Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1889-05-25
The South to the Front.
Baltimore Manufacturers Record.

the MANUFACTURE Ol cOlIOnJ IOu anu
wood is all but manifest. This judg-
ment is based upon obvious facts,and
is largely strengthened by the South
ward trend of industrial development.
For instance, the Richmond Locomo-
tive Works the other day secured
the contract for furnishing the engines
and boilers for the United States bat
tie ship Texas. The contract calls
for the expenditure of over $6O0,OOO,
and will give employment to a large
number of hands. Ten years, or
even five years ago, the securing of
such a large contract would have
been impossible in the South, as no
plant of sufficient power to execute
il was in existence. This contract,
taken in connection with the opening
of the great dry dock of the Chesa-
peake Construction Co., at Newport
News, Va, last week, the largest in
America, and the establishment ofan
extensive iron shipbuilding yard at
the same place, now under way, are
fraught with great meaning for the
future of this section. These things
point to the development of vast
shipbuilding interests in the South.
The South, however, is not only pro-
crossing in the matter of establishing
new industrial "plants," backed by
home and outside capital, but is also
compelling the transfer of various. in
dustrial establishments from the
North to this session, especially cot
ton mills and iron works.
The Providence, r. l., Journal ,one
of New England's leading dailies, in
commenting on the contemplated re-
moval of the Whitefield Cotton Mills
from NewbEryport, Mass, to Spar
tanburg, S. c., discusses the relative
advantages of the South and New
England for the prosecution of cotton
spinning, and comes to the conclusion
that the day of New England's SUI
premacy has passed. The Journal
recognizes the fact that the South is
a formidable and constantly growing
competitor with New England in the
cotton spinning business. 1t acknOwl-
edges too, the South's exceptional
advantages in the way of ready
supply, cheap labor and saving on
freight, etc. The removal of the
Newburyport Mills prompts the Jour-
nal to inquire whether the final result
will not be the transfer of the entire
New England cotton industry to the
South. Discussing this subject it
says:
Heretofore, however, it could not
be said that this gain in the cotton
manufactures of the South was at
the immediate expense of New Eng
land. That is, the increase of South
ern cotton mills was not accompanied
by corresponding decrease of North
ern mills. This announced removal
of this Newburyport establishment,
however, must suggest question as
to whether it is likely to be followed
by other removals that will ultimate
ly take the whole cotton manufac-
turing industry away from New Eng
land. 1t would not be surprising if
this should prove to be the result
The tendency of all the great manu-
featuring industries is undeniably
away from this section, and for obvi-
Gus reasons. The iron, steel and cop
per industries are already practically
gone. Why should not the cotton
industry follow? The South offers, as
everybody knows, exceptional in
ducements. Against them, it is true,
New England can place certain adj
vantages of its own-its weil-estab-
lished plants, the greater experience
of its people, their superior skill, both
mechanical and commercial, and the
ampler supply of capital. These,
however, are advantages that the
South can intimately obtain for it's
self; but its own natural advantages
New England can never hope to
have. 1t would not be surprising,
therefore, if tire latter section should
finally cease to be a cotton manufac-
turing center. The change, if it comes,
will come slowly; it may not come
at all; it can, we think, be averted.
But it should be kept in mind as
among the possibilities"
These are strong statements to
come from such source, even though
in the closing lines the Journal seeks
to comfort its people with the hope
that this transfer of the cotton
trade can be averted. Its remedy is
a ohonoo &C flo For;T x.,b;oh - 10