The Louisiana cotton-boll. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], Attakapas, La.) 1872-1883, 1878-02-20
C0ttAn Manufacture

The Hon. John B. Gordon, United
States Senator representing the state OF
Georgia, has very kindly, in response to
our invitation, written a letter for pub
LEGATION, giving his views upon "Cotton
Manufacturing at the South" We here
thank the senator Tor his courtesy and
accommodation, and assure him the
attention his letter will arrest will be
very great. To our readers it is almost
unnecessary to state that the southern
senator is regarded as thehighest author
ity on the cotton industries of the south,
and he is also tavorably known to our
selves as a strong civil service retormer,
for whom We have long had great re-
spect. He is n of the s%outherners who
bravely fought for what they thought
was right, but who now accept the results
of the war and earnestly support Presi-
dent Hayes in his noble efforts towards
paciioation. Bat to the letter.
In an editorial some weeks ago we
called attention to the Future of Cotton
Manufacturing in New England" argu-
ing that the time was at hand when the
south, in coarse goods, would not only.
supply her own wants, but those of the
west also. Senator Gordon claims that
cotton at Columbus, Ga, is ~ 08 per
bale less there than at Fall river, and in
a consumption of FIVE thousand bales
*here would be an advantage OF 1856 1000;
due to situation alone. Thus, a Fall
river mill having a total investment of
$3.50, 900, running on heavy goods, might
make a profit Of $21 900, or s per cent,
while a similar Georgia mill would earn
$4,000, or Is per cent. Senator Cor
don produces figures to show that
the product of a Georgia mill could
be ever shipped to the north and sold
at a profit. He asserts:
THAT the more intelligent manufac-
turers of the north already concede the
fact that the coarser yarns, No. IA and
under, cannot be manufactured there,
when sufficient machinery is in opera
ton in the south to supply the demand"
The senator is perfectly correct. and
he could also have stated that the more
intelligent manufacturers at the north
FOR New England ! are seeking to de-
velop technical education by which
skilled mechanics and trained taste and
skill shall be at hand in order that cot
ton manufacturing may reach to the high-
est possible perfection, These gentle
men see that New England must in the
future mako the finest goods and
the south the coarsest. They are
seeking to educate young men as
artisans, and the theolo-
gical school in this city is n of
the means by which they expect to attain
their object.
Senator Gordon tells of the growth Of
cotton manufacturing at the south. We
have ourselves diligently searched for the
referring to each state, and after
considerable correspondence with tho
officials of southern states, (alI of whom
have been most accommodating have
been unable 10 obtain such, as those states
have made no statistical collections of late
years. The senator's statement concern
labor at the south is important. He
srgues that the skilled mechanics arc
needed, since machinery does the
work. There is an abundance of help, !
md the climate not demanding large ex.
oenditures for coal and clothing. and ami
nal dieting-these all tend to make wages
'ne-third less than at the. north. The
of trade unions and strikes are !
Unknown (happy south y, aud native.
'orn Americans constitute the large
majority of the hands. He claims that
Turing the much talked about summer !
the cost OF labor is least and production +:
He sustains this statement
figures which he challenges contra {
LECTION by contrary facts. '
With cotton at hand, labor abundant 9
cheap, water power extensive, aud !
oal low, the southern cotton manufac- :
aring interests must indeed advance. !
heir advantages must tell, and New {
.ngland cannot afford to be blindt to them. :
| is for our manufacturers to attain in
gill what the south attains by natural
avantages,- Boston Journal of Com
1erce.