The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-01-23
THE MOVE TO CONE SOUTH
nay STATE COTTON MANUFAC.
TURERS ASK PERMISSION
OF the Leyi,latare to DO Business ort-
aide of the Commonweaith--some OF
tho Reasons Advanced

BOSTON, Jan. 22-The legislative COM
r1ittee on Mercantile Affairs gave near
ing this forenoon at the State House on
the petitiors Of the Boot aud Merrinac
mills, Of Lowell, for permission 10 manu-
facture goods outside Of the common
wealth. the latter corporation also ask
ing for authority to increase us capi'"'
stock from 100000 to s5,5Oo,OoO.
Il. c. Clarke treasurer OF the noo',
mills. first addressed the committee anu
exhibited samples of the Kind OF gooue
manufactured by the mills. Ihese cor
sisted of coarse cotton goods, drililhss,
sheet.ngs and shlrtings, ana a CLASS =.
finer goods MIR. Clarke said the BOOT
mills were Incorporated by speeiai ehai.e,
In 1885 for the manufacture OF cotton
goods IN Lowell.
For fifty years these goods have been
made for export and home consumption,
the only competition for. the greater part
of the time coming from tie northern
States and from abroad. Within the last
few years however, competition mas
arisen i'm the southern States. where fuel
and labor are much cheaper. Ibe IN
crease in the number OF mllls III the
South has been phenomenal, the price De
ing IN the past rev years ~ pc SS''' -
Il per cent. at the North.
MAKE GOODS CHEAPER SOUTH.
All the southern mills are making the
same class of goods as are being mace
In the Boot mills. and they are making
them much cheaper, and If the Boott
Company il to continue to make the
goods. they must make them where they
have the same advantages as the south
ern companies.
At present the southern companies are
making good profit at what would be
.Iarvat.on prices for the Boot Com
pany He further said that the prnc'-
pal desire of the company in It's present
move Is to preserve its trade marks.
which are very valuable. especially In the
foreign markets, notably China. The COM
pany If allowed 10 go South, will de-
vote its Lowell plant entirely to making
finer goods. on which living wages can
be paid. The company intends 10 keep
The southern labor on cheaper goods. al
though MIR. Clarke admitted 10 a mem
Der Of the committee in time it IS proba
BILE that the labor in the South will be
come as skilled as that at the North.
The capital Of the company is now per
united TO be $4,000. but only 81 10000
has been ISSUED, SO that enough remains
authorized to allow the company 10 build
all ii needs without asking for an in
crease.
THE STATE NOT YET SELECTED.
Augustus Lowell. president OF the COM
pany. said the company had not yet de-
cided into what southern State TO go, ana
the idea of moving had not yet been
submitted to the stockholders. NO decided
step has yet been taken, and II Is only
seen that some move Of this KIND must
be made. If the plant is'estab!shed IN the
South IL will be likely to go where the
white element predominates, rather tnan
where the negroes are. Mr.. Lowell said
that the Boot and Merrimac companies
are the only Lowell concerns that are
likely to move. but that II is potable
that some Of the New Bedford companies
viii soon have TO DO so.
Mr.. srocKTCN'3 VIEWS.
Howard stockton. treasurer Of the Mer-
rimac Company. said that the reasons FOR
his company's asking TO so out OF the
State 10 make goods are the same as
i'm the case Of the Boot Company. Inc
Merrirnac Company. however desires an
increase of capital, because its capacity
for printing is so great that IL VIII be
necessary to erect large plant to sup
ply coarse goods enough to meet the de-
mandS OF the PRINT WorkS. Al present tHe
company makes each year 5S,WOe0 yards
Of coarse cotton goods and prints U.s.
00.090 making it necessary to buy TO-
100000 yards.
1T is a sad matter for Lowell. too,
said Mr.. Stockton, that Of the goods
buy about all are bought In the South,
although they are made by Lowell con-
Germ next door 10 me. | cannot bhy III
Lowell, because they cost too much. Al
present 1t costs us $4,000 more year Tor
our coal than II costs mill al the sea
board. like New Bedford, and each $OvU
year more than if our mills were IN
Northwestern Georgia
No one appeared TO oppose the petitions,
and the hearings were closed.