Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-25
COTTON-NTIIS.

what is IT that is taking the cotton
spinning business from New England 10
the South? This IL a question that is
answered by three New England experts
in the business who have been in the
South. The reports Of the three gen.
tlemen who were sent practically agree,
and that OF President Sanford. Of the
Sanford Spinning Company, IS especially
interesting. lie says:
while the northern manufacturer has
been arguing and specializing as to what
his southern competitor would be ale 20
accomplish. and while many people felt
no fear Of any danger that the South
would be able 10 compete, much TO my
astonishment / find. from a personal in
spection during the last ten days among
some OF the mills OF the South. that they
have successfully solved the problem Of
cotton manufacturing. and are now max
ing and have been making FOR some time.
fabrics and yarns equal 10 our New Eng
land mills. and for less cost.
"They are selling them 10 our custom
ers supplanting our productions 70 an
alarming extent. and from figures OBJ
taincd of cost of same, find that they are
enabled. i'm their finely equipped and wei
organized mills. by good and cheaper
labor. to make q profit. even on present
depressed market prices. while our own
New England mills cannot manufacture
without loss.
while this is a hard fact TO face,
nevertheless the condition confronts US,
and is no longer theory or speculation,
but fact. On certain fabrics and yarns.
such as made I'm FAN River New Bed
ford. Lowell and in New England gene
rally. embracing goods and yarns up 10
and including 40s they are masters Of the
situation. and claim they viii soon make
fabrics calling for 5Ts and CO.'S yarn.
There has been "A great deal said dur
ing the last five years about the inefiici-
ency of the southern operative. that he
is not able to do as much work and as
well as his northern competitor. / find
the operatives are good native American
whites They very quickly adapt them
selves to the work are eager to learn.
happy. cOntented. with no tendency to
strike or TO join labor organizations They
want work. are industrious, and are proud
OF the mills they work in.
Wood is used largely; two cords OF
wood. against one ton OF coal. costing
for same sl.l5 per cord or at the rate Of
500 per ton of coal. Coal also can be
had cheap costing. according TO location,
$40 to $3.50 per ton. Some mills located
on fine water-pOwers are making great
saving Alabama exempts from taxation
for ten years all corporations locating
within her borders.
I'm North Carolina. South Carolina, and
Georgia taxes are very low. One mill
which ! visited. having $4,000 investment.
pays a tax Of only $40 per annum. Such
a mill in Fall River will pay $500 tax.
Al the large mills are paying almost
no tax TO speak Of.
1T is very clear we cannot stand
i'm Massachusetts, any more adverse le-
gislation against our industries for the
southern mills can make dividends while
their northern competitors are selling
goods at cost. And. in proof or this.
many Of the southern corporations have
been paying steady and continuous divi-
dends during the hard times OF the last
twelve months"
II would appear that the reasons the
southern cotton mills are succeeding are
that they are near the cotton fields; that
they are in sections where labor. especi-
ally female labor is cheap; that they
can procure fuel at low prices. or that
they have cheap water-power, and finally
that they have to pay very light taxes
Indeed, in Alabama, they are exempt
from taxation for ten years. And it is
conceded that if present trade conditions
continue. ultimately almost all of the
cotton manufacturing business will be
done IN the South.