The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-04-20
savannah the Place for Factories.

Savannah the Place for Factories.
The points brought out in an interview
with Maj. Wardeld. the manager OF the
Savannah cotton factory, relative to the
advantages of Savannah for the manufact-
ure Of cotton goods, published in the Morn
ING NEWS yesterday, should be carefully
considered by all who are interested in pro-
noting the prosperity Of this city, and also
by northern capitalists who are thinking OF
investing money in cotton factories in the
south. Maj. Warfeld speaks from the
| abundance of his experience. What he
/ SAYS is, therefore, valuable, because it can be
relied upon. He is satisfied that Savannah
| is the best place in the whole south for the
establishment Of cotton factories. And he
gives reasons why it is. The reasons are
convincing.
He has been the manager Of cotton mill
in this city for three years, and it has paid
aud continues to pay, per cent. on the
money invested In it. But this large annual
dividend does not represent all the net earn
ings Of the mill. Many improvements have
been made and very considerable surplus
has been accum ulated. So satisfied are the
stockholders with their investment that
they purpose to greatly increase the capacity
OF their plant.
Maj. Warield says the climate here is
peculiarly well adapted to the manufacture
of cotton goods because it is moist. 1t has
the same advantage in that respect as is
possessed by the climate of Fall River,
Mass, one Of the famous cotton manu-
featuring cities Of the country. The adj
vantages of a moist climate are very great,
and they are we'll understood and appreci-
ated by all who have anything to do with
the manufacturing of cotton goods.
And there are other advantages, one being
the transportation facilities and another
being the opportunities to purchase cotton
that answers every requirement at great
bargain.
But the first thing to be considered is
this: Can cotton mills be operated at
profit herel This question is answered en-
phstically in the affirmative by the success
which has attended the mill already In OPP
GRAFTON. Maj. Warfield has orders for all
the cotton goods he manufactures, and bis
wares are OF such a superior quality that
be cannot supply the demand for them.
We know what can be done here in the
way of manufacturing cotton goods. 1t is
beyond doubt that cotton mills will pay
handsomely. What, then, is the use Of
further delay in investing in cotton mills?
If we begin building factories, outsiders,
seeing the faith we have in such an under
taking, will hasten to invest their money
in cotton factories
There is plenty Of money here waiting for
opportunities for investment. All that is
necessary to get it invested in the manu-
facture of cotton goods is for business men
who have the confidence Of the community
to take the lead in the movement to build a
large cotton factory.
There is another thing that might be
done-in fact, ought to be done-and that
is, to send a committee to the manufactur-
ing towns of New England to confer with
owners OF mills there with the view of in
ducing them to visit Savannah and inquire
into its advantages for cotton
manufacturing. A few weeks ago
the MORNING NEWS published
a dispatch which contained the assertion of
number of prominent cotton manufact-
urers of Massachusetts that they contem-
plated moving their manufacturing plants
to some southern states. a timely word as
to Savannah's advantages might have the
effect Of turning large amount of capital
seeking Investment in cotton factories, in
this direction.
We must help ourselves in this matter. 1t
will not help us TO sit down and talk to
each other about our advantages. We
must Rct-and act promptly and vigorously.
A few live men in q community like this
are more helpful in building up the city
than millionaires who are satisfied to de-
vote their whole time to holding on to what
they have.