The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1877-08-03
COTTON MANUFACTuRE..NO AMI
SOUTH. ''


The Columbus, Georgia, Inquirer ri
the 18th inst, contains the following +:
The facts in this article we obtain
from II practical manufacturer who has
North and South, and we invite atten-
tlemcn OF the North who have read
Mr.. Atkinson's articles:
The series Of letters by Mr.. Edward
Atkinson, OF Boston,o ,on the culture and
manufacture of cotton, the probable IN
creased demand for foreign markets,
etc, published in the New York Her.
aid, have been read with much inter.
est, particularly that portion which
gave to New England advantages in
manufacture, except in certain lOcali-
ties. 1t is perfectly natural that New
England, with all her facilities for ma
chine building, her large force Of skill
Ell mechanics and trained operatives,
her seven aud Il hali million cotton
spinhles, should feel entitled to this.
supremacy. She has worked hard for
it for upwards of fifty years.
We, of the South in this section, niay
claim advantages in the manufacture
that nature HAS given US, which, when
capital, will render this one of the
most productive regions in the United
States. Our building material is Of
good quality and Unlimited in quanti-
ty, and at prices far below New Eng
land quotations. Our common labor Is
plenty at abont sixty cents per day.
We claim that we can build Il first
class mill and equip it complete, pay
boxing and freight on machinery, for
less money than it can he built in New
England. We also claim, that with
our low priced operative force, we eat,
produce goods at II low rate that will
cancel our extra freight paid in ship
ping our goods to market. ,.
Let us suppose that two mills ol
equal capacity, say G965 spindles Eve
take Mr.. .Atkinson's fgures), to con
sumo 24OO bales Of cotton per annum,
one of which is located ut Lowell, Mass
achusettS, the other at Columbus, Ga.
The cost Of such II mill is estimated
by Mr.. Atkinson ut $l5O.OOO.
Comparatively speaking, one mill is
in 4 higi, northern latitude, one tho,,-
sand miles distant, and the other in
the cotton field. The Northern mill
must pay freight annually from the
cotton fields, the cost of which we give
as obtained from Intelligent cotton buy
ers who are engaged i'll purchaaing and
shipping from this point direct to N eW
England mills, commissions olnitted),
freight, Insurance., ETC., IL to I4c per
pound. We will call it L. per pound,
or So per bale of 500 pounds--24OO bales,
at So per bale amounts to $1,000.
The southern mill is not exempt
from charges ON her 24OO bales. She
must pay 25c per bale drayage, which,
amounts to 5000, showing that the
Northern mill pays $lI 400 more pc,
| annum than the Southern mill for the
| raw material.
The amount Of freight paid by the
Northern mill i'll twelve and a hall
years is equivalent to tho estimated
! cost of the mill, viz : $l5O,0Oo.
Who can doubt the prosperity of
bringing spinning and weaving ma
chinery to cotton fields.
The life of Il cotton mill, with special
attention to repairs of machinery, is
generally estimated ut twenty years.
Twenty times Si2,OOO is $40, 900 saved
by the mere life of mill. Can de-
mOnStration be stronger?
Within 100 miles OF Columbus is a
cotton mill now running that was put
in motion in 1912. To-day it ia doing
more and better work than it did the
| first years operation. Nearly all the
machinery is yet in motion, and il
pays to run it.
If 4 cotton mill thirty years old can
| he made to pay its way in Georgi,,
what tnay we reasonably expect from
! a new mill with latest improved ma
chinery? We leave the reader to
judge.
We will continue to give facts on
this question which are susceptible o1
| easy demonstration. We give no the
! cries. We can show and maen to do
| it, that Southern mills can make
money while those of the North are
starving.
DISCIPLINE.