The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-06-04

change we saw to be inevitable. as 4 re-
[ suit Of q new Industrial awakening and
| the command Of necessary capital and
| skill. We advised the cotton men Of
New England to embrace the opportu-
mites offered by the South in economy
OF production and to transfer some sub
stantial part Of their capital to that
section Of the country, where mannfac-
ture was bound to find natural loca-
ton IN close proximity to the fields
which produce the raw material. Some
have adopted this plan: those who have
not are the chief sufferers to-day, for it
Is upon the high grades OF cotton goods,
stiil monopOlized by New England. that
the temporary depression falls heaviest.
While New England cotton mills are
either shutting down. or curtalling time,
the Mail and Expires asks: How is it
that we have received within a week
from North and South Carolina and
Georgia reports Of new mills completed
or about to be erected, new machinery
ordered to replace or supplement old ma
chinery, and additions to looms and
spfndles-in one mill Of South Carolina
the increase In capacity amounting to
one-th.rd?"
Continuing, our contemporary says
that "the facts which New England Ia
called upon to face, and which will still
be in evidence as a trade argument,
whatever may be the measure or re-
turning prosperity, are these, as shown
recently by Il New England expert after
an exhaustive canvas of the situation:
"A modern brick mill can be built in
an average location at least 20 per cent
cheaper in the South than in the North
There Is no lack Of water supply, and
as rule this is cheap. In Alabama coal
is obtained at s1.5o per ton. rendering
the cost of steam power about one-half
that Of the average New England mill
The Item of wages shows from % to
so per cent. In favor of the South. In
the matter OF transporting the raw cot
ton from the fields there rs 4 substantial
saving, and in many cases the hauling
Is made direct, without the necessity
and expense Of the compress. Taxes are
low, and tempting premiums are fire.
quently offered, either by towns or
through the medium of State law
balancing the various economic ele-
ments that enter into the manufactu-
rer's calculations. this expert shows tina.
III a modern MILL with stock capitali-
cation Of $4,000 and 10000 spindles
running on pint cloth, the saving in cot
ton, labor and power will amount 10 over
$4,000 year in the operation OF the
Southern mill; while allowing literally
for the saving In interest on borrowed
money in the North, where the percent
age is generally lower, a balance OF some
$4,000 still remains in favor Of the
Southern mill.
This does not, OF course, include any
high grade product, which New England
can hold. But II means the ultimate
abandonment OF all cheap grades in the
| EAST, following the law OF natural Sc
lection. With this prosperity or depres-
sion has nothing to do"
| What our contemporary saws here Is
true, though the public will never know
| what the admissions cost it Ia make
them. But let not he Mail and Ex-
press delude itself that the Southern
| cotton mills make the cheaper grades
or goods only, or 1t will have some cor
rections to make before long. The fact
is mat we arc not only making the
| cheaper, but the very finest of cotton
fabrics in our Southern cotton mills
and some of these days we will finish up
the job by taking that class of business
away from New England just rs we
! have done the other