The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-09-10

MANUFACTURES OF CoTroN YARN FOR EXPORT
BY COTTON PLANTERs.--Some time ago, ou
| correspondent s." wrote an article for this pa.
per on this subject, and gave the facts showing
that some 100000 bales of our cotton could be-
made into warns at home, and exported at large
profit. The article was widely copied at the
time, and the correctness of the positions taken
seemed 10 be fully admitted.
The great fall in the price of cotton has drawn
attention again TO the subject and an editorial
recently appeared in the New York Courier and
Enquirer in reference to it. We copy below a
letter to that paper in which the extent and
profit of the English cotton-yarn are alluded to-
We have heretofore shown, by an enumeration
of all the items, that the cost Of moving pound
of raw cotton, from the Mississippi cotton gin to
the door of the mill at Manchester, England is
about four cents. For less cost it can be made
up at home into the average numbers Of cotton
yarn. What folly to expend more capital and
labor on the unnecessary carriage of the material
and product, than would be required in all the
processes of its fabrication. In few years,
comparatively, the cotton planters will be as ia
miliar with the spinning frames as they ale now
with the cotton GIN
SOUTHERN MANUFACTURERS
To the Editors Of the Courier and Enquirer.
| have read with interest your article on the
manufacture of cotton by the South, and if the
planters will act up to your suggestions, the
| value of our exports in cotton yarns and general
cotton fabrics might be quadrupled There is
no mystery in the business of spinning yarns
that need cause our planters to hesita tie about
embarking their capital in its manufacturing il
is simple, and only requires attention and care
to produce what the great markets of the con-
linent of Europe, China, and the West Indies
call for, respects asso -tment style of pack
ing &c, to give us those markets.
The cotton spinners of ! lancashire q mean
those who spin yarns for the export of trade,
not the weavers) are among the most wealthy
men of England. During the past two years.
while our cotton manufacturing interest has Ian
guished and has been prohtess indeed, the
spnners of Manchester have made large sums
of money.
Can we be acting with our boosted shrewd.
ness, when we quietly yield the competition In
twist to our great rivals, and suffer them to take
the profits and commissions that result from the
business, indicated by the figures which know
give you, taken from the customs of returns, as
follows, viz:
Five months exports to China from
London, Liverpool, and the Clyde,
say from LIST Jan to 3lst May, 1851 2295,6OO
Five months exports to Calcutta, for
same time -. 69ll, 800
Five months exports to Bombay, for
same time 1871 800
|
Total lO,9S9, 800
Here we have total of nearly eleven millions
pounds of cotton twist exported to the East In
dies and China, during five months of this year
worth from 69d. to I'D. sterling per pound
Observe this is but one section of this enormous
and lucrative trade. The exports to Germany
and other continental markets. are vastly greater
Now the raw cotton costs from 3D. 20 Gid per
10 (, and we have had the great satisfaction of
putting these profits into the pockets of our
friends abroad, when we might have shared them
ourselves.
There is great deal to be said on this sub
ject and kindred topics, which my numerous en-
0agements will not permit me to discuss during
this hot weather
will barely hint at one plain and palpabe
reason why our cotton manufacturing friends of
New England have, for the past three years,
been so very unfortunate in the prosecution of
their business, and it is this-they hare otdiuer-
sifed their productions. They have made no
yarns-they have made but small variety of
coarse fabrics; consequently they have over
stocked the markets, and prices have rated low,
rulnously low. 1t is pleasing to see the great
State OF Georgia taking the lead in the South
ern manufacturing interest
The labors of Senator James, of Rhode
Island, at the West and South, have been useful
In calling the attention of our friends to the ne
cessity OF building mp great manufacturing in
terest among the producers Of the raw material,
and before long they must become exporters Of
something besides. MERCHANT
New York, July is, 1851.