The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-09-04
For the anderson MteNgemcer.
The Peoples Manufacturing Company

Mr.. EDITOR Late in October, 1871,
scheme was originated to raise the requisite
capital and erect large cotton mandatory in
the Town of Anderson, to be propelled by
steam as motive power, and known as "The
Peoples Manufacturing Company" Most Of
our people took great interest in the enterprise,
and much material progress was made towards
its success but owing to the lateness of the
season when it was started, and the consequent
conflicting engagements Of the members of the
several committees specially charged with the
work, it was permitted to drop for the time. It
was not abandoned, however, but allowed to
sleep until propitious time arrived for re-
viving it. That time seems to have come
The country is likely to gather very full crop,
and there will be a large amount of surplus
funds in the hands of the people that should
be invested in the manufacture of cotton, con-
venient to their fields where, by a judicious
system Of cooperation, it's value may be dou-
bled
I see that proposition has been made to
establish a cotton mill at High Shoals, six
miles below Andersen. That is most COM
mendable enterprise, as far as it goes; but with
q view to the development OF the hidden wealth
and prosperity of the whole County, it should
be extended, and an effort made to interest and
benefit our entire population. Let US revive
the Peoples Manufacturing Company" which
contemplates the establishment Of three mills:
one on large scale at Anderson, Immediately
on the railroad track, to be devoted chiefy-if
deemed most advisable-to weaving, and pro-
PEELED by steam as a motive power; one below
town, at High Shoals, and cne above town, at
Centreville-or some other suitable fall-each
to be propelled by water, and devoted to spin
ming. The scheme, as originally designed and
now submitted for consideration, is to raise
capital Of S250,OOO. Put 100000 into mill
at Anderson 100000 into the mill below and
$4,000 into the mill above town. This will
leave working capital Of $50, 600, which will
be ample for all the mills. I would organize
hut one company, and have the three mills
under The same management, and run by the
same abl, and skillful experimenting head,
whereby all could be conducted with about the
same expense that each would involve sepa-
rately. These three mills, thus located, would
be in convenient reach of our entire popula-
ton, and by proper system of cooperation,
as before remarked, that would give preference
to stockholders A large proportion of the
cotton crop of the County could be manufac-
tured at these mills, and its value to the pro-
ducer, as am advised, more than doubled If
these views are approximately correct, the re-
suit Of this combination would, in less than
ten years, add to the population and increase
the wealth of the County until it would, in
fact, become one of the most prosperous and
desirable localities in the whole South. The
friends of the High Shoals project, and the
people of the Town and County of Anderson
generally, are appealed to, and most earnestly
urged to unite at once in developing and put
ting into operation the proposed scheme for
securing their permanent prosperity.
But aside from the profits that will be de-
rived to the stockholders, and our population
generally, by the means already referred to, it
is settled beyond question that money invested
in cotton manufactures at the South pays better
than in any other known form, yielding inva-
riably, where the property is we'll managed, a
net dividend cf from 20 to 25 per ceni.
1t is not expected nor desired that the pro-
posed manufactures should be owned and con.
trolled by small number of persons; but it
would be preferable that every person in the
County, who can raise any sum from $25 to
81, 900 for Investment shall become stock
holder, that it may be in fact, as in name, the
"Psopk's Manufacturing Company"
Attention is particularly called to the letters
on the first page of this issue, on the subject of
running cotton factories by steam power.
J. P. REED.