Page:NIE 1905 - p. 586.jpg

GEORGIA. domestic animals of all kinds were reported in 1850 than in any succeeding census year. The increase in cotton production after the Civil War diminished the grazing area, and hindered the revival of the stock-raising industry. It is noteworthy that whereas horses greatly outnumbered the mules prior to the Civil War, this ratio is now reversed.

. Because of its industrial importance, Georgia has long been known as the ‘Empire State of the South,’ and has played a leading rôle in the recent industrial awakening of that section. A number of conditions favor the growth of manufacturing interests, chief of which is the great annual output of raw material. While outranked by the Carolinas in the manufacture of cotton, and by Alabama in that of iron, Georgia has a greater variety of manufacturing interests, and excels these two States in the sum total of manufactured products. The wide distribution of water-power is another favorable factor, as is also the cheaper labor of the region—a result of the low cost of living. Again, the efforts of the State through expositions, technical education, and of the municipalities in exempting manufacturing establishments from taxation, have encouraged their growth. The number of wage-earners employed in manufacturing increased 60 per cent. during the last decade of the century, the census of 1900 showing that 5 per cent. of the total population were thus employed. Of these, 10,900 were women and 6370 children. The value of manufactured products increased during the decade from $68,900,000 to $106,600,000. The manufacture of cotton products leads in importance, and there are but three New England and two Southern States which surpass Georgia in this industry. The cotton-goods establishments increased from 53 in 1890 to 68 in 1900, and the

value of the product from $12,000,000 to $18,500,000. A noteworthy beginning was made in the manufacture of hosiery and knit goods. Still more striking was the progress made in the manufacture of cottonseed oil and cake. The oil is used in the production of oleomargarine, cottolene, compound lard, for illuminating purposes, and as a substitute for olive oil. The cake or meal is valuable for stock food, and is also used in the manufacture of commercial fertilizers, in which Georgia outranks the other Southern States. The State exceeds all others in the manufacture of cotton-gins. The recent increase in wheat-raising resulted in giving a new impetus to the flour-milling industry, the value of the product of flour and grist mills having increased during the decade from $5,200,000 to $8,300,000. The car-shop and machine-shop products also show a good growth. The following table indicates the development during the last decade of the century of the eleven leading industries:

The four largest cities of the State produced less than one-third of the total product, their increase being 17.6 per cent. against 54.9 per cent. increase for the entire State.

. The forests are almost as important as the cotton-fields as producers of raw materials. An area of 16,000 square miles, chiefly in the southern part of the State, is covered with forests of the long-leaf pine, while in the central and northern districts there are immense forests of hard woods, oak, hickory, maple, and other varieties. It is estimated that 71 per cent., or 42,000 square miles, of the State's area is forest-covered, of which 23,800 are included in farms, and 18,200 are not. The entire forest product almost doubled in value during the decade 1890-1900. The timber products in 1900, valued at $13,700,000 (see