The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-05-09
SOUTHERN COTTON MANUFAC.
TURES.
New England Manufactures BecoTn-
ing Alarmed az Southern Competi-


+ "When n few years ago Northern |
capitalist directed their attention to cot
TON manufacturing IN the SOutherni
States, and cotton mills began TO be
erected, thcstuggestiou 4was made that
New England might yet find the South
4 dangerous competitor in this industry.
To this snggcs ton. however, it was n
piled that Che conditions of climate and
labor were such in that section of the
country that with possibly the exception
of few Of the coaTsest and cheapest
grades Of fabrics such competition would
DC impossible, and within a year or 80.
Mr. Edward Atkinson, Of this city, IN
an address before tho Cotton Manutac
turcr5 Association, has taken Aubstan
italy the same ground. Though, how
ever, cotton manufacturing in the South
is as yet in its infancy, il isnsyqtheless
becoming rapidlyapparent that New In
gland must not be to0Mlre. OF tctaining2
monopoly Of this brach q manufacture
4 sharp competition already exists
not only for the trade in shcctingS in the
cotton States but southern cott0ns are
now entering the markets Of the South
western States, and the New Engiander
Iifinds himself confronted in all the lead.
ing markets of the Mississippi Valley
with sltccings and shiriinga in no way in.
Jcror in quality to those manufactured
by himself, and which are offered ut n
Bless price than he, to make his customa
fy profits, can possibly afford. Instead
pf IL possible competition twenty-five
years hence, the danger that threatens
The New England manufacturer Is al
it'adv imminent One of the signs OF
lkhis is found in the movement which has
lbeen recently made, an account OF which
lappcared a few days since in the Trave.-
her, 10 secure from the great trunk lines
llof railroad leading from New York to
the West lower freight rate on cotton
manufactures. and which isurged on the
lRround Of it's necessity in order for q
Efar competition with the Southern man
lufacturcr The COST Of transportation
Ii0f the manufactured goods hak already
become an important factor The New
| England manufacturer has certain adj.
v .utages on his side, bat these-are kTge-
NV Offset by the freight and transporta-
| tIon charged on the raw cotton from the
Southern seaports to his mills. 1t has
been found that labor IL, on the whole,
| efficiency bcihG taken Into consideration,
! Is cheap South Us North, and that the
cost OF manufacture of precisely tho
Same grade of goods is about the same
| iii either section.
Transportation, therefore, becomes a
matter of the first Importance. The
$outhcrncr is not only much nearer the
cotton fields, but ~ also nearer the
| Wcstern and Northwestern trade Centers,
taAd so can reach the consumers ut Il less
| cost for freight than can the New EN-
glhndor. Then, too, he deals direct with
tho consumer, while the New Highlander
i'll accordance with tho time honorcj
precedent, deals through a commission
house in this city and New York. The
lNSrthern manufacturer GOES to the mar
l1et and sells case OF goods, say for 500
! toA Cincinnati merchant, who finds the
case costs him S52 when ii reaches his
store, with freight and trucking charges
! paid. Tho Southern manufactures,
! through his agent sells and delivers at
the same store case OF goods of the
same quality, made Of the same material
with the Same looms, for SOL, and the
Southern manufacturer makes the mos
money out Of the transaction, as he has
Eno handicap to start out with and nj
commissions to pay. The 81 cast
saved to n Cincinnatian is no great
amount on a single case, but on year,
sales it is Il very large amount. Natur
ally therefore, he goes TO the Southern
market.
There is no doubt that the New
Englandcr has an immense advantag,
in the long time his mills have been cs
| tablished, in the conservative and sub
stahtial management he has given them
i in the constant attention he has paid t.
i repairs, and the Introduction of TIN
latest improvements, in the wisdom
gained by long experience; but thos
advantages should not make him blint
TO the fact that the day of a sharp, VIC
otous and dangerous competition ca
not be long postponed. Tho South ha
1 also advantages to which it is bcComin
more and more awake. Some OF thes
may be summarized as follows; A goo
and cheap water power; the saving Q
transportation of raw cotton, the oppol
tunity to buy cotton from first hands
with the already noted cheaper transpol
n tation of manufactured goods to West
ern, and Southwestern markets. TIL
, Southern mills are not yet producin
the finer qualities of goods, but remep
beFing the history Of the last ten YEAR,
itis not safe, to assume, that with th
same machinery that is used in til
North they will not successflllysdo tn
: within the next ten years, We do nj
share the fears expressed in some qua
tiers that New England cotton manufa,
! tuners are doomed, but it is evident the
are to meet with a sharp composition
and that very likely to insure their fl
. tmosuccess their methods Of conductin
!. business will have to be changed, an
new markets for their products opened
8 How to Serve Dinner. TIT
! The way of serving a ceremoniou
dinner in the great cities is NJ
! almost wholly what is called
Il >. ~ 4 -