Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-26
The south's Cotton Industry.
ATLANTA Constitution.l

The growth of the cotton industry In
this section during the past seven years
has been phenomenal. In proof of this
broad assertion, it may be stated that
the southern industry Is represented at
the present time by 29 mills, 4,l05,66l
spindles, and 1O3,29S looms.
According to the figures for 1890 there
were only 254 miles in the South at that
time, operating 1,12930 spindles and
1921 looms. The enormous increase in
the volume of the industry during the
present decade is clearly set forth In the
following table:
1890 1897.
June 1. Dec. 10. Increase.
spindles .... ..1,1293O 4lO5,667 2,S92,7S7
Mills 24 4S3 229
Looms -. 80. 1921 1OS.29S 6i,O67
These figures show Enthusiastically that
the South is rapidly becoming the eX-
elusive centre of the cotton industry.
Nor is there any reason why this should
not be; for, with mild climatic conditions,
cheap labor and immediate access TO the
cotton-fields, 1t seems as II Providence
has endowed this section with every
needed requisite for the manufacture OF
cotton. Seeing the drift of things many
wide-awake and enterprising New Eng
land cotton men have transferred their
plants to the South; while others are pre-
pairing to take the same course in the
near future With the sharp COMPETE
ton which this section now presents, 1t
is impossible for New England manufac-
turers to pay the charges necessary for
hauling cotton one thousand miles, and
then compete with southern mills, except
in the finest quality of cotton fabrics.
To show the embarrassment under which
the cotton mills of Massachusetts are
laboring as the result of southern COM
petition, Ii is only necessary TO note the
doleful comment of one Of the Leading
industrial magazines of the State. says
the Boston Textile World: zone or TWO
things will have to be done, either the
hours OF labor in Massachusetts VIII
have to be extended or the wages OF ope-
ratives will have to be reduced. The
latter is the more likely. Southern COM
petition with Massachusetts mills is more
detrimental than any foreign competition
on the lower grades of goods" This OBJ
seryation is significant, and while II APP
plies TO competition only on lower grades
of goods IL nevertheless shows that what
is true of these grades may in time be-
come true of other grades. What the
South needs most urgently at the present
time is improved scientific instruction;
and with the movement to incorporate
textile studies in the curriculums OF our
various Industrial institutions, there Is
good reason to believe that New England
will not long preserve her superiority over
the South. even in the finer quality OF
cotton goods manufactured. From every
point OF view, the outlook which the
cotton industry in the South presents is
most satisfactory.
Up TO this time the growth Of the In
dustry has been more rapid in North
Carolina than in any other State in this
section. The Tarheel State contains at
the present time not less than 1S2 mills,
operating 1023,132 spindles and 1884
looms. Strange to say, however, the
State of South Carolina, with less than
half as many cotton mills as North Caro-
lima. operates more spindles, as the fol-
iou,fDo tohIa cnowG.