The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1881-01-08
spindies fn the Cotton Fields
n. a. Democrat


l.. X. Cockri !, Vice President of the
Missississippi Valley Planters Associ-
alton, has written n communication Ia
the Little Rock Gazette, in regard to
the the true policy of the Southern
cotton planters, which we deem of suf-
ficient Importance TO reproduce in full
IN our editorial columns. There can
he no doubt about the wisdom of the
advice given by Mr.. Cockrill, and if
our planters will but act upon it and
devote their attention 10 manufacture
ing their cotton product into yarns
upon the plantation, instead of selling
the raw material, the bulk Of which is
now sent four thousand miles 10 the
spindles of Europe, il will not be many
years before the South Will be the
greatest country in the world.
The pronounced and extraordinary
success of the cotton mills in the South
and the manifest superiority of the
South rs a manufacturing point, Mr.
Atkinson TO the contrary notwith-
standing, proves conclusiyely that the
time il not far distant when the pres
ent absurd practice of permitting the
cotton manufacturers of the East and
Europe TO make the bulk Of the profits
on the cotton raised by us will cease,
and the spindles of the world will he
removed to the South. AS an in
stance of the era of manufacturing, il
would be wise thing for our planters
to make arrangements for converting
their cotton intoya by means of the
Clement attachment, which Mr.. Cock
rill asserts can now be obtained under
the most favorable terms, and the gen
eral use of which i'm the South would
increase the value of the crop $225,-
OO0, 900 or in other words, just double.
The letter, which we give in full,
should he read and pondered upon by |
every cotton planter in the South and
also by our cotton merchants.
"Fhe South owns the greatest cotton /
district in the world. The cotton
climate of the South is II fixture, and
is i'm movable.
1t is the basis of its future wealth |
and power. There are 1876, 900 owners
of cotton plantations in ten States,
our cotton belt. They have
now an income OF 100000 bales of
cotton, worth $225, 100000 in its raw
state, and worth $50, 600, 900 spun into
yarn.
The most important movement for
the South is for every planter in ii TO
turn their attention to this subject, and
aid the removal of the spindles to the
cotton fields, and spin the cotton into
warn and double its value and thereby
double his income.
What can the planter do in their
present condition
They can combine and erect wooden
buildings for the Clement attachment
in every State, every county, every
town and every township in all the
cotton States. These buildings can be
put up out of the common lumber of
,he country at u cost Of 5000 to !
Il 900. / am informed that the build
ngs will be accepted by the owners of
he card and spindles and the neces-
,ary machinery put into 1t ut their !
.ost. No capital will be required by
he mill to purchase cotton, which is
he largest item of expense In spin
hing mill.
What else can the planters do?
They can receive the yarns in bales nj
he end of every month and pay two
md a half or three cents pound for
ut the mill, which keeps I
hem in funds 10 pay operatives and
,ther expenses.
Bales of yarn, for domestic, weigh 4
ng 300 pounds, are, and will he worth q
rom $50 to 500 n bale. In short, seed
.otton enough 10 make 100 bales, 4
when run through the Clement at q
achmenl in the cotton helds Is worth
q, 900, and the plante. has only paid i
~ 80 bale on it, and deduct from 3
hat 81 "A bale for ginning, and ii leaves
80 80 II bale pad ut the mill. I
PROFIT:
~ LalrS $50 lbs nj n-hou,r, 10 eenis....Si 800
I'M Ial,. Ihu,iuth the sIuhiuk mil ~ els 800