The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-01-15
the scUiH's cNoNT..

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/, was stated in our press DISPATCHES
YESTERDAY that the Director OF the Ger
sus had announced The percentage OF in
crease of population in different parts
of tho country. showing Tor the last de-
cade a rapid decrease over the previous
rate Of growth Of population in the West
n less marked. bat decided, decrease in
tho North and slight increase in the
South. 1t is further stated that for the
first time in The history Of this country
The population of the South increased
1aorc rapidly than that OF the North. To
{ be exact:
Tho percentage of increase from 1860 to
1sse was C1.s in the North, asa in the
South. and 1856 in The West, while in the
last twenty sears-tSSo-19ee-it was 4S'
in the North, 4s.5 in the South, and 18lS
81 the West
The report also shows that prior to the
war between the states, The Northern
states nearly doubled in population with
each twenty years while in The South
.erns States the increase was only about
two-thirds as great. Since 1860 The rate
Of growth in both sections has been much
less, hut while the rate of growth in the
North has decreased steadily, that in
the South during the last twenty years
mas been slightly greater than during the
twenty years from 1860 10 1880.
The reason for the soutifs increase is
not hard to find. Prior 10 the war Inc
South Was Essentially an agricultural
section. with very few manufacturing
Industries. Those. who owned slaves We're
quite content 10 ill the soil and make a
comfortable living from year TO year;
and those who had no slaves did the best
they could. There was nothing in this
condition which tended to bring in an
inilllx OF population from other sections,
Moreover, there was intense prejudice in
olhers sectors against the South because
OF The existence of slavery. But after
Tic war was over and the slaves were
freed the Southern people turned their
attention TO manufacturing industries aud
t. commerce, and the Development has
beer phenomenal. Naturally, there was
an Increase in population, but the in
crease in wealth was far greater in pro-
portion. As an evidence of our growth,
The railroads Of the South have increased
their traffic in enormous proportions, It
WAS stated in our financial department
yesterdav thai the tons of freight carried
by the southcra Railway increased from
6.6-5,750 in 1895 to 14,12i1s1 in 1900, being
a gain of 10 .pca cent. in five years. Bat
this increase does not come from agri-
culture. IT comes from the manufactur-
ing industries of the South, and com
nerce,
In speaking OF this yesterday q pronli-
nent citizen OF Richmond. who has made
a study of economic questions, called at
tcution to the interesting fact that one
negro and one mule working together on
a farm would produce about six bales
of cotton, valued at $40, whereas, the
same hand working in a coal mine would
produce about S18oO worth of coal, 1t
is equally true thai an ordinary hand
working in a cotton factory will produce
goods worth a great deal more Than the
value Of raw cotton produced by him on
the farm
Ne do not mean 10 disparage farm
work for the South is still a great agri-
cultural region, and her cotton manufae-
turing Industries. are dependent upon The
raw cotton which the farm produces,
and those Who work in the factories and
in The minos must depend upon the
farmer fer their food. But the great
promise of the South is in charging and
increasing her manufacturing industries.
This. n,ears NOR" wealth and more pros
perity aud more money for each ami
every citizen.