The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-12-25

ttfnatciy work 10 the uisadvantage OF inc
operatives.
Manufacturers OF cotton goods in the
North are thoroughly aiarmcd at the pros
prc,. and many OF the leading factors are
casting about IN the South for building To-
cations, thus disccuuting the inevitable re-
moval to that section,
AT present, most OF the cotton mills IN
the South are located In the Cayolinas and
in Georgia. but number OF mills will be
erected in Texas next year TO supply the
Asiahc and Indian trade via San Fran
cisco and the Pacific steamship route; In
fact, the Republic correspondent Is In
formed by manufacturers agents IN this
city that no less than 100000 is TO bc In
vested in Texas within the next twelve
months In the erection of mills IN the Fort
Worth district. with especial reference to
the trade OF The far East.
Three 90. cooperative factories have been
started In North Carolina since July. and
fourth Is about to be launched in Ala
bama. These mills are manned by New
England operatives. who early forcsaw the
shifting In the Industrial tide,
Sixty per cent OF the mills in North Caro-
lima and South Carolina today are running
on extra time. and fully 10 per cent OF these
on double time,
The revolution in this time honored in-
dustry, which formerly gave employment
and pin money 10 the wives and daughters
both sections. The conditions were set
forth fully Wednesday night az meeting
OF thu Arkwright club In Boston. This
club. which Is composed OF cotton manu-
facturors, recently sent q committee to the
South TO make careful investigation Of
the Industrial situation and report back,
The report was handed In Wednesday and
was read at full meeting OF the club that
night. II contains much valuable nfcrma-
ton. and Is Interesting as statement OF
fact coming from such source, or the
South's peculiar advantages for cotton
manufacturng the report says:
And now what are their advantages? The
Southeruer claims that there are several,
First, that cotton is conveniently near. and
that freight on II can be saved, Second.
that water power is abundant. II you care
10 utilize 1t, and that coal il cheap III YOU
prefer to run by steam. Third, that labor
Is abundant and cheap and not inclined TO
organize against the employers Fourth.
that the enactment OF restrictive labor
lave is not likely to trouble manufacture
ers for many years.
In our opinion, the cheap labor, long
hours and freedom from legislative inter
ference are tho chief advantages, and the
others are unimportant and OF doubtful
value
The cost Of the erection and maintenance
OF dams, the necessity OF locating mills 70
be run by water power IN low places where
the light Is shut out. and the additional
cost Of building foundations, which some
times have to be started twonty TO twenty
five feet below tho surface OF tho ground
all contribute TO mako tho investment sc
large that the interest on It goes far to-
ward offsetting the cost Of steam power.
The cost Of coal varies In different locali-
ties from Sl65 per ton for Tennessee bi.
luminous % which one manufacturer ox-
poets to contract for HIS coal for the com.
ing wear. to $40 for Pocahontas con al
another point In some mills wood is usei
for fuel, costing from sil0 to $40 pei
| cord, and two cords of wood arc generally
considered equal In value TO one ton ol
! coal.
| The saving Of freight on cotton amounts
10 but little and Is Offset by freight ON tn,
goods which have to be shipped North.
| Tho advantages. however which pertar
TO labor, are very great the long hours r1ir
and the low prices paid, We believe. max,
| the cost ~ labor in the South about 40 ne,
cent less than IN The North Thu workins
day In North Carolina is twelve hours q
per cent longer than I'm Massachusetts. ant
| the price paid per day for common labor IL
the mills Is from 50 to rs cents
| So far MS We could learn there Is no dis
position TO organize labor unions, Tn,
American operatives do not tako kindly {,
This Imported idea, aud the opportunity NJ
| torded them TO earn regular wages ig 10,
| highly prized to DO triflod with They ar
| Just as anxious for the success OF the mill
| as tho owners, and there is In their attl
| tude toward their employers loyal,
| which is In striking contrast TO the antago
nsm which exists and is encouraged amoni
| the Northern operatives
Tho general appearance OF the mills W,
visited Ia very credItahlc. They are con
struclod OF brick, which Is made on M
premises. or at by points, AZ . cost o