Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-10-04
DISCUSSES COTTON
MILL MANAGEMENT
meet M. E, men

|
AT the regular meeting of the
Mems Auxiliary of the Methodist
church vestry last evening w. w.
| Quinton. agent of the Lockwood
Mills gave lecture on the making
of cotton CLOTH
About so members sat down to a
nne supper of baked beans, rolls.
coffee, pickles and pie served at go
Dy committee from the Auxiliary.
| folioWlng the supper business
meeting was held President Harry
Iozler presiding. President Tozier
introduced Mr.. Quinton as the speak
er OF the evening. Mr.. Quinton ex-
pressed pleasure at being present at
the meeting and supper.
There is very little romance or
adventure In running a cotton MIL"
declared the speaker, but one man
has had enough enthusiasm to wax
eloquent. the late Henry Brady"
When we think If cotton were
taken from the country we would
realize Its greatness" Mr.. Quinton
told some of the history. Cotton was
made by the Hindoos In $50. finer
than can be woven today 1t Is
! thought cotton was woven in Egypt
even much earlier The opening Of
the tomb in Egypt. has unearthed
|
and wonderful designs. When this
cloth was discovered printers spent
millions OF dollars changing over
their machinery to make the colors
! unearthed
Speaking OF the expression Born
to the purple" Mr.. Quinton said
thousands of years ago millions Of
sheltish were pressed to produce an
ounce of purple dye. The manufac-
ture was first introduced into Europe
in the year 1000. The Moors intro
duced cotton into Spain but met with
| much opposition. ottor was mann
featured in China long before the
Christian era"
Il believe declared the speaker
the cotton industry came into Eng
land during the reign of Henry V ana
at that the spinning wheel was
| invented. We are now Installing
spinning frames in the Lockwo~ /.
each spindle capable OF spinning l2S
inches a minute The spinning frame
was invented by Richard Arllwright
in the 18th century"
During the period of Colonial Vir-
ginia cotton was raised but not
manufactured but sent to England.
/ The first large shipment from Nir-
ginia was 500. In 1876 n young man,
| an apprentice of Arkwright came to
America. 1t was impossible to make
any drawing of the spinning machine
which was ZCalously guarded. This
young man when he arrived drew up
plans and built the first frame IN
America.
The first mill in Rhode Island was
the beginning of this great industry.
There have been marvellous develop
ments. experiments arc being carried
out that will revolutionize the cotton
| industry.
Up to a few years ago New Eng
, land was supreme III the cotton in
dustry but now the industry in New
England is in very bad condition
unable to compete with Southern
mills. Actually the southern mills
can sell at q profit at a price less
than it costs in the north to manu-
facture. They have a inc class of
workers in the South contrary to the
opinion of many and we have the
finest time right here IN Watcrville.
| know that the southern mills are
producing as good quality of cloth
as is produced in New England.
Why is it we can not compete" #
YOU could soc the Inducements that
come to tho Northern mills every
day. Consider then the advantage -
locating in the South. near raw
product and cheap power The scale
of wages is lower in the South. Ar
! hitrary legislation and taxation arc
among the bad factors of the north.
THE prices of cotton today arc ar
htrary," said Mr.. Quinton. II doubt
if there is a mill in New England
figuring on the present price Of cot
ton making one cent a "ar0 on their
cloth.
The visible supply Of cotton IS less
than half the visible supply OF ;Wo
years ago.
Every year the supply Of cotton is
falling off There is the bo!r wocvil
that has been making such rapid
strides that mon do not know how to
cope with It, Another reason why
the cotton crop is falling off is that
in 1919 the Southern farmer staked
his all on the crop and In 1920 there
vas a slump running many growers.
and now they are trying to raise
cotton without fertilizer.
"Do You realize" said he, that the
Lockwood Co. PAYS ono sixth of the
taxes in Watcrvillc. Or the 18th day
vote on the As hour law and 4 will
mean disaster for many mills. The
Lockwood has always paid dividends
but the passage of this bill might
mean that It would not pay divi-
dends." At this time Mr. QuintOn
told of labor troubles nc had en-
corntered while in Rhode Island.
"I hope" said Mr.. Quinton, that
the men and women Will not he
foolish enough 20 vote for the As
hour law"
Following his lecture Mr.. Oninton
showed and explained to the audience