The Gonzales inquirer. [volume] (Gonzales, Tex.) 1853-current, 1853-07-02
AGRICULTURAL.
From tho Washington Cotton Plant.
Can the South Manufactured

contains n very interesting letter datcd New
Jersey, in regard to the practical working OF
factories in the South. Tho writer speaks Of
two in Arkansas-one at Fayetteville and one
Van Buren. Crhcrc Is also one at Cane Hill
worked by NJ. Bcan) Speaking Of the Van
Buren, factory, the writer says:
"In regard 10 the Advantages Of a Southern
factory over q Nonhcrn one, ! would here re-
mark that tho Van Buren, company purchase
their cotton from I 20 I cent below New Or
leans prices, because IL would cost That amount
to place il in that market. They have also
the further advantage Of fully / cent 10 II
cents per pound on yarns brought TO their
market in composition with them that being
the average amount of charges, freight, and
insurance up the river. Here is n difference
from 9 TO 81 cents per pound in their favor on
every pound manufactured, and US they spin
5000 pounds per week, the saving amounts To
ut least goo per week, n sum nearly sufficient
to pay onc-half of their expenses for labor;
and the same can bc said Of every factory in
the cotton growing States, where there is any
home market"
After many practical suggestions, the writer
gives the following estimates;
NOW let MS examine tho subject, and see If
II will pay--for, aftcr NIL, this Is the most i'm
portant part of the business. Il would require
for n factory of say two thousand spindlcs,
with nll the preparation for machinery, n
building Of not less than 90 feet long and 40
feet wide, two stories high and mn attic, the
stories IL feet high in the clear built of brick,
If piactiblc, also two wings 80 by % feet, one
story high. These buildings would cost here
about Vi, 1000, but say at San Antonio 10000,
and that the sum of $1,000 additional were
given for n piece of ground, about IL acres
with the water powcr-this would be $1,000,
and according 10 my experience it would be
taken In stock.
"Bui, without taking up too much Of your
time by going into details, (Which could only
approximate TO the true expense MS no plans
have been prepared / will suppose a company
to be formed to build n factory of say 1000
s%pindlcs, containing every modern improve
mcnt, including lighting with gas and heating
the factory with steam, and also n complete
f%orcc-puinp and hose to extinguish fire; also
mechanical tools for repairing n full set of
woollen machinery for carding rolls-and that
the capital was $4,000; they could not do
with much less, and therefore we must sec if
1t can be made to pay on that basis:
First, we have, as above, for
building costs $4,000
Land 1000
Machinery account 10000
"This includes the cotton and woollcn ma
chincry, water wheel, shan, hangers, bells,
etc, IN fact, every conceivable thing rs hereto
fore stated--nlso the mechanics to put il up
and in operation, Freight from New York to
San Antonio say $4,000; this IL estimated, IA
| have no means Of knowing the expenses from
the port of delivery to San Antonio. From
New York to Texas IL would be about 81, 900,
rs there would be about 500 cases OF machin. |
cry, and $4,000 cubic feet measurement. In.
surrancc from New York 1850, This item,
and also the freight, could be paid in San
Antonio.
Gas apparatus, etc, S1,G5o
Steam, etc, 900
Fire GOO
Bell 100
Expenses account $500
"Thcso s~cverally sum up TO az, 200, lcav-
ing a cash balance of So, 800 on hand, available
for carrying on the business.
"A factory of this size would employ about
90 hands, all told, most Of them being small,
aud from tho superintendent Town would not
average over 81 to 81 10 per week IL would
also require about 5000 lbs. of cotton per
week, and would produce about d, 100 lbs. of
spun yarn in the same time, and about 900
lbs. waste; suitable for making bats. The
account for one week would stand:
Or.
To cotton, 5000, aloe pr. lh, $3.50 90
Fire ms, on S25,o 900 at 8 pr. Ct. : IL 90
Oil q 90
Int a, 9 pr. ct on $4,000 stock . D GO
Wages e26 90
Expenses 1851 10
BY o,ioo los. spun yarn at &c SLIP 90
900 lbs waste nj DC 10 90
Three days wool cards 10 90
Receipts per week Sl,1i7 90
Expenses per week SOL 20