Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-11-17
Gbe pailg Cgronitlt.
Ikntercd at tho Post Once ct Knoxville, tn
aesSoe, - 6econd-clas matter.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER II, 1881.
MANUFACTURING IN THE SOUTH.

A Mr.. Atkinson was interviewed
by the Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle on
the subject of Southern manufactur-
ing enterprises, and seemed to be
very unfavorably impressed with the
prospects. The Atlanta Constitu
ton copies portion of the inter
view, and comments upon his re-.
marks as follows:
It is unfortunate that Mr.. Atkin-
son has started out with theory.
Occasionally theories are well
enough in their way, but in selecting
theory, as careful q man as MIR.
Atkinson should choose one not LA
BILE to be hustled around and over
turned by facts. 1t is now too late
for Mr.. Atkinson to revise his unfor
tunate theory. He announced it at
the North, and he has repeated it
right in the presence, so to speak, of
the most successful mills in the
country. 1t is very true that the
mills at the South cannot compete
with those Of the North. They
cannot, for instance, make prints,
nor can they make various other
qualities of goods. The facilities
for accomplishing these results are
matter of growth. It is true.
moreover, that manufacturing in
the South is in it's infancy; it is not
competing with any thing or anybody,
but after all this is said the cold fact
remains that the Southern mills can
put their goods ON the market at
prices with which the Northern mill
making the same lines of goods can
not compete. In word, the South
ern mills can run their Northern
competitors out of the market, and
still make large profits. The fact
that the best equipped and best
managed Southern mills kept then
machinery running at a profit during
the long period of depression that
succeeded the panic OF 1878, while
the best Northern mills were closed
or running at loss, is itself a suf
fcient answer to Mr.. Atkinson's
theory. A little figuring viii show
that the natural advantage which the
Southern has over the Northern mills
is about $40 bale. With respect
to climate, and exhibitor of cotton
machinery in the exposition has sale
that he can make better quality o
thread In Atlanta than he can at tn,
North ; and there is at the South 1
class which furnishes the best ant
most intelligent operatives to b.
found anywhere.
1t is true, as Mr.. Cogin, of Angus
ia, says, that the Southern mills lac
organization but when that organ
cation becomes necessity, how loni
will it be lacking? How long wi
anything be lacking when manufac
turing in the South has had time t
grow and the capital to make tn
growth effective? We are more tina
satisfied with the advance that thi
section has made in manufacture
during the past ten years. Amore raj
Id developmentlnthl this dlrectlon wOu'
be unhealthy. Effective investment
are made by practical men, and M
by enthusiasts, and if the Constitu
ton has been blowing the horn {
the enthusiast, it is solely with IL
view to attracting the attention :
practical men. We are perfect
willing that practical men should d
eide as to whether the South offe
advantages to those engaged in man
featuring; and if the mills are locate
here, we are willing to guarantee th
our people will fall as readily into tt
''habit' as those of New England.
Mr.. w. G. Sibley, replying in Il
Augusta Chronicle to Mr.. Atkinson
assertion of his theory, says waite
power is cheaper than steam, al
where they use steam at the North