The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-04-07
sOCrHERN COMPETITfON.
Lawrence Manufacturing Co.. OF Lowell
Admits that IL Cannot Meet IL.


Mr. Richard III. Edmonds, editor OF
the Manufacturers Record, In the iast
issue OF that paper, in referring 10 the
southwark trend OF cotton manufsctur-
ing. says:
The decision two years ago OF some OF
the largest cotton-mill companies in New
England to build mills IN the South, such
as the Massachusetts MIL, at Rome. and
the Dwight at Gadsden, was not more
significant of the destiny OF the South as
the controlling power In cotton manuiacr
turing than the action taken few days
ago by the Lawrence Manufacturing Co.,
OF Lowell. For several years the Manu-
facturers Record has persistently insisted
that the New England companies manu-
featuring coarse cotton goods would be
compelled to quit that line of business or
build mills in the South. Every invesl-
cation made by the highest New England
authorities has demonstrated the correct
ness OF this position. A few days ago the
directors OF the Lawrence Manufacturing
Co. of Lowell, n company having a capt.
tai OF sl,5OO00O and operating 10000
splndles. voted to discontinue the manu-
facture of coarse cotton goods and to re-
commend to the stockholders 20 sell the
entire real-estate, machinery ana plant
OF this part OF their mill, paying back
in cash to the stockholders the receipts
to the extent OF one-half OF the capital
stock, $3.50 600. and 10 cOnine their opera
tons hereafter exclusively TO the hosiery
department OF their business. The sheet
ing department. which is tc be closed. now
operates about 1900 sp!ndles
Mr. &. L. Baker. the treasurer OF the
company, who recently went South with
a view 10 locating a cotton mill in that
section In an interview with the Lowell
Citizen said:
I'VE intend to stop the manufacture of
cotton cloth at Lowell f;r good. At
present half OF our product is hosiery and
the balance is cloth. We intend TO keep
on manufacturing hosiery Outside OF
hosiery. the Lawrence Company has al
ways been manufacturer OF coarse
cloths. its largest product being sheetsng.
The Southern mills have become very
large makers OF this kind OF goods. ana
We see no hope. with their Low wages. of
being able 10 inset IL at profit here.
Instead Of going there. as some corpora
tons have. or spending a good deal OF
money here 10 ht up for the manuiac-
ture OF fine goods. the directors Of the
company considered 10 best 10 return
part OF tho capital 10 the stockholders,
retaining at Lowell the hosiery business
only.
This crisis has been pending for three
or four years. or ever since the South
commenced tne manufacture OF coarse
goods largely
Replying to the question as to what
advantage the South has over Lowell
in the cost Of goods AIR Baker stated
that it was from one and on--hllf 10
two cents per pound. and this ia on ac-
count OF lOw-priced labor. which former
~ worked at farming" Their cost OF
manufacturing. said Mr. Baker. which
is tho cost Of labor. is 30 per cent be-
low ours which is duo % a very large
surplus OF help; and as this is nearly all
paid for by the piece II does not make
much difference IN the cost whether the
labor Of the South is skilled or not
While the Southern mills do not manu-
facture enough goods to supply the
American trade. they manufacture
enough TO make the price. and We have
10 meet It. These goods nearly all go
TO the West and South. The treasurer
OF one of the New England mills who
lately returned from the South. In reply
to a question which | asked as 10 the
amount of surplus labor in the South.
said that there was enough TO last for
generations"
The action of this oid-established COM
pany. which has been in successful
operation for so many years. IN deciding
TO sell its entire equipment devoted 10
manufacturing sheetings and retire from
that part Of the business permanently.
shows that all that the Manufacturers
Record has ever claimed and ever pre-
dicted I'm behalf Of the South and its
advantages for coffin manufacturing.
is now being demonstrated. Rldiculed
the predictions of this paper were
for so many years, its statements re-
ceiving ten or twelve years ago but scant
credit. even I'm the South, the world is
finally being forced TO realize by the
stern logic OF events that this section in
producing cotton goods at a lower cost
than any other place, is setting che
price for the world, and following this
the business must inevitably come TO the
South. II is only another demonstration
OF the unequalled advantages Of this sec
tion for manufacturing-adv which
have brought about the fulhlment of
our predictions in regard 10 irOn-mak-
ing, as we'll as in regard to cotton manu-
featuring, and Of many other lines Of in
dustry as we'll as Of immigration. The
South's day is at last dawnng.