The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-10-16
The Future of. Cotton Manufacture.

Whenever there have been any figures fur
nished in relation to cotton manufacturing IN
the Southern States they have served to show
that these States possess an immense adVan-
tage in this respect over any other section IN
the country. Comparatively few lnanutac-
tories have as yet been set up in these States,
but this can be readily accounted for. There
is. in the first place, lack of the necessary
capital at home, and, in the second, g. scarcity
of skilled labor. The latter could be obtained
without much difficulty, if the factories were
established, but such, people in the South as
are able--and they are not numerous-have
little disposition to invest'in cotton manufac-
tories. while cotton manufacturers in the North
are doing well enough now, and have therefore
no desire to change their location, even If
thereby larger profits were assured them. Still,
as one statement after another from such fac
tories as have been established in the South
demonstrates more and more conclusivcly the
profitable nature of the business, idle capital
can not but be attracted to such a productive
field. There is no reason Why in the course OF
time. the South should not be the great cotton
manufacturing centre Of the world. She has
all the facilities for manufacturing, and the
raw material lies ready to her hand. In COM
petition with the European manufacturer tor
the trade of Europe, she would have the ad-
vantage of the difference on the freight be-
tween the raw and the manufactured product,
and this would furnish a fair margin for profits.
In her own local markets rivalry would be
almost impossible, and with the addition OF
new factories at the place of production she
cou}d dethrone New England and command
almost the undivided trade of this country.
Lowell is one of the great seats of cotton
manufacturing in the North. 1t costs the
Lowell manufacturer 50 60 bale to transport
raw cotton to his factory, and something ad-
ditional of course to lay down his manufac-
tired goods in New York On this single item
alone there is a difference in favor of manu-
facturer in Augusta, Ga, Of Sc 62, or nearly
seven seven ner cent. This is in the New York
market; in the markets of the West the Diff
ference is still greater in favor of the Augusta
manufacturer. A statement trecently.publlshe,d
by the Augusta Chronicle shows how profitable
cotton manufacturing is in that city. A com
pany q number of years since purchased the
HAugusta Factory" for $4,000, on ten years
time, at seven per cent. interest. Sixty tnou-
sand dollars was paid in as capital, and was
nearly all expended at the start. The factory
prospered from the beginning, and has been en-
iarged as occasion required, until now the
PROPERTY is vailed at 100000 THAT being the
amount of the capital stock): 1t has com
pletely paid for ITSELF and besides, for the last
eight wears, paid quarterly dividend of five
per cent. During the five years and half
ending June 7th, 1878, the sales of the factory
amounted to 5,17S,6l2 96; the wages paid
were $9O9, ,4O1 81; the net earnings, $3.50 500
So, and the profits divided, $780, o,000.-Dero't
Free Press.