The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-01-19
Letter Received by Local
Capitalists.
FROM BROWNVILLE, TEX.
Mexican Labor 3 Cents a Day,
Mill Site and Bricks Free.
THE COMPETITION OF THE SOUTH

Here is something that may prove in
terestiDg. Just at this time, when so
much is being said about the Southern
sotton industry, Southern competition
and conditions, and Southern mills; at
the time when Northern capitalists are
stared in the face with the results OF
their own doings, for have they not
sought to increase their worldly store by
putting money with their right ha1d
into New England mills, and with the
left hand have they not raised up the cot
ton industry in the South, that which
seriously threatens the productiveness OF
the money that went out from the right
hand?
Recently u number Of COTTON mill men
In this city. the heads OF large corpora
tions. received from Brownville, Texas, a
proposal FOR cotton factory at that
place. which contains some very interest
ing facts.
1t states that the chief advantage of
Brownville is tie abundance of cheap
and intelligent Mexican labor, both men
and women. who could be- employed in
cotton mill at maximum OF 23 cents
day. About 5000 are now working In
their hores on Perfilado, or Mexican
drawn wcrk, for much less wages ana
would be glad to give up their present
irksome unhealthy occupation for more
agreeable and remunerative work In a
cotton mill.
Mexica MS the letter says, live cheaper
than any other people OH this continent;
they are patisnt and painstaking and
peculiarly adapted to any work requiring
dizziness Of the hands. The cost of living
at Brownville Is less than at any other
place in Mexico on the United States,
and this is duo to the Il olated position OF
the place with reference to the railway
systems.
The Galveston cetton mills are now
partly operated by Mexican labor, which
Is giving complete satisfaction. But on
account OF Its remoreDess from the
Mexican border 10 does not get the benefit
of the low wages that exist at Brown
Vile Labor organizations and strikes are
unknown there. The cotton crop OF 1897
to about Zoo bales OF strict middlinH.
The growers are planning for 10. 900 ba as
in 1S9s In the valley there is acreage for
/, oU0 0O0 bales. There would be ample
production for the requirements of "a
mill. Galveston could ALWAYS supply any
shortage. Cotton could be bought direct
from the planter Ut Galveston mar ket
price, less freight and other expenses OF
marketing a cotton factory there can
do Its own growing and buy the cotton
in the seed thus saving the cost OF bag
ginR and ties, and the sesd will be q net
profit Of 20 n ton In the Brownville III arket
All costs on the raw material such as
freight, drayage. wharfage warehousinR,
classification, weighing, ,comprsssing, bail
ing, marine insurance, and commission
mems profits osn te saved to the mill
located at Brownvlile. There IL an
bundance of hard wood fuel at 81 80 a
cord, and there are coal mines at the
head of the ri Grande on which Brown
vile Is situated, and which furnishes
water for all purposes.
There are nu railway connections with
the Interior but the town has water
transportation to oil points via the Gulf
of Mexico on the line of streams run by
the Southern Pacific Company. 1t is
believed that Mr.. q. Il. Huntington,
president OF the company, would grant
liberal freight concessions to any cotton
mill locating at Brownville.
Brownville ths letter proceeds, Is as
healthy rs any city In the South and in
summer enjoys refreshing trade winis.
There Is daily mail ryice to Alice.
Texas by stage, and Brownville has the
Western Union Telegraph service.
The valley cotton lands are hel1 at
from 81 to IS an acre. State and county
taxes are 81. l019 and city Go cents on each
500.
Building construction can be done at
one fourth the. cost or the same at any
other point in the United States. Struc-
tural iron can I've laid down at 81 a ton,
aud Al brick are delivered anywhere in
the city for 81. 40 per thousand. City lots
are worth from 500 to 5000 according to
location.
The letter states also that Mr.. Henry
NJ Field will donate to any company
wishing to build n cotton factory at
Brownville sufficient land Tor the ouild-