The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-10-07
AN INTERESTING DISCUSSION.
wm Cotton Mills Fay In tho South
From The Boston, Herald.

10 occurs an article headed "Cotton Fac.
tories OF the Souin,S which Is as follo~:s !:
Some few weeks ago the editor of thia
paper had occasion TO telegraph nv. Ed.
ward Atkinson, of Boston, with reference
to journalistic matter in which Mr..
AtkinsoD's friendly Offices were solicited.
That genlleman's reply discloses enough
as to the nature of the request, and we
here produce IL in full:
BosToN, Aug. "a, 1880.
+. A. Burke, New Orleans, La.-Dear
Sir. Your telegram of the 2lst came TO
hand in my absence.
/ regret that I cannot comply with
your request. My reason is that can.
not conscientiously recommend the es.
tablishment of cotton mills in the South.
A very few will succeed on local de.
mand, but on large scale cotton
manufacturing needs dense population,
q cold climate and great many suhsidi.
ary appliances.
1t is an exceedingly close business, and
III common time it's profit tnrns on the
sale of the waste and the facilities for
procuring the repairs, material and hands
from machine shops in cicse proximity.
The South cannot, at present, afford to
| spin or weave cotton. There are too
many vastly better chances for profit.
Time precludes any further treatment Of
the question.
EDWARD ATKINSON.
We have no doubt that gentleman of
Mr.. Atkinson's standing and well.known
character may safely be presumed to be
sincere in any statement he makes, and
hence we confess our surprise at finding
him 80 mistaken in matter to which he
has VIGOROUSLY given deep attention.
OF course, if Mr.. Atkinson really believes
that cotton factories in the South will
not pay, he could not conscientiously ad.
vocate their establishment but the
wonder is that Mr.. Atkinson should en-
tertain such an opinion. No one has
reflected more profoundly and concluded
more intelligently than bir. Atkinson
upon most of the questions relating to
the growth and manufacture of cotton
products. His contributions to current
thought and information upon this topic
have given him cosmopolitan reputa-
tion. Yet, when he says that the South.
with its geographical advantages, its enor-
fiisous TateT power, lis iavoring climatic
conditions, and it's resources of popula.
ton, is not the proper sphere for the
establishment of cotton factories, it be-
comes evident that he hes not oily over
looked the abstract features of the ques.
tion but that he is unacquainted with the
eloquent array of facts which contradict
his proposition. 1t is always safe to say,
in any generalization, that the most
favorable locality for the establishment
of q factory is on the ground where the
crude material is produced. The saving
in freights alone amounts to very
handsome consideration upon which to
/ 0f n - n,,k ,,,1, - J. . Al
South possesses Mt least eqeal advanta-
ges OF water and fuel, and working pop.
ulation, and far superior advantages of
climate, it becomes extravagan.ly absurd
to say that cotton factorics should not be
established here.
We do not know what Mr.. Atkinson's
grounds are for making these statements
in the above quoted letter. It will be
seen that he confines himself to mere
assertions without advancing any facts
to verify them. We submit. however,
that all the arguments in the world
would avail nothing against the unan.
swerable demonstration of fact, and that
such practical propositions, rs the sue
cess of the mills at Columbus, Ga, Wes-
son and Natchez, Miss, and other South.
ern points, ure more eloquent and con-
vincing than nil the theories and argu-
ments that human ingenuity could accu-
mulate. 1t is we'll known fact that
these Georgia and Mississippi mills have
for some years pnst been paying dividends
offrom iG to 35 per cent. that they have
gone on, year, after year increasing their
capacity and adding to theiE force
steadily becoming more solid and pros.
porous, and adding fresh force TO the de.
monstration of the South's peculiar
adaptation to cotton factories. The matter
hardly requires argument. Whatever
illCaions Mr.. Atkinson may cherish, it is
the plainest of all plain things, to every
one acquainted with the history Of cot
ton manufactures in the South, that there
is the locality, par excellence, for such
enterprises.
WHAT Mr.. ATKINSON SAYS.
Mr.. Edward Atkinson was called upo,,
by the Herald and his attention directed
to the above article. At first he thought
it hardly worth while to say anything
aboutit, as the people of the South would
not be convinced by anything he could
say. After few moments consideration.
however, he made the following com.
ments:
"This article" he said, "uses among
other things the language, that when
say that the South, with its geographical
advantages, its enormous water power,
its favorable climatic conditions and its
resources Of population, is not the proper
sphere for the establishment of. cotton
factories, it becomes evident ETC., etc.
Il is no doubt u great advantage to have
cotton mills in close proximity to the
cotton fields; but it will presently cost
as much or more to move the cotton
goods of such mills 10 market &c it does
to move the cotton to the mills that are
on way to market. Probably moro be.
cause the goods would be high.cIasa
freight, while the cotton is only fourth
class. Now in regard to water. This
power is always developed at very
heavy expense, however apparently good
: the conditions are. It is in the nature
of rivers to have underground rivers
alongside of them, and that means quick
sands. No water power has ever been
developed in New England, for the pur-
pose of sale as power, that has ever phid
simple interest on its cost. In Tho ma
joriiy of cases such powers have beer
sold out with the loss of tho entiro in
vestment of the original investors. The
climatic conditions are enumerated as
favoring cotton manufacture Mt the South.
This. is q deius;on. Cotton spinning
requires cool and stimulating climate.
The condition Of cold weather can be
readily overcome, and in such a climate
it Is more desirable to work in than ont