Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1899-06-08
Tho Cotton Industry In tho South.

tho predictions Of those who have
promised that this section should be
the site Of the worlds largest cotton
industry. In hard times as we'll as
good times the movement to, and
tho growth of the cotton mills in the
south have kept up. Indeed, it
seems that during the pinching
period, from 1898 to 1897, when the
northern mills werc hard put to it 10
keep their loooms going, the supe-
rior position Of the southern mills has
been emphasized more forcibly than
over.
Between 1890 and 1898 the con-
sumption of cotton by the southern
mills has more than doubled, while
that of the northern mills has con-
stantly huctuatcd, the aggregate
making a small increase. During
the same period the increase in the
number Of spindlcs was 151 per cent.
Thus far in the present season the
southern mills have taken 1851 1872
bales, an increase Of about $4,000
bales over last season. The takings
Of the northern mills show a de-
crease Of about $4,000 bales. Dur
ing the past two weeks arrange
mcnts have been made for an in
crease Of about 100000 spindlcs in
the south.
Mr.. ID. A. Tompiins, of North
Carolina, prominent spinner, stated
recently that the question now was
not so much one Of competition be-
tween the north and south as it was
a question Of competition between
the United States and the rest of the
world; and nc advised the co-opcra-
tion of American textile interests to
secure such Legislation as will tend
to widen the market for American
goods to such an extent that, instead
of manufacturing fourth of the
American crop, as at present., the
American mills shall be able to con-
sumo threc-fourths.
This is a very. good suggestion,
but it is to be borne in mind that
the competition between the mills of
the south and those of the north and
cast is not and never has been the
result of deliberate intcntico. The
competition has been instituted by
nature itself and is the result Of con-
ditlons that cannot be ignored nor
disposed of. Consumers will buy
the cheapest goods, all other things
being equal, and the situation in the
south is such that the mills here can
produce goods at less expense than
they can be produced at the north
and east. This being so, the south
crn mills will prosper, as they have
been doing, while mills less fortu-
natcly situated are leading hand
to.mouth existence.
These conditions have already be-
gun to appeal to northern capital,
but they appeal even more strongly
to local capital, and the result is
that mills arc srringing up in all
parts of the south. The I5I per
cent increase of spindlcs during the
past eight years, rs compared with
an increase of about 33 per cent for
the whole country, has meaning in
it that cannot be disposed Of unless
the manufacture Of cotton goods be
taken in hand by trust. That the
southern output is to be diversified
is shown by the fact that schools for
textile training are in course of cs-
tablishmcnt, two being already in
operation.
In this connection, the dispatch Of
our Grccnvillc, S. c., correspondent,
printed in yesterdays Constitution,
is not to be overlooked. The cot
ton mills in that section have been
holding their annual meetings, and
the reports of the trcasurcrs show
unprecedented profits. Now unprc,
ccdentcd profits in the asouthcrn mill
mean something extraordinary, some.
thing larger than 20 and 30 per cent
dividends to stockholders. A mil
with $l25,000 capital shows a net
profit of $37, 900. The Piedmont
mills show net profit Of over $l25,
600, and others in proportion. The
profits for the current year will be
much larger. The Poe mill, which
made $4,000 a month last year, is
making $4,000 month this year.
The result Of this, as our cores
pondent says, is to arouse in loca
capitalists a desire to invest in the
cotton spinning industry, and many
new spindlcs will be added to the
total number this year. STOCK
has been subscribed for a $G00,O0t
mill at Anderson, S. g., and mil
with $4,000 spindlcs is to be built a
Belton. All these things show ;
general tendency. New mills ar
built, as in the old days, by the co
e Al, IL,