The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-04-05
Facts About the South
From the Blue Book
of Southern
Progress
(By r. II. Edmunds. Editor, Man
81 L nnn,,1


by the census OF 1920. This was
nearly three times the amount OF
capital invested in manufacturing
in the entire country in 1880. ant
within Is per cent of the capita
invested in manufactures in the
rest of the country in 1900. The
value Of its manufactured products
was over S9,S0S.000.oo0. The
South has over sS37.S70,000 in
vested in cotton factories which is
four times the capital of the coun:
try's cotton mills in 1880. The
South is now consuming about &C
per cent of the cotton taken by al
American mills.
In 1920 the South produced So
100000 worth of mineral pro-
ducts. or 95,000,GO0 more thar
the whole country produced il
1910. The South with one-thirc
of the mines and quarries Of the
country increased their number
since 1910 while the rest Of the
country outside Of the South had
a decrease.
After briefly sketching the ach-
ivements of the south before and
Immediately following the Civil
War period, the Blue Book OF
Southern Progress, published by the
Manufacturers Record, Baltimore
Md. presents a comprehensive sta
tiStical review of the South 5
matchless resources and develop
raent during the fast forty years.
The facts and figures thus present
ed show the marvellous strides made
by the South in spite Of over
whelmng odds it had to overcome
in rising from the devastation and
bankruptcy following the Civil
War. Though totally bankrupt in
money and partially bankrupt in
men after 1865, the South was
never bankrupt in that initiative
and energy and zeal which has
made Of this section a mighty en-
pire the development Of which en-
riches the whole nation.
The South has the largest sui
phur deposits known in the world
and produces about three guar
ters Of the worlds supply. 1t has
the greatest gas fields known in
the world. The South has over
half of the oil reserves of the coun-
try and is producing 81 per cent OF
the country's petroleum. Since
1910 the number of petroleum and
natural gas wells in the South in
creased by 195 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 coking
coal OF the country. In 1920 the
South produced about 26 per cent
Of the country's coal which was
9S.e00.000 tons more than the out
put of the whole country in 1880.
The South's iron resources are in
keeping with it's coal reserves.
The South is producing about SO
per cent OF the country's lumber
and has about 40 per cent OF the
forest area and about a quarter OF
the standing saw timber Of the
United States
Since 1908 the water-power de-
velopment of the South has in
creased from 991.941 horsepower
to over 2.250,000 The undevelop-
ed water-power of the South is es-
timated at over 100000 horse
power.
Construction contracts in the
South last year, including con-
templated construction projects
some of which We're carried over
into this year, amounted to nearly
1.000, 600, 600.
The value Of the Seuth's farm
crops last year was S2,543, 900, 600
or $3.50, 900, 900 more than the ag-
gregate value of all agricultural
products of the United States in
1850 The total value Of the South S
agricultural products is nearly
two-and-a-halft times the value of
the country's agricultural products
in 1880 The South with about Sc
per cent of the countrys' farm acre
age produced over 4 per cent Of
the country's crop values in 1920
The value of Southern farm proper
ty in 1920 was s21, ,699, 100000, or
S1,259. 100000 more than the value
Of all farm property in the United
States in 1880.
The South in 1920 spent S224,-
$50, 600 on commercial fertilizers.
or nearly twice as much as the
whole country spent in 1910.
The South's 31,169 miles Of rail
road nearly equals the railroad
mileage reported for the entire
country in 1880.
The South spent on highway
improvements through State High
way departments s150G00. 900 in
1921. and it is estimated that over
$500. 100000 Will be spent in 1922
The value of exports through
Southern ports last year was ovc,
S2.294. .o0G 600. or more than q
third Of the value OF the exports
Of the United States. and $519.-
100000 more than the total value
Of the exports OF the United States
in 1910.
National Bank resources in the
South in 1920 were S4.67S,000. .ooC
and deposits 1866. 100000. which