Birmingham state herald., 1896-01-14
A COTTON EXPOSITION.

The State Herald is thoroughly in favor of the proposed cotton exposition. but is not so sure that Chicago is the place for 1t. St. Louis or Cincinnati or Richmond would be more convenient.
 It should be so far south as to exhibit the cotton in the field and so far north as to be convenient to the main arteries of travel.
 Chicago has through her city council adopted the following resolutions:
 Whereas, Nearly fourth-ffths of the cotton used in the United States is of the annual value of nearly $300,0O0,000 and is transported an average distance of about 3500 miles from the source of the raw material to the consumer of the finished product, at cost for freight Of not less than $1 per 100 weight; and
 Whereas, Every class of cotton goods can be made in southern mills much more cheaply than elsewhere. by reason of cheaper raw material and labor; and
 Whereas, Cotton goods in the south travel not more than 1000 miles from the cotton fields to the center of production and consumption, at an average cost of freight of not more than 50 cents per l0O pounds: and
 "Whereas, The natural lines of dis tribution from southern cotton fields and for southern cotton products are those which go most directly to the centers or consumption, viz.: those which radiate from the south to the central states, the northwest, west and southeast all or which are the natural tributaries of the southern cotton mills; and
 Whereas. All the people Of those states, as well as those of the northeast, will be greatly benefited by the lessened cost of cotton goods, which will result from their large production in the south; therefore, be it
 rhaf rllD taX n- courage the extensive manufacture Of cotton goods in the south is of general benefit to the entire people IS tending to reduce both the cost of production and distribution, and that 1t is of special ben eft to the great cities of the central states, which. being situated on the nat ural and cheapest lines of distribution from the south, must therefore become the distributing centcrs for it's cotton product.
 "Resoved, That we, on behalf of the city of Chicago and the people of the northwest heartily approve of the plan of holding a Chicago and Southern States exposition for the purpose of exhibiting the southern products of every descrip- ton and kind and the manufacturing in- terests of the south, and we believe 1t will be a practical method for proving that the south is the best and most eco- nomical site for manufacturing cotton goods and that Chicago is the best and most economical center of distribution, because it can reduce present freight cost about 60 per cent, equal to from to 6 per cent of the total value of the goods.
 Resolved. That the mayor of the city of Chicago be and is hereby instructed to send a copy of these resolutions to the mayor of each principal city in the states of - and request the municipal au- thorites of such cities to appoint dele gate to a convention to be held in this city on February - for the purpose of reviewing and revising the pre- liminary work of the various pro- visional committees therefor en- gagged in organizing Chicago and Southern States Cotton exposition, and said convention shall also be charged with the work of formal and legal organ izing of such exposition. providing for it's proper furtherance. The mayor is em- powered to use his discretion as to the details necessary to give this resolution effect. He Is requested to confer with the provisional committees in charge of the promotion of the Chicago and South ern States Cotton exposition as to the date of said convention and other details, upon which their advice may be proper. All clerical work, printing, etc., neces- sary to carry this resolution into effect shall be performed by the said provision al committee at it's own cost"