The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1882-08-22
One Effect Of Cotton Mills at the
south.

south.
The Baltimore Journal of Commerce
has lately published several articles point
ing out the rapid development of cotton
manufacturing at the South and compar-
ing the profits of Southern and Northern
mills decidedly to the disadvantage of the
latter. These articles have been extern
sively republsh cd, and in all sections of
the country it is admitted that there is
great revolution wv in progress in cotton
manufacturing The South is rapidly
coming to the ont and those who were
skeptical as to the success of the Southern
cotton mills have long since had their
doubts dispelled. The development of
the Southern States has just begun, but
already we are able to gain some idea of
what the future is to be. The work of
building up the cotton manufacturing in
terests of that section will undoubtedly
be pushed forward, and each year show
an increase. The folly of shipping cotton
to New England and to Great Britain to
be manufactured there, when it can be
done fully as well, at less cost and the
saving of freight, in the country where
grown, has impressed itself upon cap
italists, and the result is a disposition to
build mills at the South. Even since the
census of 1880 was taken the South
has increased its spindles to the extent
Of 3Gl 900, and paid out during the same
time over $l2,OOO,000 for cotton ma
chinery.
In discussing these facts the Chicago
Herald says: "The agreement among the
cotton manufacturers of Philadelphia to
shorten the production of the coarser class
of fabrics has significance which does
not appear on the surface. Within the
last eighteen months $l2, l83,75O, as is
estimated by an expert, has been invested
in the South in cotton manufacture and ope-
rating capital, 36l 900 new splndles thus
being put in motion. These spindles are
proportioned for spinning coarse numbers
ofyarns, where the average production will
be eight ounces per spindle at least, while
the fine numbers spun in the Eastern mills
will average scarcely three ounces to the
spindle. AS labor and fuel are cheaper, as
the raw cotton is received at the factory
door directly from the neighboring field
where it is grown, and, as the material is
in the best possible condition for manufac-
turing, the Southern establishments have
manifest important advantages over their
Northern rivals. Plain, coarse cotton
goods, osna burgs, shirtings and sheetings,
can be produced and sold at less than will
yield a satisfactory profit in the East.
The tendency, therefore, constantly grow
Ing in intensity and momentum, is to
transfer to I'll" S~','l, so MUCH of the cot
ton industry as lates to the production
of the coarse f. ,rics, and to confne the
Northern enter Uses to the finer and fin
est goods. Or account of the very rapid
spread of cotton mills among the fields,
the factories in the North are beginning
visibly to feel the effects of the Southern
competition. Indeed, the time cannot be
far distant when all our coarse cottons
will be supplied from the cotton belt, and
the child is born who will see the great
mass of cotton manufacturing, in all its
diversified branches, carried on where the
heecy staple is cultivated"