This shows that in eight Southern and Southwestern States there has been an increase of nearly half a billion dollars—­$494,836,668—­in the value of taxable property during the short period of four years, while the rate of taxation has been actually reduced.  At the same time liberal appropriations have been made for schools, public improvements, and other useful purposes.  “Nor is this marvelous advance in valuation,” says the Times-Democrat, “the result of any inflation in value, but the natural sequence of grand crops, new industries developed, new manufactories, mines, and lumber mills established.”

The extension of railroads has been hardly less astonishing.  In the eight States above enumerated there were in 1879 11,604 miles of railroad.  There are now 17,891 miles, showing an increase in four years of 6,287 miles.  The agricultural progress made is shown by the fact that the value of raw products raised in these States, including all crops, lumber, cattle, and wool, has advanced from $398,000,000 in 1879 to $567,000,000 in 1883, or an increase of $169,000,000.  During this period the mineral output of Alabama alone has increased from $4,000,000 to $19,000,000, and the lumber product of Arkansas from $1,790,000 to $8,000,000.

The trade of New Orleans is a barometer of Southern industry and commerce.  The value of domestic produce in that city in 1881-82 was $159,000,000; in 1882-83 it was $200,000,000.  The value of exports of domestic produce to foreign countries in the former year amounted to $68,000,000; in the latter it reached $95,000,000.

These figures tell a remarkable story of recent progress in the Southern States.  Always rich in natural resources, the South has long been poor through lack of development.  It has at last entered upon a new era of industrial activity, and is now making rapid strides toward a stage of material prosperity commensurate with its great natural wealth.—­New York Herald, September 12,1883.

Now, here is quite a remarkable fact to which I wish to call your attention, to show you the opportunities for labor existing in the South and what is the condition of certain counties in the South.  I hold in my hand a book that is compiled for the benefit of the Georgia Pacific Railroad, but I happened to find it in my room and thought these matters would be interesting.

     Q. The data you consider reliable? 
     —­A.  What I read I think comes from the census report; I
     think this is reliable: 

In this connection let us glance at Montgomery County, Alabama, which, although not in the belt we are studying, is on the same prairie formation crossed by the Georgia Pacific Railway, on the edge of Mississippi.  Compare it with Butler County, Ohio, which “shows the best record of any county in the West.”  In live stock Montgomery has $1,748,273; Butler, $1,333,592.

     That is the largest producing county in Ohio as compared
     with Montgomery County, Alabama, before the war.