San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-02-11
LOOK To TEXAS
FOR SITES FOR
TEXTILE MILLS
Favorable Conditions Here
Appeal to Eastern
Manufacturers.
STATE HAS 20 MILLS
Textile Industry Has Prom
Using Future in Texas,
Says Knebel.

The unusually favorable manufac-
turing conditions in Texas are inducing
many cotton mill owners Of the East
to establish plants in this state instead
of making additions to their present
plants, according to G. NJ. Knebel, sec
retary-manager of the Texas State
Manufacturers Association, who re-
turned last week from a tour of the
state, made for the purpose of gather
ing statistics relative to cotton mani
featuring. Mr.. Knebel says that, while
the development of the textile industry
in Texas has been rather slow, pros
poets are that Texas before many more
years will take rank with the lealing
cotton manufacturing states of the
East.
Mr.. Knebel reports on his trip as
follows:
"we have just returned from tour
of the state, going as far north as
Denison. With a few exceptions, We
visited all textile mills north of San
Antonio. A great many of the mills
are making extensive improvements end
are operating day and night. In all
sections of the state, people are talk
ing and wanting industries and in many
sections, they are making special in
ducements TO secure new industries.
This is especially true as to the secur
ing of more textile mills.
South Is Favored.
"The manufacturers of the North
are now looking toward the South and
Texas for new locations for textile
mills, instead of making additions 10
present plants in the North. Closer
competition, ideal working conditions
in the South and the Importance of
being near the source of the raw ma
terial. are bringing this to pass. Dur
ing the present month. a number of
textile experts from the large manu-
featuring centers of the North will visit
Texas on an inspection trip with the
view of establishing textile mills in this
state.
"On Thursday, February /, the en-
tire Texas Senate visited the San An
tonic Cotton Mills at Southton. This
inspection trip should be productive of
much good as many legislators for the
first time saw the inside of a cotton
mill when in actual operation. f. A..
DuBose of the San Antonio Cotton
Mills, gave to each visitor neat
folder with information about the tex
tile Industry in Texas. At the present,
Texas has twenty cotton mills in OBJ
GRAFTON and one under construction.
The twenty mills have combined CAPT
talization of $6,J60,000. easily repre-
sentlng an investment of S9,00O.OOO.
Based on today's values, the Texas
mis- consume annually in excess of
Sll,00O,0O0 in cotton. The value of
cotton cloth produced exceeds $4,000
700. approximately 1000 people are
employed in these plants. Yet. COM
paratively speaking. the industry has
attained only modest standing. which
is forcibly illustrated by comparison
with other states.
Many Obstacles Presented.
Iexas consumes less than 3 Der cent
OF its production in cotton, while North
carollna consumes more than 100000
bales in excess Of her production, The
cotton mill industry made a feeble he
ginning in Texas in 1900 and since
that date, the industry has slowly but
steadily grown. Like all pioneer nm
dertakings, many obstacles were in the
way OF textile development. The mills
were only able to meet and overcome
these obstacles by the advantage they
enjoyed IN an abundance of raw cot
ton, favorable climatic conditions and
2 home market for their products, The
have never had favorable legislation
such as state exemption from taxa.
ton. etc.
"Outside capital has built ONLY ono
cotton mill in Texas. With tbis av-
ception, Texas has supplied the means
of all cotton mill construction in tho
state. There is now a strong tendency
on the part of the New England cot
ton mil owners to place their new