The Russellville Democrat., 1875-08-12
FACTORIES IN THE SOUTH.
Manufacturing our raw Ma
 terial at Home.

may be reflected upon with so much profit that we produce it in 1 full. It is taken from the New Orleans Times and is addressed by that paper principally to the business men of that city, but the truths it contains are good for the reflection of enterprising men of capital everywhere. and the in sight it gives of the profits which may be derived from a well-man aged manufacturing business for the purpose of working up our great staple will prove interesting, and ought to turn the attention of men of capital into this channel. We don't see why such a manufac tory could not be put in success full operation anywhere in the South, even here in Arkansas, and perhaps in Russellville. The only trouble is to get the capital. Few individuals have sufficient means, it is true, but by combi- nation 1t seems that a company might be organized wnlch-, could easily furnish the requisite means. If Great Britain and New Eng land can ship their raw material from here and make a profit in manufacturing it into yarns and fabrics, why cannot we with the cost of transportation in our favor also make it profitable? If it fur nishes employment to the idle and attracts immigration and en- riches their country why will it not do the same for ours?
 We submit the Times article, and ask for it a careful perusal: That the South is in a fair way to become wealthy again is now conceded by all. Our agricultur- al interests are of such a diversi- fed nature that in time we can, if we will, become almost self-sup- porting. We arc not unaware of the difficulties which have here tofore attended the establishment of factories, of the losses which have resulted to public spirited citizens in this and other South ern cities from their attempts which sometimes result in failure. These are discouraging facts. But because for some reasons, generally the result of unforeseen circumstances, there have been a few failures to make manufactur- ing profitable, must cease to pro- duce anything but the raw staples, and be at the mercy of those who do for us what we ought to be do- ing for ourselves?
 The prosperity of Great Brit tain has served to point many a moral and illustrate the power of combination and capital managed with discretion and regard for business principles. There is not a pound of raw cotton produc- ed within a thousand leagues of that thrifty island, yet thirty-four and a half million spindles are busy all the time to turn into double value the staple which is King. If England can spin year ly 1908, ,000, 900 pounds of Ameri- can cotton and thereby double it's value, cannot some of England's thrift be initiated in our city? It cannot be a losing business to make a pound of yarn which is worth two pounds of raw material, at one half the cost of pound of that raw material.
 To be clearer; if one pound of cotton worth Is cents can be put into a product worth AS cents at cost of 9 2-3 cents, is not this a paying business? English spin ners expect a profit of thirty one dollars for every bale of raw cot ton they manufacture. If these statements are thought to be iI- Hated or extravagant, we refer doubters to the Investment Ga zette, ii monthly magazine publish cd in London, and regarded as high financial authority there and in the money circles of other English cities. In the June mum Der Of this magazine is the publi- cation of the dividends declared by thirty-six cotton mills, for six months ending June 30. It ap- pears from these statements that an average of the profits of all these factories would produce a total average of 20 l-2 per cent. on the entire capital invested by their owners. The largest divi- dend declared was equal to 45 per cent, and the least 10 per cent. The cost of getting bale of raw cotton from the field in Amer ica, where it is grown, to the En- glish mill where it is to be spun, is put at about ten dollars of our money. In these facts there is ample material for reflection, We think the conclusion of every business man will be, that any people who can utilize the tireless ' ,An.u.u.. af staal nnl .taaIa n alaai n ~