Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-09-15
THE souTH,s GREAT GAIN.

The Financial Chronicle in its annual
cotton review prints and Classics in a
very impressive manner some very i'm
portant and suggestive facts as to the last
cotton crop and fits distribution.
The increase OF cotton spindles in the
north for the year ended September l.
1902. was only 100000. while the mills in the
south added in the same period no less
than 7O5.5sS to the number OF their spin
dies.
So evident have the advantages Of the
south for the manufacture OF cotton be-
come that many New England mills have
established plants in southern states and
others are preparing 10 do so. Some Of
these southern branches OF northern mills
have proved so profitable that they have
paid a good per cent on the total invest
ment, north and south, OF the companies
owning them.
The Financial Chronicle says:
Southern cotton mill returns again
show a very satisfactory growth. The
total number OF spihdles now active in
these states reaches 6,179.421, against
$40. SIS a year ago, which indicates an in
crease during the twelve months Of 1oo,5SS
spindles. The cotton consumed in the
has reached ], 942 SS1 bales, comparing with
1.657.0l2 bales for the previous year. The
development OF this industry in the south
recorded by US year by year has been IN
paralleled; especially has this been true
during the last few years. Moreover, fu-
ture growth, according TO present pros
poets looks even more promising. There
seems to be no end TO the new mills pro-
jected and to the additions of spindles to
- - - MA
course some OF these win not be carried
through, but judging from the experience
OF previous years, a very large proper
ton OF them viii be. What has made
possible the phenomenal expansion of this
industry in the south is mainly the fact
that northern capitalists have recognized
the better field those states present, es-
peeiaIly for the heavier materials; time
has proved that such goods can be turned
out cheaper in the midst OF the supply Of
the raw material than in New England.
Returns indicate that in every south
ern state there has been an increased
consumption OF cotton during 190l-02. I'm
portant additions to the spinning ca
pacity OF old plants have been made and
a large number of new mills have started
up during the season. The average num-
Der OF spindles per mill now reaches liza,
against 1880 a year ago, 1854 in 1Ss9-OO,
and but S5S5 in 1855, or a gain In aver
age capacity OF about 81 per cent in seven
years"
South Carolina maintains her lead OF
the other southern states IN cotton manu-
featuring and it is a good long lead.
North Carolina comes second. Georgia
third and Alabama fourth Alabama has
made very remarkable progress in this
Industry IN the last two years.
1t is strange that Texas, the state which
produces so much more cotton that any
other, should lag so far behind most Of
the other southern states in cotton manu-
features. being surpassed in this respect
even by Kentucky, which nobody ever
thinks OF in connection with cotton.
In all the great state OF Texas there are
only $50 cotton spindles while Kentucky
has IS, IA
There are indications, however, that
Texas win soon wake up TO her possibili-
ties as a Gotten manufacturer and take a
high stand in the list of the textile states
OF the south
Alabama never felt any decided impulse
I'm this direction until three or four years
ago and Texas may move far forward as
q cotton manufacturing state during the
next year.