Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-12-17

cards commensurate with those OF
the North. II In four decades tho
South can attain tho cotton yarn
production that New England s,ruH-
gled four times MS long TO achieve.
Shc South raih through conscious
effort and IL system OF efficient train
Ing. develop an esprit do co-ps-a
vocational consciousneBs--oq ~
not superior. 10 that of the North.
humidity n Factor.
The South Is at disadvantage.
however, because Of climatic condi-
lions, Every mill man knows the
manufacturing advantage. OF humid
air, and is also fully aware that COR
rect humidity Is obtainable py mech
anism. The coast mill towns have a
80 per cent humidity all the year:
the Piedmont mill region has an en-
tremely dry winter and is dricr at
all times than rs New England. AL
though the South has a greater an
nual rainfall yet /, has fewer rainy
days than New England Spraying
may make up the difference IN :he
relative humidity, but spraying is
expensive and produces an unuatu-
rally stury atmosphere and exposes
the workers to diseases when they
so outdoors where the humidity may
be quite different. CLOSED windows
and worker phychology are also
closely related"
The South lacks another advau-
iaSc which the North enjoys. Every
mill man knows that auxiliary firms
such as blcacheries. dycins plants
and printing firms must have a Iare,
supply Of pure. clean, soft water.
New Enriand's lakes ana swamps
clarity her streams. whereas. the
Southern rivers and brooks are large
~ without these natural advantages
IL Is of great Valu. Ia 4 cotton mill
TO have near at hand or At some
point between the mill aud tn" mar
kct. large number OF auxiliary
firms that specialize In bleaching.
dyrinE and printing. New England
is blessed by a host of these cntcr-
priscs. while tho South IS cursed by
their absence.
Recent articles appearing in the
Northern papers point 10 the fact
that the proximitH of the New York
market Is Of much value To the New
England manufacture that little
fear Is felt from Southern CorIp"ti-
ton. While it is true that confer
cnccs between mill producers and
market distributors are facilitated
10y ncarness TO one another. that
sight and feel OF actual goods are
possible. thus avoiding disputes. and
;hai definite selection is easily made
and time saved. yet ;hcs. disadvan-
taEes could be onso; by the cheap
ness of manufacture in the South
II only the Southa could develop a
working personnel equal 10 that "c
the North so that tn" quality OF
goods placed on tn" market would
equal or swrpass ,ha, Of tho New
Il
mattcr). The value added 10 cotton.
in the South. and about - pc, cent
In the North-a difference sufficient
:" hold the market for high grade
goods.
The New England manufactured
has SGT his hear, upon capturing and
holding the New York market and
:" force the Southern manufactures
to seek Il foreign market for his in
f"rior grade OF goods !, will b. in
t"rcstinS 10 note to what extent hc
Is TO be successful. and To what cN-
tent the Southern manufacturer viii
allow his program to natur"
Just az present is an opportuno
time TO gain for the Southern manu-.
factur"r the advantage which the
North has enjoyed for a century. The
New England manufacturer is de-
cidedly Handicapped by the existing
immiEration laws. As has been
stated. the Northern mill man is de-
pendent largely upon the assimiln-
ton az the foreigner while The
southern manufacturer is dcpcudcn,
upon native employees In June. 1922.
there were over 100000 laborcrs who
left tn" country while but $4,000
were admitted Most Of thos. who
left had been employed in tn. mills
a; the North. II this ratio is main
tanned during the succeeding months
the Northern manufacturing pro-
gram OF assimilation and education
or IN" new immigrants Will be an
exceedingly difficult one and throw
the balnH"" I'm favor OF the South
crn manufacturers Shall we take