Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-09-08

Total consumption of the south, 1881
bales, an increase over last year of 3d.
O40, and over year before last Of $40, S59
Cotton Mill Industry.
In reference to the general manV'actur-
ing industry Mr.. Hester says that at no
time in the history of this country has
consumption by American mills been as
large as during the past year. 1t is
true he says, conditions have not been
perfect. The price of the raw material
during the latter part of the year COM
pared with manufactured goods having
narrowed the margin so as to prevent a
handsomer total but many more spindles
have been at work, especially In the
south. consuming the raw material to an
extent never before known. The trans
fer of the industry to the near neighbour
hood of the cotton feld goes on to a re-
markable extent and out of 342,04 bales
increase Of consumption by mills in the
United States. 17.O41 are south of the
Mason and Dixon line.
Mr.. Hester puts the consumption Of
American cotton by northern mills this
year at 2.O50,0O0 bales, which, together
with the 1881. 81 consumed in the SOUTH
makes a total for the United States Of
3,9S7.911.
He makes the stock carried over by
northern mills S.0O0 against $4,000 last
year.
He states that the consumption of for
eign cotton on this side of the Atlantic
during the past year has increased to a
remarkable extent. Manufacturers of the
north and south have. taken of Egyptian
and other importations (mostly Egyptian)
the equivalent in American weights Of
$50, SOP bales, against an equivalent Of
100, al. He says that while only a trihing
portion of this total of foreign cotton
was used in the south, the tendency here
is toward an increase. That one 10000
spindle mill is building in Alabama, an
other with $1,000 spindles in Georgia and
two in North Carolina with 1860 spin
dies just started. That still another 10000
spindle mill is running in South Carolina,
making six southern mills with $3.50
spindles which will be devoted to the use
of foreign cotton next season.
He makes the total consumption in the
United States this year of all descriptions
of cotton domestic and foreign, 4,169.54T
bales, against 3,696442 last year, an in
crease Of III, los.
Growth Of spindles In South.
Referring to the increase of cotton man
ufactures in the SOUTH Mr.. Hester says
the phenomenal growth of spindles has
taken a fresh start, and not only have
the spindles-in mills in operation been in
creased by S25, 761. but his returns show
that there are actually in course Of cree
ton 996. s5S new spindles, making the to-
tai old, new and not completed in the
southern states, as before stated. 1872 9S2.
In addition to this, there are number
of new mills projected in the southern
states which will materialize in the near
future.
In commenting on this he says:
II cannot do better than repeat the re-
marks made in my last years statement.
that it needs but a glance at these figures
to show what southern manufacturers
have been to the cotton market this sea-
son and the influence they are destined 10
exert in the near future. Twelve years
ago the north took 1871 per cent and the
south 1913 of the cotton consumed in this
country. Today the percentages are north
51.4, south 4s.59."
Mr.. Hester further says, referring spe-
cially to the cotton consumption in the
south, that while The season on the whole
has been satisfactory. the high price OF
the raw material compared with manu-
featured goods duringl the latter part of
the year, and the six weeks strike and
lock out in parts of Georgia and South
Carolina, interfered with consumption to
the extent of about 100000 bales, and that
with all conditions favorable southern
consumption would this year have passed
the two-million mark. He further says
that with all the new south's capacity
at the rate of tnis year average net
weight per bale, as given by southern
mills, would be nearly 2,275.0OO bales.
Worlds Consumption.
One of the most interesting features In
Mr.. Hester's report is the showing Of the
worlds consumption Of American cotton
for the past three seasons, which he puts
at 10, so, 600 bales this year. against 1O,111,-
600 last year, and 10. $4,000 for 1s99-1900.
He quotes dispatch from Mr.. Thomas
Ellison. OF Liverpool. the distinguished
English cotton statistician, in which that
eminent authority places the surplus mill
stock in Europe of all kinds of cotton at
the close of August. 1902, at $4,000 zoo
pound bales against $4,000 last year. Mr..
Ellison estimates that the European mills
now hold $4,000 bales of American cotton,
against 374,000 last year
Mr.. Hester makes the total visible and
invisible supply of American cotton in the
world at the close of August 1,S5S000 bales.
against 1.421. Goo last year, decrease of
g. 900 bales, and the total visible and invis-
ible supply of all kinds of cotton In the
world at the close Of August 2O57,GO0,
against 2,163.OO last year. decrease Of
log, GU.
He gives the receipts of new cotton OF
the crop of 19O2-03 at delivery ports as
1851, against 52,742 last year and 22.62O
= 10 frwn