The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1881-09-21

" w 'HS '"' StSV tc" ioi
ell and is expected to amount to mo
than six million bales. There al
yet no signs of any arrest of this OF
ward movement, and there is ever
indication that the future will brin
forth crops that now would seer
marvellous.
But more significant than this ex
traordinary progress in the cultur
of cotton is the advance made b,
the South in its manufacture. Sine,
1870 the capacity of Southern mills
has increased from eleven thousant
to more than fifteen thousand looms
and from four hundred thousand tc
seven hundred thousand spindles. -
Within the same period the con.
sumption of cotton has more than
doubled. 1t was forty-fve million
pounds 10 1870, and in 1880 it had
increased to more than one hundred
million. The census returns show
that during the past decade the South
has made more rapid strides in cot
ton manufacturers than either the
country at large or New England,
the great center of the industry in
America. The progress that it has
made and promises TO make, sue
gests the very important inquiry
whether the South has not at last set
out upon that course which in time
must lead to the achievement of one
of the great possibilities that nature
has put within its reach. That the
American cotton crop should be sent
raw to English mills and return man, |
ufactured to cisatlantic markets is as
abnormal and unnatural as that wa
ter should run up hill. The supre-
macy which England now holds in
,he manufacture of cotton must soon
er or later-so far, at least, as Anne
'ican cotton is concerued-be trans
erred to this country, where i. pro-
'erly belongs. The time may be
iis.ant, but its coming is inevitable.
The consumption of cotton by Anne
lean mills is steadily and rapidly
Increasing, and will continue to ia
rease until the entire crop is manu-
gctnred in the United States. While
his supremacy may first pass from
Id England TO New England it is a
uestion whether it will not then
l'ift from the latter to the Southern 1
sates' TO this asceudaacy New
'ngland has no peculiar right or
aim. The South has natural adj
antages which New England has
Of, and it can acquire all the ad.
antages which New England has.
8 climate is favorable to the manu- r
cture of cotton, and it has abun.
'nce OF water power and fuel. Ma.
linery and skilled labor can be i'm
'rted, while capital and enterprise 1
ust be forthcoming when the adj
'ntages that undoubtedly exist are
en- aud appreciated. In addition
these considerations the great
ming DEVELOPMENT o g; tue. West as.aa T
'atRWest will be attended with q I
owing demand for manufactured
ton, while the anticipated estab. .
hmeut of commercial intercourse Il
tween the United States and Mex.
will open a new and extensive 49,
Ia for the sale of cotton goods
these great markets, as we'll as
ose of Central and South America.
geographical position will give to =
= South very decided advantages, |
We are aware that SO high an au-
'rity in this matter as Mr.. Ed.
rd Atkinson, who, however, is \
W England man and identified p
~ the cotton interests of that part
The country, maintains that the
ath cannot become a great center Il.
the cotton manufacturing indus
. But we have not seen any rea-
IS put forth in support of this
MON which cannot be satisfacto.
: met or any objections pointed III
which cannot be overcome in Il
ar :. " TIC
e. or course it will take time to pr
Id up cotton manufactures in the -
'th, as it has in England and New "a
gland. But the South has rare i
ural advantages for the develop
1t of this industry, which, if pro-
y turned to account, cannot fail -
:reat results.-[North and South. ID
LEARN to be brief. Long visits,
: stories, long exhortations and
prayers, seldom profit those l.