The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1866-12-22


u We are not prepared just now
ito state what. would be the probable
cost, per spindle, to put up cotton
factory here, and stock it with the best
machinery; bat it is certain that the
cost would not be very considerably
greater than before the war, and that
when placed ON the gold basis. it would
he less. 1t matters very little what,a
thing will cost when We know that the
profits will far exceed it; and there,ean
be question but that the .manufac-
ture of cotton and wollen goods is, in
this country, the most money making
business naen cansengage in. No land
of 0phir, discovered in modern times,
has paidsowell or SO certainly. The
whole power of the government has
been employed to make it pay, and one
hundred per ceut. upon the capital en-
ployed is profit by mo means uncom-
mon in the North, iesati Z, .,lrias
gaAnd yet the North has expenses to
incur in manufacturing cotton goods
which would be wholly avoided here.
They have to repay the cotton tax of
three cents per pound-which. if the
cotton of Bosaier were used here, would
not have to be paid, and would be clear
profit to the manufacturers. They
have to pay the cost of shipment from
here TO New Orleans, and from there 10
their factories, together with the in
,surance, and the commissions paid to
every intermediate agent. Finally,
dhey-orrather the consumer-have to
pay the costs of handling, insurance,
upon freight, and the goods back here
TO market. it is true that all of these
additional costs come out of the CON
sumner; huff the goods 'Were MANU-
factured'here,. they,could be sold at the
same prices as Northern goods. and,
consequently, all these expenses saved
would be so much clear gain to the
manufacturer. If the Northern man
ufaeturer, who pays all these expenses,
makes seventy five or one hundred per
cent. net profit on bis capital engaged,
what would not be the profit if no such
expenses were incurred?
England and France are wealthy and
great by the immense profits of their
manufactures. They have to pay an
enormous tax Upon all their goods
brought to this country, in addition to
the much greater expenses of more
frequent handling, and longer transpor-
tation. Yet they sell their goods here
at the same prices as Northern goods.
They pay the import duty and the
greater expenses; sell as low. and yet
make such hugo profits that they are
the wealthiest nation on earth-their
manufacturers rival princes in their ex-
penditures, and standing abroad.
Before the war, we gave as an >ex-
'cuse for not manufacturing our goods,
that labor was scarce, and was more
profitable in the cotton fields. The
real truth however, is that the relation
ship between labor and capital was
different from what it now is. Labor
was then capital, and could not be
hired at great profit. Labor is now
free, and can be hired at Just what it is
worth, in factories. There is enough
of itnow lounging, begging and steal
lng throughout our country, to work a
half dozen of the largest factories in
the country; and if the factories were
established it could be employed at the
most reasonable wages. Such life of
noise, excitement and crowd Just suits
the negro. They soon become adept
1.-THE work, and are healthy and con
tented in pursuing it.
Even il the labor had to I'D imported
with such great inducements, it should
be brought here; but there is plenty of
it here now. No better occasion for
the investment ofcapital was ever of
fered. The climate, productions, po-
sition, with relation to the markets of
the world, and the abundance of the
kind of laberers required, all offer
superior advantages to any other spot
which can be named.
But we suppose it will be in this as
in vast number Of cases here and else
where, and we shall fare as aborigines
usually have.