Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-03-10
Progress, Resources and Products
Of the South---1 886-10O2
AS OBSERVED BY A NEW ENGLANDER

river ana the GulL OF Mexico. IL WOulQ
be difficult to name a fruit or vegeta-
BILE that cannot be successfully pro-
duced. the fruit industry in Georgia
and Florida has grown to be of great
Importance, and is constantly increas-
ing. The fact that fruit can be picked
after II has ripened and shipped in the
best condition to the eastern markets
gives the south a great advantage in
this industry.
Consider the vast tracts Of timber.
Foremost among the timber interests
IS the yellow pine, with its many va
ried uses, safely one of the most use
full kinds of wood that grows. The an
nual product of long-leaf yellow-pine
lumber is Of immense value. In addi-
ton, there are areas of hardwood for
ests that have barely been touched.
There is a long list of minerals and
building stones. The marble quarries
in North Georgia have just fairly
started Granite of the best quality is
10 be had, clay in the best quality for
bricks, iron ore of many varieties.
These are only a few.
Coal of the best steaming quality is
to be found over a very wide area of
the south. There seems to be no limit
to the production of coal.
Discoveries of oil have added a new
and important item recently to the
long list of riches.
Last, but most important Of all, con-
slider the climatic conditions! A large
section Of the south has climate that
is unequalled-a climate requiring a
minimum of food and clothing and af-
fording a maximum of sunshine. A
good climate has as much effect in
producing happiness and comfort as
most of the other influences combined.
L. - fvr,nnGcih1a m fnfO
lengthy or detailed statistics in so
short an article. The following facts,
however, bear strikingly on the fore
going remarks and illustrate the truth
of what has been said.
The growth Of the rural population
of the southern states during the de-
cade ending in 1900 shows most strik-
ingly the advantages of the climate
and soil that this section possesses.
The census of 1900 shows total gain
in the rural population of all the states
and territories of the union from 1880
to 1900 of 4,449, 900. OF this total gain,
fourteen states, excluding Missouri,
furnished 2640 40, or nearly 60 per cent
of the total increase of the whole
country in rural population, while all
the remainder of the union, including
the immense states and territories Of
the west, furnished 1.S0S.SS0. or about
40 per cent of the whole increase IN
rural population.
This is a most striking fact when 1t
is borne in mind that great immigra-'
ton bureaus have been in constant
operation with view to carrying for
eign emigrants to the states and ter
ritories of the great west, and that
none of the increase of population by
the south was brought about by an in
fiux of people from foreign lands.
Furthermore, this fact becomes even
more important when 1t is remem-
bered that many or the states of the
union absolutely show. by the census
of 1900, less rural population than they
had by the census of 1890.
While the rural population Of the
southern states increased ia per cent,
the rural population of all the balance
of the country increased only 9.2 per
cent.
Nor does this mean that the southern
population increased only in the rural
districts. for the cities and towns Of
the south increased during the same
decade IS per cent Of the total increase
of the south, while the increase Of the
country districts was 65 per cent Of the
total gain.
The growth of the cities and towns
and country in Georgia can be taken
monious growth in rural and urban
population. A careful estimate will
show that in 1890 1875 per cent of the
people of the state of Georgia lived
outside Of the cities and incorporated
towns, whereas in 1900 75.7 per cent
lived outside of the cities and incor-
porated towns, which is to say that
today about the same proportion Of
the population of Georgia lives in the
country as in 1890 During the decade
the rural population increased 267, los,
and the cities and towns of the state
increased III, S73.
The fact that the climate is delight
full and that the crops in this section
rarely, If ever, fail, and that every
kind Of crop can be grown to advant-
age, and that, hence, men find 1t pro-
fitable to live on farms in the south,
accounts for the fact that the country
is increasing in population in this sec
ton more than In the remainder of the
United States, and alsof for the fact
that the growth of the cities and Of the
country are keeping even pace with
each other.
The great amount of manufacturing
done in the southern states and its in
creasing Importance cannot be over
looked by any student of the progress
of this section.
Since 1850 the output of the factories
of the state of Georgia alone has in
creased over 900 per cent. BY the CEN
sus of 1900 the annual product of the
factories in Georgia amounted to over
S1O6, OOO, 900. or nearly twice the pro-
ceeds Of an average years cotton crop
of the state.
The sum of about $23, 900, 900, by the
census Of 1900, is paid annually as
wages to laborers in the factories Of
the state, a sum more than equal to
one-half the value Of an average years
cotton crop. Cotton is still a monarch
of high degree. and always will be, but
other kings are rapidly coming to the
front and rapidly claiming equal i'm
portance.
The brief sketch have drawn above
of what has been done in the south and
what there is to work on indicates that
the prospects OF the south today are
brighter than those of any other sec
ton of the country. The south has just
fairly started on its way to prosperity.
And what a handicap II had in starting
its career after the war! 1t has just
gathered Roadway, and is fairly NOV
ing. Its possibilities are full Of promise
and hope; it's prospects seem brighter
than at any period of its existence.
Can such a collection of favorable
conditions be found anywhere else?
To summarize, they are as follows: