The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-10-23

Some time ago the well-known statisti-
clan and cotton expert, Mr.. Atkinson, of
Boston, in series of articles ancnt the ex-
hibition at Atlanta, which Just now chal-
lenges general public attention, insisted
that cotton factories could not be made as
north He challenged successful contra
dictlon of his figures and statements and
seemed for u time to carry public opinion
with him, so great was the leverage OF
his name. But he was answered,
and quicker and more thoroughly than
he expected All the leading papers of
the south sprang, full armed, to the defense
ofpositions which they had been the first
to occupy. They cheerfully acknowledged
the Indebtedness of. our section TO Mr..
Atkinson for many kindly and cheering
words, and for n friendliness that many
times took on generous form and came
IN time to meet the carping or traduction
of our political enemies. Reinforcing the
figures and facts then abundantly supplied
to meet and refute what SO admittedly
great an authority had given to quiet the
fears of our friends of New England, the
censtts bureau furnishes some figures that
cannot be gainsayed. For instance, we
learn from them that New England pays
IL IS cents per pound, tho south 1851, d diff
ference of LII, or ten per cent. in sther
words, were the New England mills situa-
ted in the south, they would annually save
$6,l7l ,655 for cotton alone, which would
enable them to pay four per cent additional
dividend on their capital, great deal more
than many of them now pay. In the
matter of wages the showing is equally
favorable to the south. The aver
age wages of hands in New England is
$2366i; in tho south, $l6lG0 year, an
item which would make difference of 50, !.
SCI ,S25 in the expenses Of the New England
mills yearly, or six per cent. on their capi-
tai. 1t should be stated, by-the-by, that
while some Of this difference In wages is
due 10 difference in skill, it is not wholly
so, Cotton-mill labor in tho south com
mands lower wages than in tho northern
states, because there is more labor in the
market here than is absolutely needed, and
because the cost ofliying is cheaper In this
section, These two items, cotton and la
Dor, will make a difference of
between ten and eleven per
cent, on the capital of Now England
companies. Besides these advantages, as
the New Orleans Democrat points out,
there is the advantage of the climate, which
enables the southern mills to work tho
whole year round, instead Of closing some
days during winter, on.account of The Sc.
verify oftho weather; and the water power,
ofwhich there Is an abundance in nearly all
the southern States. Thus as the Demo.
orat says, five take the 1913 cotton mills
now in the north and transfer them to the
south, as many far-seeing New England
capitalists are already proposing to do, csti-
mating tSc other operating expenses of the
mills ~ one-third the cost ofwagcs and cot
ton, the New England mills while in New
England would return Sl0,lIS,l0S ofprofts,
II they were in The south, paying Mt ,hc rate
that The southern mills pay for cotton and
labor they would net $3I05is1 or y per
cent All the tAc,s IN regard 90 ,hc man
utacture of cotton are in our favor. As The
census returns show, our mills make finer
goods on an average, Than those of New
England earning eleven cents a yard for
goods turned out by taem, whereas the
New England mills get only eight and q
half cents With this information before
them, how can capitalists hesitate to embark
In cotton factories'--lMcmphis Appeal.