New-York tribune., 1902-07-20


the last census decade increased its productive
capacity nearly IS per cent, and the value of its
product 266 per cent, yet. with a much larger
consuming population, and. measured by the
greater purchasing power of the people, due TO
increased earnings and lower cost Of commodities
this increase easily taken Of in the ordi-
nary demands OF domestic trade without any ma
terial assistance from foreign trade Therefore
cotton manufacturing in this country in 19Oo-and
the same may be said of 1t to-day-had not reached
production excess of the wants or the ability
for their qualification OF the people.
The population OF the United States in 1890 was
g go 80. and in 1900 it 76,S03 SS7. showing
increase in ten years OF 2l.9 per The num-
Der Of cotto1. spindles-the measure Of productive
capacity-in operation in 1890 was 1A0s10S, and in
1900 it 1s00S.S52 showing Increase of 4.92O-
z4s The number Of spindles. therefore. per 1000
of population in 1890 about 225. and in 1900
about 80 If conditions had been the in
1900 as in 1890 should have had for the latter
year surplus beyond needs of nearly twenty
five spindles a 1000 population. nearly lsO7.5S5
spindles altogether. This would have represented
an overproduction to the extent Of the productive
capacity OF this number of spindes The rea-
ton however. between production and consump-
ton had greatly improved in the decade, and was
much better at the end than at the beginning Of
IT, The export trade had improved to the extent
Of "a 729 yards Of cloth, from Is G2s go yards
IN 1890 3521s4. $50 19Oo which itself
Of 10000 of the extra number of spindes the re-
naming portion of which may easily have been
needed for spinning finer yarns for finer fabrics
which were made in greater quantity in 1900 than
in 1890
But. aside from this the pecuniary conditions OF
the people enabled them to consume the cotton
rnanufa of 1900 easily those of 1890
vithstanding the apparent surplus production rep
resented in the excess Of 1eo7.5S5 spindles. and
goods the value of s3Ss.l9S.6ls. by census
turns, entered readily into consumption in 1900
as those valued s26 sS IA did in 1890 The value
1890 81 Is per capita OF population and 81 Sc
in 1900. being practically the same.
Thus. the entire production of 1900 could have
that Of 1890 The people, however, were better
able TO stand the cost Of 81 81 IS in 1900 than
they in 1880. for it appears from recent cal
citations made by the Department of Labor, at
Washington, that while the income Of the wage
Garner had increased during the decade, merchan-
disc had declined in value, that the purchasing
power OF wages had increased fully 3 per cent
Hence based the purchasing power Of wages
the number OF spIndles and their production were
not in excess of the ordinary demands Of trade in
1907 rather. 1t would seem, they were not up TO
them.
While the factors for fair equilibrium exist in
the cotton manufacturing industry between pro
duction and consumption. ii is none the less true
that their relation TO another may be such as
TO turn their utility 10 improbable account
There may be too many spindles on one class OF
goods and not enough another class. Enough
Siyersihcation in the character Of goods made may
he lacking, and skill Tor TINS diNerSlcatlon may DC
wanting This. however, is capable Of correction.
and in the nature Of things Will be- wherever 1t
exists. For example, while cotton manufacturing
IN the United States in 1900 in fourishing
condition there were evidences OF too much coarse
spinning in the South and insufficient amount OF
fine spinning in the North. The former section
stood IN need of export trade or higher grade
of production, and the latter section impetus 10
production satisfy growing demand and ap-
probation fabrics The situation is under
stood in both sections, and adaptation OF means
suitable it is being carried out circumstances
Will admit The North is raising the standard OF
its manufactures, and all new mechanical appli-
ances are introduced with this end In view; and
the South is doing likewise, though not on so high
q scale.
There is a raisconception on the part OF many
Of the relative growth Of cotton spinning IN the
North and in the South during the decade enolng
tn 1900 II IS not an uncommon belief that the gain
was almost wholly in the South. derived very large
IL from Northern mill capital going there, 10 the
serious detriment Of the Northern industry The
trnpression is a natural one when record is made
~ ten 10 twenty mills IL may be, being built in
the South to one in the North without considering
their relative size productive capacity OF that
the one mill might be equal in these respects 10
The ten or twenty mills. Percentage comparisons
ere oftentirnes made as that for instance. of 32s
r7er cent increase in the number Of spindles for
South Carolina and only %3.6 per cent for Massa-
chusetts when the absolute increase was 1OSooo
spindles for the former state ana 1so4oS spiho4es
The number of cotton spindles in the North IN
1910 was Il ss 5io-sOs than in all the United
States in Isso-and IN the South 4,3l,s42, making
total Of 1s COS 352 in ali Of the States. against IA
C8s 103 in 1880 Here was increase Of 4So24s
s,,rdlas FOR the whole country in ten years. Ot
this increase al per cent was in the Northern
States and $50 per cent in the Southern states.
Nearly 20 per cent Of the increase was IN Massa-
crsetts alone and 52s per cent in the four South-
ern States of North Carolina. South Carolina
f-sorpia and Alabama, where seven-eightns OF tne
number of suindles in the South were in the census
year No other single State approached Massa-
r,ss++s during the decade in the progress naoe IN
cotton manufacturing, singular as II may appear
IN anna WIN have needed without inVesugaton
she stories that have found currency or the oechne
a. .ba. industry in that State. 1t is strange now
sr ,,a. that State should stand practically alone
x-,orp its sister England States. and all the
pcorthern States for that matter, in making any
,rsterfaI advancement in the manufacture or cot
4on during the ten years Of 1ssO-lsOo Inc increase
tn the number Of spindles for all the Noruiefn
States for this period 40. ana W. per cent
of this was in Massachusetts,. in spite OF her
eight hour labor law and statutes reiati"s " A00
tory inspection and employers haonites Vi iioio
drastic character than those enforced IN any otner
manufacturing commonwealth. While TINS Slaeo
-vss forcing ahead the other New-England states
STOOD practically STILL adding only 2zzA spinoIes
IN .beIr ouota This will be seen In the 1oio"lhs
statistical statement giving the number OF spihoies
sn tbs census wears Of 1890 and 1900.
-spindles-,
...... ss5 1872 152l