Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-08-23
corroN rAcroRrEs in THE SOUTH

Some days since The South, a New
York industrial journal, published an
intelligent article on the subject 10
which it said:
There is no doubt that in the manuiac-
ture of cotton in the South fortunes may
be made. The extensive development
of this industry would effect the regene-
ration of the South. Ia every section
there are numbers Of persons who. but
for large establishments such as cotton
mills. would live life OF enforced idle
ness. The employment Of all these per
sons throughout the country, the making
them producers instead Of merely eat
ers, must have great and salutary
effect. II does seem from all indica-
tons that apart from the ferrilerous
attractions of Alabama and Tennes.
see. that have of late brought many
capitalists into those regions, new
manufacturing schemes OF all sorts
are much talked Of, there being
evidently fair prospect of a revival OF
industry. 1t appears, too, that this re-
newing will place the South in condi-
ton far in advance OF that OF ante
bellum times, because it was said that
the districts which before the war were
destitute Of the slightest trace OF manu-
featuring enterprise are those which
promise to be the very cotton centers OF
the South. The great and paramount
necessity is Of course CAPITAL and 1t IS
the absence Of this that retards opera
tons. There is however, an evident
eagerness to set in motion this machin-
cry, which, creeping on 10 large and
larger proportions, shall revolntlonize
the cotton trade, and bring the South up
to the magnificent standard prescribed
for her by lavish nature. and her
happy situation on the earth's sur
face. II is said that all those mills
in operation not only pay, but abso-
lately pay dividends beyond belief, even
up to twenty and twenty-five per cent.
per annum while the last figure is far
lower than the highest mentioned. The
South will always have undoubted advan-
tage over the North in these matters;
indeed, the South should by rights be the
home of the cotton plant, its growth and
its manufacture also. Here the cotton
can be used fresh from the field; the cost
of bagging and hopping and iransporta.
ton is saved, while the development Of
the coal fields, with which the South
abounds, will make fuel cheap and
diminish the expense Of motive power
There is no doubt that the establishment
Of such an industry as cotton manufac-
ture, beside being local benefit in re-
gard to the population, secures the pros
perty and permanence ola place lin way
that only similar enterprises do. Many
places, owing their very existence TO a
railroad, are huttered by every projected
scheme. The making Of some new line
that may give birth to another city, may
give the death blow to the former; not
so, however. with the place where great
industries like cotton manufacture are
carried on. Here the railroad is reduc-
ed to its true place in the scale, and be-
comes the minister and servant Of the
city, not its creator and sustainer. Here
the road is made TO the city, not the city
built against the road. We find in many
portions of the cotton growing States a
cheering activity manifesting itself in
regard to the manufacture Of cotton.