The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1873-09-10
Manufacturing at the South.

We are glad to see thcunlversal IN
terestthat seems to be lately nantes
ted in behalfof manufacturingat the
South, which is leading to tho cs'
tablishment of factories throughout
the country. Cotton factories have
been in successful operation toI
years atPendleton, in Spartanburg:
at Grecnville, and other points III
the State, and their success has
stimulated other efforts III the same
direction. The Piedmont Company
in Greenville has been lately organ
lied, and, under the energetic man,
agement of President IIalnmctt, Is
making rapid progress in the cree
ton of the necessary buildings
and now we see that the, people OF
Anderson are about establishing a
cotton factory at High Shoals, SIX
miles. below the town. The lion.
j. P. Reed, in letter published Ill
the C5nsertdtor, endorses the enter
prise, but proposes to extend it.
He says:
"Let US revive HThe Peoples Man
ufacturing Company" "swhich contcm-
plates the establishment of tt.rec
mills. Ono on 4 large scale at Ander.
son Immediately on the railroad
: track, TO be devoted, if deemed advi-
sable, exclusively to weaving, and
propelled by steam is motive pow
er, One below town at High Shoals,
and one above town at Ccntrtvil!c, or
some other suitable fall, each to be
propelled by water and dcyotcd to
spinning. The scheme as originally
designed, and now submitted for con
sideratipn, sis. to. raise a capital OF
$25O,oO6 Putfs109,000 into n mill at
Anderson, 100000 into the mill be-
low town, and $4,000 into the mill
aboye town. Pills will leave Il work
ing eapital;ot $4,000, which will be
ample for all the mills Iwonld or
ganize but one company, and have
the three mills upder the same man
agenent, and run by the same able
and skillful experimenting head,
whereby all could be conducted with
about the same expense, that each
would Involve separately. The three
mills Lhus located would be in conve-
nient reach of our entire population.
and by a proper system Of co-opcra-
ton assBef1le remarked, that would
give Sprefer.once to stockholders, a
large proportion Of the cotton crop
Of the country could be manui;sctur-
cd at these mills, and its value to the
producer, as am advised, more than
doubled. IF these views are approx
imatsiy correct, the result of this
combination would in less than ten
years, add to the population and in
crease the wealth of the country,
until it would in fact become one OF
the most prosperous aud desirable
localities in the whole South"
In connection with the letter Of
Mr.. Reed, a number Of letters from
Ex-Governor Brown and others are
published, going to show that man
ufactories can be made very practi-
cable, whcthcs run by steam or
water-thc writers generally giving
the preference to water as cheaper.
The concurrent testimony Of all
who are conversant with the sub
ject is, that this investment is more
profitable than any other, yielding
u net dividend from 20 to 25 per
cent? 1gE
Indeed, the annual reports Of our
manufacturers show that the buSi-
ness is more profitable here than in
New England, and that it would be
truepelicy on the part of the North
ern manufacturers to bring their
spindles here and set their looms in
operation here. The reasons are
obvious. Our climate is better,
labor is cheaper, fuel is more abun-
dant, and, above all, we have the
raw hiateimi at hand, and can save
the labor Of transportation.
The great need of the South at
present is diversified industry, and
we '4ieed, especially at this time.
cotton factories, which shall use up
the raw material furnished so boun.
tifulIy3by our fruitful fields, and in
crease more than th:ec-foll its
value, and thus benefit both con
sumer and producer.
.Abbefille should not be behind
her sister Counties in this regard.
AS she exccls i'll agricultural, SC
should she in manufacturing indus,
try. Nature has been bountcous
in giving her all the facilities. Let
our citizens give the matter THEN
earnest consideration, and prepare