The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-02-07
The South in the Saddle.

In tho Chattanooga Tradesman there
has been recently an interesting discus
sion by Mr.. D. A. Tompkins Of the ca pa
bilities of the Southern people as manu-
facturers, and the fact is brought out that
the south has within few years accom-
plished feats declared by New England
ers to be impracticable. 1t has been said
that the Southern people lack enterprise
and cannot on that account become a
manufacturing people.
This contention Mr.. Tompkins meets
by showing that the South In the early
part of this century led the Eastern and
Middle States in. manufacturing. The
multi plication Of slaves and their eff
cheney in the production OF very profita-
BILE crops of cotton, rice and sugar at that
time withdrew Southern capital from
manufacturing enterprises, but the read
mess with which such enterprises reap
peared and multiplied during the civil
war showed that the capacity. for manu-
featuring was not lacking. After the
civil turmoil-caused by the partisan
Reconstruction" policy-disturbed labor
conditions and arrested effort. The
years from 1865 to 1877 were required to
replace also the capital destroyed by the
war and its results. But since the latter
date every sort of enterprise, agricultural,
manufacturing and educational, has
made astonishing progress.
In the last twenty years the cotton pro-
duct, for example, has grown from 81
$50, 900 bales to 9,O35,O00 bales. Agricul-
ture has been diversified. Grains, veEe-
tables, fruits. melons, oranges-these are
a few of the great additions. A vast cot
ton seed oil interest has been created.
The iron, coal, phosphate and lumber in
dustries have been developed. As for
the cotton mill trade, it is shown to have
developed more rapidly in the South
since 1877 than in any other part OF the
world, and with unvarying success. New
England writer's used to say that the cli-
mate of the cotton States was unsuited to
the manufacture of cotton, particularly
the finer grades Of goods. Experience
has exploded all that. sour Southern
plants" it is stated, "are as fine, as we'll
adapted to the work intended for them as
any in the world.
An English cotton mill expert, sent to
this country by the Oldham Spinners'
Association ten years ago to inspect and
report on American cotton mill plants,
stated in his official capacity that the
great Eaglo and Phoenix Mill at Colum-
bus, Ga, WAS the best mill Of its class
built anywhere up to that date. Since
then long strides in improved machin-
cry, etc., have been taken by Southern
cotton manufacturers, until to-day,
Virginia, North Carolina, South Caro-
lima and Georgia can show several mills
that will stand comparison in perfection
of structure, machinery and product with
the best in New or Old England.
The finer grades of goods are now made
in increased var iety, and large quantities
of all grades are shipped to the North
west, to the Pacific States, to South
America and to China. The climate con-
ditions of Fall River are found to be
equalled, if not excelled, at many points
on the coast from Norfolk to Galveston.
Want of capital, not want of enterprise,
has been the draw back to Southern man
ufacturing since the close of The re-
construction period in II. baltimore Sun.