Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-03-20
FRIDAY. MARCH 20, 1914.
TRADE WITH SOUTH AMERICA
President of Southern Railway Points
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TRADE WITH SOUTH AMERICA
President Of Southern Railway Points
Out Southern Opportunity.
Greenville, March lin an ad-
dress before the Greenville Chamber
OF Commerce this evening. Mr.. Fair
tax Harrison, president OF the South
ern railway company, spoke on south
ern cotton mill development and CO.
operation for a broader market for
southern cotton goods, with special
reference to the opportunities that
would be opened up by the Panama
canal. He said:
Even without the shorter waterway
to the markets Of the Pacific, suprem-
acy in the manufacture Of cotton goods
, in the United States Is rapidly pass
ing from New England to us in the
south. The reasons for this are not
far to seek. They lie in the great
economic advantage of the location Of
the manufacturing establishment In
proximity to the source Of supply Of
i,s raw material, in the abundance OF
coal for steam production, in the rapid
development Of hydro electric power,
and in the unsurpassed climate Of the
south, especially in the Piedmont sec
ton, where the mild winters and the
absence Of excessive summer heat are
conducive to the efficiency Of labor.
in 1889 mills in the cotton grow
ing states used but 1SS,74S bales Of
bales used in the mills Of all other
states. In the twelve months ended
August, 1913, the mills Of the cotton
growing states used 2,960,51S bales,
as compared with 2,S25,S12 bales in
all Of the other states. Again, the re-
cord Of cotton mill construction in the
calendar year ended December 81,
1913, shows that fifteen new mills
with 257,760 spindles and 1884 looms
were located in cotton producing
states, and only seven mills. with 75,-
600 spindles and 2,056 looms, were
built in the New England states.
These figures are eloquent confirma-
| tion of the tendency to which | refer.
How then can the cotton industry give
| II still larger and further expression?"
In answer to this question Mr.. Har-
rison pointed out the opportunities
that will be opened up by the Pana-
ma canal, and said:
THE men who are first on the
ground will have an immense advan-
tage over those who wait until ships
are actually passing through the canal
before making move. Let US In the
south then take full advantage Of our
geographical opportunity and Of a
tendency Of commerce in our favor,
and, as the phrase is. beat the YAM
KEGS to it. We have in the past given
them what the fashion now Is to term
fair competition and we should not
forget that our fathers taught US to
fight intelligently as we'll as gallantly
for the southland"
Mr.. Harrison showed that of total
importations of cotton goods into the
Latin-American countries amounting
to $102,067,18 year, only about 10
per cent were shipped from the United
States as compared with more than SO
per cent from England, about Is per
cent from Germany, and considerable
quantities from other countries. Speak
ing of methods Of developing trade
with Latin-American countries and OF
the expense Of individual effort, Mr..
Harrison urged cooperative effort,
and suggested a specific plan by which
the Southern railway company could
join with the southern manufacturers
and southern merchants in the ex-
pense necessary to initiate, direct and
maintain profitable current Of COM
petitive and peculiarly southern COM
merce in this new channel.
He said that in anticipation OF the
completion Of the canal, the Southern
railway company had already had
detailed report from highly quali-
fed expert which is full Of valuable
suggestion and that this information
and such additional information as
could be obtained by the company
from the various governmental Offices
in Washington was freely at the dis
posal Of any one along the company's
lines who might be interested in the
subject.
He spoke of the Importance Of direct
and regular steamship service In the
development Of import and export
traffic through the south Atlantic
and gulf ports, and he emphasized the
desirability of such cooperative and
co ordinate effort as he had suggested
seeking the development Of such a
volume Of business as will warrant the
establishment Of direct regular steam
ship lines. He said:
"If this matter shall be handled in
telligently and energetically by small
group Of the interests concerned, !
believe 1t will be practicable to build
up a substantial and profitable direct
trade with the Latin-Anferican coun-
tries and that no one will benefit more
largely from this than will the south
ern manufacturers Of cotton goods.
"It has been my privilege to watch
the gradual growth of the cotton mill
industry of the south from small be-
ginnings to its present splendid pro-
portions and to know many Of the
men who have accomplished this.
know what capable and intelligent
men they are, what vision they have
had, and have no fear that they can,
IL they will, meet successfully, in the
Latin American markets, the compe-
tition not only of New England but Of
the world. Is Is not worth trying? 1
would be proud to cooperate In the
adventure because believe that there
by could be Of service. not only to
the Southern railway, but to the peo-
pie of the south whose servant the
Southern railway is."