The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-02-07
The South Forging Ahead.

In 1880. there we're but 16l cotton
mills in all Southland. To-day North
Carolina has about Ito mills. The
number now reported in the South varies.
One statement is 287; another state
ment is 31S. Both figures appear in
the sams number of the Chattanooga
Tradesman. There is also contradic-
tion as to the number of bales used in
1898. Ooe statement is 743, 848 bales.
Another statement is 604.6 bales-a
considerable difference.
There is one fact about which there
can be no nistake-there is vast in
crease in cotton milling since 1880.
The annual product then was about
S16, 100000: In 1893, it was $751;
l99, ,379.
There is much improved machinery
being used In this State there is in-
ishing factory, the only one in the
South.
The South holds the best cards in the
manufacturing business. Its climate is
more favorable than that of the North,
aud particularly of cold New England.
There is but one factory in Wilmington.
There ought to be dozen. There has
net been fake of snow this winter,
and hardly q film of ice. In eighteen
winters here we have seen but two
SHOWS worth the name and they we're
but two or three inches deep and soon
disappeared Severe weather here is
rare. There has been very little in the
last decade Where water power is
relied upon in New England the
chances Of interruption by freezing
must be tenor twenty times as great as
in North Carolina aud the States south
of it. So climate has great deal to
do in the estimate.
Labor is cheaper. The cotton is
right at the mills Both Of these are
leading questions in determining ad-
van.ages. Fuel is another item and an
important one. l. is much cheaper
here than in the North. Water power
abounds without Limitation. North
Carolina alone has more than eighty
rivers. There is no limit to water
power in our State. South Carolina is
also remarkably favored in this respect.
A writer in the Tradesman says that
water in the South costs but rs per
cent. of what it costs in the NORTH
big item. He says that South Carolina
has water power enough to move fac
tories that would give employment to
200, 600 people. We would suppose
that North Carolina has double that
quantity.
The markets are nearer the South
than those Of New Eogland. That is
another important item in the count.
South Carolina leads. 1t consumes
more cotton than any Southern State.
Georgia comes pext and North Carolina
third. In this State good blankets and
ginghams Of various grades are made.
A great deal Of Southern goods is goiug
beyond seas The Clifton Mills. near
Spartaubarg, S. c., are now running
on an order for goods that 60 to China.
The mills in upper North Carolina have
shipped large quantities Of goods to
China through period uow covering
several years The Fries mills at
Salem, North Carolina, have shipped
large orders of goods to South America.
A number of the plaid and gingham
mills in North Carolina have organized
an export company, and all surplus
products these mills make, over and
above what the domestic trade will
take. is exported,
Let the South push on and rely upon
it's advantages, its industry. its skill,
aud not upon high tariff taxes which
are wrong 10 principle aud unjust in
application. Wilmington Messenger.