The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1903-07-21

recently issued abstract of the Twelfth Census"
North Carolina ranked sixteenth among the
States in population; in 1900 she was fifteenth.
In 1890 North Carolina ranked twenty-third in
gross value of agricultural products; in 1900 she
was twentieth.
In 1890 North Carolina. ranked thirty-frst in
gross value of agricultural products; in 1900 she
was twenty-eighth.
In other words, during the decade we forged
forward one notch in population, three notches In
agriculture and three in manufactures.
No other Southern State made such a record.
Texas was the only other cotton State which
made progress in each of the three divisions, and
it moved up only one notch in each-a total Of
three notches to our seven.
Of the States around us Virginia fell back two
places in population, advanced three in agricul-
ture and one in manufactures
Tennessee fell back one point in population,
two in manufactures and advanced three in agri-
culture.
South Carolina fell back one notch in popu-
lation, two in agriculture and advanced four in
manufactures.
Georgia fell back five points in agriculture,
one in manufacturing and advanced one in popu-
lation.
Of Southern States not contiguous, Alabama
and Arkansas ranked lower in population, agri-
culture and manufactures in 1900 than in 1890;
Florida held its own in population and declined
in agriculture and manufactures; Louisiana adj
vanced in population and manufactures and de-
clined agriculturally; Missississippi ranked lower
in agriculture and manufactures, higher in popu-
lation.
But hold! Since the foregoing paragraphs were
written I have taken the trouble to compare
No-4I> Ho-o7S-o1a -ooo-J LII H. r RT1-4Iz--
and Western States, and with even more g~ratiffy-
ing results.
It appears that if we are to accept the critic
rion Of progress with which we started out-that
of gain in rank among the States in populations,
gross value of agricultural products and gross
value of manufactured products-that North
Carolina is not only the most pr aggressive South
ern State, but the most progressive old State,
North or South.
= Let us see. In the decade from 1890 to 1900, as
we have said, North Carolina went from sixteenth
to fifteenth in population, twenty-third to TWEEN
tieth in gross value-o of agricultural products and
to twenty-eighth in gross value of
manufactured products. In other words, she
gained one point in population and three each in
agriculture and manufactures net gain of
seven points in rank among the States. Virginia
two points in population, but gained three In
agriculture and one in manufacturing SO her net
gain was two points.
Taking this method of comparison, I have gone
the census. reports to get a rating in progress
siveness for each Commonwealth and have been as
much pleased as astonished to find that North
Cardinals net gain of seven points in rank was
equalled by no old State, North, South or West,
and by but one new State, Montana with a net
gain of II points,, and that wonderful new terri
tory, Oklahoma (with~a net gain of 80 points).
If, as somebody has said, "the great question is
not where are we standing, but in what direction
are we going" then there is no reason to be dis