The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-04-10
SOUTHERN COTTON MAN tIlI 1 ICTLGE ES
Interesting Facts and Figures Showing our
Advantages over the Northern Mills.

Interesting Facts and Figures Showing our
Advantages over the Northern Mills.
[from the Baltimore Sun.]
What the Sun said tho other day in
respect to the manufacture Of plain
cotton goods at the South is completely
confirmed by Mr.. Frank Wiikeson.
who has boon making for tho New
York Sun, for many months past, an
exhaustive investigation into the social,
political and industrial condition Of
the Southern Statos. Although in
some cases his opinions have been crit
lclscd, and the correctness of his con-
ciusions denied, the general truths Of
his deductions have boon admitted. In
| tho matter Of tho cotton manufacturing
| columns Of our New York contcmpo-
rnry and namcsake recently, he de-
clarcs that this particular industry of
the Southern States has, "tErough
! slillful management and the improve
mcnt of every natural advantage,
reached u point where it can not only
defy the competition Of the products
OF Northern mills in Southern mar
| kcts, but now enters the markets of
the West with every prospect OF driv-
ing tho products Of the New England
mills out Of tho Mississippi valley"
This statement is in accordance with
tiiat. ~ maaeer 'w1nc m convention the
otlcr Gay in Atlanta--a fact that we
hotc9 ut the time. Contrary to tho
oplnlon entertained in some quarters
| that coIorcd operatives are G! aged in
INC Southern mills, and that the mill
owners derive their profits from keep
ing down tho wages Of the operatives
TO The lowest living point, Mr.. Wilkc-
son explains that the coloreA popl,la
ton constitute the field hands. tho
mills being run exclusively by white
labor. The white operatives arc paid
low, wages because the cost Of living
ut the South is low, and the wearing
apparel is largely the product OF tho
country, and is corrcspondnglv chcap,
and is not required to be of that heavy
texture which is demanded by the viG
orous winter climate Of The Eastern
States. Moreover, he states, as tho
.S"h recently stated, "thc economic
truth that the mills should be sur
rounded by cotton fields is, at last, real
ized by all Intelligent mon. Through
out the cotton Statcc, at such points
where the water power is unfliling
ana easily improved, or where fuel is
cheap and abundant, mills ere in the
course OF erection, on if not beinw
nulIt, tho question of building is agi.
tatcu and subscription papers are cir
cuiated." klc adds '"T'his Southern
industry that has sprung into active
compctitlon here during tho last de-
cade is solidly founded on low wages
to operatives. In 1880 15,297 oucrn.
tlVcs were employed in Southern cot
ton mills, They wcrc paid $2,517,347..
or ali average Of $3.50 each. During
the same year tho Massachusetts opcr,
ativcs were paid $3.50, and those of
Main 1921. each,> Rhe Northern opcra-
tlWcs received an average cum Of $50,
per yoaf more than those emploYad in
the Southern mills. There is doom in
these figuros." Whether because il jG
also true that tho Southern rai!,'bnds.
were bullt by cheap labor they wiz
garry freight for less money than, any
Nofthern road is a question. that ,Duv
nc doubted. and we think that .Ino
Eastern manufacturers arc eight ia|
cohso!ing themselves for tliulr pros
noctlvc loss of tho trade in plain colton,I
goods with tho reflection that nt least
the South will not be able to comDntel
with the East III the finer description
of goods. Mr., Wilkcson thinks dic-
fcrcntIY. He says that "wl,cn tho
demand is made on the Southern man
ufaci"rens for u. fine quality of goods
tthey, willsurelH supply it, and sIipplwl
1t cheaper than any Northern mills
II may be so, and there is no reason
why 1t will not ultimately be tho case.
But filie goods imply skilled and highly
tra'nedS labor, and 1t will be, lot6r
t'me before thoSouth ctdlattain to that
excellence Of production which, ctstin.
gnishes the better class Of goods turncdI
out from the New England mills.