Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-01-03
COTTON FACTORIES.

The Natchez Democrat, Of a late issue; has some
very sensible remarks on the importance Of the
South building cotton factories. Itsays: e
1t is certain that the cost to put up cotton fac
tory and stock it with the best machinery would not
be very considerably greater than before the war,
and that when placed on a gold basis it would be
less. It matters very little what thing will cost
when we know that the profits will far exceed it;
and there can be no question but that the manufac-
ture of cotton and wooen goods is, in this country,
the most money-making business men can engage
in. No land of Ophir, discovered inmodern times,
has paid so well or so certainly. The whole power
of the government has been employed to make it
pay, and one hundred per cent upon the capital
employed is by no means uncommon in the North.
And vet the North has expenses to incur in man
ufacturing 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 Ad-
ans county were used here, would not have to be
paid, and would be clear prolific the manufacturers
They have to pay the cost of shipment from here to
New Orleans, and from there to their factories to-
gether with the insurance, and the commission paid
to every intermediate agent. Finally they-or
rather the consumer-have to pay the cost Of hand
ling, insurance, upon freight, and the goods back
here to market 1t is true that all of these addl-
tional costs come out of the consumer; but If the
SOOuS WtTt iClOj GASy SooAo wv WIN
at the same prices as Northern goods and conse-
quently all these expenses saved would be so much
clear gain to the manufacturer. If the Northern
manufacturer, who pays all these expenses, makes
seventy-fve or one hundred per cent net profit on
his capital engaged, what would not the profit be if
no such expenses were incurred?
Before the war, we gave as an excuse tor not
manufacturing our goods that labor was scarce;
and was more profitable in the cotton fields. The
real truth, however, is that the relationship be-
tween labor and capital was different from what it
now is. Labor was then capital and could not be
hired, except at great profit. Labor is now free,
and can be hired at just what it is WORTH In tacto-
ries. There is enough oft now lounging, beg.
ging, and stealing around Natchez, to work halt
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 adopts at the work, and are healthy
and eontented in pursuing it. The experience Of
the Woodville factory, which was worked entirely
by negroes owned by Judge McGehee, proves this,
if proof were necessary.
Even if the labor had to be imported, with such
great inducements, it should be brought here !; but
there is plenty of it here now. No better occasion
for the investment of capital was ever offered. The
climate productions, position with relation to the
markets of the world, and the abundance of the
kind of aborers required, all offer superior advan-
tages over any other spot that can be named.