The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-01
Southern United

MT. Crawford further says there has been substantial growth in the south In population, wealth and agriculture and manufactures" It is true there has been substantial increase in popu- lation but the increase in popula ton is only the natural increase, evidencing "a decided absence of race suicide; yet as l have before stated in The Age Herald, there has been no increase from immigration. If we make comparative tables in other lines of manufacturing. as Mir Crawford has made in the pro duction of pig iron, we shall find that the comparative growth has been very slow, far below the average. In the production of cotton, the chief staple and big money crop of the south, We have made no progress; the plain truth is we are retrograding. Our acreage in cotton, during the 10 years last past, has increased at least 25 per cent while our production has not increased even 10 per cent. This deplorable situation simply shows the lack of thrifty. and intelligent cultivation of the soil, and it means that our lands are going to waste. If we look closely into the qualifications of this unfortunate sit uation we shall be appalled, at the out look.
 Dr. Seaman A. Knapp of the United States agricultural department, than WHOul lHGIe IS liO HlsutI dulnUIily OH agricultural industries, has made the following statement:
 Each farm laborer in Vermont pro- duces an average of $327.S7 annually In farm crops; adding $90, the average income from stock per laborer, and we have total earning power of $i14.37 for each person employed upon the farms of that state. Each farm worker In Iowa produces S611.11 an al in fa rr, od diro ba in come from stock. $477. and each work ing person shows productive power of $1,09S.11. Estima ted in the same way, the total annual productive power of each worker on the farms of South Car olina is s147.46, in North Carolina. $149.75, in Alabama S150.9S."
 From the foregoing statement it ap- pears that the productive capacity of the Alabama farmer is about one third the production of the Vermont farmer and hardly one-sixth as much as the Iowa farmer produces. And Dr. Knapp further tells us that "the value of stock of all kinds per farm in Iowa Is s1214;" in Alabama 1t is only S162. In Iowa tlye per cent of resident owners is 60.h and in Ala bama 1t is 3S.3. The value of implements and machinery in Iowa is s253 per farm; in Alabama it is $39.
 Quoting further from Mir. Crawford's interesting paper I find this significant statement: "If transportation facilities from southern ports ere not provided the southern people are going to be disappointed in the beneficial effects of the Panama canal upon their district. Here then, is distressing sta te of affairs, an alarming situation that should claim the thoughtful and i'm mediate attention of every citizen who has any interest In the prosperity and uplift of this section. It has been pub lished to the world that we have great advantages in climatic conditions and still greater advantages in the supply and juxtaposition of raw material for the production of pig iron. These claims are absolutely correct; nobody ques- tions these natural advantages, yet notwithstanding these advantages, we are now told by man high in au- thority, at the head of the largest corporation in this country. that pig iron production In the southern dis trict has remained almost stationary since 1902, while pig iron production of the United States has increased about 45 per cent during the same period
 We have said, and we still say. that cotton is king, yet we are confronted with the startling fact that there is no prorgess in the production of cotton, and signid- cant facts point to the decline of this kings dominion. Our fathers wrangled over the proposed isthmian canal, and from the housetops we have proclaimed what great things we could and would do with our cotton, coal and iron If the canal were built. The canal is being built, the work of construction Is moving fast and under wise direction, and it will be finished before we know it. Those who have their lamps filled and trimmed at the coming of the bridegroom will go in to the marriage feast. but those who go away to have their lamps filled will find the door shut when they return. I have said before-and people down here laughed at me-but I say again. at the risk of being laughed at again. if we do not prepare ourselves for the great changes that will come in the commerce of the country, from the building of the Panama canal. it will be a curse instead of a blessing to the industries and com merce of the south.
 I believe it was Samuel Johnson who said: ITO improve the golden moment of opportunity and catch the good within our grasp is the true art of life Are the southern people improving. or making any effort to improve, the present moment of opportunity? None that l