The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1895-03-04
FALL RIVERS FALL.
THE PAST AND FUTURE OF NE"
ENGLAND TOWN.
Led In Cotton Observation-Disclosures" 81 "o'
ing Its Eiils to the South-.Fah h"er
VIII Become Deserted CITY,

From The Charleston News and courier.
Fall River. February 2S.-The one all ao-
sorbng topic of interest here is tue iiioVI a
of the Fall River cotton mahuldctoiies
to the south. To hear the conversation Oh
some of the manufacturers we can almost
contemplate this hitherto thriving CITY aS
a city of deserted streets, houses anu hiiiio.
They talk if they were actuany BUNS
to make their homes in the south III tho
near future; that there is nothing mere III
them TO do, as the prospects are or ha'ihs
but few business ties to bind them W INC
north They do not talk of going sou'h
because their lungs are weak, or thdt
they have suddenly fallen IN love WIN
southern skies and climate, but they ieei
that they must move. The yankee manu-
facturer is not given to hunting LOT paiihy
atmospheres genial climates and sunny
groves. AS long as his cotton mills run
smoothly on a paying basis he little cares
about the atmospheric conditions OF ms
surroundings. But the cotton mills or ran
River are not paying. They have ceased 10
pay for some time.
This city Is the largest cotton manufac-
turing center in America. 1t is situated in
the southern part OF Massachusetts on
Mount Hope bay, an estuary OF the Taun-
ton river. 1t is forty-nine miles south OF
Boston and twenty-three miles south or
Providence. Years ago this was little
slow-going village. The manufacturing or
cotton goods suddenly centered here and
it's growth became rapid with the invest
ment of capital, when it became one of the
largest and most prosperous cities in the
state.
What Created Fall River.
The favorable conditions formed by the
union of hydraulic power and its easy ac-
cess by navigabie waters have been prime
factors in the industrial history of the
place. 1t derives from the falls Of small
stream, which discharges the waters of
Watuppa pond, an extensive water power.
This river is the outflow of a chain of ponds
lying two miles east of the bay covering an
area of $500 acres and having a length
of eight miles. 1t is this river that gave
the name TO the city and is the origin OF
its wealth, by its great and rapid fall of
water, which is l67 feet in less than half
a mile. The remarkable advantages OF
this river have been increased by building
a dam at the outlet of the ponds, which
gives the water an additional fall of two
feet. Its lower banks are largely built up
with great manufacturing establishments,
which singly or in groups rapidly succeed
each other. The river for nearly its en-
tire length runs over Il bed of granite and
for much of the distance it is confined be
tween banks also of granite. There is an
almost uniform and constant supply of
water, never subject to an excess and con-
seQuently an injury from freshet has never
been known. But the mills have multi
piled so rapidly and the power require
ments increased SO greatly that steam
power has supplemented that of water.
and to so great a degree that the use of
the latter power is now comparatively in
significant in amount.
.he Hidden Stream Beneath the
Street.
The visitor at Fall River would scarcely
realize in traversing Main street built
with substantial brick blocks, that river
was running beneath his feet, but such
is the fact. Within the past year this
river has churned through its innumera-
BILE gates and tunnels with less work TO
do, less wheels to turn than ever before
since the period between 1868 and 1913, when
entcrprising young men appeared upon the
scene of action and converted its wasted
waters into a power of gigantic strength.
The population of this New England city
is heterogeneous. Its inhabitants represent
nearly every European nation, though the
Canadian-French predominate. The recent
hard times have been productive of lower
wages, strikes and a general depression,
while now comes the cry from mill owners
Of hostile legislation and excessive taxa
ton.
Craze To Go south.
Some one has started the cry of go
south as a specific for all these evils.
The south has steadily been coming TO
the front of late years. The south has not
suffered from the recent hard times to any
such extent as We have in the north.
Our business men seem to be under
spell. while our optimistic pushers point
southwark. The infatuation seems to be
gradually creeping over us as tine natural
advantages of the south are pointed out.
1t is argued that in the south cotton can
10 cd Mt
or nothing; that the staple is not injured;
that the bands and bagging can be re-
turned 10 the planter TO be used over
and over again, thus effecting great
saving, and that the waste is reduced 10
n minimum Then il is claimed that the
factory itself can be erected for much
less than it costs here. Moreover. t Will
be a substantial factory with all modern
improvements; with everything brand new
and equipped with modern machinery of
the latest pattern, including the Draper
loom. which runs itself. Every one knows
that a comparatively new factory ten years
old cannot compete with n brand new
factory thus equipped. This is a point that
is receiving enthusiastic attention.
Superiority of Southern Mills.
AGAIN. unless the reports of men of ex-
perience in the south are misleading, the
helm in the southern mill are alert and in
telligent without the avaricious Gr2sping
disposition of the northerner, whether
yankee or Canadian. They toll cheerfully.
do not complain of trifies and say nothing
about the lengths of cuts and are not verSed
in holding shop meetings or striking In
deed. at this distance it looks as If 10
would be n pleasure to associate with
such operatives. In respect 10 legislation,
IL is said the courts in the south have not
Weakened to any necessary need of leGisla-
ton regarding the construction OF nre eS-
canes extinguishing appurtenances, the ap-
pointment of factory inspectors and franz
ing rules affecting the employment or
minors and women. Taxes are so light
that no provision need be made for them.
PictarinE the Future.
The picture is a glowing one. and thus
far no one has been able to show a sir gle
flaw in the coloTing of II. People are won
derino what the city will be like when
the corporation managers have taken their
departure. The moment that her cotton
factories are removed Fall River VIII no
longer be Il city with a reputation for
activity and hustle. 1t Is not the principal
Industry alone, but it is the only one worth
mentioning, and it is furnishing about the
only topic for conversation. What Will be-
come of the enterprising New England
city is a sad picture to contemplate. The