The Atlanta constitution., 1898-08-08
The Cotton Industry in the South.

We are clad to note the friendly tone
in which The New York Tribune com
ments upon the possibilities OF the
south especially with respect to the
ranlrfacture of cotton fabrics. We do
not mean to be critical when We say
that this great republican newspaper
has not always been quick 10 0iS''' Il
tbe resources Of this section, and We
merely aIludo to the fact for the pur-
nog, of showing the significance Of ITS
present attitude With the changes
which time has brought, The New York
Tribune has become one of the most
ardent believers in the possibilities Of
the south, and one of the most eloquent
p0rtravors Of the advantages which 1t
offers to capital.
Recently the attention Of The New
York Tribure has been called to the
raDid DEVELOPMENT of cotton mills in
North Carolina; but without restricting
its observations solely to that state,
It speaks thus of the entire south:
some OF tho other cotton growing states
are not far behind. and with abundant
water power, chcau coal ana extremely
cheap labor the Development of the business
there is certain to continue ana TO display
results as surprising as the last decade mas
shown BY ana by the mills there Will be
able to de finer work, and some ume-Who
lmoWs?-they may come to take tn' puSl1
ness aWav not only from Lowell and Fan
River but from Manchester as wen. con-
trolling the markets of the world with their
homegrown and homc-WoVen fabrics.
Thus 1t appears that The New York
Tribune forsees what every obS9gYant
newspaper must forsee that the adVan-
tapes which the south possesses Ior the
manufacture Of cotton fabrics are faf
ahead of those to be found elsewhere
whether in this country or III Foreign
countries, and that while competition
may continue for some tune TO come 10
deprive the south of the full measure
of it's birthright, it will not be long be
fore the manufacture OF cotton 1aDflcS
is carried on exclusively in this sec
ton Such is the decree which nature
has written i'll the SOIL. Here iaDor IS
cheap, climate favorable, transportation
reduced to almost nothing, and Such DIS
advantages as result from the wear ana
tear OF cotton en- route to distant mar
kets saved to the manufacturer ana
saved to the consumer. What better
inducements could be offered? If the
argument is made that labor in the
south is not so skilled or so intelligent
as it is in other sections, the answer
70 TINS Objection IS 1Ound III tHe Sldl"-
ment that textile schools are springing
UP all over the south, and that # la
boz in this section is not what it ought
to be so far as the manufacture Of fab
RIGS is concerned. it will not be long in
becoming SO. With the combined ad-
vantages which the south possesses
over other sections for the manufacture
OF fabrics, especially cotton fabrics, 1T IS
useless for other sections to cherish
the hope of being able to compete sue
ccssfully with the south. What nature
has decreed man cannot reverse.
One Of the most vigilant champions of
the material interests OF this section is
The Chattanooga Tradesman. This wide
awake publication never tires of demon
strating to the world the extraordinary
resources and adaptabilties of the