Birmingham state herald., 1897-02-06
SOME VALUABLE STATISTICS
Relative to Alabama Coal and Its
 Cost
FOR USE IN COTTON MILLS
Obtained by Mr. I. L. Long During Tour of "A Inspection In Cotton Manufactur-
 ing Districts.

Following is letter from MT. T. L. Long to Hon. Wilson R. Brown in reference to cost of Alabama coal for fuel in cotton mills in this state and other states.
 Representative Brown will no doubt use the letter as an argument in favor of his tax exemption bill now before the lower house of the general assembly,
 = Montgomery, Ala, Feb. 5, 197. ? Hon. Wilson R. Brown, House of Repre- Ssentatives:
 Dear Sir: As per your verbal request. Herewith hand you an estimate on prices of Alabama coals, and submit a further estimate showing the advantages and in- ducements that Alabama has to offer for cotton mills over the New England states and other points.
 To run a cotton mill, the size of the Dwight mills, recently completed at Att talla, Ala, of 25,0O0 spindles and 1000 looms, requires from twenty to twenty five tons of coal daily. Steam coal costs in New England from $4 to $4.5O per ton. Steam coal costs, at Spartanburg, ;. c., $2.75 to $3 per ton. Coal costs, dellVereG at Charlotte, N. C., about the same. Coal costs, delivered at points in Georgia, from $2 30 to $3 per ton. Coal costs In the coat fields of Alabama from 65 cents to $l per ton; elsewhere in Alabama, 1t costs from S1 25 to $2.50 per ton. Therefore, you
 
 of 25, 900 spindles in New England, which will consume twenty tons of coal daily, will be $S5 per day for fuel; the cost or running a mill of 25,000 spindleS In me Carolinas, consuming twenty tons of coal daily will be $55 per day; the cost Of running a mill of 25,000 spindles which will consume twenty tons of coal daily in FGeorgda will be $50 per day; while Tn Alabama. counting coal at $l.25 per ton, which is a high average estimate, 1t oalx xy011 0n by these figures, that a mill of 25,000 spindles will cost $60 less for fuel per day' than in New England; $50 less per day than in the Carolinas, and $25 less per day than in Georgia. &,
 1 have spent several months within the last two years in New England making "a special study and observation of cotton mills. I know of several large cotton mills, in fact, quite a number, that will be located in the south within the next twelve months It is an undisputed fact, that the south, with proper legislation, within the next few years, will have more spindles than will New England.
 The railroads in the south, and es- pecially the main lines in Alabama, are very liberal in their rates on manufac- tured cotton goods to the east. To illus trate: It costs less per hundred weight Ito ship manufactured goods from Ala bama to New York and Boston, Mass, than raw cotton. These are figures for deoD SIuQY, ana SHOW pidluAy tldl ihC railroads of Alabama are kindly disposed towards new cotton mills, located along their lines.
 Many of the New England states have laws exempting all new manufacturers and cotton mills and machinery from taxation for ten years. Some southern states have the same exemptions, and 1t is to- be hoped that Alabama will take step forward and pass a similar law. With such law, exempting cotton mills from taxation, taken together with our natural advantages and the cheap fuel, there is no reason why Alabama should mot secure very nearly all of the many mills in the north that will be located in the south within the next few years, and take the lead over the Carolinas and Georgia. It is unquestioned that very nearly all of the cotton mills in the south are being built in the Carolinas and Georgia. I sincerely believe if an ex- emption law of ten years on cotton mills and machinery while in operation. IS passed by the present legislature, that within less than ten years Alabama will have more spindles in operation than the balance of the south combined.
 Many of the northern states, outside of New England, exempt all new manufac- tories for a term of years. Pennsylva- mia exempts all machinery used for man. ufactories of every character. and this is true of goodly number of the most prosperous states of our union.
 I will state further, that cotton mills that may be located in the coal fields of Alabama, will have an advantage in the way of fuel over any on earth.
 These are undiSputed facts, and you can use them as you may deem best. I hope your bill allowing tax exemption for ten years from the passage of the act on all new cotton mills and machinery that may be built in Alabama will be- come a law. Yours truly,
 T. L. LONG.