The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-02-04
ABOUT COTTON.
IT'S FUTURE MANUFACTURE
II E11EslEE. CAROLINA.
Already l4s Mills.

Already 14s Mills.
From Greensboro Record.
By Moses HI. Gone, President Con-
Export and commission Col
In the manufacture of cotton Nortl
Carolina has forged ahead faster il
recent years than any other of tn.
Southern States. In the Southern
States, including Maryland, Missouri
and Kentucky, in .1S4O there were 24t
cotton mills having a total capital O
1881 ,O7S, an average of only $17, 4O(
pc. mill. The total number OF spin
dies in the South at that time wa.
1SO,927. On January LIST, 1897, the
mills of North Carolina alone employed
a capital of SIG ,1S6,OOO, or an average
per mill of 500, 1850, with a total o.
76O,6O4 spindles, quite a number Of
new mills proposed and partly under
construction not included.
In 1890 the total number of spindles
IN the South was ], 554 900. Some idea
of the advance North Carolina has
made as cotton manufacturing State
will be appreciated when it is noticed
that to day there are more than halt as
many spindles actually running in
North Carolina as were running In the
whole South In 1890.
In diversifying the product and im-
proving the quality of the output OF its
mills, North Carolina has certainly
been foremost. Previous to 1890 the
spinning mills ran mostly ON coarse
yarns from number IA down. To-day
there are mills in the State running on
nothing coarser than 26's, and 4O's are
easily obtainable.
In brown goods, previous to 1890, a
3 yard sheetlng was the common pro-
duct. To-day the output of the State
from the mills already in operation and
those just about to begin is largely di-
verslfied and we can make nearly all
the finer grades of brown goods In all
widths and weights; and a number of
mills are running on fabrics to be con-
verted into the finest class of bIeached
cottons.
In colored goods, previous to 1890,
the State was very backward few of
the mills made anything except ala
nance plaids out of about 14's yarns.
To-day fine chambrays, glnghams,
domets and fannelettes, dress goods,
chevlots, high grade plaids in great
variety and of a very superior quality
are being turned out. It is well-known |
that the the State is rapidly acquiring
a reputation among the dry goods trade |
OF the country for the superior excel
lence Of its products
Formerly the manufacturers seemed
TO follow in each others footsteps. so
that 1t was the custom to find out what
one's nelghbor was doing and do the
same. Accordingly, when any article
bearing extra profit Was discovered i'm
it would be over-produced
with the result Of the disappearance of
profit. Today wiser policy is coming
INTO vogue and the manufacturers
appear to have discovered that 1t is
better on finding out what ones neigh
Dor is doing to do something else. I'll
his policy does not now prevail to the
extent that it ought, it will in the fu.
ure, for the experience of our manufae
urers In the last years has shown them
hat it does not take long to overcrowd
J market when some article of unusual
,rotit is discovered. The commission
houses are now largely seeking South
rn business and each vying with the .
ther in glowing promises to the mar ,
facturers, many of whom are bound ,
0 be disappointed.
The hard times we have experienced 4,
lnce 1890 will leave behind them one i,
4essing in the lesson they have taught i,
as well as every one !;
lse, that only those who live within
heir income, who economic, who g
ork early and late and watch their =
us'ness with the closest attention, can
lcceed. Any business which is so !;
rofitable that it is unnecessary to :
oserve these conditions will soon be-
,me overcrowded and competition will
rec out the profit. h
The mills OF North Carolina have =
zen generally successful because they \
ave been managed by attentive, in =
1strious, energetic and enterprising o
en who devote themselves, heart and !,
'ul, to the business in which they are O.
lgaged. Some enterprises have failed .,
rgely owing to special causes, some ;,
mes bad management, sometimes lack :,
capital. One of the great drawbacks :,
our mills has been that the manage II
ent put all of their capital into build ),
gs and machinery and are forced to =,
pend for working capital either upon
'rrowed money or the commission Z,