The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1880-09-23
FOR AUSTIN'S ADvAN-
TAGE

-hlSOt hENI FOX AO>IlN'S ADNAN-
TAGE.
--.
The STATESMAN has been telling
our capitalists what may be done in
Texas with cotton mills. and it has
especially appealed to those inter
ested in the development of Austin
and its future independence to in
vest at least $4,000 or 100000 in
one of these mills, that il may be
shown what, are the advantages of
manufacturing fabrics in close prOx-
unity to our cotton fields, and with
the natural power which the COlora-
do river affords. In confederation
OF what the STATESMAN has had to
say on this subject, we find in
The -ige Of Steel careful
consideration of the subject of
cotton manufacture in the South,
and it expresses satisfaction that " if
confidence in the safety of money
placed at the South can become as
sured, large amounts of Northern
capital, now unemployed, will seek
investments in Southern manufac-
turing establishments, and that those
already in operation will become a
nucleus for centers of industrial pop
ulation similar to those of PrOyi-
dencc and Fall River" In
the same article from which
this quotation is made, there
is the admission that cotton
fabrics can be manufactured at the
South of as good quality, as those
made i'll New England, and the
further fact that dividends upon in
yestments i'll Southern mills are
being declared far exceeding any
ever made upon similar investments
at the North This would seem to
settle the precariousness of invest
ments 1T the South and their value,
and since the nucleus is the induce
ment by which these Northern cap
italists are to be allured let us have
ii right here on the bank of the Colo
RADIO river, where nature has given
us what mechanism could never dis
count. The Age Of Steel admits
that the North Mt present has adj
vantages in established industries,
but it asserts that in other respects
1.-The South has most decided adj
vantages, the like of which the
North can never equal nor duplicate.
There is no Southern state between
Potomac and the Mississippi,
with the exception possibly of
Florida, that does not possess in its
water courses available power
enough to drive every spindle and
loom in the whole country, with
the further advantage over Northern
states that they are never
blockaded by ice and can be
used every month in the year"
Such authority as we quote should
have some weight with these gen
tlemen who desire to do something
to benefit themselves and this COM
munity. The STATESMAN has shown
advantages TO be derived from GER
tain industries that might he cstab-
lished in our midst. and, while there
are those who have doubted the wis
dom of its opinions, these express
siOns, from source, not especially
interested in Southern manufacture.
may have some weight. The paper
quoted continues
Many of the Southern states are
alive to the Importance of having
within their boundaries mills which
will convert the cotton grown i'm
their own fields into clothing for
their inhabitants. OF these Georgia
leads with nearly So, 600 900 invested.
some of its mills being equal in ca
pacity and quality Of product to any
in Massachusetts. while North Caro-
lima follows close, producing not
only the commoner grades, but, and
notably in the mills in operation in
Wilmington a quality. of print cloths
that are in great demand at the cal
leo print works in Northern cities
because of their excellence. The
New Orleans Democrat remarked
recently, Five dollars q bale for
freight is 10 per cent, on the value of
the raw cotton, without allow
ing a cent for commission and other
charges" Another Southern news
paper commenting on the subject,
said that the expense of taking cot-
ton from near Corinth. Mississippi,
via Memphis, TO the Massachusetts
mills, including the frequently re-
peated sampling, weighing, drayage.
storage, insurance, general average.
commissions, brokerage, repairs,
cleaning, extra or additional ties,
waste, COMPRISING, freigbts, and
few other similar charges and de-
ductiOns, with the cost of returning
the same TO the consumers after hay-
ing been manufactured into cloth,
was not less than ten dol
IdiS pdiC, tllc TcS uldI anu
legitimate profits to the manu-
facturers not being included of
course. If all of the manufacturing
of cotton goods in the country was
done in the South. contiguous to
the cotton fields, in addition to the
great increase of wealth which
would be created there a. profit
from the manufacture of the goods,
and the increased wealth and benefit
accruing to the community by the
increased population Of operatives
and the money they would disburse
for their living, there would be
saved, according to the statement
we have made, SO a bale on the
more than million bales of cotton
now manufactured in the North.
THE SCHOOL ELECTION.