The Monticellonian., 1895-04-19
COTTON MANUFACTURE.


 vestigate and Ascertain the Cause of
 the Tendency of Northern Cotton Mills
 to Go South.
 BOSTON, April 15-The legislative committee on merchantile affairs, which went south early in March to investigate into the tendency of north- ern cotton mills to go south, and to see what was the inducement for them to go there, made a unanimous report in the senate yesterday after noon. The report is drawn by Senator Darling, of Norfolk, chairman of the committee, and both the representa- tiVes of capital and labor who are on the committee have harmonlzed their views, so that all members could sign the report.
 The committee believe that there is no immediate danger to the cotton manufacturers of Massachusetts from southern competition. The commit tee could not learn that any Massa- chusetts corporation has moved south, but the hum of the spindle is heard more loudly in Massachusetts than ever" During the last ten years much Massachusetts capital has gone south into cotton factories, and other capi- talists are contemplating such invest ments. Four Massachusetts corpora tions have recently asked for permis- sion to carry on cotton manufacturing in other states They have not fully decided to do this, but they might do it if the inducements war ranted. The report says that no actual removal is to be considered by these corporations. The advantages in the south for cotton manufacturing do not apply to all sections, for where coal is cheap it may be difficult to obtain labor. Where cotton is plenty it may be very expensive to transport coal. Where the water is good the cotton may be poor. Not all the mills of the south are making money, and many which are not in operation may be bought for less than the value of the machinery.
 In 1892 there was an increase of 7S0,- 900 in the number of spindles in the whole country, and 6S per cent. of them were in Massachusetts. In that year New Bedford and Fall River alone gained more than all the southern states combined. During 1893 and 1894 the gain in spindles in the southern mills was 3S7. 442, while in Massachu- setts it was 319,7 ,737, showing a larger gain in the south. In 1892 the south had about 20 per cent of the total in- crease. In 1893 and 1894 it had about 45 per cent. Massachusetts had about 36 per cent. of the two years in- crease in the country. There are now 20 new mills under construction in the south, requiring 2S5, 900 spindles and S6, LOGO, 900 capital, making total of Sl03, 900, 900 capital and 5000, 900 spin dies. The capital invested in New En- gland alone in 1880 was S157, ,590, $50; in 1890 it was Sa43, 153, 249; in 1s94 it was S275 1000, 900. Thus, in 14 years, the south has increased its capital about 400 per cent. and New England 75 per cent, showing that the tendency is to- ward the south.
 The committee says that the south shore of New England, by reason of the humidity of the climate, is the best section, north or south, for cot ton manufacturing. The water power
 
 be depended on. Most of the mills visited were run by steam. The taxa ti0n laws in Massachusetts would not be burdensome were it not for exemp- tion in the south, and there is m utter lack of labor legislation there. In Georgia the average length of day in the mills is Il hours and 35 minutes, and many children from to 12 years were found at work. Cheaper living. cheaper tenements, less clothing and heat required arc conditions that will always make it possible for the south ern aborer to work for less money than his northern competitor The committee say:
 We believe that our mill owners stand ready to grant all proper de- mands of labor which do not, in their belief, seriously imperil the success of their operations, and we also believe that labor will be quick to call a halt in its demands, however just they may seem, when it appears that such sue cess is imperiled."
 They believe that labor should equalize existing conditions before ad- vancing further. The production of the south must, for a long time, be of the coarser grades of cloth, and by the time the south can compete with the east, Massachusetts will have nothing to fear. In the next ten years the character of our product will prob ably be greatly changed, and will be- come of a larger volume and greater value. In conclusion, the report says:
 "The committee believes that the same pluck and enterprise that has al- ready planted S250, 900, ,0O0 in profta blc business in New England, will be able to protect and increase that invest ment."
 A recommendation is made that the state be represented at the Atlanta ex-