The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-09-27
A Florlda editor say


We occupy our space under this head
to-day with an article from the New
York sun ON the cotton industry in the
South. With some Introductory remarks
concerning The cotton crop OF this season
the sun says.
The record OF cotton manufacture is q
record Of looms and %spindles rs well as OF
TIE number Of mills IN operation. and Of
Lhe number OF bales Of cotton consumed.
Compared witt "a year ago, there has been
an increase in the whole Northern region
of the United States of 5000 spindles only
whereas the South has gained more thar
10000 spludies or six times as much. The
total number of spindles in both parts OF
the country was 10000 last year. and.
as may be seen, the increase in the South
has been relatively very much larger. ln
1884. there We're 2.1VJ0OO spindles in tAe
twelve Southern States in which there Waa
amy appreclabie amount of cotton manu-.
featured. In 1856, the total Aad risen &C.
2.lOI,o0J. Ia lN9S. il was 100000 anu this
year it is 3.SJ0.OO0. The gain in tAe mum.
Der OF looms wa co-rrespondingiy larry
from 5000 in 1894 to 1000 IN 1886. $1,000 ln
1895 and 5000 this year.
lt has been a matter Of wonder why in
Southern States where cotton is raised.
water power is abundant. labor IS cheap
rents are small, knowledge OF cotton and
cotton goods extensive and the opp0rtuni-
ties for the investment Of capital com.
~paratvely few, there should be such a
small amount Of cotton manufacture. and
the cotton dealers should find profit ~
skipping at considerable expense their
product either 20 New England factories
or abroad. IL has been pointed out fire.
Quenly hat a probable element in the fu.
ture prosperity Of the New or Industrial
South would be found in the more general
manufacture of cotton goods in mills near.
er the chief source Of cotton supply.
There are now 4li such mills in the South
Of which 16S are in North Carolina, 70 in
South Carolina. 81 IN Georgia. 81 IN Ala.
bama, q in Tennessee, II in Virginia. 10
IN Kentucky. Z in Mississippi, 5 in Texas
now the chief cotton State5 each in Louis.
lana and Arkansas large c0tton-produc-
ing S~tate-and 3 in Missouri. These South
ern cotton mills consume in a year 1900. 06c
bales. or twice as much as they did five
years ago. an encouraging sign tQx those
familiar with the opportunities whichsthe
South offers for cotton manufacture
In addition to the cheapness Of labor. the
abundance Of water power, the proximity
to the source of products and the oppor.
tunities for a ready market. Southern
cotton manufacturer enjoy. when IN com
petition with New England dealers d con.
siderable advantage in climate. The alb
scnce OF severe weather allows the mills
10 be operated IN the South at all times
Of the year. whereas the temperature in
Massachusetts, and Rhode Island fire.
Quenty interiors with work. The mills
operated by water power are much more
likely 10 freeze in the North than in the
South. The South is less likely to be
affected by a hot spell In the summer than
the North. A still more important ell.
matte condition Is the humidity Of the
atmosphere. The air must be moist. other.
wise the cotton yarn will break; and sc
necessary Is this moisture that In many
OF the English and Northern factories.
expensive machinery u provided TO pre-