THE 



POPULAR SCIENCE 

 MONTHLY. 



JANUARY, 1890. 



THE FUTURE SITUS OF THE COTTON MANUFACTURE 

 OF THE UNITED STATES.* 



By EDWAED ATKINSON, LL. D., Ph. D. 



I have been asked to treat two subjects : 1. Is the present num- 

 ber or the recent increase of cotton-spindles in the United 

 States actually or relatively in excess of the requirements of the 

 population ? 



2. Is the South likely to become a formidable competitor with 

 New England in the cotton manufacture ? 



I submit the facts from which I have made my own deduc- 

 tions, and from which each one may draw his own conclusions 

 according to his own judgment. 



When dealing with the first branch of the subject, as all 

 are well aware, we must qualify any conclusion based on the 

 actual number of spindles by making allowance for higher speed 

 and greater product per spindle in recent years ; hence larger rela- 

 tive product. On the other hand, we must qualify the data of the 

 spindles by the consideration that the average number of yarn 

 spun at the present time is much finer than it was twenty years 

 ago ; hence a less proportionate product per spindle. 



Again, we must qualify our deductions derived from the actual 

 number of spindles, after having made allowances for high speed 

 and fine numbers, which may perhaps be held to balance each 

 other, by taking into consideration the very rapid increase in both 

 national wealth and general welfare in recent years ; hence a 

 greater consumption of cotton fabrics per capita. This increase 

 in purchasing power and this choice of better and more expensive 

 fabrics are very noticeable in the Southern States, and especially 



* A paper prepared for the New England Cotton Manufacturers' Association, and pre- 

 sented at their meeting, October 30, 1889. 

 vol. xxxvi. 19 



