San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-01-12
The Cotton Industry OF the United States.

duction of cotton in this country, ant
its fabrication into goods of variou
kinds, are aware that heretofore ther'
has been a persistent hostility at TIN
South to the policy of the government
on the tariff question, and that sucl
was the case is not to be wondered Mt
The absence of manufactures in prox
unity to the plantations explains thi,
variance of opinion. 1t was the ever
present question of self-interest, which
in greater or less degree, affects al
questions of public policy, domestic al
well as foreign. But, as above init
mated, and as the Prairie Farmer has
before shown, recent indications poin,
Enthusiastically to decided modification
of the views of the Southern people
on this subject. Capital and enterprise
is turning southwark, and as the posi-
bilities of cotton manufacture and Other
enterprises similar in kind, begin to be
discerned, and the development of lat
ent wealth in abundance lie seen to be
feasible and probable, the views here.
tofore entertained are relaxing. 1t is
now seen that to foster manufacturing
enterprises is to invite and secure pros.
perity to attract capital and skilled la
Dor, and an influx of desirable ele-
ment in population. Passing by other
branches of manufacturing enterprises
and industry, the pc sibilities of cotton
manufactures near the plantation where
the staple grows is now attracting much
attention. During the past decade
quite a number of mills for the manu-
facture of cotton goods have been
started; but an impetus has been given
to such enterprises by the Atlanta, Ga,
exposition. A writer from Boston WHO
has been giving the subject considera-
BILE attention remarks that the l,roduc-
ton of cotton in the United States has
only begun, and the consumption of
American cotton by our own manufac-
tories is in its infancy. To-day the
supremacy of American cotton is ac-
knowledged everywhere. The world is
our mark ct, and it is open for us to
enter if we do so in the true CONNER
cial way. Instead of sending the raw
staple abroad, let us send the manufac-
tured goods to every quarter OF the
globe.
In this connection an extract or two
from the Boston Commercial Bulletin
are in point:
"The juxtaposition of the document
recently issued by the Department of
State, relating to the cotton goods trade
of the world, and the share of the Uni
ted States therein, and the demonstra-
tons of the Cotton Exposition, at Allan
at, Ga, are peculiarly timely, as giving
us some hints Of the possibilities of one
of the greatest and most important of
our industries. According to the official
figures, our imports of cotton manufac-
lures are three times greater than our
exports. All this excess, however, con-
sists of fancy goods, the domestic man
lfacture of which has not yet reached
that perfection toward which it is tend
ing; and we may expect that for some
years to come we will have to draw
upon Europe for more or less of this
class of goods to supply that demand
which the home manufactures will be
Unable to meet. In piece goods, how
aver, we have reached that stage where,
after supplying our home demands, we
lave surplus left which must find
in foreign markets; and
his over production will continue to
year after year.
among other things, it is shown
hat the cotton product of the several
is estimated at 3,505, 100000
pounds, of which the United States
aises four-ffths. While, therefore,
t might not be safe to assert that the
cotton manufacturing nations are who'll
y dependent upon this country for
heir supplies of the raw material, it
nay be safely assumed that under
,es, such as we may reasonably expect
o prevail, it is beyond the productive
,ower of any other country to compete I
With the United States in raw cotton,
md that at best, other countries can
,nly hope to fill up what may be called {
he interstices of the trade, by supply
ng inferior and cheap fiber to be mixed
With American cotton, or to be used in {
he manufacture of inferior fabrics. {
n the matter, then, of raw material, 8
he American manufacturers have an {
advantage over all others. 6
t should follow therefore, that the q
ountry pre-eminent for its production c
f the raw material should be equally 9
're-eminent for the manufacture of the /
anne into all the various fabrics into /
7hich this staple enters, all other con- |
itions being equal.
"How to increase our cotton goods
rade is one of the vital questions which
oncerns the welfare of the United =,
states. In the two prime factors which 4
0rm the basis of the cotton manufac-
uring industry, raw material and labor,
70 hold an advantage over England in !.
be first and stand upon an equality :
q the second: hnt the British manu-