The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1905-08-02
MILLS MUST HAVE LABOR.



This change brought with it, as con-
sequence, reduced prices Of cloth and
an enlarged consumption, which was
further promoted by the growth OF
population, owing partly to the natural
increase and partly to immigration
from the North. But within the last
10 or Is years another and very i'm
portant field Of distribution for South.
ern cotton goods has been opened in
eastern Asia aud elsewhere abroad.
Still further, the cloths made in the
South, which are of coarse texture,
have entered into competition so ex-
tensively in recent years with the pro-
duction Of she New England manu-.
fscturers, thai the latter have been
compelled to devote their attention
more and more to the finer and more
highly finished descriptions, which
are not yet made to great extent in
the South.
The, earliest southern enterprises
were not in all cases begun as first
class establishments. Some Of them
were equipped with discarded machin.
! cry from ne:.hesa mills. But the
manufacturers quickly learned that
there is no industry in which profits
are mere directly proportioned to the
| perfection and speed Of. the machinery
than in the spinning and weaving OF
| cotton, 80 that the old spindles and
looms were speedily replaced with
others of the newest pattern. A
large proportion of the mills built and
started between 1890 and 1900 are
thoroughly up to date in all respects.
In fact, some improvements in mill
construction are to be found in that
section which are not yet introduced
in the manufacturing regions of the
North. The industry is now impor-
tant enough in the States of North
Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia
to consume nearly one-third Of the
crop Of cotton grown in those States,
and both North Carolina and South
Carolina spin more than half the cot
tor grown within their respective
limits.
Organized labor has never figured
as factor in the production Of raw
cotton. As there is but slight differ
ence between the climate Of Italy and
that Of the cotton belt of the United
States, ;s seems to be practicable
that white labor may solve the prob
lem for the planter. For even today
more cotton is grown by white than by
colored labor; in the one case, Sc per
dent, and in the other, a. per cent.
It is 20 true that white labor picks
more Ids Of cotton day than does
eolored labor. The movement, there
fore, TO bring Italians into the Mis-
sissippi valley is likely to be full Of
interest.
When the European emigrant finds
what excellent opportunities exist For
him in the South, tho tide of immigra-
tion will undoubtedly turn in that
direction. Those who come first will
naturally have the best opportunities.
Most Of the mills are in position to
take entire families, give them houses
to move into on arrival, and put the
members Of. the families who desire it
at work on the following day or as
coon thereafter as they are ready. No
previous experience or training is con-
sidered@ essential. The necessary I'M
struction is given in the mill By the
present operatives. s.ss55 b. s555i;: q.
1 Most %of the competition expert
eneed By Massach may be found
lin what is known as the Piedmons
district Or that part of The country ~
Ling alongside tho route Of the South
ern railroad, extending through North
land South Carolina into Georgia. It
Iis = sparsely settled county at. pres
ent, bnt rapid dly growing in influence
and ID population. Charlotte, in The
State of North Carolina, seems TO be
1.-The natural centre of cotton mliauufao,
turing. Draxing AN imaginary s,ircls
Ito take ia about 100 miles of country
around Charlotte, Ws End nearly 800
cotton mill, operating q i 40, SOP spin
| dies and 100, ,sis locns. timating
fbak II, 81 sap q, ], r,,