Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-08-23
THE NEW SOUTH.
An English Prediction That is Approach
ing Realization -GrOwth OF Cot.
ton Manufacturing.
The Mills OF the South and Their Prod.
ucts-The General Revival of In.
dustry Since the War.

New York Commercial BuRetia: Il was
predicted By some English ecOuomists, dur |
ing the period of depression following our
great panic OF 1873, that the cotton manu-.
f~acturt. Of Great Britain would have to be
trspsplanted ultimately, if not within the
present century, to the vicinity of the cotton
fields Whether such a prediction will ever
be fulfilled or moi, il is certain that the
profits OF cotton spinning and of the manu-
faciure OF cotton goods IN England (sA elso
in New England Of late) have become re-
duced to a minimum; while, on the other
hand, a decided impetus is impaired by
these very conditions TO the expansion OF
the same industries in the Southern Slater.
The rapid growth of cotton manufacturing
in that section is attracting considerable at
teniion in all quarters, and naturally creates
more or less concern with the English map-
ufsctureIs. We notice, by the way, that the
Manchester people are ~indisposed TO contrib
Ute anything TO the Exposition TO be held al
New Orleans next year that would help the
Southern people 10 a knowledge Of either
spinning or weaving.
But the siugle matter Of transportation 81
this time is suficientto determine the status
of ANY industry. Nesrness 10 the raw ma
t~eriali s an important factor 10 the pr, speriiy
of manufactures, but nearness TO cheap linss
of transportation for the products OF msn-
ufacture Is not 10 be Loot Gig I Of. There are
not wanting in this part OF the country in
stances of the Disadvantages, under the pres
ent system OF freight charges, Of beiog located
on short lines Of road, or away from the pin
cipsl termini of through lines. The rates
on the short roads are generally relatively
very high, and from interior points on trunk
lines it is often more costly TO ship goo e 10
a distant point than from some leading CEN
ter hundreds Of miles further back. Thus,
for example, a manufactures at Ulics who
wishes to send goods 10 Chicago can do b
more economically by sending them to New
York aud thence to Chicago than direct from
his own city. 1t may be that railroad rates
will ultim ately be more equiiably adjusted,
but while they are not it is an important
item TO be considered in locating new indus
tries. All the failures, and they sre few, OF
Southern cotton mills to pay good profits, We
believe, have been due 10 come such unfor-
tunste location, or TO a want Of experiences OF
various sorts.
The development OF cotton manufacturing
in the South is a part OF the general revival
OF INDUSTRY in that section SIEGE the war.
The census returns Of 1860 aud Of 1880 chow
athat the mount:of cspitsl invested ir these
industries has more than doubled III the in
tervtning period, although very little was &C.
complished in the first ten years. The fol-
lowing shows the increase ia capital, wages
and products:
Capital. Wages. Products.
1s6O~--........,s167is55 ,3i4 s5i, 656,593 s242,Si5,4I2
lsSo"---..... 355,5 $50 1896 645, 205,4 40
crease-..-~slS7 18,5l2 $50. $3.50 $500, gSO,OO7
But the most active period OF development
bega al since the last census was taken, and
now there ia literally a new South, abound
ing 10 activity and enterprise as we'll as re-
sources. There sre already nearly 200,
or, more exactly, l9l cotton f~sctories in
operation and in course of erection there,
which is more than half the number in the
New England States, though the former, OF
course, are on a much smaller scale and
they manufacture only the cosreer yarns and
fabrics. Some OF them are already being en-
larged, however, and the making of 6ner
| goods is only a question OF time. Such ar
ticles as are now ma1e-sheeting., ticking,
etc.-eompete successfully with milsr goods
made in the New England mills, and to this
extent the situation with the latter is not at
all bright. Even in Philsdelphia the mar.
ket for cheap cotton fabrics Is threatened.
The South is supplying its own consumption
/ and ia selling its productions in New York
I and Boston, and even in China. 1t would
/ not be surprising il the cotton goods industry
| would finally have 10 be adjusted upon the
/ basis of Southern advantages, in which case
! this country should manufacture for the
| world.
| There is but one drawback to these en-
! coursging prospects at the South. The spirit
| OF the people Is getting too high and too
/ sanguine, and there is some danger in their
! trying to do too much of themselves. There
| is slil something of the exclusive feeling
/ that once dominated that section, whereby
|! they would rather do everything themselves
| than have others corpe in and help them, if
! it could possibly be avoided. Consequently
1 they OF en- build mills partly by subscription
and psrtly by interests given TO builders,
/ Manager, ETC., and in this way they are
really going ahead faster than is pruien,,
when all The circumstances are taken into
account.
Growing cut of this sort OF ceiling and
ambition, there ia now a scheme on loot for
developing the South and its Industries upon
a colossal scale which is exciting unusual
interest. An Arkansas planter, Col. s.
f. CCck-ill, who is vice-president OF
the Cotton Planters Association and
chairman Of its committee OF ways
and meanF, proposes 10 that ~sssocia-
ton, that it shall, at lis mkt meeting,
petition Congress to charter 4 gre at cotton
bank, which shall be authorized to aid yari-
Gus projects for the Improvement OF a~gricul-
ture aud the encouragement of msuufac-
tures; the development OF the cotton iudus-
Try, however, being The cuief objsct in view.
The petition will fsk for the privilege Of
d5ibSA II olAo Al 1lOPSL u ~ guA ne
security for the losns to be msde. OF course,
the mere mention Of such 8 scheme is stuff.
cieni 10 indicate lis Utopian character, but
it W II undoubtedly be attempted. A pecu-
liar feature of the plan (which is 10 the last
degree Utopian) is a proposition 10 uss ell
yer ss the basis OF its note circulation. A
Southern )urnal thus instances one of the
origioator's illustrations of the way the in
stitution is to operate:
Sol CockrilI takes his own county of
Jefferson, in Arkansas, with an annual crop
OF 10000 bales. These 10000 bales sre con-
verted into yarn at a mill 20 be built by the
combinst alton of the planters of that county,
yielding, in the ysrD, S75 a bale, and realiz-
ing in Manchester $2.250 900 in silver dol
lars. This silver is deposited in a Cotton
Planters Bank Of Jeff-reon county, and
silver certifi ,ates i.sued fAr IL. The planters
have thus avoided all middlemsn snd other
expenses, and realized $50 instead Of SS5 or
$40 on the lint. The annual deposit Of a.
250, 600 enables the bang to discount planters
paper at Elk per tnt. on twelve months, notCs
secured by real estste. When the cotton is
put into cloth By cotton mills TO he erected
by the company or combination, it yields
$3.50 a bale, which gives a capital of 50 ,000,-
600 on deposit"
That such a project should be seriously
proposed and finds favor shows at least the
Increasing interest taat mas oeen excited IN
The South respecting the possibilities of the
Iuiure, whatever else may be thought # il.
Cnimericsl 5 :hemes like these NAV become
numerous but there is no portability that
they will ever get a Congressional indorse-
meut; nor will they restrain Abe legiiim ate
growth CT sn industry where 20 msny spscial
advantages are secured b. nature, aud whsr-
the economic ccndiuons necessary 10 it, de-
vTloPIent are not lees inviting, all of which
contribute to chespness Of production, aud
prepare The Wy to successful competition in
the worlds markets.
HUNTSVILLE, ALA.-Dr. J. I. Ridley ssys:
Browns Iron Btters is ? good appetizer,
and merits attention from sufferers."