Wichita eagle., 1889-05-02
THE COTTON INTERESTS.
Southern Manufacturers Meet and Discuss
the Question.

AUGUSTA, Ca, May LIN pursuance to
the call of President Hickman the south
ern manufacturers met here today to take
into consideration the condition oil
cotton manufacturers in the south
and to discuss the ACCESSIBILITY of a
permanent organization Of the cotton
manufacturers in the southern states and
also whether cotton bagging could he sub
stituted for jute bagging
Manufacturers were present from
Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina,
Alabama, Tennessee and Louisi. nj.
President Hickman in addressing the
convention said: 1.-The question of build
ing new mills should be freely discussed.
think it would be a mistake to build
mills and put them in operation without
protective association. The result OF
this policy is that we ship our goods to
agents for the purpose of raising money to
keep our mills in motion. Once out OF our
control they are often forced upon the
markets and sold without reserve
and without profit. A good
agent is good thing TO
have If you can control him, but if ne con-
trolls you the danger line will soon be
reached. Competition is too sharp to make
money on such business principles. We
have had some success in making brown
cotton goods, but we are IN danger OF los
ing our advantage. We are making more
than the country needs, hence the very low
prices now. We are making the same
mistake in manufacturing cotton that the
planters make in growing it. All cotton
and no corn is bad policy. ALI brown
goods without diyerslfylng our interests Is
equally bad.
We have large stocks on hand In this
country and on March 81 the Shanghai
was loaded down with 1850 bales OF drills
and q, 600 bales of sheetings. with prices
very low. The subject of convenient
and cheap outlets Tor goodss
deserve careful consideration. We should
control the markets of South America and
Mexico and to accomplish this desired
end we should invoke government AID
Our flag should float over every bale OF
goods which leaves our ports. The Brit
ish government, taking advantage OF some
supposed trouble between China and our
government with the hope OF preludlclng
that country against our goods, mas
passed a law requiring every piece OF
goods manufactured in this country and
passing through England to China to be
branded manufactured in the United
States of America We would like to have
our goods reach China without passing
through England, without the use OF
English bottoms. Give us American ships,
let China see the American flag. Ii our
government would lend helping hand in
placing our products in foreign countries
it would not be long before you would see
manufactured in the United States OF
America on goods made in Manchester,
England.
One other important item. We have
invited our cotton gro wing friends and
con umers of our goods to meet US to dls.
cuss the grand and absorbing question OF
manufacturing cotton bagglng from cot
r -IS6n
be able 10 fall upon some plan that Will
give them substantial aid and comfort"
In accordance with President Hickman S
suggestions resolutions were adopted pro-
viQing for permanent organization with
Headquarters at Augusta, Ga, where shall
be stationed secretary whose duty 1t shall
be to collect and keep on record STATISTICS
showing the number of mills IN the south,
looms, spindles, quantity and quality OF
product and all Information of value to
sout hern cotton manufacturers.
Resolutions were adopted to memorial
ize congress to grant subsidies to steam
ships from our ports to Central and South
America. A resolution was adopted
pledging the southern manufac-
turers to pay 10 cents per
hundred pound more for cotton baled
cotton baled in jute bagging. The impress
sion seemed to be that the baling of the
cotton crop in cotton bagging is not
altogether practical, but the spirit of the
manufacturers is to do all in their power
to aid the planters.
Representatives, from the Georgia Farm
ers' alliance, and the South Carolina
grange and alliance were present by in
vitation and took part in the cotton bag
ging discussion and one mill in the north
and three in Georgia are now making cot
ton bagging and 1t is probable others Will
be put on it.
The annual meeting of southern manu-
facturers will take place in August or in
October