The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-04-17
COTTON MILLS IN THE
SOUTH.
WHY NEW ENGLAND MILL
MEN ARE BUILDING MILLS
IN THIS SECTION.
An Interesting Talk by Expert
Authority.
From the Daily Item, April II.

CtOM - N
Mr.. Lee Langley, who was mention
ed yesterday as being in the city 10 the
interest of the Baltimore ManWac-
turers' Record, completed bis work
yesterday and left in the afternoon for
Florence and Darlington, which places
he will visit to-day.
Mr.. Langley is a member of the
staff Of the Atlanta Constitution, but
has been engaged for the last five
months 10 collecting statistics on the
cotton mills of the South as compared
with the mills Of the same class in the
New England States. Mr.. Langley
will edit the special Cotton Mill Nun
her of the Record. which will be issued
within the next two mouths. aud in 1t
be will eubody all the facts aud
statistics be has collected during the
mast Eve mouths. This issue Of the
Record will be highest and most reliable
authority on the cotton mill business
ever published. for the facts have been
obtained by personal observation 10
every State Of the South. Mr.. Lang
lev has visited every mill of Importance
in the South, and. in addition to the
statistics In relation to the cost of
manufacturing different grades of goods
aud the profit realized. will discuss the
climatic advantages, the superior class
of labor o~btainable, the absence Of re-
strictive legislation. the low price OF
fuel, the absence Of freight charges on
cotton, as it can be bought from the
wagons, aud besides all these questions
directly and closely related to the Mill
business, be will show the unsurpassed
opportunities the South offers for in-
yestment and development. This is
briefly the scope of the work the Re-
cord now has 10 hand, it is a work that
will do more for the South than any
single enterprise that has yet been con-
ceived.
Mr.. Langley 10 making up the list
OF towns 10 South Caroline vas advised
by . number Of prominent business
men of other States TO visit Sumter by
all means. which. they said. while not
a cotton mill center, had such advan-
tages Of situation. climate and water
for bleaching purposes that it would be
one of tie most attractive locations 10
the State for . large cotton mill. Mr
Langley was particularly impressed
With what be was told about Sumter by
members of the Business League, of
Augusta. and came here expecting
much; he went away more than con-
Yipced that Sumter is one Of the best
towns 10 the South. {.
Yesterday morning be visited all the
points of interest in the city, and OBJ
taiped all the statistics as to. freight,
cost of fuel. labor, cost Of living, etc.
In the afternoon a special meeting of
City Council was held, at which a large
aumber of the business men were pres
ent, and Mr.. Langley by Invitation
gave a talk on the industrial situation
10 the South as related to the cotton
mill business. he spoke for more than
an hour, and it was evident that he
knew what be was talking about. The
situation of the New England, mills
was explained and the causes that were
forcing them to seek new locations in
the South. He gave figures that prov
ed that While the Southern mills
were making money at prevailing
prices Of cotton goods the New Eogland
mills we're being driven out Of the
market. The climate and geogT hi
cal advantages of the South coulo not
be overcome by the combined capital
Of the Northern mill men, and that the
question had resolved itself into a
simple proposition The mills must
either move to the cotton fields to
save freight and obtain cheaper fuel
or .baadon the business.
The success of the mills in various
parts Of the South was mentioned to
show what had been accomplished by
home enterprise