The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-09-07
COTTON MANUFACTURES IN The
SOUTH. "A

SOUTH. !
The Sua thinks it time to protect our
selves against EugIish monopolies, aud
would have the manufacture Of cotton
cloths in the United States increased.
; so far IS the manufacture of our great
staole into cloths at the South has been
tested, success is the result. Some of the
cotton .ruills Of Georgia and South Carolina
have paid handsome profit on Investments
and reason goes to show that here. in these
Southern States. IN reach of the cotton
fields, Is the place to build up industries for
the conversion of the law article into goods
that are demanded throughout the world.
AS IL is. most of the cotton now raised in
the Southern States finds its way to Fog
land, and it is partially returned to US in
the shape of goods, after being transported,
on an average. 5000 miles. The contem-
plation of this simple fact, imposing an
enormous tax upon the producer, should in
duce capital to take hold Of the matter
here, and put stop to this unnatural war
fare upon the production of the staple.
In the present condition of manu-
featuring interest at the North, not
to say anything of England and continental
Europe, it is reasonable to suppose that a
large amount of capital could be brought
into our midst for manufacturing purposes,
and the result would be beneficial both to
the capitalist and the producer, American
manufactures have been so improved as to
compete with foreign goods, and it has
been demonstrated that cloths turned out
from Southern mills are far superior in
strength of texture to those manufactured
even in New England. By referring to
statistics we find that in 1875 the consump-
ton of cotton in the manufacturing world
was as follows: Great Britain /, 274, $780,
600 pounds, Continental Europe 944, $780,
900, United States 576, 400, 900. The total
estimate of consumption by the factories of
the world is 2,s61, 600, OOO,. and England,
where not one pound of cotton Is raised,
manufactures half of this. Some of the
cotton she consumes is shipped even
further than from the United States,
and yet the cotton mills of England
have produced vast wealth for their own
ers. While the United States is virtually
lost as a consumer OF, English cotton goods,
still she supplies a vast amount of people
who should look to the United States for
the same The shipment of cotton goods
in 1875 frum England to various countries
in Europe, Asia, South America, the West
Indies, Mexico, Canada and even the Uni
ted States amounted to $359, 875, 345, gold. H
Much of this territory is nearer US than it
is to England, and trade once established
with'lt would be natural and permanent.
We have at present in the United States
abundant labor at reasonable rates, cotton
indigenous to the soil and close to the fac
tory, unlimited water power, inexhaustible
coal mines, sufficient capital, cheap and
perfected machinery, and, above all, great
experience and thorough knowledge of
the industry. The cotton-growing States
contain, as we believe, more rich lands,
more coal and more metallic ores than the
whole of Europe. They abound in rivers
and railways calculated to facilitate the
passage of labor and its products from one
point to another. Who pays for the car
riage to market of the cotton which this
wonderful territory contributes to the COM
merce of the world9 The planter. Who
pays the charges on the cotton until it
reaches Its final consumer2 The planter,
whose shares of two. three or five dollars a
pound paid for his manufactured Gotten in
Brazil, Mexico, or the West Indies, amounts
to lut single dime.
We may safely say of all people, claim
ing to rank as civilized, that there have
been none who have retained for them
selves so small portion of the ultimate
prices of their products as those who have
been accustomed to supply raw cotton to
Great Britain. If the men of the South
unite with the capitalists and millionaires
in the North, to improve and increase the
manufacture of cotton goods throughout
he'cotton- growing region Of, this country,
taking advantage of the magnificent water
power, which abounds on the Southern
rivers and streams, we believe that the low
cost of the raw. material, taken, so to. say,
from the field to the factory, combined with
the immense SAVING of transportation, will
enable our people to lay down cotton
clothes in the West Indies. Mexico, and
South America at such prices as will ,ul-
timately compel England TO- retire alto
gether from any attempt to supply these
markets. The first of all taxes is that of
transportation, preceding, as it does. even
the demands of government. The planter
at present gives nine-tenths of the ultimate
prices of his products as his portion of
thi, terrific tax. In exporting cotton cloth
instead of raw cotton, we save, as far as
Mexico, South America, and the West In
dies are concerned, the expense of costly |
transportation of 5000 miles. If we manu-.
factre on the spot in Georgia, Carolins, 1
or Texas, and ship the manufactured goods
direct to market, we shall certainly be able |
to uuderbid the British article to the ex- |
tent Of whatever saving may be effected By
diminished cost of transportation and ex-
ira handling, besides having all the sdyan-
tages which must accrue frnn a close asso-
citation between the planting and manufsc.
turing interests. Another factor in our
favor is the acknowledged superiority OF
American over British cotton cloths Our
fabrics are what they purport to be-. %
TaE METHODIST CHURCHES,
NORGH AND SOU SH
The Methodist Churches, North and
South have met in council and agreed upon