Birmingham age-herald., 1895-01-02
KING COTTON.

Tho Northern press has great deal to say now about the building of cotton mills in the South by New England capital. This is good advertisement of the South, for these papers reach readers that rarely see Southern paper. The Baltimore News e9ti- mates that at least Sl2, ,000, eco new capital will be invested in Southern cotton mills during the present year. This seems like big sum to be invested in one industry in single year, but we must remem Der that nearly S1 ,500 000 have been set aside in the past month for cotton mills in the South. The Dwight mill at Gadsden will cost about $500, GOO, the Massachusetts mill at Alabama City, near Gadsden, the same, snd the Whittier mill, near Macon, Ga., about S40O, eco.
 The New York Herald of the 3lst ultimo has an editorial on cotton mills, iu which it says: 1.-TWO New England cotton compa- nies have decided to build large mills in the South.n The Herald should have said three instead of two. The AeE-HERALD first published the fact that the Whittier Company would build in Georgia, and the statement was afterWard confirmed by press dispatch from the officers of the com
 
 surely, when so wide-awake paper as the Herald allows one to slip it's eyes.
 
 The Atlanta Journal says: "Northern capital is coming to the South to go into cotton mills for the good reason that it has been demonstrated that this is the best part of the country for such Investments. Southern cotton mills were operated on full time and made good profits during the period of business depression, which closed many of the great mills of the East and left few of them with margin of profit.
 The Baltimore News says: "The success of the cotton mills of the South during the past ten years has demonstrated that the East cannot compete with it in cotton manufacture.
 The Philadelphia Record says: "One of the most significant industrial signs of the times is the rapid growth of cotton manu- factures in the South. New England capi- talists find it advantageous to establish cotton factories in the midst of the supply fof raw materials. As the manufacture in the South shall develop more and more pro- duction will extend to the finest fabrics of the loom. Another sign of the times is the fact that many Southern manufacturers have declared their entire independence of protective tariff. The proof of it is to be witnessed in the large exportation of cot ion fabrics. of the South in spite of Euro pean competition.''
 The New Englanders will not content themselves with manufacturing the coarser grades of cotton, but will also man. uiacture the finer cotton fabrics. This means first class machinery and high priced workmen. The machinery in many of the New England mills is wearing out, and when the time for renewal comes they will put that amount in Southern mills.
 The New York Herald says: "The Her ald long ago pointed out that the South was destined to become a great cotton manufacturing center, and events are rap idly confirming that vlew.'
 Cotton mills are going up in every part of the South, new ones are being built and old ones enlarged, but it is rare to hear of one being built in New England. It is said that party of New England manu- lecturers will visit the South this spring to select sites for new mills.
 The Southern cotton mills have stood the hard times better than almost any other industry and have gone along paying diVi- dends regularly. This prosperity has at- tracted the attention of stock brokers and a movement has been started to list shares ip Southern mills on Wall street.
 Not only has the cotton crop in the South increased immensely in the past ten years, but it has largely increased in Egypt, India and the Asiatic provinces of Russia. The latter country sent men to this coun- try to study the best method of cultivating cotton. The Russian provinces now pro- duce over 800, GOO bales. But it is thought that her crop will not be largely increased for some time, as most of the available land has already been taken up. In 1883 we shipped 346, GOO bales to Russia, in 1890 192, ,0G0 bales, in 1893 only 36, coo bales.