The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-02-03
THE soUTH,s MANUFACTURES.

The Manufacturers Record of Balti-
more has compiled some interesting
figures and facts from the census bull.
letins on manufactures in the South.
The data show that during the decade
between 1890 and 1900 there was an in.
crease of 75.1 per cent. in the capital
invested in manufacturing enterprises
in the fifteen states of the Southern
group, and an increase of 500 per cent.
in the value of their products. The
capital invested at the time of the CEN
sus enumeration June, 1900 was ST.
l5S,6O097, and the annual value of
products 81, 1866 669, 495. These precent-
ages and figures, if they stood alone.
would appear hardly short of marvel
Gus; but when comparison is made
with the progress of the country at
large in manufactures, it appears that
the advancement of the South has not
been so rapid as that of some other
sections of the country. The Manu-
facturers' Record estimates that the
increase in capital in manufacturing in
the whole United States during the ten
years was not less than 100 per cent.
and in the value of products about 50
per cent.
The states showing the largest in
crease in capital employed in the or
der named, are: Louisiana, 225.3 per
cent; Florida, 21O.S; Mississippi. 1904;
Arkansas, 1402; North Carolina, 1873;
South Carolina, 1903. Louisiana's rap
Id advancement is due no doubt to the
development of the sugar industry. to
increased rice planting and milling and
to the lumber business. Florida is be-
coming great naval stores and mm-
Der producer. Georgias per centage of
increase in manufacturing capital is
o'.'' and increase in value of products
54.S. The sum of capital employed in
the state is $50, 1896 and the annual
value of output $1O6. 654527. That is a
showing Of which to be proud. especial
ly when 1t is considered that manufao-
turing in this state-indeed in the
whole South-has been the growth of
only about a third of century. Hav-
ing now got so fair start, and being
possessed of so many advantages over
the older manufacturing sections, it is
reasonable to assume that the South
viii go steadily forward.
But 1t should not be supposed that
the Eastern states are in imminent
danger of losing their supremacy as
manufacturers. The little state OF
Rhode Island about whose size we of
the South are prone to make tests. in
creased her manufacturing capital a.
per cent. during the decade and now
has nearly 1884, 900 O00-more than twice
as much as Georgia-invested in mills
Of various sorts. The four small states
of Connecticut, New Hampshire, Rhode
island and Vermont have nearly $780,
100000, or more than half as much as
the whole group of fifteen Southern
states. In time to come we may wrest
from them the business OF manufacture
Ing the bulk OF the, cotton goods. but
there are n great many other things
made in New England besides cotton
| cloth. There is as yet no good reason
| TO be alarmed for the future of the
] northeastern corner OF our country.
/ The wealth and prosperity OF that Sec
ton, however. should be "A spur to the
South to make still greater efforts in
manufacturlng. II Rhode Island. no
bigger than a Georgia county. can find
I profitable employment In manufacture
/ Ink for twice as much capital as II in
vested IN that way in the whole OF
Georgia, manlfestly we have not more
than got start iu the business.
I The pan-Amerioan Conference has
come to an end. ~ has afforded a NUM-
I...s