The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-08-13
Manufacturing Cotton in the South.

And now some of the Eastern papers have
gone to work again commenting upon the prof.
its of cotton manufacturing in the South, and
rejoicing that Notwithstanding the striking
! success of one or two notable ventures made in
| this line in Southern States, the raw staple
continues to travel thousand and odd miles
to New England looms. They wonder in their
hearts that the thing should be so, but while
wondering never forget to thank themselves
I that it is as it is. Certainly there is not lack
ing testimony that would indicate there is good
reason for their wonder.
The history of the Augusta Cotton Factory is
an apt case, such another remarkable CONNER
cial venture being rarely witnessed. This fac
tory has been used more that once in these
columns to point moral to this same tale, but
it will excellently serve its old purpose to-day,
since the latest information concerning its bus-
mess shows that the aforementioned career Of
unexampled prosperity continues. The fac
tory under consideration was established at
Augusta, Georgia, soon after the war, and the
company which owns it has divided amongst
its stockholders since that time 81 068 600 has
property to-day worth no less, at the very low
est calculation, than 81, 100000, and holds q
surplus fund of S265,S7O. That shows in all
81, 533, SO in one decade of years. And what
think you was the beginning of this thriving
enterprise? A patry capital of six thousand
dollars. That is all. Not a cent more of as
sessment was ever levied on the stockholders.
During the fiscal year just ended the COM
pany has expended $780, 900 for new machinery
and for the enlargement and improvement of the
buildings. The managers of the factory are
proud, and justly so of their achievements, and
call loudly on their felow-ci citizens ofthe South
to turn their money, labor and talent to the
same good advantage by following in the path
way they have marked out There is plenty
room for more, and yet they don't come.
Wherefore the wonderment and joy of New
England manufacturers The road is clearly
defined and the opportunity startlingy mani
fest, and yet, for some unaccuntable reason, the
Augusta Factory stands almost alone, a s0llta-
ry pioneer in this field.
Georgia consumes but $4,000 bales of the
half million which its soil produces; thus full
ly nineteenth -twentieths of its product going
North to be woven and brought back again
saddled with the double freight to be sold at
the doors of the very planters who grew it.. 1t
is q dependence of one section upon another,
which the example of the Augusta Factory
gives incontrovertible evidence is without any
good reason. And yet revolution, for which
there are such extraordinary and tempting in
ducements, cannot be brought to pass. Not
even the experience or tne war, "heh Tue
South was shut out from the world and went
in tattered rags with millions of bales OF raw
cotton available, taught the lesson which seems
so simple.
In the West there is similar obliquity, and
here in St. Louis We have shipped East all but
an infnitesimal portion of the hundred thou
sand bales we have received in the past ten
months. Both South and West it will be diff
ferent some day, since there can be no question
as to the ultimate outcome. Hoy long the ac-
complshment of the expected revolution may
be delayed, may not, however, be said.-&.
Louis RcpuJIc0n