INTERESTING STATISTICS. 
MATERIAL ADVANCE IN THE SOUTH. 
Some facts condensed from an article in “Harper’s Weekly.” 
The wonderful industrial progress in the Southern States during the 
past two decades, has, probably, never been equalled in any other part 
of the world. We are now making a great variety of articles for which 
the old-time planters were dependent upon the northern factories or 
secured from abroad. We have demonstrated our ability to make our 
own cotton and woolen goods and our own furnaces have set the market 
price for the world. Our railroad systems have been perfected and fully 
equipped. Our cities have taken on a new vitality, and our farmers 
have diversified their crops. From recent statistics, we present a few 
leading items which should be a source of pride to every man who reads 
them. 
1880. 
Wages paid to factory hands . $75,900,000 
Bushels of grain grown. 431,000,000 
Capital invested in cotton seed. $3,500,000 
Cotton crop, bales . 5,750,000 
Cotton worked up in Southern mills, bales .. 233,886 
Capital invested in cotton mills.$21,900,000 
Coal mined, tons. 6,000,000 
Capital invested in manufacturing.$257,000,000 
Pig iron produced, tons. 397,000 
Railroal mileage. 20,600 
1899. 
$350,000,000 
736,6 00,000 
$40,000,000 
11,274,000 
i,399.ooo 
$125,000,000 
40,000,000 
$1,000,000,000 
2,500,000 
50,000 
The largest ships ever built in America were recently launched from 
a Southern ship yard (at Newport News, Va.) Southern rails, loco¬ 
motives and coke are going abroad, and in timber we hold a great 
reserve supply which is in itself the wealth of an empire. 
THE MARCH OF PROGRESS IN THE UNITED STATES. 
The following facts indicate in some degree, the wonderful advance 
our country has made within the past five years: 
1. Population advances at a slower pace than ever before recorded, 
which is due, not merely to restricted laws against immigrants, but also 
to a diminution of natural increase, arising apparently from higher death 
rate. 
2. Import trade has fallen off thirty per cent, in five years, partly 
owing to changes in the tariff, partly to a fall of prices, partly to the 
development of home manufactures. On the other hand, exports have 
risen by $400,000,000. 
3. Manufacturing industry appears to have grown prodigiously, the 
consumption of raw material showing an increase all around, of about 50 
per cent, in five years. 
4. Agricultural interests are prosperous as regards tillage, the area 
under grain having risen 10,000,000 acres since 1893, but pastoral farm¬ 
ing seems to have suffered, the number of live stock falling 25,000,000, the 
value being $6,000,000 less. 
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