The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1899-04-01
COTTON MILLS.

! through the Kindness OF tne Ne"
Orleans Picayune, we have been
! furnished for distribution several
hundred pamphlets, containing a
series of letters by Mr.. II. IL. Har-
grove, staff correspondent OF that
paper, on the cotton mill industry OF
North Carolina and other States.
We will send them out to the citizens
of East Carroll, and ask them to read
the pamphlet carefully. 1t shows
what cotton mills can do for coun-
try that is far behind our State in the
way. of cotton production.
We believe that much good will
come from the efforts of the Plea
yune, and that it will only be few
years at the longest, when our State
will have several cotton mills. When
they are built, the cotton planter
will be much better off than he is to-
day.
We copy the ''preface' of the
pamphlet, which says:
In the pages which follow will be
found Il series of letters by Mr.. H. H.
Harsrove, staff correspondent of the
Picayune, giving the results of careful
Investigation into the cotton mill indus
try of North Carolina and other South
ern States. These Investigations were
made during visit to the principal GEN.
tiers of Cotton Milling for the express
purpose OF studying the subject with a
view to the encouragement of a more
extensive Investment in cotton mills in
Louisiana and Mississippi. Mr.. Har-
grove who conceived the idea, was sent
on this mission by the Picayune because
the management of this paper believed
that the installation of 2 number of cot
ton mills in the smaller towns, and even
in the very cotton fields of this and
neighboring States. would prove quite
as profitable an investment as similar
ventures have proven inNorth Carolina.
Mr.. Hargrove has written most en-
tertainngly of his investigations among
the cotton mills, and has furnished facts
and figures TO show how. from small be-
ginnings. the mills have gradually
spread over the entire cotton belt of
North Carolina and neighboring States,
scattering prosperity broadcast and
furnishing market for very large
portion of the cotton grown in their
neighborhood. In the case Of North
Carolina the mills actually consume 60
per ceat of the entire production of the
raw material.
The Picayune has always distrusted
the policy of crop curtailment as the
proper method of avoiding over-pro-
duction. The South can produce cot
ton cheaper than aay other part of the
world; hence there is no reason why all
the cotton consumed should not be
grown in this section. The PicayuDe
has always believed, and believes now
more than ever, that the proper policy
is to cheaper the cost of production.
firstly. by crop diversifcation and pro-
duction at home of all food supplies,
of costs and transportation charges for
a part of the profit. Charges can be
saved IN no better way than by provid
ing a ready market for the raw cotton
at the very door of the gin. The peo-
pie of North Carolina have shown us
how to do this by building cotton mills.
great and small, right in the midst of
the cotton fields; hence all we have to
do is to initiate them. There is no ex-
perimenting necessary. as the problem
has already been fulIy-solved.
In -lis--lleetiers Mr.. Hargrove shows
not only how the cotton mills of North
Carolina and other neighboring States
! have succeeded, but also how similar
mills built in this nelghhorhood would
also succeed. While it may not be
practicable to build sufficient mills to
consume the entire product of raw cot
ton of Louisiana and Mississippi, it
would be of immense advantage to be
able to consume even 25 per cent. Of
| that production at home. Not only
would small mills throughout the coun-
try afford an additional market for the
cotton production of their neighbor-
hoods. but they would be profitable in
vestments for the savings of small coun-
try communities. and would give en-
/ pioyment 10 class of labor which IS
probably but lily suited to more labor.
| ious field work.
The Picayupe and its correspondent,
Mr.. Hargrove. have pointed out the
ways and means TO inaugurate profit
able cotton milling industry and it now
rests with enterpnsing residents in The
different cotton parishes and counties
in this section to put these suggestions
into practical effect.
! THE RIVER.