The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-01-30
TWO AND THREE QUARTERS MIL
LON DOLLARS A DAY.

The Manufacturers Record OF recent
date contained an article on the Won
derfuI' increase of wealth in the south
In the last few years. This article has
been reproduced in pamphlet form for
more convenient distribution. 1t be-
gins with the remarkable announce
men. that the south's wealth increas-
ed two and three quarters million dol
LAS for every day Of the year, 1919,
and it gives tables of figures showing
this to be true. Following is the OPEN
ing paragraph of the article, showing
the comparative condition of the south
now and in 1860:
With a population 5000 900 or O.
Co., 900 less than the population Of the
whole country in 1860. the wealth OF
the fourteen southern states is now
greater than the wealth Of h whole
country in 1860. Authoritative figures
compiled by the Manufacturers Rec
ord show that the assessed property
values in the south in the year Just
closed were S6.648, 600. 900. These
may be safely estimated as represent
ing true values of 16,620.0 900. 0C0.
sDulIt tt 1dCI 10 1loI IA o@Ao
who has studied recent de-
velopment. Three weeks ago it was
shown through letters In The Manu-
~facturers' Record received from bank
ers in the cotton belt that the true
value Of farm lands In their section
had increased by about $1,000. OO0,oOo
during the past two years. That this
enhancement is beginning to be effec-
tive in swelling assessed values was
apparent q year ago. It becomes more
apparent in the figures Of the assessed
values of property in the fourteen
southern states in 1905.
The same article contains the fol-
lowing, showing the wonderful in
crease in the value of farm products
of our section.
The aggregate value Of the crops Of
corn, hay and potatoes III the south in
1905 was 16.611.448. OF which $780,
49,. represented corn. $49.473.362
hay and ~S16,655.796 Irish potatoes. TO
these should be added the values Of
wheat. $5s,299,o21: Of oats. s26.413.-
956; of rye, S1,550.471; of tobacco.
s~35.o21,641. and of rice. s~12.2S5.s34.
which will bring the total to s54S.182,-
371. In addition. the value of sugar
products may be safely estimated at
$4,000, 600, Of dairy products at $3.50
900. 200, of poultry products at $780,
OOO, 900, Of miscellaneous fruits and
vegetables at 800, 600. 900. of live stock
and miscellaneous products at S155,-
OOO, 900. The value of all southern
agricultural products in 1905 MAJ be
con%servatively estimated, therefore. in
round numbers. as 81, sos, 900. 900.
The total, S1,80S, 600, 900. is the farm
/ value of the products sold. and with
the value Of products consumed would
approach a total of 2.000,000.0O0 as
the value of the southern agricultural
output last year against $3.50. 600, 900
in 1880 and s773,000.0 600 in 1890.
It is almost impossible to believe this
to be true, that the south has made
such wonderful strides in increasing
her wealth, but it must be so. The
figures are taken from authenticated
statistics and The Manufacturers Rec
ord would not publish such statements
unless it knew them to be accurate.
The most gratifying feature of the
state of affairs is that there is no
let up in the wonderful progress of
the south. What has been accom-
plisheG is only the beginning. The
south is still moving onward with
daily increased rapidity. She is only
on the threshold; only laying the foun-
dations of her future wealth and
greatness.