Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-10-09

those used in weaving plain work and being
more complicated in their construction, are
proportionately more expensive. The profits
on figured goods, however, are greater and
the demand for them equally good as for
white yet, notwithstanding these facts, there
are but two establishments in the State ma
king them.
A novelty at the Franklinville Mills is
machine for weaving grain sacks. The sack
is woven seamless, and the capacity of the
loom is four hundred three.bushel sacks per
day. They are shipped direct to New York,
where they readily sell for s33 per hundred,
which price affords remunerative profit to
the manufacturer. So great is the demand
for this one article that the New York factor
asks for consignments of not less than six
thousand week. So with the goods made at
all the different mills in the State. There is
foreign market eager for all, and more, than
can be produced. Neighboring factories in
the South are not rivals with each other. If
there is spirit of rivalry in the business, it is
the mills of the North with which our own
are successfully contesting.
The fact is being demonstrated every day
that cotton goods of southern manufacture
can he laid down in New York at lower
price than the same grade of goods can be
placed in the market from a New England
mill. Every advantage is in favor of the
South. There is no freight, or comparatively
none, on the raw material from the produ
GERS hands to the manufacturer, while it costs
not less than $40 or $12 to transport bale
of cotton from the district in which it is grown
and return it in the shape of manufactured
goods. This item added to the southern man
ufacturer's profit, at New England prices fol
goods, is clear gain to that extent over the
profits of northern mills; and then all other
essential expenses are lower, including the
wages of skilled and ordinary operatives. II
may be safe to assume that if the mills Of
New England realize profit of IL or Is pei
cent. on the capital invested, that the south
ern mills can, on their capital stock, earn
profit, of 20 or 25 per cent. Argument would
seem unnecessary as to the proper channel in
which southern capital should flow. The
true road to southern prosperity and indepen'
dence lies in the building of factories to con-
sumo the raw material which grows so bouu.
tifully throughout our favored land aud if
our capitalists would more generally follow
that road, they would find in it safe and per.
manent investment, redounding not only to
their individual prosperity, but to the thrift
welfare and Importance of their own section.
Those unfamiliar with the facts are nc
doubt deferred from giving this subject serious
attention, under the supposition that vast
capital and a retinue Of ingenious artisans
are necessary to successful conduct Of the
business. AS to the amount of capital, Of
course that would depend upon the extent Of
the establishment erected. 1t may be great
or small. Either of the FIVE mills which ]
have visited, was originally uilt-though
previous to the war-at a cost not exceeding
$4,000, in which sum is also included the
cost of neat tenement-houses for operatives
and their families. Exclusive of tenement
buildings, $4,000 would now build and equiv
complete cotton factory with capacity o.
1000 yards per day. This machinery would
do business that would yield net profit o.
at least 1925 per week, or $1,000 per year
With larger capital the profits would be ir
greater ratio.
AS to the operative force, the company
would require an agent or manager. In the
same way that all 6duciaries are chosen, o.
course he would be selected with reference
to his competency as man of business quail
fcations and financial skill for upon his
management, more than all things else, would
success depend. A foreman each for the
spinning and weaving departments would be
necessary, while a greater part Of the labor ir
operating the machinery can be performed
by boys and girls. 1t will thus be seen thai
the difficulties in the way of operating a fac
tory are not so great as at first would appear
It is noticeable fact that almost any com
munty can furnish score Of men competent
to discharge the duties of bank president
or an editor, even and certainly, while such
talent is plentiful there can be no lack of mer
with sufficient ability to conduct the finances
of cotton mill. As to skilled labor, we have
within our own borders plenty of mechanics
trained to the business. A factory has just
been completed in this county, on Haw river
and was inaugurated yesterday with barbe
cue and public speaking. The proprietor'
are mechanics, and much of the labor of erec
ting the buildings was performed by them
selves. Such industry and perseverance, vii
tell
The town from which I write is the county
seat of Chatham. To reach this place we di
verge somewhat from Deep river, though the
road doesn'timprove. An old inhabitant told
me the other day, in the most serious man
ner, that he didn't think the roads had beer
worked much since the war. AS in extenua
tion thereof, he said during that period the
people sorter got out of the way of working
the roads and had never took to it again.
In my peregrinations notice that the New
York Day Book circulates extensively in GER
tain neighborhoods, and in those neighbor
hoods are invariably found innumerable packs
of worthless hounds and ours. I do not say
that the dogs and that paper are inseparably
connected, but the fact is the same neverthe
less. The Day Book is read, first because il
is cheap, and secondly because it is so indie
pendent, and so disinterested in its wholesome