The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-09-03
Manufactures at the south


Manufactures at the south
The down east newspapers, particularly the Bos-
bon DAILY advertiser, are much engaged on the
subject Of Southern cotton mills and manufactures.
The object appears TO be, in some cases, to show
shat the South cannot compete with the North IN
this business, notwithstanding some important ad-
vantages which the former possesses over the
latter They acknowledge that cotton costs the
manufacturer of the South one cent per pound lees
thsn the manufacturer Of New England has TO pay
for il. Taking even this statement TO be correct,
what would be the result The mills Of the
Massachusetts Company, at Lowell, consume six
million eight hundred thousand pounds Of cotton
per annum. One cent per pound saved, on that
quantity, would amount 10 sxty-eight thousand
dollars; and, as these mills contain forty-five
thousand seven hundred spindes, the annual saw
ing to mill OF eleven thousand would be about
seventeen thousand dollars, mean item to deduct
from the bill Of cost for year. The capital stock
Of the above company is set down at one million
eigh, hundred thousand dollars and the above as
sumed difference is equal to about three and three
quarters per centum per annum on that enormous
capital. But one cent per pound is not the
difference. The entire addition 10 cotton, in tran
siiu from the cotton field to Lowell, will average
Two cents per pound and its cost at Lowell is one
ind half cents higher at the latter place than is
PAID to the planter at the Southern shipping port.
This difference will amount TO one hundred and
two thousand dollars on the quantity consumed per
znnum by the above mills, or about 1--WE and half
per centum on the entire capital. This is the real
advantage which the Southern manufacturer pos
sesses in the cost of cotton, and which, for mill
Of eleven thousand spindles, would be about TWEEN
iy.fve thousand dollars per aHnum.
In the second place, the cost of water power at
Lowell. for forty.hve thousand spindles, is two
hundred and twenty-eighi thousand six hundreddol-
lars five dollars per spindle, the presentraie. The
interest on this sum is thirteen thousand seven hun
ared and sixteen dollars per annum. Besides these
iems, those mills, according 10 their official pub
hshed statistics, consume fuel, which costs, deliver
ed on the spot, over seventeen thousand dollars per
snnum. Put all these items together, and we have
the aggregate Of one hundred and thirty-two thou
sand dollars difference IN the cost Of cotton, inte-
rest on the cost Of water power, and the cost of
Iuel-or seven and third per cenium on the en-
nre capital Of one million eight hundred thousand
dollars. Let us now turn TO the other side.
Manufacturing sites are abundant at the South,
m the mids, Of, and al short distances from, the
cotton fields. At all Of them are large quantities
Of fuel, at extremely low prices; and many Of hem
are directly at, aud in close proximity 10, mmense
deposits Of the best Of mineral coal. This coal can
b. had at the mills, at the low cost 81 sixty cents
per ton, and at other places the best Of wood Can
be procured at rates equally low. Allowing, then,
twenty tons of coal per day-a very large allow
sncs-to drive the forty-ive thousand spindles in
the mills alluded to, and for all other purposes,
and We have SIX thousand tons per annum. the cost
81 which, AT sixty cents per ton, is three thousand
six hundred dollars. Steam engines for the pur-
po-c. would cost sixty thousand dollars, the inie-
res, on which sum would be thirty-six hundred
dollars. Engineers, fremsn, and oil. would cost
ten dollars per day, three thousand dollars per
annum. These several items of cost Of steam
power. warming the MILL and the like. make up
the gross amount Of ten thousand eight hundred
and fifty dollars per annum, TO drive the forty.tye
thousand spindles. Deduct this snoun, from one
hundred and thiry-two thousand dollars, the ag-
ETegaie Of the cost % water power fuei and az
ference IN the cost OF cotton. and you leave one
hundred and twenty-one thousand eight hundred
and hiiy dollars per annum, as the actual adj !
vantage wbich the mills Of the Massachusetts Com,
psny would possess, IL situated near the Southern
osiion field, compared with their presen, location
No one can. Of course, doubt, all other things be-
ing equal, that that gives to the South a tremen-
dous advantage over the North. The down east
writers, however, undertake to point out disadvan-
iages to offset this, and mere too The FIRST Of the
number is a supposed deficiency Of capital.
They suppose the entire capital ofthe South to be
already invested in pursuits "yieldisg a sure and
profitable return" and hence, concluding that the
Southern people are content TO reap smaller profits
than those Of the NORTH leave Il to be inferred that
the former have no capital to spare for other more
profitable pursuits and that they are 30 well con-
tented with small profits, that they would not with
draw cartsl from those pursuits which yield them
small profits, to invest theIa in enterprises equally
sure, and far more lucrative. Whatever else these
sstsie writer's may know, they manifest profound
ignorance OF Southern character. The Southerner
loves money, and likes TO make large profits. as well
ne the Northerner. How was IL with New ENGLAND.
ffty years sgol She WIS not overburhened with
capital. Hew did she enter the field Of manufac-
turing enteprise, while lie results were problem
yet TO be solved by the withsawal OF capital
,om other pursuits, and applyingit to this, and !