Revolution in the Cotton Industry—Mr Henry's Enterprise [pp. 387-402]

REVOLUTION IN THE COTTON INDDUSTRY. 395
To feel our position more fully, we will now examine the question of
WASTE AND PaoFrrs.-In the "American Cotton Spinner," by the late Robert
H. Bayard, of Philadelphia-well known as an expert, from whom I have before quoted-is a table, (page 228,) showing the waste each week, for 26 weeks,
in a factory containing 8,212 spindles, and the result was this:
Weight of Yarns................................. 161,752
Weight of Lap Waste........................... 7,981
Weight of Picker Waste........................... 7,699
Weight of Sweepings............................. 7,758
The waste of this factory is in the following ratio:
Laps........................................... 7,981
Picker.......................................... 7,699
Sweepings...................................... 7,758
Bales Ropes..................................... 3, 400
Total....................................... 26,838
"Making, it appears (to use his own words) from this account, that the waste
and wrappers amounted to 16.59 per cent. of the yarn produced, in addition to
the sand that falls out in picking and carding, which would raise it to 17 per
cent." This shows 100 pounds of cotton only make 83 pounds 6f yarns.
On the next page he exhibits a table of items
For Wages, Expenses, and Profits of a Cotton Factoryfor one month-thus:
DRL
To Wages of Hands...... $2,032 81
38,207 lbs. Cotton, at 11 cents..............4,202 77
Contingent Expenses............................. 400 00
Clerk's Salary................... 60 00
Insurance and Taxes............. 150 00
Balance profits for one Month..................... 2,065 81
Total....................................... $8,911 39
CRY
By 32,657 lbs. of No. 24 Yarns, at 27 cents.......... $8,817 39
Flying Waste and Ropes...................... 94 00
Total....................................... $8,911 39
He makes these remarks, which, please observe, on page 230, in relation to
those profits and the foregoing:
"The total cost of each pound of yarn in wages and general expenses, is 8.09
cents. The noted price of cotton is about the average. The amount charged
for wages is correct, and an ample allowance is made for contingent expenses.
With all these disadvantages, there is a profit on the yarn produced of 6.33 ets.
per pound, including the $94 worth of waste. Such a profit should pay in the
dullest times."
I introduce those exhibits from this standard work to show the waste I have
referred to, and to show the expense a manufacturer is at to make a pound of
yarn, (near 9 cents a pound,) and on that expense-in a time he calls dull-a
profit of 6.33 a pound is made; cotton costing 11 cents, the yarns selling for 27
cents, which he seems to be anxious to persuade manufacturers in very dull
times they ought to stumble along with. And you, Mr. Planter, think so, too.
You observe there is here shown 17 per cent. of waste, and as the cost is near
9 cents a pound for spinning, they must get that before they touch any profits;
and this does not include the value of the rent of the factory, or interest on the
investment.
RISK BY FIRE in the ginning and spinning room, compared with the existing
processes considered:
This is an important question.