Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1874-02-20
CnrTON EACr0RIEN.

In Sunday issue we puDiisheu
statement, taken from the Norfolk
Virginian, giving in detail the cost
of operating cotton factory. TIE
Norfolk Landmark, of Thursday, pur-
sues the same subject and gives other
facts and figures that may prove OF in
terest to the friends of such an enter
prise.
For the information of capitalists
and business men, says the Landmark:
who may desire to invest in this enter
prise, and who wish to be enlightened
before doing so, we are able to give
the following estimate of labor, and
expenses necessary to begin with and
afterwards to run mill, OF speclhed
capacity, and also an estimate OF LIS
products and profits. These estimates
are based on the careful calculation OF
ar experienced gentleman. who has
been particular to place the figures IN
side of safe margin: .
A cotton mill containing 10, 600 spin
dies and $50 looms is, we shall assume,
about what is contemplated to start
with nero. The go looms vii about
consume all he yarn spun by 10000
spindles, and we will take No. 16 yarn
as basis to make the style of cloth
suitable for the requirements of our
trade. The 10000 spindles will con-
sumo about 5000 pounds of raw cot
ton per week, and produce about
10000 pounds spun yarn. The cost OF
the spinning machinery, with all the
latest improvements and all necessary
expenses for betting, bands, etc, for
driving, would be 1856, 900. This IS, OF
course, exclusive of boilers, the price
of which can be easily ascertained.
The spinning department would en-
ploy about IS hands, and while the
price of labor cannot be correctly cstl-
mated, it is certain that it will be less
here than III the North.
The cost Of the weaving department
for $50 looms would be $27, 900, in
Guiding all appurtenances to machines,
betting, reeds, beams. etc, employing
about Is hands. each loom turning off
at least 241 yards of Sc by 56-3 yards
to the pound-cloth per week of 60
hours; or little over three million
yards per year for the whole 2o0looms,
allowing all that is necessary for stop
pages. The majority of mills run
over 50 hours per week but we take
GO as an average and base our calcula-
tions upon it.
A mill of the dimensions of $50 feet
by 70, five stories high, would be
amply sufficient, with an out-building
OF 40 by 2G feet, three stories high,
for picking room, cotton room and
boiler house A steam engine of 120
estimated horse power would be large
enough and would consume about 81
tons of coal per week, IA per cent. OF
which would be required for heating
the mill, and sc per cent. for motive
power. Any one, by enquiry, can
easily ascertain the cost of the last
three items, of buildings, engine and
fuel.
Taking the price paid by one whole
sale merchant for cotton cloth, trans
ported here from other points, OF a
grade most in demand, and the price
Of cotton yesterday, and making our
calculations therefrom, we find that
there i net profit to the manuf"c-
turer of cloth in this city of six cents
on the pound tf cotton used. The
facts and figures ere given can be ex-
amined by orr capitalists and business
men, who will judge for themselves
the value of the scheme now before
them