The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-04-08
INDUSTRIAL POSSIBILITIES IN N. C..
How NORTH CAROLINA HAS GROWN IN MANUFACTURING EN-
TERPRIsEs-A COMPARISON BETWEEN NEW ENG
LAND AND NORTH CAROLINA MANUFACTURING
BY ~ Robertson United States Department of Labor
United States Department of Labor.

States further South. practically places
their cotton at the doors of our mills.
The great variety and abundance of the
finest hard woods in the world offer I'M
usual inducements to those who wish to
engage in the manufacture of furniture.
carriages and wagons, hard wood mate
rial for builders, agricultural wooden
supplies and all kinds of small wooden
wares
The cheapness of constructing buildings
is of itself tremendous item of saving
in capital outlay. With an abundance of
the very best building woods at the door
of every community and an unlimited
supply of brick clay everywhere, together
with the fact that the mild climate per-
mts far less expensive buildings both
for factories and dwellings than are re-
quired further North reduces the neces-
sary building cost to the minimum. THE
fact that there are no large cities to
cause great land values, ard the further
| fact that a majority of the most de-
sirable manufacturing sites are situated
| in small railroad villages reduce the
| Cost of land for manufacturing purposes
to almost nothing.
The productive power of capital is one
selection of locality for manufacturing
purposes. To show what capital can ac-
complish in North Carolina in two of the
most promising industries the following
facts are submitted:
! Each 500 invested in the manufacture
of cotton goods in the United States in
1900 yielded product valued at little
more than $72. In Rhode Island it yield
/ ed $64, in Massachusetts it yielded
slightly less than $71, while in North
Carolina it yielded $50. That is to say,
that in North Carolina capital invested
in this industry afforded basis for profit
from Is to % per cent greater than It
did in the other States mentioned. Or to
express it in a more practical way,
$500 invested in this industry in North
Carolina is equivalent to an investment
of 1921 in Massachusetts and to $131 in
! Rhode Island. These figures bear only
] upon the relation of capital to product,
and when cheapness of building, the earn
/ ing power of dollar when invested In
labor, and the items of taxes and gen.
eraI expenses are considered they be-
come even more significant.
/ Similar comparisons with Michigan for
the furniture industry afford even
greater contrast in favor of North Caro-
lima. Each $500 invested in the manu-
facture of furniture in the State of
Michigan in 1900 yielded product valued
| at $105, while in North Carolina it yield
ed $151-a difference of 46 per cent in
favor of North Carolina. Or to use the
other method of comparison, 500 invested
| in this industry in North Carolina was
equivalent to an investment of nearly
$144 in Michigan. In Michigan nearly
"a per cent of the invested capital for this
industry was required to provide the
necessary land and buildings, while in
North Carolina only 171a per cent of
capital was thus required.
The above comparisons for cotton goods
have been made with Massachusetts be-
cause that State is the great center Of
this industry in this country and be-
cause there has been made it's greatest
progress. Rhode Island was also select
ed because the conditions there are very
similar to those in Massachusetts and
also because the volume of business in
the latter State is so nearly the same as
that for North Carolina. For furniture
Michigan was selected because it is re-
cognized as perhaps the most progressive
State in the Union in that industry.
These comparisons with States in which
the great progress has been made and
where the highest perfection has been
reached give particular emphasis to the
wonderful opportunities offered here
Labor here is contented and reliable.
1t is composed entirely of people born
in the State, and there is therefore not
that disposition to seek changes which
is so common among foreigners. There
are no large cities with their attendant
vices and temptations to dissipation The
working people are intelligent, moral
and industrious, thus combining all the
elements Of the most desirable emplove.
| They are not easily shaken from their
naturally conservative ways and strikes
are therefore of rare occurrence and
short duration.
Taxation is exceedingly light While
wealth has increased at a rapid rate
during the past ten years it has been
necessary to sdd but II per cent to the
assessed valuation of real estate and
the rate of taxation has not been in
creased at all. Labor and capital have
always been upon such amiable terms
that the law-malzing power has found it
necessary to do but little in the way of
regulating labor questions, and this little
has been along conservative lines.
All in all, there is no more inviting
field for manufacturers than in this
State. and it is doubtful if so many SUI
perior advantages and desirable consid-
eratfons are to be found elsewhere.
Cheap power in practically unlimited
volume, cheap raw materials in ample
quantity. quality and variety, reliable
labor, cheap living, wholesome laws, an
ideal climate, and a hospitable welcome
await the enterprising stranger who
comes among us.
T. NJ. ROBERTSON
Department of Labor, Washington, D.
c., April A.