The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1906-01-05
THE SOUTH'S
COTTON INDUSTRY.
Was Built Up by Cooperation and
encouragement From Railroads.

31st, to the Times Union, says letters
received by some of the Senators and
Representatives from Southern States
indicate that there is considerable oppo-
sition in that section of the country to
the proposition to confer on the Inter
state Commerce Commission authority
TO fix transportation charges. and the
opinion that legislation should be con-
fined to the prevention OF rebates and
determinations seems to be growing,
especially in the South. The reason for
this is that many persons In that section
of the country who have given the mat
ter consideration fear that, under any
system Of rates made by the govern
ment, the South would not have rela-
lively as favorable rates as at present
RATE ADJUSTMENT.
The present adjustment of rates af-
fecting the Southern States has been
gradually evolved through the constant
efforts of the railways Of that section
to develop an increased volume of traffic
by encouraging the establishment of
new industries along their lines and by
cooperating with established industries
in developing the natural resources Of
the Southern States as rapidly as posi-
BILE. The rapid growth of the cotton
manufacturing industry of the South is
cited as an Illustration of what has
been done in this direction. In 1870
there were only ISL cotton mills in the
Southern States. On August 81, 1905,
there were 766 Southern cotton mills in
operation, with 9,211, 734 spindles, and
still more mills were being erected. A
generation ago the Southern cotton
mills were manufacturing chiefly the
coarser grades of goods, principally for
local consumption. They are now turn
ing out all grades and their products
are on sale in all the markets OF the
world. Another illustration Of the
growth of the cotton manufacturing in
dustry of the South is afforded by the
statistics of the consumption of raw
cotton. In 1881 the Southern mills used
only 221, 200 bales of cotton, while the
New England mills used !, 574, 900 bales.
In the year ended August 81, 1905, the
Southern mills used 2, lao, ISL bales, and
the New England mills 2, 13S, 829 bales.
These figures show an enormous in
crease in the output of the Southern
mills, and they show that in the last
manufacturing year those mills for the
first time used more cotton than was
used in New England.
hAlLWAI COOFEhAliON'
It is ccntended that this remarkable
development of the cotton manufactur-
ing industry of the South would have
been absolutely impossible but for the
cooperation of the railways in that sec
ton. The managers Of the railways Of
the South have realized that the pros
perity of their lines depended upon their
being able to build up prosperous COM
munities in their territory and to de-
velop a constantly increasing volume of
traffic. With this end in view they
have encouraged the establishment Of
cotton factories along their lines, have
made favorable rates on the products
of those mills that have enabled them
to compete successfully in common mar
kets with the products of mills in other
localities. The real development of the
manufacturing industry of the
South may be said to date from 1880.
Prior to that time cotton goods were
carried from Southern points at first
class rates-the rate from Atlanta TO
New York being $1.45 per $50 pounds,
and other rates from South in proper
ton. In 1880 the Southern roads began
carrying cotton goods at fifth-class
rates, slashing the charge from Atlanta
TO New York TO 60 cents per 100 pounds
Nin one cut That rate is now SIS cents,
and rates from other Southern points
are correspondingly low.
Representative Lowering of Massa-
chusetts, a member of the House COM
mittee on interstate and foreign COM
merce, directed attention to these rates
on Southern cotton goods last winter
when the Esch- Townsend bill was under
consideration, pointing out that the
rates from Atlanta TO Boston were lower
than from Boston to Atlanta, and that
Southern cotton goods were being sold
in Boston in competition with the prod
ucts of the New England mills. This is
made possible by the fact that the all
rail rate from Atlanta to Boston is SO
cents a hundred pounds, while from
Boston TO Atlanta It is 76 cents, and the
rail-and-water rate from Atlanta TO
Boston is So cents, against rate from
Boston TO Atlanta Of "a cents.
substantially similar comparative rate
adjustments could be cited, showing
that the railways in the Southern States
have not confined their efforts by any
means to the development of the cotton
manufacturing industry. Rates have
been made by which the iron and steel
products Of the South, lumber products,
furniture, Southern minerals, and the
uroducts of Southern fields, gardens
Ind orchards have been placed IN com
petitive markets on at least a. favor
able terms as similar products from
other parts Of the country.
"a ~, Pet. ever In Tai