The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-04-10
COTTON FACTORIES.
A Vast Wealth Producer that may "o
Utilized-Factories In New EngiA"u
and the South to Follow the ne-
moval Of the Iron indus
RI
Correspondence Age Hernld.)

produced at distance. Not'o" -
raised 1000 miles away and coal brought
over 600 miles, thus they have none OF
the natural advantages for the successful
manufacture of cotton goods. But while
on a recent trip to Maine, was surprised
to see so many successful cotton factories
there among the ice and snow, running
full capacity and making money.
In conversation with large manutac-
turer | think he sized it up about right
when he said, they could make six to ten
per cent in Maine and haul their cotton
and coal from a distance; but in the
South, where they have cotton at their
doors, and coal near, profits ought to be
at least 10 per cent, especially us there
are no trade unions TO interfere with labor,
and the climate mider and the hours OF
labor longer.
The wealth produced from cotton is far
greater than had any idea. Take for
instance in 1860, the South was then the
richest part OF the country. In 1870,
after the loss of 1900, 600 slaves and de-
vastations Of wdl and the reconstruction
period it was the poorest country under
the sun, but in 1850 it had rcgained its
entire loss, and the actual assessed value
of the eleven southern states was four
and onc-half times as great rs during the
most prosperous wear 1860.
History does not give Us parallel IN
stance iii its pages where country has
rcgained its wealth ne rapidly as the
South, and this was due largely TO the
great wealth derived from the production
of cotton But this isn't all that cotton
has done Visit New England and you
will find towns whose whole support is
from the cotton industry. 1t not only
feeds and clothes Il large proportion OF
New England employees, but you find many
of the richest capitalists in Boston living
in their luxury through the wealth pro-
duced from cotton.
And still further We trace the power of
cotton ucross the broad blue Atlantic.
What do we find here? Isn't it astonsh-
ing after knowing what cotton has done
for the South and New England, to find
even in Great Britain over five million
people employed by the cotton industry,
and -tourths Of this cotton comes
from the United States:
Now, suppose that all this wealth that
has been built up in New England and
Great Britain from the manufacture Of
the southern cotton was transferred to
the south, who could estimate the future
wealth of the South if this were TO occur?
Mr. William c. Lowering, president of
the Arkwright club and also large man
ufacturcr, in speaking OF cotton factories
before the committee on labor III the
Massachusetts legislature Thursday, the
18th of this month, said that "MaSSachu-
sets had already crossed the danger line
and step further may plunge her into an
abvss of woctul disaster. This is not an
idle or random statement but an absolute
fact which expect to DE able to prove to
you The dangers which threaten us
(southcrn cotton factores) arc coming
nearer year by year, month by month
and dav by day. They have already
strangled many OF our industries and i'm
perilcd others. Westward and South
ward have fled our iron industries. Nat
ural advantages OF other localities,
changes in population and facilities Of
TRANSFORMATIONS beyond our borders have
worked incalculnble injury to our COM
monwcalth. The story Of establishing
manufactures in Massachusetts, is an in
terestimg one. The early settlement Of
Plymouth colony was humanity speaking Il
mistake-of navigation. There they re-
manned and planted il colony with 4 stead
fast spirit that has challenged the admir-
alton of the world. Her soil did not yield
such return for labor as that of neigh
boring states For Il line it looked dark
for the old states. At last cotton manu-
featuring began to spring up, and 50 rap
idly did it grow that she rose to the sixth
place in the union and has held it ever
since. Until within a few years she has
maintained an unquestoncd supremacy
in cotton manufactures, but it has been
proved that wheels go round as fast in
Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi as in
Massachusetts,; hat the climate and con-
ditions arc as conductive to cotton spin
ming i'm the northern states. 1t is Il mis-
take to think that Massachusetts possess
es any substantial advantage over other
states. Ii is q mistake to say that there
are not many points in the South where
cotton can be manufactured as easily,
quite as fine and OF as excellent quality as
here in New England. There labor is
cheaper and untrammcled by legislative
restriction, where the cotton grows at the
mill door, where the sentiment of the
community is actively in favor of every
possible aid that will nourish and encour-
are the manufacturers. Scarcely 4 day
goes bv that Massachusetts manufacture
ers and capitalists do not receive some
new prospectus setting forth in glowing
terms the advantages of establishing fac
tories in some town in the south or south
west. Every advantage is urged. 4
cheap labor market, an equitable climate,
where the need and cost of shelter and
raiment are reduced to a minimum. I'm
munty from taxation for a period of
wears. 4 fuvoritism on the part Of
railroads, which gives to the local
manufacturers the lowest rates at
the same time charging full rates
on cotton to the northern spinners.
The discrimination has long been known
to our manufacturers, but they arc help
less to prevent it. Already millions and
millions of New England capital have re-
sponded to these invitations, and much OF
it has gone to raise up rivals which will
contest with us the markets of the coun-
try. The markets for our goods in the
South are already narrowing, and not
only this, but manufactured goods from
the South are in New York markets to-day
dspating possession with the products of
New England mills
| quote this extract because it is the
voice of one of New England's largest cot
ton manufacturers, and president of the
most powerful manufacturing club in New
] ~. |