Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-09-01


ant commissioner Of agriculture, OF Geor-
gla. The speech In full follows.
With pleasure we meet in Tennessee
capital, one of the most charming among
the many lovely cities of the south, not
ed far and wide for its chivalrous sons
and beautiful daughters. Noble child Of
the gallant "Old North State" Tennessee
takes high rank among her southern SIS
tiers. always bearing herself with distin-
guislIed honor, whether in war or IN
peace.
Her sons have won high renown In TO-
rum and In field, in the Legislative halls OF
the nation and in the exalted office or
chief executive of the greatest republic
the world has ever seen. Ana well nave
her merchants, bankers, mechanics ana
farmers borne their part in all the laDors
and duties of their respective spheres OF
action.
While each of us brings some message
Of instruction, or suggestion, from his own
state and people, we expect to ada much
to our store of useful knowledge from
our generous hosts who represent the ag-
ricultural interests of the great state OF
Tennessee
While agriculture is the basis of en-
during prosperity for any country, diver
sity Of Industrial pursuits is an absolute
necessity for the complete development
OF any state Il would be difficult, IN
viewing the upbuilding Of great stare,
to estimate the exact amount OF credit
due each OF the three great classes OF its
circumstances, merchants and mechan-
ics.
Hence Il is appropriate for this conven-
ton Of Agricultural Commissioners to dis
cuss the growth of textile industries OF the
south. There is community OF interests
between the cotton grower and cotton
manufacturer that should cause whatever
concerns the one to attract and hold the
attention OF the other.
When the waters Of the Atlantic and the
Pacific shall have been united by the
much talked OF Isthmian canal, there may
be expected a great demand for the cot
ton goods of the south. This Will, OF
course increase also the demand for the
raw material, and there will be no danger
of over-production to him who raises the
cotton, or him who spins and weaves II.
Since such good prospects are spreading
out before us, let us take view or what
has been accomplished in the past and
thence draw conclusions OF what the near
future has in store for the south.
The movement Of the mills to the cotton
fields has already begun, and 1t is destined
to receive additional impetus each sue
ceeding year.
Let us now take a review of twenty
years growth of the great textile manu-
factories of our fair section Of this great
republic.
Textile industry in the South has made
a marvellous increase for the past twenty
years, especially when compared with the
New England States, the former home OF
manufacturers. AS shown from late
issue OF the Baltimore Record, the in
crease Of capital from 1880 to 1900 was for
the United States from $412, III ,496 to
| 81 1O1 COS SIS, or a gain of 142 per cent; for
New England from $261, SCI, 147 to 1914, $50 1852,
or a gain OF 100 per cent; for the South
from So. 27s, 40 to STAG, S40,15S, or gain OF
| AS per cent.
Again. the increase in the value Of pro-
ducts during the same time was; For the
United States from $685. 573 an to $SSS, S93 9oS,
| or a gain OF 65 per cent; for New England
from $40, $40, $50 to $412,S ,975, gain OF 81
per cent; for the South from $25, 6SS,24O 10
| STA. SS7 SOS, or a gain Of S4S per cent.
In 1880 the investments in textile indus
try in the south represented six per cent
| of all in the country, while in 1900 they
| represented fourteen per cent. In 1880 the
value OF the product of the south was four
| per cent of the total value OF the whole
| country; in 1900 1t was thirteen per cent
The great Importance Of Southern tex
tile manufacture has come TO De generaIiy
! recognized throughout the world. To
! maintain and extend this Importance
/ southern mills must meet changing condi-
/ tions, by use of best and up-to-date equip
/ ments and economical management, CIV
/ ing goods suited to the demand OF all quar-
/ ters of the globe. These conditions are
/ already materializing; hence / do not
share in the sentiment that there will be
/ IN the near future a glut I'm southern cot
/ ton mills. So long as wisely built, well
| equipped, economically managed, hnan-
| ciered by southern capital and governed
| by southern Drawn and brain, southern
| milling will always be a good and safe In
1 vestment The sudden prominence at
tanned by the southern states in textile In
/ 6ustry is strikingly shown by the total
/ increase of capital invested from 10000, 900
4 In 1850 TO S1S7 100000 in 1900 The capacity
/ of the south for advancement on this line
1 has Just dawned> upon the mill men OF
New England. and they are turning their
/ ewes in this direction, seeking for favor
able sites for the putting up Of great
| plants for the manufacture of cotton
/ goods. Let them come! When they find
| success here, they will make their homes
| with us and speedily become Identified
with us in interest and in sentiment.
Our southern land is full of enterprising
young men Of just as good natural gifts
for machinery and the successful man
agement of mills as any that are born on
! New England soil. They are as quick to
see and know a good thing as any Yankee
| that ever lived. When they see the success
| Of others, they viii 30 In with all their
might, and southern Drawn and brain be-
ing in the majority and stimulated by the
/ GOmDeIlIlOn OlnGTSp Will WOAh Jul BAO~
rious results, building UP great mills and
| filling them with laborers gathered from
| our own people.
The little mills with small capital will
also play an important part In this great
| movement. Ten years ago Georgia was
| easily the leader among the southern
states In textile manufactures, but now
she is surpassed by both North and South
Carolina in this respect, though still
| ahead Of each of these states in the cap
| ital invested in manufactures OF all kinds
and the value OF their products. Doubtless
| one Of the chief reasons why North and
| South Carolina have surpassed her in
the number apd capitalization of textile
| mills and value of their products is that
! In those states more attention has been
paid to the building up OF little mills than
| in Georgia. Augusta and Columbus, both
Georgia cities, are still ahead of all other
southern cities in the manufacture Of tex
tile fabrics. The mills in the city of Au-
gusta have combined capital of nearly
| 100000. and such has been their Won
derful success that they have gained for
! Augusta the titles Lowell OF the South"
and Fall River of the South" Augusta
| capital is also largely invested in four
Of the mills of South Carolina, which
have a combined capital Of more than ST.
100000.
We warn our brethren of North and
South Carolina that we Georgans intend
TO enter into a lively but friendly contest
with them to win back our former lead