The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1898-05-07

=
1895, in which year the north used
2,0l0. 900 bales.
The record of 1896 shows another loss
OF about 25 per cent. for northern mills,
but steady gain for those in the south.
The figures are 100000 bales for the
north and 100000 bales for the south.
Comparing these with the amounts
used in 1871 shows a gain of about 80
per cent. for the north and a gain Of
about 900 per cent. for the south; the
increase of population was about S0per
cent. The north did not increase with
the gain in population; the south fur
exceeded that gain.
Measured in bulk in the 25 years from
1871 to 1896, the south gained 100000
bales, while the north gained $4,000
bales.
Inroads Felt by Northern Mills.
In other words. with scarcely any
thing 20 start on. the south went out
and made the north more than divide
even with il the trade of the something
like 32.000,00 increase of population In
this country.
Other years might be used for COM
.parison and different percentages OF
gain might be shown, but whatever
years are used the general result Is
not altered; all show that the south
gained very much faster than the north.
The year 1871 was the beginning OF the
new growth OF mills in the south; 1896
| Is the year I'm which their competition
was most keenly felt; the years were
| just quarter of century apart, and
are good periods for comparison.
Measured by labor employed and
value OF product the increase in the
north is somewhat greater than is in
| Dictated by the number of bales OF cot
ton used. The north has been going 10
fine goods, the value of which is some
what more in the labor and less in the
amount of cotton put in them. The
same is true, TO a more limited extent,
however, in the south. This change was
not so sudden as TO cause decline Of 25
per cent i'm the amount Of cotton used
in single year in the north.
The south has sold more because IL
was able TO sell cheaper; il could sell
cheaper because it could produce cheap
err With increased production the com
petition has been sharp and the sup
i ply has exceeded the demand. This con-
dition was attended by great deprcs-
sion i'm the cotton market, prices ruled
low. and the manufacturer OF the
north realized that TO compete with the
south he had TO readiust the cost of
producing his goods. That led to the
decline OF wages in New England.
The Question of Wages.
IL is in these wages and their COM
parison that those OF the south that
the country Is interested. The wage
earners OF the south, on the whole.
seem happy and contented, the worker
i'm the north Is dissatisfied. Our con
tentment In life depends on the stand
point from which we view our posi-
/ ton. A man in the south who has been
accustomed to making but 80 cents
n day hoeing in the cotton fields, finds
his condition improved with steady en-
ployment at common labor about the
cotton mill at G5, 20 or possibly IS cents
day. II Is progress for him, and he
sings while he works. The northerner
who has been getting one dollar TO $1.10
a day for the same work is asked TO take
So cents to one dollar and he is dissatis-
fled. This comparison holds good to
greater or less degree in the more
skilled branches OF the work. Yet the
employers of the northern and south
crn lnborers sell their product in prac-
tically the same market.
There is no absolutely fixed scale OF
wages, north or south; conditions vary
in different states OF the north and in
different states OF the south There are
differences i'm the cities Of the same
state, and all the mills in the same city
are not exactly alike. But there is a
general average for the north and one
for the south. A faithful effort has been
made TO get this by visiting many mills
and talking with all classes in different
states in both sections. The result will
be given more in detail in future let
tiers.
Lower Cost Of Production.
There are other elements besides Ia
Dor that enter into the cost OF the fin
ished product. Among them are in
vestment OF capital, hours OF use OF
mill, taxes, insurance, interest freight,
getting on the market, power for ma
chinery, management. Each should be
given due consideration and will be.
Every true American must rejoice ut
the wonderful Development OF the south.
Her present growth is a marvellous one,
and she will continue. The regret in
cdent to the situation is the present
depression that IL causes in the north.
But those who expect an abandonment
OF northern mills are mistaken. The
south will grow, the north will grow.
adjustment will come; the cloud is even
now breaking, and the future has good
in store for all.
IT, q. PIPP.