The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-12-13

This has been pointed out by the gentle
men who discussed the matter at the
Press club meeting, 1t Is for the South
TO manufacture at home the greatest part
OF its surplus cotton. There are markets
for this manufactured article. not merely
at home, but everywhere abroad. because
of the Increased economy OF working up
the staple In juXtapositlon with the heidS
where Ii Is grown, and because or the
extremely favorable conditions OF climate
and situation. Those facts We're fully
set forth by gentlemen OF the largest
practical experience, and 1t is worth while
briefly to restato some of their arguments.
In the first place, staple cotton, which
in the raw state is worth, say, 9 cents per
pound is when manufactured, worth an
average of 80 cents pound Thus 1t Is
seen that the producer of the raw mate
rial gets only pittance for the results
of his labor
which required 100000 laborers to grow
and get ready for market brought $780,
OlO 900. ar a wage of 800 to each hand for
years work This cotton was spun
/ ana woven by l0oO,o00 persons who Got
an average each Of $500 for years work,
! The result was that only S2a6 1000 900 was
received for the sale OF the raw cotton,
while more than double that amount was
paid TO the labor that spun and woVe the
! cotton, and that spinning and weaving
were done outside the states where the
cotton was grown
i Now, If that cotton were spun and
woven In the cotton States. not only
would $2i6, 900 600 paid TO the producers
of the raw staple have remained in the
Southern States. but $500 100000 more
paid for the manufacturing outside those
States would also have remained 70 en-
rich the Southern people who would nave
received as their return for single crol
/, of cotton the enormous sum OF Silb,oVc,
600.
According to Mr.. H. II. Hargrove, on
of the speakers, who had travelled exten'
siyely and investigated tho cotton indus
j try In New England, which is the richest
part OF the Republic, its wealth having
been made almost wholly from cotton
manufacturing, the cotton states enjoy
the greatest advantages for this industry
and what are required are the requisite
energy and enterprise to start and carry
on the development OF Southern cotton
mills. t4
The following Illustrations, presented
by Mr. Hargrove from official data, are
pregnant with interest:
Massachusetts, is one-siXth the size 81
Louisiana. and yet it sustains thirty-tw'
cities. and in wealth. per capita aud pei
area II is the richest Of the United States
having tax wealth greater than Texas
Louisiana Arkansas, Mississippi, Ala
bama, Georgia and the two Carolnas
There are six counties which ere richie
than Mississippi. and four which are
richer than Louisiana, and one OF ines
(Middlesex) has $l500Oo,000 create
wealth than Louisiana, This wealth !
the result of manufacturing during tn
last forty years.
Massachusetts, has 40 per cent OF tn
American spindles. Rhode Island ie abou
, the size Of an average parish OF Louisiana
and yet 1t has s67 100000 banking capita
ar more than 10 per cent of the Nations
banking capital OF the United state:
Providence has $4,000 population an
sSs, 900. 600 In savings bank deposits. Fort
years ago Massachusetts and Rhode lslan
, were poor.
BY adopting means within their reacl
,, the Southern people can surely accomplis
I, | like results.