The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-09-21
attention is NOW DRAWN
TO SOUTH'S COTTON MILLS

tn HE SOutnS cotton mills are attract-
ing the attention Of the manufac-
L turers Of cotton goods the world
over That they can keep busy and make
money In face of the recent high prices of
raw material mystifies some Of the man
ufacturers who are old in the business.
During the past year with the high
prices Of cotton and the low rate for
manufactured goods they have expert
enced the busiest year in the history or
cotton mills in the south.
The takings Of cotton by the southern
mills have increased at such rapid rate
in the past thirteen years-from 1913 per
cent to o42 per cent-that fears are
entertained that this favored section will
eventually consume the entire produc-
ton Of cotton.
The New York Commercial, under the
head of "The South is First in Cotton
Goods Making says as to the southern
cotton mill situa ton:
reconsideration of the facts concerning
the disposition Of the cotton crop makes
It plain that cotton goods manufacturing
in the north is dwindling with speed
which few appreciate, each year show
ing greater rapidity Thirteen years ago
the mills of the south took 23.3 Of the
cotton crop consumed by American mills;
the north 1917 per cent. In 1908, the per-
centage, while not wholly reversed, shows
a change that commands attention The
south now takes SO AZ; the north 40 So
For the first time in its history the
south leads as q maker of cotton goods.
with the beginning Of September, the
years crop of cotton stood 1927, $50
hales an increase of 90, 879 bales over
last year. The value of the crop is $780,
no. 2s2. 1t is impossible to say just
what the southern manufacturer paid
for his cotton, because many of the mills
contracted for their supplies early; IN
fact. fully rs per cent of their purchases
were made before the increase in the
price of raw material began. AT any
rate, the southern manufacturers did not
pay an exorbltant price for their portloh
of the mill takings. 2,ooo72e bales oil
American and 1878 actual bales Of for
eign cotton, the latter mostly Egyptian
This Is equal TO 1883 American bales.
Northern mills consumed total of
2,oesooe of which l5o,374 bales were
foreign cotton.
This truth is interesting in view OF the
situation in the southern mills as occa-
sionally described by men with an ak to
grind. Careful investigation seems to
show that while there has been q cur
tailment of production at some OF the
mills, every bale of cotton obtatnable has
In general been used. There has actually
not been enough cotton to supply the
domestic demand. High prices Of raw
material and low rates for the manufac-
tured product have not been without ell
feet but the truth remains that southern
cotton manufacturers, taking the IN
dustry as "a whole, have just experienced
the busiest year in the history OF cotton
mills south.
There are 74o cotton mills on southern
territory, an increase of 4O4 IN thirteen
years OF these a few are under con
strlction The total number of spindieS
in operation is o.899,454. Adding ldle ana
incomplete spindles a total of SPAS, 27o
is reached The final figures indicate the
spindles which will be available say Jan
uary l. The Carolinas are striking eX-
arnples of the increase. South Carolina
is adding 81 900 spindles to its total,
and North Carolina 100000,
"A fact which should not be lost sight
ers and jobbers that there is a quality
division by northern and southern mills;
that is, the majority of coarSer cotton
fabrics IS made by southern mills, While
the finer fabrics come in greatest pro-
portion from the mills of New England.
Time may change these conditions, which
are the result of the lack of skilled labor
expensive machinery. but their existence
is offered as an explanation of the eX-
listing quality division.
ON every southern state, except Ar
kansas and Missouri, new mills and spin
dies are in process Of erection. Old plants
are being enlarged. The southern cotton
industry is growing apace in every de-
o