Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-02-22
AIscELLAEEoUs REooER
The Growth of the South


The Growth Of the South.
The growth Of the Southern States In
business and industry during the past
quarter Of a century has been marvellous,
and, owing TO the conditions that pre-
vailed there, is n tremendous tribute 10
the energy and indomitable courage Of
their people
Tho close Of the Civil War found the
South impoverished. Her people were
confronted by the problem Of existence
with the means Of living distressingly
curtailed and with new and strange con-
ditions forced upon them. The slave
labor upon which they had so long relied
was freed by the fortunes Of the war, and
those who had lived upon it were left TO
shift for themselves, with few practical
requirements resulting from experience
TO aid them.
Immediately following the war came
the reconstruction era, which plunged the
Southern people still deeper into the mire
Of poverty and burdened their State gov
ernments with enormous debts. The
business panic that began in 1879, just
when the South was successfully throw
ing or the yoke Of carpet bag rule, served
TO retard industrial progress in that section
Of the country, as in all Others.
But with the passing away Of that cloud
Of business depression the upbuilding
ol the South began, and the strides that
have been made are wonderful. They
have effected a transformation Of the face
OF the country planting industries where
none had existed before, tilling the farm
land TO abundant and profitable fertility,
and building up large cities and prosperous
towns.
Figures serve to illustrate the great
progress the South has made during the
past twenty-five years, and, as furnished
by Mr.. r. II. Edmunds of the Manuiac-
turers' Record, after careful examination
and accurate compilation, make most
interesting showing
The capital invested in manufactures
in the Southern States has increased
from S257oOO,0o0 in $780, when the
work Of industrial regeneration was fairly
under way, to S1.5OOOOO00O in 1905.
The increase is 81, ,2i3, 100000.
Tho yearly value Of products Of fac
tories has increased from S457, ,OOO, 900
to Si,75000000O, or 81, ,29S, 100000
The capital invested in cotton mills
has increased from s2l 100000 to S225.-
100000, or S2Oi 100000
The annual value OF the cotton crops
has increased from S3l3OOO,OO0 to $780,
100000, or S367 ,O00,0O
The cotton used annually in Southern
cotton mills has increased from 225.OOO
to 2,l63,00O bales, or / ,9Ss,O0 bales.
The yearly lumber product has in
creased from S39,0O0,OOO to $3.50 OOO,OOO
or S2il 100000.
The annual production Of pig iron ha,
increased from 397 900 to 100000 tons
or 2,703 900 tons.
The yearly value Of exports abroad has
increased from s26i 100000 to $685..
100000, or S204,oO0,OOO.
The yearly value Of farm products ha.
increased from $3.50 100000 70 SI,75O.
100000, or sl,O9OOOO,OOO.
The railroad mileage has increased from
10000 TO 10000, or 80, 400 miles.
The petroleum production has in
creased from 10000 to 42,495,OOO bar
rels, or 42.3l6,O00 barrels.
Cotton oil mills have increased from
as to $50, or 735 mills.
Capital invested in cotton oil mills hal
increased from $4,000 to s54, 900 600
or s5s.s00000.
Spindles in cotton mills have increased
from 6670oO to 9,205,OOO, or 5,5ss, ,OOC
spindlcs
The annual total Of tons Of phosphat,
mined has increased from 2ll,877 te
l,0s142 or s76,06l tons.
The yearly production Of coke has in,
creased from 397,77s tens e s,a44, ,is5
or 5,s46,4O9 tons.
Finally, the assessed valuation Of prop
erty, the most expressive evidence oi
substantial wealth, has increased from
S3,05l000,o00 in 1880 to Sc 500. 600 OOC
IN 1905. The increase is S3,449, 900, 600
or an average Of sl8s.OOO,OOO a year ioi
tho quarter Of a century.
II is doubtful il any other section Of
the country can show such surprising and
commendable figures. But even if any
other section has increased in like ratio
the distressed and discouraging state
from which the South arose 10 this emf
nenee is a factor which will count in placing
the palm Of Acknowledged superiorit,
in progress in her hands.