The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-22
PUT GOT TON MILL
IN GOT TON FIELD,
HARRIS SUGGESTS
Novel Plan to Solve Present
Day Spinning Problem
Proposed by At
lanta Man.

With the moved suggestion that one
or the spinning problems would be
solved II each mill, particularly the
smaller plants. owned and operated
farms for the production of their sup
ply of raw material, Mr.. W. III. Harris,
o. Atlanta, manager of the Carhardt and
Bellvue Cotton Mills. yesterday pointed
( out some of the methods by which this
scheme could become effective.
I'VE have heard the expression, a
cotton mill in a cotton field as ap-
piled to many of our mills said Mr.
Harris 1T will be my purpose to
show that in truth the expression is
misnomer, and Furthermore, that we
Southern manufacturers are not taking
full advantage of the opportunity Of
fered by the South to the cotton spin
ner. / doubt in my own mind. If the
Southern mills to-day have n single
decided advantage over those of
england or New England. In
deed, believe that at this stage
OF development England has the
balance of power. Certain 1t is that
she has two. distinct advantages,
namely. low initial cost of plant con.
structscn and equipment and more eff
ficient labor at lower price .
The Profit Sheet.
1T would appear that in some In
stances the mere presence Of an album
dant supply of raw material at many
Southern mill doors has worked to the
detriment of the profit sheet, in view
OF the fact that such situation is
inclined to cause the manager to form
an opinion of the general market
trend based upon local conditions.
We all know that an opinion of the
cotton market when we have goods
sold and cotton to buy Is sometimes
very dangerous thing to possess. The
Englishman is not bewitched by these
local conditions, and we often awake TO
the realization of the fact that he has
secured his supply of better cotton at
q better price and our one great sup
posed advantage in raw material is
lost in the awakening. Such instances
would seem to show that a cotton
N mill in cotton field, as exist to
day, in name only. and with the inn
piled advantage of no real benefit to
the manufacturer.
Raw material, If representing alone
the other one-half of the total cost,
fluctuation in the price of cotton over
night can often offset the advantage
all the first three items combined.
of more mill failures than all others
that might be suggested. Then again
we at times see old mills. OF the most
antiquated equipment and plant ar
arrangements, outstrip in profit-showtng
its most modern neighbor. solely on ac-
count of luck and foresight, as the
case may be, in purchasing raw mater
ial. Strike the market wrong. which
is more often the case, they go to the
wall very rapidly on account of the
physical handicap"
Proposes Plan.
Discussing the question as to how
the price of the raw material is to be
fixed, Mr.. Harris said that the answer
Is in reality, put cotton mill in
cotton field" which Is to say that
each mill should be its own producer.
He showed, however that the plan
could best be adopted with plants hav-
ing about 10000 spindes, as the scheme
would not be advisable with unwieldly
farms. With the advent of more
economic agricultural development,
he contipYed, such as practical cotton
picking. nlachints and greater yield
per acre. do not doubt that in time
large mills will be operated in this
manner. Undoubtedly the day will
come when an arrangement for raising
us own cotton VIII be the only excuse
for a small mill to try and compete
successfully with the larger ones
Carrying out his idea, Mr.. Harris
said that with proper management and
economy mill would be able to raise
its cotton somewhere around cents
per pound. TO be on the safe side, and
considering bad seasons. fixed price
of 10 cents would be sufficient to place
a farming mill far ahead in the race
for commercial supremacy.
I6cnl Conditions.
Mr.. Harris believed that this plan
would bring about almost ideal spin
ming conditions, inasmuch as it would
eliminate the poor cotton the wet bale
and the worthless staple. TT Is pos
sible," he added, that the ownership
of cotton farm would solve for a
mill certain perplexing labor problems
II nothing more, the occasional shift
ing of operatives from mill to farm
and vice versa, would be conducive tc
general health and contentment. Such
q radical change could not be effected
without meeting serious difficulties,
but feel sure that nine is more sur.
rnountable than similar conditions
Which have obtained in other indus
tries, and which were finally overcome
by persstency."