Birmingham state herald., 1897-06-08
COTTON MILLS NORTH AND SOUTH.


 The following, from the New York Mail and Express, will no doubt prove in- Terestinlg reading just at this time:
 The prevailing unsatisfactory condition of The cotton mills of New England fur nishes an interesting industrial study at this time A majority are running on edhodis time, there is evident anxiety on every side, efforts thus far vain have been. made for concerted action In cur tailing production, and suggestions Tor a reduction of wages as means of ldid-i ing over present embarrassment nave been abandoned as likely to create sertoals labor disturbances, from which all ETadeS' would suffer. Reports from Fall River, particularly reflect an unhappy state Of mind.
 There is abundant effort, of course. to supply an adequate explanation in the general depression of business resuEing from the Cleveland administrations and the delay in settling the tariff question The serious effect of these cannot be questioned but if they alone are respon- eible, how Is ft that the new cotton mills of 'she south are rrirnirg as rule on full time, and many of them over sdme? How is it that we have received within week from North and South Carolina and Georgia reports of new mills completed or about 10 be erecred, new machienry ordered to replace or supplement old ma chinery, and additions to looms and spin dles-in one. mill of South Carolina the increase in capacity amounting to one third? x General business condi fons are respon- sible only in part for New England's em- barrasSment. Competition is the true se- cret butt of this itae New Egland maabu- facturers lalk In whispers, fearing too great publicity of a fact which muslin the near future at least-be patent to all.
 From the fime when the first cotton mills of respecta ble capacity were erected dn the south the Mail and Express pre- dicted the gradual transfer of the cheap CT grades of cot.nn goods from the north to the south. This change we saw to be inevitable. as a result of a new industrial awakening and the command of neces- sary capital ard skill. We advised the cotton min of New England to embrace the opportunities offered by the south in economy of production and to transfer some suhsaantial part of their capital to thst section of the country. where manufacture was bound to find natural location in close proximity to she fields which produce the raw material Some have adopted this plan; those who have not are iihe chief sufferers today, for il is upon he high grades of cotton goods still monopolized by New England, tha the temporary depression falls heaviest
 The facts which New England is called upon to face, and which will still be in evidence as a trade argument, whatever may be the measure of returning pros psrity. are these, as shown recently by a New Engldnd expert atter an eXnauS tive canvass of the situation
 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 a rule this is cheap. Tn Alabama coal is obtained at s1.50 per ton, render ing the cost of steam power about one half that of the average New England mill The item of wages shows from 9 to 30 per cent. In favor of the south. Iii the~matter of transporting the raw cot ton from the fields there Is a 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 frequently offered, either by towns or through the medium of state law.
 Balancing the various economic ele- ments that enter into the manufacturer s calculations, this expert shows that in a modern mill, with a stock capitaliza- tioH of $120,000. and 10000 spindles run alii=g on print cloth. the saving in cotton labor and power will amount to over $1S,- coo a year in the operation of the southern -nill: while allowing literally for the say ing in interest on borrowed money in tho north, where the percentage is generally lower, a balance of some $15,000 still re- mains in favor of the southern mill
 This does not, of course, include, any high grade product, which New England canshold. But 1t means the ultima tt abandonment of all cheap grades in tht east, following the law of natural selec tion,. With this prosperity or depression has nothing to do