The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-04-08
MILL MEN IN NORTH CAROLINA.
THE PARTY RUNS FROM AUGUSTA
TO RALEIGH.

formation Obtained b. the Commit
tee 10 BE Presented TO the Ark
wright CIub-some Good Pretty
sure TO Result 10 the south From
the Trip.
Raleigh, n. c.. April THE 8Iassa-
chusetts mill committee arrived in Raj
eigh tonight over the seaboard Air Line
in the special train provided by that road.
The day was pleasantly and quietly
spent and with the exception Of a two mile
walk to the LockviHe power site. not far
from Raleigh, the party did not leave
the train.
The mill men left Augusta this morning
via the Port Royal and Carolina railroad
and at Clinton connected with the Sea
board Air Line, along which there are
quite number of prosperous cotton
mills.
The eastern manufacturers during the
day conversed about the handsome and
profitable mills that they saw in the
Carollnas and Georgia, and by the time
they return to Massachusetts they win
be in possession Of a fund of very valua-
bic information regarding the industrial
situation in the south.
Mr.. Lowering, president of the Ark
wright club and the Taunton mill, said
that it was likely that the only use thai
would be made Of the valuable informa-
ton that had been obtained would be to
present it to the Arkwright club, which
was close organization, but that it was
likely that something would get out about
the report.
While the committee does not indicate
when or where a large cotton mill viii be
located as a result of the investigation,
men who accompany the party say that it
would not be good business tact to say
anything on such matters, but that they
are thoroughly satisfied that the careful
and systematic inquiry that is being made
viii result in the building of at least one
large mill in which New England capital
will be largely interested.
The committee has expressed itself as
being particularly struck with the favor
able conditions of the factory labor, and
were delighted to know that there was so
much available native labor which seems
to be so well satisfied with its work. The
Investigations of the committee extend
from the percentage of wastage to the
rate of taxes the number of the yarn to
the profit per yard and every other ques-
ton of detail.
r. II. Edmonds Of the Manufacturers
Record, who has been with the party since
it left for the south. has given the cor
respondent of the News and Observer val
liable and pertinent statistics upon the mill
situation which indicates that there is
plenty of room for cotton mills in the
south. He said: There are in the world
about S00000,O00 cotton spindles. 1t is
claimed that cotton is the largest single
industry in the world, and that it has an
aggregate investment of about So, co.,.
000 The south raises about 60 per cent.
of the entire crop Of the world, but has
only 100000 spindles, less than per cent.
of those in operation in the world. South
ern cotton mills at present, notwithstand-
ing the great increase of recent years,
consume less than 10 per cent. of the
southern cotton crop. 1t is estimated that
the capital invested in the cotton mills
in the south aggregate little over $780,
000000. These figures enable US TO form
some conception of what the development
of the cotton industry OF the south means
in the advancement of the prosperity of
this section. The southern cotton crop
now averages about $500 G00,000 in value,
while If manufactured at home the aggre-
gate value would be over 81 1,00O00o000 It
is not TO be expected that the south will
for many years to come, if ever, consume
in its own mills all OF its cotton crop, but
if the future increase in cotton manufac-
turing can be centered in the south, it viii
mean a very rapid rate Of growth in every
thing connected with our industrial in
terests.
THE increase of cotton mills means the
building up of Industrial towns and cities
the creation of a home market for the
diversified agriculture, thus making south
ern farmers more independent than they
can in any other way become. 1t also
means steady and profitable employment
for thousands of hands that would other
wise be forced to remain in idleness. No
other industry in the south Is attracting
such general attention. While the south
has coal and iron and timber in greater
abundance and more susceptible Of utili-
cation than any other section, neverthe-
less, it does not have a monopoly in the
raw material in these industries but in
cotton the south has absolute monopoly
in production, so far as America is con-
cerncd, and it is almost certainty that
it viii for all time to come be able to
maintain its present position as the chief
cotton producing region of the world.
With the development Of Industrial towns
furnishing a local market for farm pro-
ducts, added to the very genera increase
in the production Of food products during
the last two years, the south is steadily
strengthening its ability to produce cotton
at a low cost, thus insuring q future
against foreign competition. Under these
conditions it is Of the utmost Importance
that the south should devote its energy
and capital to the development Of its own
textile interests and thus prove its faith
in its own business This will be the
strongest argument that can be advanced
to the capitalists Of other sections to
prove the souths preemnent advantages.
"The census of 1880 shows that the south
had about $4,000 spindles, with a capital
of S21 ,O90.0a0 by 1880 this had increased to
S6l ,000000 of capital and about 1900 900
spindles AT this time there are includ-
ing mills now under construction about
q, 900 00O spindles and on the basis Of the
Of the census OF 1880, this
would mean an aggregate capitalization Of
about Sl00 100000. The great part Of this
development has been made
by southern people with southern capital
When TO the work that the south is doing
in building cotton mills shall be added
the mills that New England people VIII
doubtless build IN the south during the
next few years, the rate OF growth will
far exceed even the very rapid progress Of
the last Aye years"
The committee is taking a special inter-
est ia water powers. but an along the llne
the trend 81 the investigation has been
4t.s 9 7ass sstf