334 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Srpr., 1901. 
Science. 
SOME FIGURES SHOWING THE FIRST COST AND OPERATION 
OF.COTTON-MILLS IN THE SOUTHERN STATES OF NORTH 
AMERICA. 
During the last seventy years the cotton-mills in the United States have: 
increased from 10,000 spindles to 500,000, working in 485 mills. All these mills. 
are not to be found everywhere in the south, for there are none in Florida, only 
half-a-dozen in Texas, and very few in Kentucky or Virginia. The Scientific 
American says that the principal activity in construction of cotton-mills has 
been confined to the South Atlantic and Gulf States, beginning in North 
Carolina and ending at the Mississippi River, although a beginning has been 
made in Arkansas, as well as Oklahoma, and in the Indian territories. An idea 
of the rapidity of construction may be gained when it is stated that the number 
of mills built in the south during 1900 was about 100 compared with seventy- 
five during the previous year. In 1895 the number had increased to 390, 
representing about 3,500,000 spindles. Here is shown a gain in five years alone 
- of over 100 per cent. During the present year the lowest number of spindles 
projected is estimated to be somewhat less than in 1900, but the tendency in the 
south has been to increase the number of spindles and looms installed ina single 
mill, so that the total amount of machinery will be practically more than that 
erected during 1900. The figures showing the cost of mill construction, and 
those which follow, are based on estimates made of plants which have been 
constructed. The sum of 75,000 dollars (£15,000) will build and equip a plant 
ready for operation, containing from 3,000 to 4,500 spindles, according to the 
size of the yarn it is to produce. 
The sum of 100,000 dollars (£20,000) is sufficient for a mill ranging from 
4,000 to 6,000 spindles, whilst 175,000 dollars (£35,000) will complete a 13,000 
spindle plant. These prices include a brick and stone building, with heavy 
framework, containing fire protection, electric lights, steam heating, a water 
supply, all other tenements for the necessary staff of operatives, and ware- 
houses for storing cotton. . 
A 75,000 dollars (£15,000) plant will consume fifty to sixty bales of cotton 
per week, working on No. 8 yarn, or from twenty-five to thirty bales working on 
a finer product—No. 30, for example. 
In calculating these figures, an estimate of 15 per cent. is allowed for 
waste of material by soiling, the amount taken outin going through the various 
processes, and the shrinkage. 
To operate such a mill with 6,000 spindles, forty operatives are required for 
spinning alone. The labour is calculated to represent 15 per cent. of the total 
cost of the product when coarse goods are made, the raw material 65 per cent., 
and the depreciation of the plant and other expenses the balance. 
The organisation of the company operating a mill of 10,000 spindles and 
320 looms, generally consists of a president, a treasurer and secretary, and a 
superintendent. These three form the executive heads of the departments, the 
secretary acting as bookkeeper. No large salaries are paid, that of the 
president being sometimes as low as 2,500 dollars (£500), whilst the superin- 
tendent receives from 1,500 to 2,000 dollars (£800 to £400), and the secretary 
from 1,200 to 1,600 dollars (£240 to £320). Salaries increase, of course, 
according to the size of the mill. 
The president of a plant of, say, 75,000 to 100,000 spindles, may receive 
from 12,000 to 15,000 dollars (£2,400 to £3,000) annually. 
The cost for power of course varies, but upon averages secured from several 
mills it varies in proportion to the size, operated under different conditions. 
Steam costs per horse-power per year from 12°50 to 17°50 dollars (£2 12s. 1d. 
to £2 12s. 11d.) 
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