Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-12-25
EARMERs. STAY souTH.

FARMEhSy STAT SOO Ts
The south is perhaps less given to vaunt-
ing its own achievements than any other
section. Our own people, indeed, hear so
much II the vast possibilities and output
OF the north and west. which are so dill
gently exploited. that they forget the
often superior resources OF their own part
Of the country.
We have heard great deal recently OF
the farming lands in the west, and how
the new Egypt lies between the Mississippi
and the Rocky mountains. We have Us
tened. agape with wonder, at the marvel
Gus stories of wheat oceans and corn
lakes in Nebraska and the Dakotas. And
these pictures are mainly truthful. That
the great west is "a land Astounding In
corn and wine"-that IT is one Of the
worlds granaries-cannot be doubted. But
the fact is that whoever wants to go into
the farming business. II he. already lives
in the south, would do better TO stay
where he is. And II his dwelling place
is IN another section, ne would do well
to come south.
This sounds surprising. But figures are
frequently surprising. The census of 1900
shows the total value of farms and Of
farm products for that year in the varf-
Gus states. These statistics give some
striking results. The figures recently Civ
en- out may be already familiar to the
reader. but will bear republication:
Value of farm property in the south,
s. s5l, sS1. Sc.
value Of farm property, whole United
States, SEQ. ass. so1.1 64
Net value Of farm products, deducting
that fed to stock:
The SOUTH. -. ....S SoosVo'oo5
Whole United States.... 80. S'SSl'OOo'od
Net earnings of farms in the south, Is
per cent.
Net earnings OF farms in the whole coun-
try. l62 per cent.
Net earnings of farms outside Of the
southern states. less than 10 per cent
These figures are eye-openers. Yet they
are government reports. They have but
one message. There is more profit to be
made out Of al farm in the south than in
any other section of the country.
There are poor lands and there are rich
lands. both in the south and elsewhere.
1t is the aggregate percentage of profit
on aggregate investment that tells the
tale. And it is a tale that needs no point
ing of a moral. because the moral is self
evident
You can't farm in the SOUTH" is a
phrase that IS not infrequently heard.
We trust that the publication of the above
figures will forever put an end to such
ridiculous vaporings. The plain truth Of
the matter is, that there is more money to
be made, on an equal investment, from
farming in the southern states. than from
any other business not dependent. on
chance or patent protection. 1t would
be sheer folly for anyone thinking of in
vesting in farm lands. TO go where he
might average 10 per cent profit, when
the figures show that he can stay right
here in the south and stand a chance OF
averaging IS per cent.
This profit. we, should remember, has
been made on Nrms not nearly so well
equipped as those i'm the north and east
with fewer modern appliances and less
machinery. Yet even with this handicap
our southern. farmer clears IS per cent
more on his investment tnan the farmer
Of other sections.
This story told by the census figures
has not only a moral but vein of proph-
ecy. The path of prosperity is in the line
OF least resistance. II the southern farmer
is now making a larger percentage on
his investment than those Of other sec
lions. then the south ought to be getting
rich faster than other sections. And
when we remember that nearly all the
wealth Of the southern states has been
built up since the war, we are inclined
to believe that this theory Is true.
There IS no need of any sectional ex-
hortations. 1t is cold business. In matters
OF commerce. at least, the race is to the
swift. Let those who would pick the
winner glance at the above time table.