The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1875-07-09
COLUMBIA,S.C.
Friday Morning, July 9, 1875.
Cotton Manufacturing.

IOh i'clorle', nHu HnEc uScu our every
endcayor to stimulate them to engage in
this branch Of industry. The Southern
States are particularly endowed with
natural resources for engaging in this
enterprise. We have magnificent water
powers and innumerablo eligible sites
tor the proper working and location Of
cotton tnctories, but all these advantages
nrc allowed to go to waste. It is true
that tho South is without great capital,
but movements in tho proper direction
would soon turn the capital of the
moneyod sections Of the country into the
channel which promises such rich re-
ward. The manufactures Of tho North
and East, Which give employment to so
many hundreds of thousands of laborcrs,
have little or none Of the natural ndvan-
AGes that are open to cotton factories in
the South. Our neighbors in Gcorgin
have greater appreciation Of the value
Of this industry than probably any other
State in the South, and have established
cotton factories in many portions of that
State. They even control q large interest
in the two mills in this State near the
Georgia line. And still the good work
goes on. Companies arc no sooner
formed and the mills are put in opera-
ton, than another corporation is project
ed for similar enterprise The water
power of the State is being rapidly util-
lied, and its manufacturing resources
fully developed. A few feeble efforts
have been made in this direction in Co.
lumbia, but have fallen through, either
Tor want of energy or lack of capital; but
we scarcely believe the lntter to be the
controlling cause. However, we have
had, for many years, the Snluda Cotton
Mills, in Lexington, and more recently
the Red Bank Manufacturing Company;
and we venture the prediction that no de-
sire exists for an exchange of investmcnto of
one dollar made therein. And we hero
furnish the proof, by saying that we
have been led to indulge in these re-
dcctions by IN inspection of specimen
Of sheeting made at the Saluda Cotton
Mills, which was manufactured on the
7th instant. Col. VIM. Johnston is now
the sole proprietor of these mills. The
sheeiing before us is one yard wide,
closely woven, and of first class texture
and color. It is the first piece of cotton
goods manufactured at these mills since
their reconstruction, after the incendiar-
ism Of Sherman and his fnggot-bcarers.
It was woven by Miss Susan Breves Mr..
r. S. Hildreth is superintendent of the
mills, and Mr.. S. I. Hildreth overseer of
the weaving department. The manu-
fncture of sheeting and shirting will now
be carried on MS rapidly as the capacity
Of the machinery will permit
The Saluda Mills were first cstab-
lished in 1885, md after chango of pro-
prietorship several times, fell into pos
session of AIessrs. Childs, Johnston Il
Willard, and remained so until the de-
struction by fire in 1865. The factory
was large four-story granite building,
located in Lexington, about 81 miles
from Columbia, where yarns, sheeting
and shirting were manufactured, and
employment furnished to large num-
ber of hands. After the war, the mills
were rebuilt, but this time the building
was three-story wooden one, and was
the property of Messrs. Childs, Johnston
u Palmer, until very recently, when
MIR. Johnston became the only propric-
tor. MIR. j. has mt once gone into the
T.
other mills do the same, and new ones
are erected for similar purpose, the
Northern manufacturer will be driven
out OF the market by their Southern
competitors; there will be an increasing
demand for. the goods of Southern spin
ners; the cotton is at their very doors j;
the freights will be off; labor is cheaper;
and thus will the Northern man nufacturer
be forced to close his doors and invest