Norfolk day book. [volume] (Norfolk and Portsmouth Va.) 1868-1880, 1869-10-22
COTTON FACTORIES IN VIII
GINA.

England was instrumental IN preclp-
itating the war on us in order TO over
throw slavery. and thereby secure the
power of the cotton culture in her own
hands for her Indian possessions. Her
scheme has failed, for cotton is still culs
tivated at the South with free labor,
cheaper than her colonies can produce
it. But the matter does not rest here,
and if the Americans have due appre-
citation of the advantages the war has
taught them, they will not rest here for
the equilibrium of cotton manufac turing
has been SO greatly disturbed that we
have but to make bold push to secure
the powerful additional wealth from
c1tton manufacturing in this country,
which once secured, will fairly shake
the power of Great Britain, and repay
her for her per6dy. The South should
look to this source of wealth and power,
for it has been demonstrated that she
can beat the world in raising cotton, and
recent events have proved that cotton
can be more profitably manufactured
near its place Of production than else
where; and this after idea is what is at
present agitating the Manchester men.
The Richmond Wing is ventilating the
cotton factory subject, and says "that
of the 1901 sotton manufacturing es-
Establishments in the United States 90
were located in the New England and
Central States, and only 159 in the elev-
en- Southern States and % in the Wes-
tern States, and that of the $98,5S5, 269
of capital invested in these establish
ments, $88,o49,a4s were invested ia
the New England and Central States,
leaving in round numbers only about
$1o,o0o,o0o invested in all the South
ern and Western States.
1.-THE manufacturers of the Old World
are beginning to inquire how they can
r--~.--~ ~.-a ,.onnnfnn t,,~. Al 4.u 444a-
terial at the cheapest possible rates.
The same inquiry engages the American
mind. The question is beginning to be
asked cannot the raw material be pro,
cured and manufactured at cheaper
rates at or near the fields of production
than at distance ? Ifso, why should
not steps be taken to carry on the
manufacturing business in the South
rather than in New England and the
Central States 2 The idea has taken a
firm hold on the Southern mind. Under
its influence some factories have already
been built and others are in progress.
Before the war Virginia had sixteen,
North Carolina thirty"nine, South Caro-
lima seventeen, Georgia thirty-three,
Alabama fourteen and Tennessee thirty.
The Gotten growers are rapidly be-
coming rich again. Before the war
their gains were invested in lands and
negroes, principally the latter. They
do not now desire to extend their landed
possessions, and negroes have ceased to
property. They will probably con-
clude that the most profitable invest
ments they can make will be in manu.
featuring establishments. Seeing this,
the cotton manufacturers of New Eng
land and the Central States will proba-
bly, take alarm. Seeing their interests
msnared by rival factories at or near
the fields of production, they will prob :.
ably soon begin seriously to consider
whether it will not be their true policy
to remove their machinery and transfer
their business to%he Southern States
Eighty.eight millions dollars of capital
are not to be rashly hazarded in an
unequal race with factories on or near
the fields of production. The great aim
with them, as with manufacturers all
the world over, is to reduce ex-
penses and purchase the raw material
on the best terms. By removing
their factories to the South, they
would save what now has to be paid in
transportation, and as the charges Of
middle men. 1t is said that there is
great advantage to the manufacturer in
working up cotton that has not beeu
subjected to too tight pressure. The
looser it is the better. 1t saves time,
and time is money. Other advantages
are the greater cheapness of labor and
living and fuel at the South"
Practical experience has demonstrated
that steam can be used with as much
economy as natural water power when
the latter entails any considerable trans
portatiou to get to its location; therefore,
it is that Norfolk is admirably located
for cotton manufacturing purposes, being
so finely situated for the commercial
requisites in dealing in any kind of pro-
ducts raised on the Sout hern soil-that
is, being the most conveniently located
as a receiving and distributing depot.
We have railroads debouching here from
the South and the West to bring and
carry cotton, canals to assist them, con-
Meeting with the water line all along
the Southern coast, and giving us a su-
perior and safe inland navigation, to-
gsther with deep harbor near the
ocean, giving us an outlet to the ports
Of the whole world for our customers.
Norfolk is the place to establish cotton
to supply old England
with cotton fabrics for the consumption
Of her millions Of inhabitants.