The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-01-06
Remarkable Progress Made In
Industrial Lines
ALL CROPS ARE INCREASING
cr. Edwin Alderman of the University
of Virginia Speaks Highly of the
Growth of Educational Sys-
TENS Of the South.

Chattanooga, January 5.-The Trades
man Annual, contains among its impor-
tant features an elaborate review of
southern progress during 1907 in which tl:s
following interesting facts are given:
The principal crops were as follows:
Hay of all kinds, tons, 100000.
Wheat bushels, 81, $4,000.
Corn, bushels, 959,743,000.
Oats, bushels, 67 900.
Tobacco, pounds, 437, ,139, 900.
Rice, bushels, p, 412,0 600.
Two notable increases over the previ-
Gus year are shown by these figures. the
southern hay crop being 25 per cent great
er than in 1906, and the rice crop in
creased nearly the same percentage.
During the last five years, however, ag-
riculture has made such progress in the
southern states that the corn crop has
Increased nearly so per cent. The rice
crop is five times greater, while as al
ready stated, the fodder crop has enlarged
25 per cent in a single year. In 1900 the
value of products of vegetable gardens
of the south was $l3000,00 while at pres
ent the annual yield of orchards and
vineyards In this section is over 0,000,
600, making the sum total of the annual
fruit and truck product of the south full
ly $,l50,0OO,000.
During the last cotton year we sent out
of the country about $4,000 bales Of
but such is the growth of the cotton in
dustry in the United States that the
south now contains 700 mills operating
nearly 100000 spindles, and 1908 will
add fully 20 more plants. The states of
North and South Carolina have no less
than 400 plants, with 100000 spindles
and more to come.
Metal Industry.
The metal industry, including the min
ing of ore, shows a notable increase
compared with previous years. The total
tonnage of iron produced by the Alabama
furnaces during 1907 will aggregate about
!, 100, 900 tons with value of 5000, ,000
This is 100000 tons more than the record
for 1906 and about 10000 more than the
record for 1905, while the value has in
creased within the last two years nearly
so per cent.
In kentucky the total tonnage of pig
iron in 1905 was about 64,0OO, while for
1867 it aggregates over 125,0O0 tons, a gain
of fully 100 per cent in two years and
the value of t-e output of the smelters
has more than >oubed in two years.
Tennessee also shows remarkable prog
ress, for the tonnage of pig iron made
in this state in 1905 was but 1882. while
for the present year it will be about
a value of hOut
81, SOC, 600
The review contains a statement of the
capital invested in general industry in
each southern state in 1905 as compared
with 1900, also the value of the industrial
output of each state for the same year
These figures offer perhaps the most
convincing proof Of the condition of the
southern states, for the total investment
of capital in miscellaneous industries In
creased no less than so per cent in the
brief period of five years, while the value
of the manufactures hs.. increased 70
per cent and in 1905 exceeded the total
investment in southern industrial plants
by the sum of nearly $2O00OO,O0O.'
Educational Progress.
The review contains an Introduction by
Edwin wv. Alderman, president of the
University of Virginia, in which he states
that the greatest factor in the future
progress of the south is an educational
system which will reach all q it's peo-
pie. DR.. Alderman also Quilting the sys-
tenn as follows:
"The system of education III have in
mind is a complete unity extf nding from
the primary school to the University. 1t
involves the technical training for indus
trial Efficiency. 1t involves agricultural
training and it involves such eo-ordina-
tion of the secondary, the lower, and the
higher education will make it possible
for every fit youth to be wisely trained
for life in this century. The most far
reaching and transforming thing in our
civilization today is the educational pro-
cesses that are being set in motion to
give suitable training to all the people
in the southern states"