The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1903-10-15
The South's Rapid Growth.
Baltimore Sun.


The Railway World is impressed by
the increase of production and commerce
in the South in the last few years, as in
dicated by volume of exports, growth OF
manufacturing and mining industry and
railway mileage and earnings In the
past year the exports from the South to-
tailed $5OS, 237 900, against S473, S94.-
600 the previous year This is an in
crease for Southern ports of IA per cent.
against three tenths of one per cent. for
other ports of the United States. OF the
total exports of the country the South
originated 80 per cent. "A conception
OF the SOuth's recent development can be
secured, says the World, by noting the
growth of the cotton mills along the
lines of the Southern Railway. Since
January 1, 1903. there have been added
p new plants, including 10 cotton mills
and 8 knitting mills, which have added
to the total equipment 20, 1874 looms
and 727,35S spindles There are now
under construction % other mills, with
an equipment of IA ops looms and 500
3l2 spindles, making grand total ex-
listing and in sight of GAP mills; 1S4, 1913
looms and 6,976, 800 spindles. The cor
responding exhibit for 1902 comprised
800 mills, 13O, O45 looms and 4 ,975, 311
spindles. This shows a net increase of
SO mills. 55,693 looms and 2,OO1 ,4S9
splndles." But the cotton manufactu-
ring industry is but one of the many lines
of enterprise in which the South is now
very active. Lumber, truck, fruit, min
ing of ore and coal, iron making, rice
growing and cotton seed oil production
these are other interests that have had
recently great development.
A cause and Indispensable condition of
this progress along practical lines in
recent years, the World thinks, is the
large Investment of capital in railways
in the South. In 1886 that section had
but &c, 800 miles, whereas in 1900 there
were over "a 1000 miles. representing a
new influx of capital to the amount of
1900, 100000. This growth of mileage
has had its sequel in a tremendous
growth of business Products formerly
worthless for want of access to the world
markets now quicken the currents of
trade. This is seen in the traffic Stats
tics OF important Southern railways.
Taking the Louisville & Nashville and
Southern Railway as thoroughly repre-
sentative, including in their resources all
the staple commodities of the Southern
territory it is noted that the Louisville
4 Nashville, since 1890, has increased it's
mileage from l ,965 miles to $500, and
its yearly gross earnings from Sis, S46,-
600 to $50 ,415, 600, an increase in IA
years OF u per cent. in mileage and SO
per cent. in gross earnings. Since its in
corporation in 1894 the Southern Rail
way has increased it's mileage from 4. 1879
miles to $3.50 miles, and it's gross earn
ings from $16, 543, 900 to 81, 1854. 900.
an increase of 81 per cent in mileage and
loo per cent. in gross earnings. AS re-
spects earnings per mile the increase with
the former road has been 81 per cent,
with the latter 81 per cent. The other
railways of the South have had like de-
velopment, their prosperity being due
largely to the intelligent interest taken
by their managers in the creation of new
industries along their lines A noticeable
contribution to the present excellent
economic situation in the South is to be
seen In the Improvement of terminal ia
cllltles, with view to a large exporta-
ton of Southern products from Southern
ports. Harbors are looked after, wharves
are built and railroad tracks are run out
to deep water. Much of the grain trade
has thus been attracted away from
Northern ports and efforts are on foot to
deprive the latter of their export traffic in
other staple products.