Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-04-12
EDITORIAL
THE WONDERFUL soUrH.

II
1 n Southerners-realize in what a
wonderful country, actually and po-
tentially,, we live! Of tremendous
service IN making this information
known has been the Manufacturers
Record, of Baltimore, in The Blue
Book of Southern Progress, which 1t
has Just issued and is now distribut-
ingy This book should be in the
hands Of every person who has any
use whatsoever for accurate and con-
-:se statistical information concern
.nc the South.
The South with about one-third Of
the population and area of the coun-
try had 1885, 100000 invested in
manufacturing, as reported by the
CensusSof 1920. This was nearly
three times the amount of capital in
vested in manufactures in the rest
of the country in 1900. The value of
its manufactured products was over
$780, 100000. The South has over
1897, $4,000 invested in cotton fac
tories which is four times the capital
of the country's cotton mills in 1880.
The South is now consuming about
60 per cent of the cotton taken by
all American mills.
In 1920 the South produced 49,,
285, 100000 worth of mineral pro-
DUCTS, or 1926, 100000 more than the
whole country produced in 1910. The
South with one-third of the mines
and quarries of the country increas-
ed their number since 1910 while the
rest of the country outside of the
South had a decrease.
After briefly sketching the
achievements of the South before
and Immediately following the Civil
War period, the Blue Book of South
ern Progress presents a comprehen-
sive statistical review of the South's
matchless resources and development
during the last forty years. The
facts and figures thus presented show
the marvellous strides made by the
South in spite of overwhelming odds
it had to overcome in rising from
the devastation and bankrutcy fol-
lowing the Civil war Though totally
bankrupt money and partially bank
rupt in men after 1865, the South
was never bankrupt in that initiative
and energy. and zeal which has made
of this section a mighty empire the
development of which enriches the
whole nation.
The South has the largest sulphur
deposits known in the world and pro-
duces about three quarters of the
worlds supply. 1t has the greatest
gas fields known in the world. The
South has over half of the oil re-
serves of the country is producing
81 per cent of the country's pc
troleum. Since 1910 the num-
Der of petroleum and nat
ural gas wells in the South
increased by 1915 per cent while
the increase in the rest of the
country was but "a per cent. The
South has over third of the coal
area and three-fourths of the cooking
coal of the country. In 1920 the
South produced about 26 per cent
of the countrys coal which was 98..
100000 tons more than the output
of the whole country in 1880. The
South's iron resources are in keep
ing with its coal reserves.
The South is producing about 81
per cent Of the country's lumber anc
has about 40 per cent of TIE fores
area and about a quarter of tn,
standing. saw timber of the United
States.
Since 1908 the water-power de
velopment of the South has increas
ed from 991 ,941 horsepower to owe
2,250,000. The undeveloped water
power of the South is estimated a
over 100000 horsepower.
Construction contracts in tn
South last year, including contem
plated construction projects some o
which were carried over into thi
year, amounted to nearly $1,000
Oo0,O0o.'
The value Of the South's farr
crops last year was $2,543, 000,O
or $330,o00,O0O more than the a.
gregate value of all agricultural Or
ducts Of the United States in 1873
The total value Of the Sopth's ag,