The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-01-21
NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN MANUFAc.
TURES.

The awarding of contract to Nlr-
pinia car company for the building of
five hundred freight cars to be used ON
New England road is an indication of
the progress the south is making in the
DEVELOPMENT of its manufacturing in
dustries. The fact that this contract was
obtained over the competition of more
than twenty eastern firms shows that 1t
was not the result of fayoritism. The old
remark that the south had to go north to
buy everything, from hoe to yard of
calico, has lost its truthfulness of late
years. The south is beginning TO learn
its own resources and develop them, and
while northern manufacturers will deplore
the loss of the trade the country as
whole will be the gainer.-Philadelphia
Times.
This is but the beginning of the end.
There is no good reason why the south
soould not compete successfully with the
north in an endless variety of manufac-
lures. In fact, Georgia has for long
time placed her cotton and wooden goods
in the northern markets to the full capac
ity of her mills. New York has taken the
bulk of these goods, and then turned
around and sold them in job lots to
Georgia merchants and those in other
southern states. All that is needed in
the south is capital and enterprise
to be able to compete with the north and
west in the manufacture of cotton and
wooden goods, and as is seen in the above
quotation, in the manufacture of railroad
cars. TO these might be added iron and
leather, agricultural implements and car
riages, iron castings, and, in fact, every
thing necessary to meet the absolute re-
quirements of the south. Cotton, wool
and hides, in particular should never go
north to change their form for southern
consumption. These should be manufac-
tured where they are produced, and the
day will arrive when they will be. The
south will yet bring northern manufactur-
rers to her feet. Until this is done, the
north will continue to bleed the south and
by reason of this depletion the south will
remain dependent on the north.
This revolution, however, will of neces-
sitJ be gradual. Before northern capital
becomes disseminated throughout the
south, those who control it have got to be
disabused of many false notions concern
ing our country which still prevail in the
north. They have got to be taught that
their capital will not be jeopardized by
comm south.
The margin on manufactured staples is
very small, and 1t will continue to grow
smaller rs competition increases. Here
tofore, the matter of transportation has
not entered into competition TO
an alarming extent, but the
time is fast arriving when
it will have to be seriously considered, in
order to make both ends meet. 1t will
be that, and that alone, which will enable
us to compete with far distant manufac-
lures. Even now, the south cannot afford
TO pay transportation on her wool, cotton.
hides, and many other materials, to the
north and back again, and we are begin
ming to realize this fact in full. In fact,
we know it too well already, Hence, our
people are deyising ways and means to
avoid this. The cry is coming from all
over our sunny land: "What shall we do
to be saved from our transportation
bills?"
The answer is plain and simple: give
us our own manufacturers. These we
cannot secure without capital. Until we
become more wealthy, this capital must
come from abroad. To get it from
abroad we have got to offer proper in
ducoments, and protect it while here.
This can only be done by the states in
their individual capacity. Let us, there
fore, frame our laws so as to entice this
capital. This can be done to great ex-
tent by freeing new manufacturers from
taxation for number of years, and by
guarding against other contingencies as
far AZ in our power Texas has already
in times past, taken several steps in the
right direction, and let other states follow
suit. Let us all unite and persevere in
this matter, and we will soon be on the
high-road to prosperity.