Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-09-11

Western States. Year by year they have
migrated from North Carolina, Virginia and
Maryland, until now they number compara'
lively few in these States.
This county, Randolph, has population
1851, and in stock-raising and the leading
agricultural productions, excepting cotton
and tobacco, ranks in the fourth class; while
in the manufacture of cotton goods it is ahead
of any other county in the State. On Deep
river, within space Of fifteen miles, there
are five extensive cotton mills in active ope-
ration, all of which are represented as doing
prosperous business.
1t is claimed that North Carolina is the pio-
neer of the southern States in the manufac-
ture of cotton goods, and that the spirit OF
manufacturing in this State had its inception
in Randolph county. About the year 1925,
efforts were made by Benjamin Elliott, the
owner of water-power in this county, at the
place now known as Cedar Falls, (where at
this time there is in operation an extensive
factory to form company for the manufac'
ture of cotton goods Mr. Elliott, however,
failed in his scheme, though his agitation Of
the subject awakened an interest in other Sec
tions of the State, and by the year 1929 two
cotton factories we're in operation-one in
Lincoln county, and the other in Greensboro
Encouraged by the success of these mills, Mr.
Elliott made small beginning on his prop
erty, and though he has long since passed
away, the establishment which he founded has
steadily grown and increased until it now
ranks with the most extensive mills in the
State. There are now in this State, according
to the best information can obtain, thirty-six
mills in operation, and one in process of erec'
tiou, all of which are owned and controlled by
home capital.
I have just returned from a visit to the
mills Of the Randleman Manufacturing Com
pany, one mile from this village. This estab
lishment employs one hundred operatives, and
has in operation 1924 spiudles and IS looms
only ID of which are run on white goods, the
leading productions of this mill being cotton
ade of different patterns for mems wear, lin
seys, stripes, plaids, bed ticking and apron
checks. These goods are all of standard
quality and find ready-sale. One-third of the
productions are sold in Augusta, Ga, one-6fth
in New York city, and the remainder find q
market in this State. Such is the demand fol
the goods that the mill is fully 100 bales be-
hind the orders now on hand.
From the polite and accommodating man
ager, Mr.. Randleman, I learn that during tht
month of July there was manufactured by
this mill $1,000 yards Of goods, requiring
1876 pounds of cotton, the labor costing
in the spinning-room, s431.56; in the wea
wing room, $785.53; and in the dye-house
including fre.wood, $3.50. A large number
of the operatives are females, who earn gooe
wages. In the weaving-room, work is done
by the piece, or yard, and the average earn
ings of the weavers is $1S per month, though
an expert weaver can earn more.
The establishments in this county labo
under the disadvantage of having no railroad
facilities nearer than the N. G. Central road
which is 1S miles from the Randleman mills
26 from Cedar Falls; % from Franklinvill
and Island Ford, and 30 from Columbia
Excepting the goods sold at the door, the re
mainder is hauled in wagons to the railroad
for shipment Despite this Inconvenience, al
these mills are doing prosperous business
and previousto to the completion of the railroad
it was found profitable to haul goods for ship
ment North and West to Fayetteville, dis
tance of9O miles from the Randleman estab
lishment.
The larger number of the mills in this STATE
are more fortunately situated as regards ia
cilities for transportation, and consequently
their profits are proportionately greater; bu
as al evidence that the Randolph mills art
profitable to the stockholders, Mr.. Randlemar
assured me that only the lack of house room
prevents him from increasing his machinery
to double the present capacity, and I am in
formed that some of the other mills, already
extensive, but working altogether on white
goods, contemplate increasing the productive
capacity at an early day.
With all the disadvantages under which
these mills labor, both as to receiving the raw
material-not being located in a cotton re
gion-and shipping the manufactured article
why cannot similar establishments be made
still more profitable to the proprietors, if 10
Gated in the heart of fine cotton-growine
section, with all the advantages of rapid and
cheap transportation V1DocQ.