The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-17


uation OF the industry in this section as
Il may be affected by competition in the
South and other causes more or less re-
lated TO such competition.
The questions propounded were prompt
ed by the step taken by the Lawrence
Manufacturing Company in going out of
business OF manufacturing cotton goods
and returning the capita, used in that
business 10 its stockholders, rather than
attempting 10 change the mill SO as to
avoid Southern competition, or building
mill in the South itself. The New En-
gland manufacturers addressed were
asked II this could be taken as an indicae
tion that the New England manufactur-
of cotton goods is going TO decrease,
that the competition of goods manufac-
tured in the South is too severe for our
manufacturers, and they were further
asked as to what advantages the South
has over New England in such manufac-
ture, the longer hours of labor, or the
tower wages, or both? Is it also because
OF cheaper materials and q milder cli-
mater AS to how far this competition
affects other grades of goods made In
New England, the possibilities OF readapt-
ing the industry to finer goods and fancy
weayes, in the face OF foreign competition,
the influence of State and Congressional
laws, and the effect on wages and wage
earners were also made subjects OF the in
quiry.
The responses received were generally
in agreement. That made by Mr.. j. ii.
CHAcE, treasurer of the Albion Com
pany, this State, indicates the general
character OF the replies. Mr.. CHAoE
wrote that he felt that the maDufac-
ture OF cotton goods in New England is
bound to decrease, that under present
conditions competition ln the South can be
made too severe to warrant any other view
Of the situation, and that the advantages
TO be had in the South are indicated by the
fact that the labor laws of Massachusetts,
require mills to run IS hours per week,
while in other New England States the
maximum legal running time is GO hours.
In the South they run from 66 to ~
hours per week, and In some cases night
and day, besides which wages are less
than in New England; moreover, the cost
of cotton laid down at many mills in the
South is about cent pound less than
at New England mills, by the saving in
cost OF transportation, besides saving
OF about one per cent. or FIVE pounds to
the bale loss in weight in transportation
claimed by Southern cotton sellers against
New England mills. Coal is also cheaper,
and it takes much less to heat Southern
mills, and costs less to warm and clothe
the operatives.
Mr.. CHAoE is of the opinion that at
the progress now being made in the
South the competition will soon affect
all kinds of manufactured goods. He
writes: "At the rapid progress made in
the South 1t will soon also affect all kinds
OF manufactured goods. Under the
cheaper conditions they win soon make
finer goods and fancy weaving. New En-
not already prevented, from making any
kind OF cotton goods in competition with
foreign mills, under the Wilson-Gorman
tariff. The State and Congressional Iegis-
lation have both conspired to cause
the present unprecedented disastrous con-
dition of cotton manufacturing in the
North. The present conditions OF manu-
featuring must result in the reduction Of
wages in New England, or stop mills and
cause many laborers to be thrown out of
employment"
49, - - HObiNocN, Vi
the Crompton Company, responded much
to the rame purpose, adding that, "If we
could make finer good in the North they
also could make the same goods in the
South; that "the laws OF our States,
like those relating to school and shorter
hours OF labor, tend to more EXPENSE;
and that "the price OF labor will have to
rise in the South, or it will have TO be
lower in the North"
These may seem like gloomy views but
that they are the views of practical men
is fair guarantee that they do not
overestimate the conditions. The public
will be prepared to accept their views al
though interested as we ell must be in
the cotton industry that bears so impor-
tant relationship TO every kind OF busi-