The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1849-06-30
THE CAMDEN JOURNAL.
Wednesday Morning, June 80, Is49.
w. THURLOW CASTON, EDITOR.
DEKALB FACTORY.


Kalb Factory and its various improvements, in
the public prints, that It is often overlooked as
an evidence of Southern skill and enterprise.
4 visit to the Factory few evenings since
enabled us to gather the following facts, which
we give our readers. as much to show. the
energy and enterprise Of the Monumental Torn,
rs to prove that the South can embark with
success and profit in that channel of human
industry.
= The stock is divided into four shares ;-Thos.
Lang, Thos. j. Ancrum, and William Andcr
son, owning each stare--ihe fourth is owned
by A. Young, and William Gardner, th. skilful
superintendent, whose personal attention is con.
slanlly given 10 the various branches OF the
establishment. The Factory was established
in 1888, with 1000 spindles for making yarn,
hut up TO 1915 they were gradually increased.
so that now they nearly double that number.
1850 spindes and 40 looms now run daily,
making yarn and cotton osnaburgs, and con.
srlming cotton equal in amount 10 a mill Of 8 or
1000 spindles, according to calculations usually
made at the North.
The annual consumption Of cotton is about
100000 pounds. Last year over 1000 bales
were consumed, and during the past month 80
bales were worked up, making s2O5 pounds
yarn. and 47,953 yards osnaburgs. The osna.
Jurgs weigh pound to The yard, and are well
known in the Northern and Southern markets.
and we learn from one of the Company that
they always commanded higher price than
those made ut the North. The monthly e1.
pense of the establishment is something less
than 5000. Most Of these figures were taken
from the Books of the Company, and can be
relied on as being correct.
{ There are about 20 weavers employed, al!
white females, each one attending to about 2
looms,-one or two 10 more-and each receIv.
ing wages from $12 to $40 per month-an
amoun, far greater than they realized before
their connexion with the Factory-and snf1i.
ccnt to secure the necessary comforts OF life,
and create small sinking fand il desired. For
several years past. blacks were the principal
operatives, except in the department Of weav.
ing, but arhite operatives are now generally
employed because they are less difficult to
procure. The blacks have been discharged,
except about 80, that belong to the Company
the rhile operatives number now II, male and
female. yWe are informed that the expert.
ence of the Company is, that the blacks as
operatives, can compare favorabv with :he
uhues, and under some circumstances may lie
preferred. We believe the Company have
never realized less than 10 per cent, upon their
capital, bat they have constantly invested The
profits in additional improvement, so that the
sum now invested is about double the original
stock.
The enterprising proprie'ors have not con.
fined their operations to making yarn and osna.
burgs, but use their immense water power to
drive other machinery.
A Grisl Mil brings to the Company 1000
bushels Of corn in toll, and the Mill to grind
bark, supplies an extensive Tannery at hand,
where large quantities Of good leather arc
PREPARED In connexion with the tannery.
Shoe Factory has been in operation for some
years, where all excellent article of negro Shoes
perrcd and spwrd is made, of which thousands
are sold annually, far superior we believe to
the Northern made shoe, sold at the same
price. The workmen helong to the South,
and use leather tanned at their very door. 1t
is truly gratifying to observe such nnmistake'
able evidences of Southern enterprise, and the
important duties taught the South, by their
success in SO many departments Of human
labor.
The Factory Village, where the operatives
reside, is pleasantly situated. One hundred
and fifty four constitute the white population,
and their neat cottages and thriving gardens
present handsome appearance, indicative OF
comlor, and con,cnment.
\ The moral and mental culture OF these fami
lies receive great attention. A daily school
for their children is kept through the week,
and a, o'clock every Sabbath morning, mem
bcrs Of the various Churches in Town meet
them in Sunday School, which we are informed
is well attended by old aud young, and is in a
highly prosperous condition. But this is not all.
On every Sabbath evening at o'clock,
some ono of the Divines in Town breaches, in
their newly erected place OF worship. This
duty is performed by the Preachers alternately,
and VIC believe they never fail to meet full
congregation. We arc told that this little
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