St. Landry democrat., 1878-03-02
Cotton Manufacture.

States Senator representing the state Of
Georgia, has very ktudly, in response to
our invitation, written letter for pub
lication, giving his views upon Cotton
Manufacturing at the South" We here
hank 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 hehighest author
lty on the cotton industries of the south,
and he is also favorably known to our
selves as strong civil service reformer,
for whom we have long had great re-
spect. He is one of the southerners 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
pacifcation. But to the letter.
In an editorial some weeks ago we
called attention to the Culture 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 81 08 per
bale less there than at Fall river, and in
consumption Of five thousand bales
there would be an advantage OF 5000;
due to situation aAone. Thus, Fall
river mill having total investment of
$350,000, running on heavy goods, might
make a profit of $2l 900, or 6 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 even shipped to the north and sold
at profit. He asserts:
"That the more intelligent manufac-
turers Of the north already concede the
fact that the coarser yarns, No. II and
under, cannot be manufactured there,
when sufficient machinery is in opera.
tion 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
(or 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 make the finest goods and
the south the coarsest. They are
seeking to educate young men as
skilled artisans, and the theolo.
gical school in this city is one 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
figures referring to each state, and after
considerable correspondence with the
officials of southern states, (all of whom
have been most accommodating have
besn unable to obtain such, as those states
have made no statistical collections of late
years. The senators statement concern
ing labor at the south is important. He
argues that the skilled mechanics are
not needed, since machinery does the
work. There is an abundance of help,
and the climate not demanding large ex-
penditures for coal and clothing, and ami
NAL dieting-these all tend to make wages
one-third less than at, the north. The
blessings of trade unions and strikes are
unknown (happy south y, and native
born Americans constitute the large
majority of the hands. He claims that
during the much talked about summer
" the cost of labor is least and production
greatest" He sustains this statement
by figures which he challenges contra
diction by contrary facts.
With cotton at hand, labor abundant
and cheap, water power extensive, and
coal low, the southern cotton msnufac-
turing interests must indeed advance.
Their advantages must tell, and New
England cannot afford to be blind to them.
It is for our manufacturers to attain in
skill what the south attains by natural
advantages Boston Journal of Com
merce.