The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-04-18
SOUTHERN MANUFACTURES RIVAL
NEW ENGLAND'S.
le Philadelphia Ledger says:


much uneasiness exists among New
England cotton spinners with respect to
Southern competition in their field OF
industry. For the present the manufac-
ture of coarse goods in the South appears
to be conducted more probably than in
the North. Lower wages and longer
working hours give the Southern mills
a great advantage and should the condi-
ton Of the labor market 10 the SOUTH
ward remain unchanged, New England
and perhaps the Middle States Will have
10 surrender their supremacy in certain
lines of manufacture. The competition OF
the Southern mills does not rest wholly
upon the labor question. The raw ma
fcral is close at hand and cheap fuel,
but the long working day and the very
moderate wages paid hands are accepted
by New England manufacturers as the
dangerous clements OF the problem. There
has been little or no friction between
employees and the employers Of Southern
labor. and none of the restrictions APP
plying 10 employment, working hours, &c,
have appeared on the statute books OF
the Southern States. With the growth
of manufactures, in the course OF time,
there may be an approximation 10 the
Industrial situation existing in those por-
lions OF the country where manufactures
have been longer established. But until
that the Industrial competition between
the sections will be severely felt in the
North"
A correspondent Of the Boston Trans
crpt says,
Il think most Of the members Of the
New England Manufacturers Association
who went to Atlanta last fall were con
WINGED that they could make as much
money in the South in ten years as in
the North in twenty years
Evidences grow every day that the SUI
premacy Of the New England States In
cotton manufacturing is nearing its end,
and that the sceptre Is passing 10 South
ern hands. 1t is idle to talk of the change
involving only coarser goods. If we can
manufacture the coarser goods cheaper
than the New Englanders, we can equally
manufacture finer goods cheaper also,
and It is only question Of time when we
shall have adjusted ourselves TO the con-
| ditions necessary TO such manufacture. IL
will surely follow the monopolizing Of
manufacture of the coarser goods.
1t is only natural, of course. that we of
the South should rejoice in the change of
locality Of cotton manufacture from New
England to the South. 1t is legitimate
and proper that we should rejoice in our
own success. We have no feelings or
| exultation, however, over New England's
loss. We should be glad to see her ac-
| quire ten new industries for every one
we take from her. Nevertheless, the
largest charity does not require any great
| sorrow at our hands. II the loss of her
! cotton manufactures was an unmitigated
| calamity 20 her. From the time the
Government was founded 10 this day. she
/ has looked upon 1t as an fundamentally
whose chief function was TO give her
advantages at the expense OF the other
parts Of the country. and particularly OF
the South. And she has continued 10
twist it around at all times, by one de-
vice or another, into securing 10 herself
this result.
one Of the most notable instances OF
her selfishness and ingratitude Is her post
ton towards the South in the matter OF
finance. When she had run over the
South in the war and had plundercd
the South OF all her available capital, ana
the people OF the South had little or
nothing left as basis upon which 10
reconstruct society. she resolutely held
on TO the provision OF the act Of Congress
that forbade State banks TO issue theii
notes. and she thus deprived the South OF
the only resource she had left for build.
ing up her waste places and commencing