The Atlanta constitution., 1900-12-03
Cotton Spinning in the South.

We print elsewhere an article from
The New York Commercial Bniietih
dealing with the relative advantages
held By the north and the south for
cotton spinning.
When the Arkwrieht Club took its
action of 1897. The Constitution char
acterized its findings as being foreign
TO tho real advantages held by the
south. The first and controlling ad-
vantage Is that of nature. which no law
and no enterprise can overcome In
the absence of cotton spinning in
America. the monopoly made Lancaster
rich. and later. i'm the absence Of spin
ming in tho south. its presence in New
England made that section rich II IL
will paw a cotton spinner To set mp IN
Fall River. and import his cotton 200
miles. IL viii pay him equally well IN
Columbus. and import his material zoo
miles. This IS 81 plain a proposition
tha, its discussion would be bat
waste ~ words This statement is made
on a basis OF equal charges in both
places. when the fact is that under al
conditions possible the southern spin
ner viii hold IN advantage of which
he cannot he deprived
The charges incident 20 reaching the
market. looked upon n an Offset to
lower freight rates upon cotton to the
southern mill. have been much magni-
fed. i'm view ~ the fact that the seat
~ the market will change To suit the
trade That custom which has made
New York the market for our fabrics
is not permanent. and viii entirely dis
appear the moment that il is used 10
cripple southern enterprise only in
one way can New York merchants hold
our trade. and that IS. by building IL
IN II the New York commission men
constitute. themselves the attorneys in
fact for the Fall River spinners, then
will come another revolution which
will be even more astonishing than
the change i'm spinning. The south y
now well supplied with railroads. whose
interests are local. and which are
strong enough TO wreSt terms from
traus-runtinentat lines. II these rail
roads cvfnce disposition 20 he unjust
our state railroad commissions backed
IN hy tho Interstate commission. viii
soon bring them u time. The mer-
chant has already appeared in the
south. rs well ms the spinner. and the
railroad manager viii he vieilant
enough To place himself in harmonious
relations with them.
A. to the leanr question. that is one
which viii settle itself in time. To the
satisfaction ~ an concerned In the es-
tahlishmeut ~ business I'm q new coun-
try there are always criai;ies which
viii rdi-st themselves With the sue
ccs-ful establishment IL q mill inter
est there VIII grow Up 2 competent
labor force. Une AZ the disabilities
noted as possible for the future IS real
ly one ~ the advantages which the
south h0nrs tp gain hy When local
lalUr grows scarce. Ne expect an in
cre7s., ~ population from those even
iu Massachusetts, who seek tn better
their condition The defeat or the child
labor bill iu th- legislature the other
day was uot owing 90 thr want 81 n
progressive spirit hut 10 the intima-
tiun which gained ground somehow or
other. that i- vas inspired from abroad.
George can be relied upon in due time
20 take hold ~ All such questions. and
give them proper direction but the
movement W.I 10 internal
A. long as i pays 70 spin cotton
abroad. De- viii uay 81 spin i- at home
hence aii taiE az over building is i'll
founded There IS the cotton 10 snin.
and II any one wants 90 quit spinning
IL. DE VIII uat l.e southern man He
Is in the field rn sray. The holding of
2 great textile exposition in Atlanta.
within the next wear ar two. would
furnish IN excellent opportunity to sec
tho southern spinner ou parade