Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-04-23
New England ". Southern Cotton
Mills

We have already alluded in several ar
tieles to the now generally discussed COM
petition between New England and the
South in the manufacture OF cotton goods
and pointed out the certainty OF future
victory 10 the South. not only in the manu-
facture of the coarser goods, with which
our mills are driving New England manu-
features Of like grade ont of the Western
and Northwestern markets, but also TO the
more complete triumph to be looked
for when the progress our Southern mills
are now making shall, in few years
more. inaugurate competition in the inner
fabrics Of the cotton mills. The reYolu-
ton is inevitable, and, however disagree
able it may be 10 our New England
friends. their only alternative is to take
the advice we have been offering them for
several wears. and move South with their
machinery.
In an excellent article on this subject
the II. Louis Commercial Gazette says:
I'VE believe that this transformation en-
braces an industrial development more
mOmentOus and admirable than any
other phase Of progress that is making a
record in the United States to-day. The
journals of the South do we'll to make its
details the subject of their daily or weekly
portrayal Of passing events and current
opinion. The more quickly the rest OF the
country cOmprehends and appreciates
what the South is really accomplishing in
the commanding line Of manufactu ring
industries, the sooner will the true des-
tiny Of the south define itself and the
more speedily will her new and ambitious
spirit become "A dominant mot domineer-
ing influence in the world Of commerce.
The Gazette then gives us the following
insight into the status Of Southern cotton
goods in the great Western distributing
market Of st. Louis:
For several years past the cotton mills
of the South have been represented with
increasing magnitude in the wholesale
dry goods trade of st. Louis. This spring,
however, the position Of these goods in
this market has become a remarkably
commanding one, and ii seems as though
st. Louis is now established as the great
central emporium for the distribution of
cotton fabrics from Southern mills. In
several lines Of cotton goods we think it
can be truthfully said that not a sample
of New England manufacture can be
bought in this city t0-day-unleSS il is a
! relic Of old stock. or merely from commits
sion agents instead of regular jObbing
merchants. Moreover. we think that no
other city in the United States is to-day
selling so much stock from Southern mills
as st. Louis, in proportion to the total
volume of their dry goods trade.
There is a great deal Of significance in
the situation we have outlined. No mat
ter if the output of Southern factories
| does represent only the rough goods of
the fabric trade. This Indispensable
| foundation is firmly secured. and on it
can quickly be built commerce of the
| finest finish. No wonder that as spring
trade began TO select and assert its course
! the dry goods merchants Of New York
| met. as they did few weeks since. to
circumyent the easy railway transpOrta-
| ton of cotton goods from the South and
West. No wonder, also. that a few DAYS
| later on the occasion of the Southern Cot
| ton Manufacturers Convention. at At
lanta. Ga, members privately expressed
the view that if Eastern men get rates
reduced we can get rates reduced also.
We can whip them any way they want TO
fight. We are ready. but we want them
to take the lead
Brown sheetings. brown drills. ticks,
ducks, cotton plaids, bags. Irvine. warp
and yarn are some of the lines of goods
which Southern mills dispose of through
| this market in enormous quantities.
Mills in at least six Southern States sell
more or less of their output here.
1t is not merely the profit on these
goods which counts. That is small re-
suit comparatively. The indirect infu-
ences of this trade reaches out in all di-
rectiOns and increases business in all de-
DaFtmpDtS More -four more iron more
fire brick. more horses and mules are sold
in 81. Louis on account of the movement
Of these cotton goods from Southern mills
10 this city, and from here TO all Western
and Northern points within the scope OF
our trade. than would be sold if we still de-
pended on New England mills for our cot
ton fabrics. to an extent that cannot be
definitely estimated. but that may be re-
lied upon As very large"