufactured prod
ucts now annually aggregating nearly that
sum.
Between 1880 and 1850 the total value of
southern agricultural, manufactured aud
mineral products increased from $1,134,-
,229 to $2,S44, 40. or 157 per cent, while
during the same period the increase of
population was A per cent. During that
period the capital invested in manufac-
lures increased from $257, 244,564, as the
total Of 1880, TO 81, 153 002. 563 in 1900, gain
of $685. 757, S04 or 34s per cent. In the same
| time the value of manufactured products
increased from $457. 454. IN in 1850 to A.46S,-
643 III In 1900, gain of $1,006, 1SS 400, or 20
per cent. In agriculture the value of farm
property in the south increased from
81 800 1884, 321 In 1880 to So. 951. 631, 632, gain
of 1866, 267, 81, or Y per cent, while the
value Of farm products. increased from
$500, 49, 452 to 1,271, 654 273, gain Of $6ll,-
522,S21. or 80 per cent.
In the south the greatest actual In
, crease in manufacturing capital was $l04,-
, 404,876 in Maryland. Louisiana being sec
| ond with $101, 81, S26, Texas third with
$S1, 1881, Virginia fourth with $B, 701,-
99S. Georgia fifth with $69,117.246, North
| Carolina sixth with $63 ass, 255, and Ala
bama seventh with 500 7O2, 073. In agricul
tural advance Texas led with an increase
in the value of farm property of sos. Ss1,-
\ $685. while Louisiana was second with
| gain of $121. 766, $50, Kentucky third with
s112S42,O24, Georgia fourth with SIS, 21s, S2s.
Mississippi fifth with So, 2O4. 75s. Arkansas
sixth with $50 O56,424, and Tennessee sew
| enth with 81, T45, $50.
The rate of increase IN the capital in
vested in manufacturers in the south dur
! ing the twenty years from 1880 to 1900 was
| S4S per cent while during the same period
| the rate Of increase for the United States
was B2 per 0nt; and in the value of
| products the rate Of increase in the south
was go per cent; whereas the rate Of in
crease for the United states was 142 per
| cent.
Thus, both in the capital invested and
IN the value of products the rate of in
crease in manufactures in the south was
much greater than that of the country
| at large, Notwithstanding the enormous
expansion Of the Industrial interests of
the United States during the two decades
under review.
During the same twenty year period
/ the value of farm property IN the south
| showed a gain of 90 per cent. while die
total gain of the farm property of the
United States was 81 per cent, the value
! Of farm products for the south showing
an increase Of 90 per cent. compared with
gain for the country of 113 per cent.
In studying these figures which show
| the very remarkable advance Of the south
as compared with the entire country (the
only point in them in which the south did
not more than keep step with the growth
L ~ On ~ IN "a af
| products) we should take inuto account
| thine complete wreck and ruin OF the
south by the war and its subsequent pow
erty, leading II of necessity when 1t was
| able TO resume farming operations to de-
vote Itself almost exclusively to the one
| crop idea and also the decentralization Of
much Of its labor element creating at the
| same time In other parts of the country
| misapprehensions regarding the opportun-
| ities in southern agriculture. Thus start
| ing under these adverse conditions, with
/ a disorganized labor system, with poverty
| almost beyond our ability 10 comprehend,
and without any Of the advantage Of the
enormous immigration which has poured
/ into the far west many millions of farm
I ers. the south has been able to more than
| hold its own, both in Industrial and agrt-
| cultural advancement, with the growth q
| the United States. No higher tribute 70
| the inherent strength of the south's nat
ural advantages and Of the ability of its
people to master the most overwhelming
difficulties could be given. The world has
| no record of greater achievement
One interesting phase of the conditions
| now prevailing is that in 1880 the value of
| farm products exceeded the value OF man
ufactured products in the south by more
| I'll an 500 900. 900. while IN 1900 the value Of
manufactured products exceeded the
value Of farm products by more than
1870. 1000. During that same period the
number of persons engaged I'm agriculture
| in the south increased 80 per cent, while
| the number OF wage earners n rpanufac-
| turing Increased 157 per cent, both rates
| OF Increase in the south being greater
| than the rates In the country at largo. In
| this Industrial upbuilding the south Is 20
I find full fruition Of its agricultural poten-
| tialities. The development Of manufac-
| lures, creating quick, steady and remun-
| erative markets for the diversified pro-
ducts of agriculture, will give to the farm
ers Of the south advantages which they
| never before possessed.
I The natural advantages of this section
| for agriculture find a pre-eminent Illus
tration in the fact that the value of its
farm products, after deducting the value
| Of those fed to livestock, during the cen
| sus year was Us per cent upon the value
| Of its farm property or fixed capital, while
| the highest percentage in the states east
| of the Ohio and north OF Mason and Dix
| on's line was 223 per cent in Maine, the
| highest in the middle west 201 per cent in
North Dakota, and the highest In the far
I west us in Idaho, while the percentage
| for the whole country is a little more than
| is per cent.