Fitzgerald enterprise. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1895-1912, 1907-04-04
James S. Mccarthy.
Letter Intended for Tuesdays
Paper in Which We Call ID
Attention EditOralIy to
the R. R, Faction

cording to reports from Genoa,
Italy, to the Department of &C M
mercc aud Labor. the rapid grow
tn of the cotton industry in that
country during the past twenty
years, and the consequently en-
larged volume of Italian export
trade ia piece goods are conditions
worthy of careful Investigation
and study on the part of Am erl-
can cotton manufacturers and ex-
porters. T he cotton mills o f
LON hardy mum Der about 500, or
about 90 per cent Of the total
nun Der for Italy; the mum Der of
looms throughout the country
Exclusive of hand looms) being
estimated at 100000, with 5,0OO,-
600 spiudles, employing 100000
people. The weaving machinery
found in Italian mil is is practi-
cally all of EugIish make. Ten
hours usually constitutes a days
labor, for which women receive
wage from 80 to 40 cents a d
men from so TO 60 cents.
The cultivation of cotton in
Italy is insignificant, the yield
averaging not more than 10000
bales. A pro ject is said to be on
foot for the sion of its
growth on an important scale.
During the American civil war a
large amount of cotton was pro-
duced in Italy, and its extensive
cultivation was continued until
1871, when about 10000 acres
were devoted to the fiber. Cot
ton fields were then turned into
vineyards as yielding more salts
factory export returns owing to
the scarcity of wine in France.
Much attention has of late been
given TO scientific agriculture.
This country is also making an
effort toward cotton raising in
Argentina; in fact, for more than
ten years Italians interested ia
the South American trade have
been attempting to create cot
ton crop 10 Argentina, with fair
ly successful, though grad ual
results. IN 1905 the estimated
area under cultivation was 10000
acres. Several companies with
Italian capital have been organic
{ d TO exploit the field and are ac-
lively at work, one company hav-
ing exported about 1000 bales
of 500 pounds each.
The disposi ION on the part of
some of the State legislatures to
carry railway legislation to ex-
tremes has seriously alarmed
business men IN many parts of
the country who fear that its
effect will be such a crippling of
railways as TO put stop to the
I'm prov ments ia transportation
facilities so urgently needed by
the growing business of the
country. An illustration Of this
is the resolution recently adopted
by the Cham Der of Commerce of
Chattanooga, Tenn. This body
declares that such legislation
on the part of the various States
outgrowth of what we believe to
be, in a large measure, mis-
taken and misguied pub ic senti-
ment." 1t deplores the exis-
tence of such public sentiment
and such unfair and un justJeg-
islature aimed at the railroads,
especially of the South" and
urges upon the people and the
legislatures of Tennessee that
the present unjust warfare on
railroads which is being waged
in other States be not encourage
ed or abetted in the State of
Tennessee, lest such a warfare
prove disastrous to the legitimate
development of the Industries of
the State and the we'll being of
all her people "
We can offer, if taken promp-