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

AZ 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-
ing. This book should be in the
hands Of every person who has any
Use whatsoever for accurate and con-
use statistical information concern
ing the South.
The South with about one-third of
the population and area of the coun-
try had $685., 100000 invested in
manufacturing, as reported by the
Census of 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
s9,808, 100000 The South has over
1897, $40, 900 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
so per cent of the cotton taken by
all American mills.
In 1920 the South produced 81
A285, 100000 worth of mineral pro-
n ducts, or 1895, 100000 more than the
whole country produced in 1910. The
Z South with one-third Of the mines
I and quarries of the country increas-
( ed their number since 1910 while the
z rest of the country outside of the
[ South had a decrease.
8 After briefly sketching the
achievements of the South before
I and Immediately following the Civil
/ War period, the Blue Book of South
4 ern Progress presents a comprehen-
/ sive statistical review of the South
, matchless resources and development
during the last forty years. The
Il facts and figures thus presented show
i the marvellous strides made by the
| South in spite Of overwhelming odds
( it had to overcome in rising from
! the devastation and bankrutcy fol
i lowing the Civil war Though totally
bankrupt money and partially bank
,rupt in men after 1865, the South
4 was never bankrupt in that initiative
4 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 Ct the oil re.
serves of the country is producing
81 per cent Of the country's pc.
troleum. Since 1910 the mum.
Der Of petroleum and nat.
ural gas wells in the South
increased by 1875 per cent while
the increase in the rest Of the
country was but "a per cent. Thc
South has over a third Of the Goa
area and three-fourths Of the cokin.
coal of the country. In 1920 tn.
South produced about &c per CEN
Of the country's coal which was 90,
100000 tons more than the outpu
Of the whole country in 1880. Tn.
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 an,
has about 40 per cent of the fores
area and about a quarter Of tn
standing saw timber of the Unite,
States.
Since 1903 the w@ter-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 conten
plated construction projects some {
which were carried over into tn
year, amounted to nearly $1,000
100000.
The value Of the South's far
crops last year was $2,543, 900, 0(
or s330,O00,0O0 more than the a.
gregate value Of all agricultural pr
ducts Of the United States in 1Ss
The total value Of the South's aga