The Washington herald., 1907-05-12
Southern Prosperity.

The Manufacturers Record presents,
with all the wealth of astounding figures
which Characterizes any account Of indus
trial or commercial progress in this couu-
try, a review of Southern prosperity that
is suggestive TO the student of economic
influences on social and political develop
ment In ten years the South has nearly
doubled the value of its cotton crop. the
capital invested in its cotton mills has
nearly trebled, and its railroad mileage
has almost quadrupled. It's production OF
iron has grown from 1g133i6 tons to
3. 49,. .2l6 tons. Its farm properties are
worth S2.500,O00 more than seven years
ago. The value of its lumber products
have trebled since 1890. It's manufacture
ing output in 1906 was worth s., 10000 600,
and 50 on. Mere figures such as these
seem inadequate to convey any definite
idea TO the mind other than that of the
vast expansion of the material activities
OF the Southern people. a paragraph in
the Records review vividly contrasts pro-
duetive energies of the South Of to-day
with those of the entire country at the
beginning of the civil war.
To-day the South hss over 6l0OO miles Of rail
roads, the country had only 90 592 miles in 1860 and
OF this $500 miles were in the Southern States
The value Of the manufactured cotton goods Of the
South is now over S290O10OO0 a yeal while the
output in 1860 for the United States was only
Sll5o00o9. The value Of the lumber products OF
the country in 1850 was $50 o000o while to-day the
South Is annually marketing over Ss00000 900 worth
The South's manufactured products in 1896 aFrre-
gated in value g 500 o0o against ST. 100000 for
the whole country in 1850. Then the country had
a02 miles OF sueet railways now the south has over
$50 miles. Then the petroleum output was only
10000 barrels: now the South is marketing over
300o90o0 barrels a year, the output being limited
only by transportation facilities and this section is
as lately expressed by london expert the Gibral-
tar Of the lights and fuels Of the world. Even in
banking capital the South has more than one-half
as much as the United States IN 1850. viz. $50.
10000, against $40 600.
We reproduce these facts not so much
for their impressive showing Of material
progress, for that is an old story. though
always an interesting one, with respect
to any portion of our common country,
but more for their obvious bearing on the
social and political conditions of the peo-
pie. The wealth of the South is now
more widely distributed among all classes
than in ante-belllm days, even the
humblest elements Of the population
sharing in the marvellous prosperity of
that region. BY the side Of the old agri-
cultural population is growing up a fac
tory population. thus correlating the new
South with the other manufacturing. sec
tions Of the country, with their manifold
problems of the relations of capital and
labor and the good and evil sequences OF
the factory system. It is manifest that
such differences as have existed between
the South and the remainder of the 'coun-
try based on economic grounds are be-
coming Obliterated
The most conspicuous political effect of
the economic changes taking place in the
South is the gradual growth of sentiment
favorable to the protective tariff All
those great industries which have pro
NOTED protecuonism and have proated by
it are now LOGGED in the South as well as
in the North and East In addition. the