The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-09-11
For the anderson lntelHgencer.
The PEOPLES MAN ACQUIRING CO.
STEAM VS.. WATER.

by you last week, beg to hand you certain
other letters, which have had the fortune to
receive from time to time, in further illustration
of the practicability and economy Of manufac-
turing cotton by the use of steam as the motive
power. Among them, ask you to re-insert
the letter of Col. Gresham, President of the
Macon Steam Cotton Mills, material part OF
which was omitted in your last. This will
show that the Macon Mills, since the close of
the war, even with their old machinery and
wood at 81 per cord as their fuel, have yielded
the owners profit of 10 per cent on their cap
ital, and implies Enthusiastically, that with the
use of the recent Improvements in steam en-
gines and other machinery, even with wood at
the extravagant rate paid by them, their profits
would have been much larger. At all events,
taken in connection with the information given
by President Cook, of the Danforth Locomo'
tive and Machine works, showing that the an
nual cost of running each spindle per dsy of
ten hours by water at Paterson, New jersey,
is s1.4O, whilst by the use Of steam, with wood
at $500 per cord, it would not exceed "a cents,
proves beyond controversy that, with the inn
proved machinery referred to, the Macon Mills
would have been sble, and much more than
able, to have competed successfully with any
mills in New England, for none it is believed
are run with greater economy than those at
Paterson. These letters of themselves furnish
most satisfactory data, but beg that all who
feel interested in an effort to improve our local
prosperity, by the introduction Of cotton manu-
factories; will read and study the series care
fully.
The letter of Messrs. E. Waitzfelder & Co.,
proprietors of steam cotton mills at Mil
ledgeville, Ga, and Philadelphia, Pa, which
you published last week, shows that they pre-
fer steam to water, both North and South, un-
less there was peculiar circumstances at the
particular locality favoring the latter. And
although they have not named their average
rate of profits, Gov. Brown states that he knows
their Milledgeville factory has been profta-
Bile concern; which, however, is conclusively
proved by their having kept it up for q long
series of years.
The letters of our neighbor, William Perry,
Esq, of the Pendleton Factory, (which re-
quest you to re-publish,) whose intelligence,
skill, and success as manufacturer, is known
to all our people, after imparting most impor-
tant information on the general subject, comes
down to details, and shows the relative value
of steam and water as motive powers in our
immediate locality. He takes for illustration
steam mill on the railroad track at Anderson
and water mill six miles in the country, and
shows that the cost of the necessary transpor-
tation by wagon to and from the water mill
would be about equal to the cost of fuel (wood)
for the steam mill at Anderson, whilst the cost
of dam, race-way and other necessary fixtures
about the water mill would be quite equal to
putting the steam power in place on the rail-
road. These views are in entire accord with
all the information elected on the subject, and
shows that steam as motive power is more
reliable and about as economical as water for
propelling cotton and all other kinds Of manu-
factures, and is fast superseding water power
throughout New England and elsewhere.
Now, the project have had the temerity to
revive and press on the attention of the people
of this County; as means of securing their
unexampled prosperity, is to raise capital of
$3.50, 1000 organize a single company-and
erect, as early as possible, Three cotton mills,
one at Anderson to be propelled by steam, and
one at High Shoals below and Centreville above
to be propelled by water. have named water
power in Difference to that part of the public
opinion that has not yet satisfied itself as to
the equal value Of steam; and High Shoals
and Centreville were named for three reasons ::
1st Because was advised that from the height
of the falls and the peculiar surroundings at
these places, very small and inexpensive dams
would be required; End. Because the mills
may, it is said, be so located as to be compara-
lively free from the damaging effects Of drouths
and fresheto; Srd. Because one is in the upper
and the other in the lower part Of the County.
There may be other localities, equally favor.
able, chat it would be preferable to adopt; or
it might turp out that, for the upper part Of
the County, an advantageous combination
could be made with the Pendleton Company,
where the spindle and loom are already con-
verting the raw material into manufactured
goods. In regard to other localities, however,
have 10 particular information, and certainly
no preference. MY desire is to aid in develop
ing the resources and wealth of the County of
Anderson, beginning at the centre and working
outward-a such points as are most available
to its circumference, leaving the people, whom
I seek to enlist in the work, to determine as to
localities and details.
The scheme is an entirely practicable one
and will demand but a small per centage Of the
surplus funds in the County, that can in no
other way be SO we'll invested, and may be
carried out by united effort much more sue