The Louisiana cotton-boll. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], Attakapas, La.) 1872-1883, 1873-09-10
Cotton Factories in the South.

~ufacture 81 cotton in the south fortunes
may be made. Tile extensive develop
mont of this industry would effect the
regeneration of the south. In every
section there are numbers of persons
who, but for large establishments such
as cottsh mills would live a life of en-
forced idIeness. The employment OF
all these persons throughout the coun-
try, the making them producers instead
of merely eaters, must have a'great and
salutary effect. 1t does seem from all
Indications that apart from the terrific
Gus attractions of Alabama and Tennes-
see, that have Of late brought many cap
italists into those regions, new manu-
featuring schemes of all sorts are much
talked of, there being evidently a fair
prospect of n revival of industry. It
appears, too, that this renewing will
place the south in O condition far in
advance Of that Gnte-beLLu1n" times.
because it was said that the districts
which before the wal were destitute of
the slightest trace of manufacturing EN-
terprise are those which promise to be
the very cotton ~Centers of the south.
The great and paramount necessity is OF
course capital, and it is the absence OF
this that retards operations. There is,
however, an evident eagerness to set in
motion this machinery, which, creeping
ON to large and larger proportions, shall
revolutionize 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 surface. 1t is said that all those
mills in operation not only pay, but alb
soIutely 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
advantage over the north in these mat
tiers :; indeed, the south should by
rights be the homo of the cotton plant,
it's growth and its manufacture also.
Here the cotton can be used fresh from
the field, the cost of bagging and hoop
ing, and transportation 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 manufacture, beside being a
local benefit ia regard to the popula-
lign, secures the prosperity and perma-
fence of a place in a way that only SINH
enterprises do. Many places, owing
their very existence to q railroad, are
futtered 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, how
ever, with the place where great indus
tries like cotton manufacture are car
ried on. Here the railroad is reduced
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
a cheering activity manifesting
itself in regard to the manufacture of
The United States Cotton and Wool
Reporter copies the above, and COM
ments rs follows:
"Of course any saving that can be
effected in turning our cotton into
goods is to be hailed as o boon to the
country ; and, therefore; no mat
ter where our cotton manufactures now
center, it would be q welcome move
ment to see that industry transferred TO
the south, If a great economy would be
thereby achieved. There isno question
about the ability of the south to com
pete with New England in manufactu-
ring heavy yarns or the coarser brown
fabrics; hut, when it comes to the pro-
.uction of fine goods, and even many
varieties of heavy fabrics, then there
are requisites of climate, markets, Ia
Dor, social condition and proximity to
financial c%enters, which the south does
not and cannot meet The success Of
south in manufacturing already re-
allied is very gratifying. 1t shows that
there are certain things in that branch
If industry which it can accomplish,
md it is the true policy of that section
o push its advantages as far as posi-
)le; but to assume the broad position
hat "mills must come to the cotton,
8 to pave the way to a huge disappoint-
nent. Experience has very conolusivelv
demonstrated that the climatic and 30.
'ial conditions that attend the growth
4 cotton r widely different from
hose that belong to its manufacture. ,
A DEFENSE OF ,LUxURY.-There is