The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1892-05-07
COTTON Mills IN THE SOUTH.

COTTON MILLS IN THE SOUTH.
An investigation now being made
before COMMITTEES of the Massa-
chnsetts Legislature sheds some
light on Southern cotton mills,
aud gives the views taken of their
competition by the New England
manufacturers. The investigation
il based upon . bill introduced III
Massachusetts Legislature restric'-
ing the time Of labor for women
and children III manufacturing
establishments to fl tt four hours
per week. Against this strong
remonstiance was made by the
cotton manufacturers on the
ground that such n change would
ruin them, rs It was as much as
they sh nld do to-day to compete
with the South, aud amy reduction
in The hours of LABOR wonld put
them at so great disa Ivan
tage that competition would b. i'm.
possible any longer. In presenting
their objections to the bill before
the committee, the mill owners
aud representatives have nacessa-
rily been compelled tD review, 70
some extent, the competition Of the
South.
J. Howard Nichols, treasurer of
tue Dwight Manufacturing Com
pany, Chitopee, Mass, testified
that the operatives ia the cotton
m manufacturing industry in Massa-
chussts are ''nearly all foreigners
to begin with; that ''mnch the
larger proportion of thesa are wo-
men aud children" and that "the
nature of the work and the neces-
sites Of the business Call mainly
for the cheapest class of labor"
Mr.. Nathaniel b. Borden, treas
nrer of the Barnard Mills, Fall
River, testified as follows: A
weaver who could tend eight looms
could make under eleven hours At
wages chen paid (before 1874 $40
to $11 weekly. In 1875 An eight
loom weaver conld earn 50 aud 80;
| in 1873, 81 and So in 1885,, SO %
and 81 20; and since 1888 about
50 so 20 80 weekly"
This is not what Mckinley tells
us, and certainly not in accord with
the story of the high wages paid
factory labor 10 tins country.
Mr.. Nichols testified again that
competition, partly from the
Southern mills, sis so intense that
Il small fraction of cent on a
yard is the difference between sue
cess and failure,' to a Massa-
chusetts mill, and he adds: "FOr
myself confess the outlook Is not
cheering, and would not invest
nor advise a friend TO put one
dollar into any new cotton factory
| in Massachusetts.
Our men OF greatest wealth are
not putting their money into mills
in Massachusetts. They can find
more prof able employment else
where for their capital, aud they
see the danger which threatens
them here"
Sill more pronounced on the
subject ofSouthern competition was
Mr.. N. b. Borden, of Fall River
who testified:
sThe Southern States have to-day
almost, it not quite, rs many COT
ton spindles as the cities of Lowell
and Lawrence combined, aRd III.
building Of factories in those State
is increasing all the time. Aud
when it is considered that th'
hours Of labor in the SDutherl
mills are from sixtS six hour
weekly iD Georgia, to sIzty-niu'
and sevedty-two hours weekly II
other localities in the 5 south tina
labor is very much cheaper Their
than ia Massachusetts; that tin
facilities for tra sspOrtation of fin
: ished goods are very much NOR
I advantageous Ghere than here
that there is comparatively no cos
for the transportation Of raw cot
) ton 10 the mills, aud that even no'
! the finished product Of thes
]. Southern mills is being offere
: over the counters Of New York
= Boston and other leading market
! in direct competition with good
h made in Massachusetts, to sa