Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-12-28
New Textile Mills in 1904.

New Textile Mills in 1904.
The Textile World Record gives
some interesting figures as to the num-
Der OF new mills built In the United
States during the year now ending.
Although there has been depression
I'm the cotton business and although It
has been a presidential year there nave
neen 20 textile mills erected. only IA
per cent. less than In 1903. and more
than In any year from 1897 to 1'oZ N
elusive, with the exception OF l9oV. a
larger proportion of new mill con-
struction Is found in the knitting
branch than in previous years, put
with this exception the new mills are
well distributed among the different
branches, and in the different sections
OF the country. OF the 2so new mills
Ak are cotton mills. As wooden mills, III
knitting mills, 40 silk mills and 81 mis-
ceIlsneous mills.
The South leads in cotton mill con-
struction with &c mills having l3o.f'2
spindles. as compared with - mills ana
6l,1s4 spindles in the North. only
two of the northern mills contained
spindles, the other ~ being weaving
r,;I,a A comparison of the northern
and southern mill construction lot
series of years shows that there Is
nothing in the 1904 record to indicate a
decadeuce IN the northern industry.
Thirty per cent. of the new spihdies
for the last year were installed In the
North as compared with Is per cent. IN
1900. OF the southern spindles. nearly
80 Ger cent. are credited to the caro-
linas. showing tn. tendency of the IN
dustry to concentrate within narrow
limits No new cotton mill is credit
cd to Maine for 1904. In view OF the
difficulties in which the cotton industry
has been placed during the last few
wears owing to a REIMBURSEMENT Oh
values in the raw material market. the
continued activity in mill construction
is conclusive proof Of the sound basis
upon which the American cotton IN
dultry rests.
The WOODEN industry also shows de-
crease in the number Of new mills as
con,ared with the preceding year,
there being A. III 1894 as compared with
g., in 1903. OF these new WOODEN mills
% or more than half Of the total num-
h.r are found in the state of Pennsyl-
wanna. Twelve are credited to Ne"
England. one of them being in Maine.
The South Is a negligible factor in new
WOODEN mills construction. only one be-
ing reported and that from Virginia.
OF the Ill new knitting mills built III
1904, 20 or nearly two-thirds are found
in the Middle States. In Maine and
the remainder are divided about equal
~ between the West and South. This
is an industry which has also had to
contend with very trying conditions
during the last year. in view OF when
the extensive construction of new mills
comes as a gratifying surprise. The
new silk mill construction for 19o4 Is no
exception to the general rule of con-
certration In New Jersey and Pennsyi-
vania. these two states claiming ~ OF
the ~ mills. For a number of years
the United States has been the largest
consumer Of raw silk in the world and
the steady growth indicated by this
years report indicates that we shall
retain this enviable prc-eminence.
1t Is not only in the go new mills
completed and put In operation in 1904
that there Is a good evidence Of pros
pcrity. but there Is still better evidence
In the new mills projected for the near
future. In 1904, AZ new mills were pro-
jccted as compared with IS In lscS'
Actual mill construction Is not as sure
an indication Of prosperity as is the
record of mills projected. After a new
mill is well under way operations can
not vel, be discontinued and for TINS
reason new mills are often completed
under adverse business conditions.
Is different with the projection OF new
enterprises. Adversely immediatei!
puts am end to plans for new bushes:
enterprises and for this reason the IN
crease in the number of mills project
4 ed in 1904 as compared with the recor'
Of 1903 is a very significant feature o
present conditions.
The Cars defiance to those OF nj
subjects who appeal FOR CONSTITUTIONS