The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-10-23
Cotton Spinning.

The condition of the cotton manufactures
in this country and in Europe is the subject
of earnest discussion on both sides OF the
Atlantic. England, France and the New
England States of the American Union are
alike discussing the best means of prevent
inc loss of their trade, and Of securing
themselves against disastrous competition.
In England, an enormous monied capital
backed by the whole power OF the govern
ment, is ready to be used in recovering the
old markets or in forming new ones. And not
q day too soon! The continent OF Europe
is far less dependent than formerly on the
cotton goods of Manchester, and the Amerl-
can demand, in consequence Of the increase
in domestic manufactures, is steadily de-
creasing. Commercial treaties do not stop
the gap. Take the treaty with France as
an example, which treaty, while it secured
the English a market for their coal, ami
hilated their silk manufactures. What is
now proposed is nothing less than the re-
moval of the entire cotton manufacture to
India: to establish the factories there, and,
by the aid of low prices, for labor as well as
the raw material. to undersell both Euro
pean and American manufacturers.
In France, similar scheme is under con-
sideration. There the proposition is to trans
fer the cotton factories from the northern de-
partments to the southern portion ofthe En-
pire. During the last six months the Austrian
port of Trieste has imported from Bombay
twice as many bales as France received.
This gave rise to the suggestion to move the
factories nearer to the supply of raw mate
rial and nearer to the seaboard. In both
instances the principle is the same-to bring
the cotton mill closer to the cotton port and
cotton field.
A similar idea is beginning to attract at
tention in mechanical New England. The
obvious truth that cotton can be procured
and manufactured at lower price in the
South, where it is produced, than in the
Northern factories, to which it is conveyed
at great expense, is opening the eyes OF the
spinners. This has taken firm hold Of
the Southern mind and New England must
either move its mills down South, as Eng
land proposes to move the mills of Lancas-
ter to India, or must submit to be driven
out of the market by the produce OF the
Southern factories. Nearly one hundred
million dollars is invested in cotton manu-
featuring establishments in the New Eng
land and Central States. This is the extent
of the interest which is felt in the manufactu-
ring progress Of the South
Notwithstanding the failure OF Senator
Sprague to lead the revolution in cotton
spinning, of which he spoke 30 glibly, there
is still prospect that Northern capital and
Northern machinery will gradually find their
way to the South. 1t can, moreover, be
shewn, we think, that the English spinners
can use their surplus machinery here more
profitably than in distant Hindostan. Upon
the same continent they would find the raw
material the means ofmanufacturing, and a
sufficient market-a market more hard to be
satisfied as the broad plains OF the West are
made rich by the labors OF the immigrant
and the passage of the locomotive.
The South, in truth, holds the balance OF
power. 1t has not been found practicable
to replace the American staple, though sacks
of English gold have been scattered broad
cast among the cotton planters of India.
| Old King Cotton holds his own, and both
England and New England are forced to
acknowledge his sway. In the meanwhile,
our people have an excellent opportunity Of
making themselves rich and independent.
Money is flowing steadily into the cotton
States. The surplus capital is already large.
1t cannot be invested in negroes, and Of
land there is more than enough. Where,
then, can it be applied to more advantage
than in the manufacture of cotton? In no
case has well-managed cotton mill been
Improbable, and we can lay our finger upon
dozen which are earning large dividends.
The Southern mill can make money when it
sells yarns at the price which they cost to
manufacture in New England. The risk is
small and the gain is great; not only in hard
money, but in the opening of new channels
Of industry, in giving enlarged opportunities
of employment to the people, and in keep
ing in the country the money which now
slips into the pocket of the Northerner and
foreigner.
The subject is we'll worthy of practical at
tention, and we hope that our people, not
thinking too long, will be convinced OF the
wisdom OF beginning at once the great work
OF making South Carolina an important
manufacturing State.