The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-03-04
STATISTICS AS TO MILLS ETC,

One of the most difficult Of newspa-
Per trials is to find out the exact truth
and especially to procure really re-
Eable statistics. In North Carolina it
rs hard to obtain the facts as to cotton
milling and results We publish one
week a statement. Two or three weeks
fater other figures are given in some
Grade journal or other cocksure guess
er. We nave seen in a few mOnthlies
three Of four different statements in
reference to cotton milling and the
Dales Of cotton consumed. All pubIica-
tions outside of North Carolina give
the figures below those sent out Off
cialiy from Raleigh. We do not pre-
tend to know which are the correct
ones, but the state figures ought to be
the most reliable, and if not, they
should be accurately corrected. South
ern trade journals make the number of
nnlS much less thar the statement Of
the state Commissioner. They gave
the cor sumption of cotton at less than
10000 bales, and the production at
something over 400, 900 bales. The
Unit 4 States Department of Agricul-
ture gives the total cotton crop at
1852, 705 bales, and North Cardinals
product at 521, 795 bales, which is great
eT than We ever saw it before given.
1t says North Carolina mills bought
245,177 bales, taking 45,428 bales from
other states. In this state 1928, ia
acres were planted in this crop, an
average of AZ Of a bale per acre. Please
note, that less han half a bale was
the average. At that rate of prOduc-
ton there is TO great future in five
cents cotton. Why will farmers con-
tinue to cultivate poor, unimproved
land? That and poor mud roads are
on a par.
North Carolina in tobacco production
has moved nearer to the head. In 1896,
it stood number two. 1t makes more
fine tobacco than any southern state,
and finer tobacco than any other. It's
best tObaccOs of the golden belt are
rich in nicotine and sacharine and
work up better as wrappers han any
other known tobacco. There is a four
miles square area in Granville that
can beat the continent. Kentucky
leads in quantity but not in quality.
The money value is as follows: Ken
lucky, Sc 32, POP; North Carolina, $780,
1874; Virginia, $3,O13, 1856; Tennessee,
S2,464 1885,; Ohio. 81, O66, 900; Pennsylva-
mia, 1929, 542; Connecticut, / 1924, SOS.
Alamance county leads in mills,
looms, and spindles, having II mills,
4,345 looms and SO, 054 spindles. CASTOR
is a good second, with ZAP looms and
115,034 spindles-beating in the latter.
Mecklenburg is second aus to spindles,
with sc, 594. Right or wrong, it is claim
ed that there are 210 mills, 1S3 OF which
are cotton, 26 hosiery. two finishing.
Then there are 8 wooden and l silk mill.
These figures differ somewhat from
others that have been published. They
are possibly accurate. There are other
mills in course of construction or being
planned. There are ASH looms and
1,044, 3S5 spindles in the cotton mills.
THE hosiery mills have 1,430 knitters.
II SIAN" iH'
placed ait ST, 253, $40. In 1870, there were
80 cotton mills. Nearly or quite half of
n cotton mills run both night and
day. The estimate of the water power
is $500, 900, sufficient to run 80, 900, 900
spind1es. We think it probable that by
h end of the year eight or ten cotton
mills will have been added. Last year
min cotton mills We're added, with
-5S, 0SO %spindles, and but so looms. Is
this not misleading? 1t is given in
-~Textile World" for nua There
were less projected mills in this count
try in 1897 than in either 1895 or 1925,
but more mills actually constructed.
The following shows those built for
-four years:
1897 1896 1895 1894