The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-11-01
How to Build a CGtt0n Factory,


And so, many an undertaking has fail
ed where there seemed no lack of en-
ergy, capacity and means.
1t is, of course, impossible to estab-
lish any invariable cause or assign gen
eral reason for this, although in many
instances the reason is plain, and es-
pecially in relation to failure in manu-
featuring A gentleman told me the
other day that friend of his had
bought for about 100000 very ex-
tensive Cotton Factory on the Jackson
Rail Road, which cost 1895, 600, and
"broke the parties who built it," al
though paying to the purchaser hand
some per centage, perhaps, on the orig
inal cost.
shall endeavor later to find a cause
for this, and could mention many like
instances attended by similar results.
The name of Gillian Of Tilemont in
Belgium is familiar to many of our
towns people, and there are those
among us to-day who can remember
when old Gillian drove one summers
evening into the village not much over
IS years ago, with his mule and cart,
then almost his sole possession. Next
day he was busy with q "one-horse"
spinning machine of his own contri-
vance. With this he steadily worked
on, adding first another horse, then
another and another, till his business
warranted the purchase of small
steam engine, and from this modest
beginning he became one of the largest
manufacturers in all Europe, and to-
day sends his productions even into
Russia and America.
Can we not see in the foregoing cases
some of the causes which may lead to
failure or success.
To have a Cotton Factory which
shall be profitable to the owners and a
benefit to the community, it is not es-
sential that there shall be massive brick
walls, useless Ornamentation, expen-
sive offices and perhaps more expensive
officers within them; nor is it necessa-
nv that the manufacturer shall so far
endeavor to control his employees as to
build and own the very cottages i'll
which the operatives live.
/ have seen very beautiful fabrics
made in establishments not compare
BILE with many of our sugar houses and
cotton gins, and the power employed
far less tnan in either.
In word, would not bury capital
in useless outlay, but employ as little
as possible in the mere corer for the
spindles and looms, which are the life
of the Factory. 1 would begin not al
together with Zone horse" establish
ment, but modestly and by degrees,
and let probable success encourage lie
to enlarge and continue, rather than
possible failure in the beginning force
us to suspend.
This is not the place for details, but q
word about site fora Factory. There
; are many objections to the town OF
Alexandria, but the advantages more
than outweigh them.
The most successful Factories are, as q
rule, in or Gerry near towns. Nothing il
more essential to their success thar
good, cheap and constant labor, and
that can only be had in the towns, for
unless the establishment is so large al
to build town of itself, the opera
tives require cottages, with cheap rents
they require medical attention and Cal
not afford mileage, they require th'
grocer, the butcher and the baker,
They require churches and schools ant
I recreations which the town has read,
for them, and which none of our pine
woods possess.
, Buildings can be made cheaper a
= Alexandria, certainly as to the labor
machinery can be bought and places
cheaper here, and here the cotton ant
I wool naturally come to market, ant
q the purchasers come here to buy thei
goods, and here we have no road trans
4 portation to pay either for the raw ma
terial consumed Or for such goods a
e are made for shipment.
e The question of health barely admit
e of argument. We have had one visi
Y tation Of yellow fever and for a fe,
t weeks only, since the writer has know
S this Parish, now nearly Is years.
What manufacturing city in Europ
has been free from epidemics for S
r long Il period9 The mortuary list Q
u Alexandria would compare favorabl.
with that of any town or city in Anne
S RIGA. And lastly, more money can b
6 raised if the Factory is put here, NOR
s stock paid in labor, more material ca
t be obtained here, the superintendent
;. of erection and operation will be NOR
economical and the surveillance of tn
directors and stock holders more tho
rough.
:. HOW SHALL WE BUILD ITp
- /. Have an organization, and befo1
- asking subscription show that ever
effort will be made to have the funt
J. economically administered.
9 Let the President receive M sa