The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-12-30

| Its success IS not fair criterion 0y which to
come to the conclusion that cotton can be manu-
factured at the South, during the next gene
ration, cheaper than it can be at the North.
| Within the past five years we know OF cotton
mills in New England that have tailed, while
| there arc others that have paid for themselves
twice ovor, besides affordins fat dividends.
The success OF the Augusta establishment IS
due entirely to skillful management. Its Presi-
don't is one of the best business men in the
country, and its Superintendent is equally as
capable If wo arc not mistaken, they are both
Northern men, and consequently they have
infused Yankee ideas into all their operations.
The goods of the Augusta factory command
from one-half per cent. to ono and ona-half
per cent. more per yard than those Of other
similar mills. The best ofstock is used be-
because its buyers are right at home in the
market, and they always take advantage OF the
prices; but they are not more shrewd than
some of our Northern buyers have been. Dur
ing the war, when the Augusta mill was using
cotton which cost eighteen cents per pound,
there were several mills in New England that
had SIX months supply at the same price.
1t is safe to say that the comparison OF the
Augusta factory is an isolated one, 80 far as
the cotton mills OF the South are concerned.
The testimony OF many of its manufacturers
shows that the dividends OF tho cotton mills
are generally small, and that during the past
three years many OF them have passed their
small dividends.
ADVANTAGES OF THE SOUTH TO COTTON MANUFAc-
TURERS.
No one will pretend to dispute the fact that
certain sections Of the South offer special ad
vaptases Ior the manufacture OF cotton. They
have climate and wages in their favor. For
three months in the year the total cost OF fuel
is less than onc-ienth OF cent per pound on
manufactures OF those months, and as to
wages, land is cheap, and The manufacturer is
enabled to give EACH family OF operatives
large garden, largo enough to enable them to
raise their years supply Of vegetables. Wages
are consequently low. Then there Is the mat
ter of freights. The Southern manufacturer
can save the freight on bagging, rope and
waste, and he can sell his waste to local paper
mills ut quite Northern prices. II the freight
on one bale Of cotton from Charleston to New
York is two dollars and fifty cents, for instance,
on yarn, worth say one dollar and twenty cents
o bale, it is only sixty cents, there would be
difference of about two and half per cent. on
the value, providing the cotton waa worth
eighty dollars The Southern manufacturer,
too purchases OF the producer or his agent.
thus avoiding commissions, brokerage aud
other charges paid by Northern mills.
WHAT THE SOUTH WANTS.
Just what the South needs more than any,
thing else is capital and skilled labor. The
time is not yet come when Lowell or Man
chs stcr can be taken up bodily and set down
along side any Of tie splendid water-powers OF
the Southern States; The people OF inc eoutn
cannot realize in few years that which it has
taken New England generation OF years to
achieve. The South has cotton at its door,
with abundance of white labor imploring en-
Doyment; it has some OF the best Watcr.poW-
ers in tho world, and enough to run all the
spndles of the century. But the South IL Inn
poyorished, and 1t wants the Skill and the capt.
tai of the Northelner to mako the advantages
of tue South apparent. Tho planter wants
money, and tho manufacturer wants money,
and until the capital Of tho North comes
to tho help OF tho South, cotton will be
manufactured cheaper at the North than at
the South. The influence OF climate upon
character too, has something to do Will the
development of cotton manufacture. Inc
Yankee. who for years bas made himself sharp
by delvlng in the keen atmosphere OF the high
er attitudes, has naturally more aptitude for
making money aud pushing things than the
man accustomed to hot climate which reDs q
man OF his anabiion and a.S dea9ens al asR2si
o. things, the Northern capitalist does not feel
safe to inveat in cotton manufactures at the
South, and not until ''peaco" is fully establish
ed, will he make movement III that direction.
In short, when o Northern man can express
his opinions as freely there as he can in New
York or Massachusetts, then will there be
plenty of music by the side of the WATERPROOF
ers OF the South, and the Northern maaufactu-
rer will find in the Southern manufacturer an
able rival.
FLUCTUATIONS IN THE PRICE OF COTTON.
A table, showing tho fluctuations IN value OF
cotton, from April, 1861, to June, 1868, inclusive,
has been prepared for the Association OF Cot
ton Planters and Manufacturers. We give the
average for each year in the United States and
in England, including the value OF "A bleached
notfous.