The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-09-16
HOW M1NUFACTCRING PITS.
What One Cotton Factory VIII Do.
From the Augusta coastitu,lonalis,.l


As an example of what can be done at
home, we have only to point to the great cot
ton goods mandatory Of our city. No In
stitution Of the kind in the country, perhaps,
has prospered more than this since the war:
With the exception of about two hundred
shares, the capital stock Of the company is
owned entirely in Augusta. and It's dlVldends,
therefore, go into the pockets OF our own citl-
zens The factory employs five hundred nanos,
who earn, on an average, twenty-five dollars
per month, besides getting their houses rent
free. In the last six years, beginning July
lst, 1865. and ending July lst, ISL,
one million seventy thousand three hum
dred and seventy-lwo dollars and seven
ty-two cents have been paid cut oy tnls
corporation for labor alone. The sup.
position Is that nearly. if not quite all, OF
this large sum has been spent in the city, thus
putting more money in circulation and adding
to the material prosperity OF Augusta. 1t IS
computed that there are two non-workers de-
pendent upon each laborer so that the factory
really supports about fifteen hundred persons,
not small portion OF the population OF the
city. Fifteen thousand and forty-eight spin
dies are now in the factory, but We understand
it is probable that If the canal be enlarged,
giving greater amount Of water-power, that
fifteen thousand spindles will be added, max.
ing total of over thirty thousand. These ad-
ditional fifteen thousand spindes will, In that
event, be put part In one of the present build.
ings and part in new building which Will
be erected for the purpose.
When two-thlrds cotton and one-third LABOR
Is required In the manufacture OF goods, the
South has the advantage, and this Is the case
with all the commoner cotton fabrics. Ihe
cotton Is Immediately at hand, without having
the expense of heavy freight charges added 10
the original cost. The ratio of the finer goods,
however, is the other way, requiring two
thirds labor and one-third cotton in their man.
ufacture, and the South, for the present, at
any rate, cannot afford to compete with the
North In that line. The cotton goods manu-
featured by the Augusta factory are IN de-
mand in New York, and we believe sell better
than those of the same grade manufactured oy
the Northern factories. They are strong ana
durable, and In their line cannot be surpassed.
The following is a statement of the amounts
paid out by the company during the hrst SIX
years, beginning July lst, 1865, and ending
July ist, 1871, for labor, taxes, Incidental ex-
penses, repairs and dividends: Labor, sl,0IO,-
372 72; taxes, s257.4l5 o.; expenses, sl53.93l
90: repairs, s55, 1928 81; dividends, sI20 000.
Of the taxes, about s5O,000 was on cotton,
when the nefarious law imposing the tax was
in operation. The remainder comprised the
ordinery Federal, State, county and city
II will be seen that larger amount than
the CAPITAL stock of the company, Wnlch ls
$500, 900, has been paid out IN Six years as
dividends to the stockholders. Wnat sinl.
lar corporation can show better recofu oi
net profits?