The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-05-16
KING COTTON.
How The South Is Capturing
Northern Manufacturing
Establishments.
Why Should Not Austin and Travis
County Have Some of Them?
To theEditor of the Statesman.

10 JleEultOT VI Tue Otatceuudu'
Doubtless many of our citizens, who
are not able to take stock in the cotton
mill, are watching the proposed adventure
with interest and hearty approval.
There is probably not ore does not wish
it success, but as long as business is bust
ness moneyed men cannot be expected to
put cash into such an enterprise, except
with an eye to the profit, direct or indi-
rect, that is to be derived from it.
In the long run, the best assurance OF
profit to the stookholder is right good
annual dividend, or balance carried to
his stock account or applied to the en-
largement of the mill.
Investors will carefully consider whether
cotton mill at Austin of respectable pro-
portions will pay or not.
The cost of ground and buildings our
business men can estimate themselves.
We have mechanical engineers among
us, or in the state, competent to estimate
the cost of motive power, whether of
water or steam.
Experience in the southern states east
of us has shown that the average cost of
efficient factory labor is less than in the
north. The daily wages actually paid for
the several classes of lator at leading
mills, as at Providence, r. l., or Augusta,
or Columbus, Ga, can be easily and GER
tsinly learned by proper inquiry. In the
meantime, 1t may be safely assumed that
labor cost will not be greater at Austin
than at the north.
The cost of skilled superintendent and
management cannot vary enough to count
much either way in an estimate of COM
parative profit. The one element
of expense not yet shown capable
of being definitely ascertained is the cost
of the mill machinery proper and the cur.
rent outlay for repairs.
Experts can easily be found in this com
munity or elsewhere who may prepare
specifications for complete outfit of mill
machinery and fixtures, inviting offers
from contractors upon basis of free
competition.
The unknown element thus becomes a
known quantity. 1t will be the same as
in northern mill, plus difference in
freight charges.
I make no pretensions to any knowledge
of cotton manufacturing, but from the
foregoing statements 1 think it clearly
practicable for the business men of Aus
tin, with such assistance as their own
good judgment will suggest,
10 determine with almost absolute accu-
racy the cost of putting up and operst-
ing mill.
1t is hardly worth while making figures
on the cost of raw cotton, or to calculate
closely the value of the finished cloth. We
know cotton will cost from half a cent to
a cent less here than in New England;
that the waste from handling and hauling
will be less, and that the cloth will be
worth at least as much at Austin as the
same grades would be worth in New Eng
land, and, hence, must supplsnt the New
England goods in our market and the sur
rounding territory.
The south, generally, presents field
for cotton manufacturing second to no
other, and l think we may regard the con-
ditions at Austin, on the whole, as fairly
favorable.
| can think of but one circumstance
which would tend to reduce the profit
here below the very highest point,
and that is the high price of fuel.
This, however, may be obviated by
better and more economical use of the
power of the Colorado than has heretofore
been obtained.
Many of your readers will be surprised
to learn that the views presented in this
communication are supported at every
point by the Providence journal of May
2. The Journal is one of the Oldest and
ablest papers in the country, and it has
long been the leading paper of the great
est manufacturing state in the union.
know not which most to admir-, the
csndor or the manliness of its editorial
Please publish it in The STATESMAN for the
consideration of all who feel interested in
the development of our dormant re-
sources.
1t is an agency for good to US, from an
that vibrates with the whirr
of hundred thousand spindles.
W. M. Brown.