Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-05-13
The Outlook for Manufactures In
the South.
NetO Orleans Times.


One of the results of the Cotton Expo
sition at Atlanta next fall will be that
the eyes of Northern cotton manufac-
turers will be opened to the fact that cot
ton can be manufactured in the South at
less cost and with greater profit than in
the New England States. Very few of
the manufacturers of New England
have ever been in the South, and the
great majority, if not all of them, there
fore, have very erroneous ideas about
the facilities which the South possesses
for the manufacture of cotton goods.
Some of them think that the climate is
unsuitable, others that labor cannot be
obtained, and, still others, that the
composition of Southern society is hos
tile to manufacturing enterprises. They
offer to ignore the fact that cotton facto-
ries, wherever they have been established
in the South, have been successful, and
have yielded large profit on the capital
invested in them. The mills at Wesson,
Miss, have always paid good dividend,
and the port for the last year shows
that the Graniteville Company at Au-
gusta, Georgia, declared a dividend of
fifteen per cent. Other mills might be
mentioned, but these are sufficient to
prove that cotton factories in the South
are good property. In this city n The
course of year or so, there is reason 10
believe that cotton will be manufacGr-
ed on an extensive scale. The truth is
the Southern people are anxious for the
establishment of cotton factories, and are
prepared to encourage them in every
possible way. In this State they are ew-
years after they are in operation. win
regard to the climate, it is all that could
be desired. Its effect upon cotton is
beneficial, and ii is in every respect an
assistance, and not hindrance as the
climate of New England is, to the maui
facture of cotton cloth. There
is plenty of labor. 1t isn't skilled
labor, of course, but it is of kind that
can quickly be made efficient, and, be-
sides, skilled labor will always follow
the factories. Cotton ought to be man
ufactured in the section of country
where it is grown, especially if it can be
manufactured there more profitably
than elsewhere. That this can be done
we hope will be fully and clearly shown
to capitalists during the Atlanta Expo
sition. 1t is noticeable fact that there
has been very large increase in the
production and manufacture of iron in
the Southern States within the last ten
years. According to the census reports
the increase in Kentucky has been 43
per cent. in Tennessee. 1875 per cent. in
Georgia 265, and in Alabama 792 per
cent The increase in Alabama has
been enormous. This is due largely to
her increased railway facilities. Capt.
talists have found out that iron can be
produced there very much cheaper than
IN Pennsylvania, notwithstanding the
fact that the cost of railway tIansporta-
ton is considerably greater. 1t is au-
thoritatively announced that one of the
largest manufacturers of iron and Bes-
semer steel in Pennsylvania is about to
transfer his works to Alabama. He de-
clares that he can find there all the ore,
fuel and labor that he needs for his bust
ness, and that he can afford to pay the
higher transportation on Southern rail-
ways and yet make great deal better
profit than he can in Pennsylvania.
His example will no doubt be followed
by others, and it may not be many years
before the iron mines of Alabama,
Georgia and North Carolina are as
famous and as productive as the mines
of Pennsylvania. If the iron manu-
facturers are moving South, why