Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-11-16
THE COTTON FACTORIES OF TENNESSEE

Southern men advocated home manuiac-
tories and direct trade with Europe, as
the best means of combating the Adolf
tionists. Nobody now will deny that
they were right. But it is not too late
to convert the South into a manufactur-
ing, stock-raisng and grain-growing
country. When that shall have been ac-
complshed, the surplus of production
and the profits of manufacturing will
render our section the richest in the
world. There is no reason why we should
not adopt this policy, but every reason
why we should. The war taught us how
weak purely agricultural country IS
But for the manufactures of the Eastern
and Middle States, and access to other
countries. the great West would have
been.no stronger than the South. Shut
that section up, as the South was, and
New England can overcome it, as the
two, combined, overcame the South. 1t
could be starved and frozen into
subjugation. That country which
can both produce and manufacture every
article that is indispensable to. life and
comfort, is the richest and strongest OF
all others. What would New England
be if. with all her factories in full opera
ton, she could produce her own cotton
and raise all the provisions she now pur-
chases from the West2 She would be
the master of the Union and Of the con-
tinent. And yet, every Southern State
can become more than New England
1t can grow its grain and meat, and man
ufacture the greater portion of its cotton.
1t could contest the palm of manufac-
lures with the Eastern States, while it
sold to them cotton, bacon and -four.
Combined in such policy, what might
not the Southern States become We
are rejoiced to perceive that the line of
march has been taken up. The head of
the column is in motion. There are now
in this State twelve cotton mills, using
$4,000 spindles The number of persons
employed is $40. The aggregate gross
value of annual manufactures is 81 $780,
600. The amount of capital invested is
S6O2, 800. From this it will be seen that
the investment of some 100000
brings in gross returns of over $1,000
600; giving employment to $40 opera
tives, representing 1920 persons. Be-
sides, every factory is little town in
itself, with stores, shops, tanneries, etc
The Nashville Gazette has been fur
nished the following interesting state
ments Of the location, etc., Of the facto-
ries in the State soa
LAwREScEBuRG
And vicinity contains half the factories
in the State, and a margin over half of
the number of spindles in use. Here we
find FIVE factories in operation as follows:
The Crescent Mills, W. Simonton pro-
prietor run 1900 spindles, employ 60 OPP
eratives, supporting l40 souls. Cotton
yarns, osnaburgs and sheetings are the ar
ticles principally manufactured. Ave
rage gross value of annual products
$4,000. Capital invested, $4,000.
The Eagle. Mills, Metcslfe & White pro.
prietors, run 1900 spindles, employing
SO operatives, and supporting $50 souls.
Cotton yarns principally made. Average
gross value of annual products, over
100000. Capital, $4,000
The Crowson Greek Mills, Hagan Il
Sykes, proprietors, run 800 spindles, en-
ploying 30 operatives, and giving means
of livelihood TO IS persons. Manufac-
ture cotton yarns. Average gross value
of annual products, 100000 Capital in
vested $35, 600
The Shoal Mills, Parkes / Co, pro.
prietors, run 500 spindles, giving en-
Payment to 40 operatives, and susie
nance to $50 persons Average OF annual
products about $4,000 Capital invested,
$4,000.
The Hope Mills, J. L. Braddon & Co,
proprietors, use 700 spindles, giving work
to 30 operatives, and livelihood to 100
souls Average of yearly products, &c.,
OOe Capital S35, 900.
LAUREL HILI.
This village, also, is situated in Law
renee county, near the Alabama line,
upon creek emptying into the Tennes-
see river. Here Is located the largest
mills in the county-the Laurel Hill
Mills, Messrs Wilson, Straiton 4 Co.
They run about 20O0 spindles, employ
GO workmen, giving support to $50 per
sons. The average gross value of annual
products is over $4,000. Capital in
vested, $47 800 These mills manufac-
ture largely of osnaburgs and sheetings,
and but little of yarns.
GALLATIE.
This promising town, located on the
great Observation-Disclosures andLou-
isville, boasts of the largest cotton fac
tory in the State, as will be seen by the
following exhibit:
The Gallatin Mills, A. Fitzgerald, pro-
prietor, runs 1900 spindles, employing
100 operatives, and sustaining 285 per
sons. Osnaburgs, sheetings, and cotton
yarns are here manufactured The ave-
rage gross value of products reaches
over $4,000. Capital employed, about
$4,000
PINEwOOD.
The Pinewood Mills, r. S. Graham
proprietor, run 1900 spindles, giving en-
ployment to so workmen, and q means
of support to $50 souls. 0snaburgs,
sheetings and yarns are manufactured.
Gross value Of yearly products, about
100000. Capital, $4,000.
NACMISYvILLE
The Hon. Asa Faulkner, whose enter
prise and public spirit have passed into
a proverb, is proprietor of
The Central Mills, located at this
place, run 700 spindles, giving employ
ment to 20 operatives. and livelihood TO
about 100 persons. Average gross value