LOCALIZATION. The manufacturing industry is very unevenly distributed over the country. There is a decided tendency to centralize in limited lo calities. The greater part of the manufacturing is carried on in the region north of the Potomac and Ohio rivers and cast of the Mississippi. The centre of manufactures has always been well to the north and east of the centre of popula tion, but has at every decade moved westward, and was nearer the centre of population in 1900 than in 1850. In 1850 the New Eng land States produced 27.S per cent. of the total products of the United States, and the Middle States 46.4 per cent. Notwithstanding the great increase in both sections, their relative production bad decreased respectively to 14.4 and 3S.0 in 1900. About 1850 the Central States were occupied chiefly with agricultural pursuits, and produced only 14.3 per cent. of the total product. But nowhere else in the world has there been so rapid a transformation of the oc cupations of the population. In 1900 that sec tion produced 30.7 per cent of the total product. The Southern States suffered greatly in conse quence of the Civil War. the per cent. of the total product contributed by that section having fallen from 10.3 in 1660 to 6.6 in 1870. Since 1870, however, there has been a rapid revival of indus try, and in 1900 it produced 9.1 per cent. of the total product of the country.
In the localization of industries the factor of transportation in its relation to the supply of raw materials and the market has been one of primary importance. This applies especially to bulky and heavy products which are shipped with difficulty. Thus Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio become the iron-manufacturing region, since coal and iron are brought together here at a minimum cost. Live animals cannot be so easily shipped as packed meats, and hence the slaughtering in dustry is confined mainly to the West. The sav
ing in the cost of transportation is a chief reason for the recent development of cotton manufac turing in the cotton-growing region. Proximity to the supply of wood and iron, and convenience to the market, give the Lake States the advantage of manufacturing agricultural implements at a.
minimum transportation cost. The densely popu lated Atlantic Coast region from Baltimore to Naine enables manufactures located in that sec tion to reach a large market with a minimum transportation cost.
Another important natural condition affecting localization of industries is water power. This was formerly more important than at present, and is more prominent in determining time exact spot than the general section. Often, however, the nat ural advantages mentioned are of secondary hn portanee, or decline in relative importance after an industry is well established. In such eases the momentum which an industry has received by its early start is often sufficient to carry it on. After long-continued success at a given point a certain precedence may become attached to the name of the place and a fostering local atmos phere is developed. In many industries technical training is of greater importance than accessibil ity to raw materials. Abundance of capital and labor are other prominent advantages. The North Atlantic States have benefited greatly from each of the three advantages just mentioned. Agriculture in this section long since ceased to absorb the available local capita], or afford an occupation for the surplus labor. For the growth and extent of manufactures, see MANUFACTURES, and the separate articles on the various manu facturing industries, such as CorroN; IRON and STEEL, METALLURGY OF; WOOL; etc. Also see the paragraph on Manufactures under the various States, and see FLOUR.