Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1879-05-01
Manufacturing.

The editor Of the Troy IN. ~ Times,
visiting Augusta, Georgia, speaks of the
manufacturing facilities of that city as fol-
lows:
Augusta is doubtless destined to become
tho seat of very considerable manufacturing
enterprises. With this purpose 10 view the
oity has just completed, at cost of 81 500.
coo, a very extensive canal sevon miles
long, leading from Savannah River, and
capable of supplying $4,000 horse power to
turn the wheels of industry upon Its banks.
Two thousand horse power is already util-s
lied, and $4,000 remains to be disposed o..
The old Augusta cotton mill, built aud
operated before the war, was most pros.
porous enterprise, baviug paid as high as
twenty por cent. upon its capital. It is
now paying eight per cent, besides con-
tributinga considerable sum annually to the
sinking fund provided to wipe out an in
debtedness incurred for extensive repairs
and improvements recently made to its ma
ohinery. Tho grade of goods manufactured
by the Augusta mills is coarse and adapted
to the Southern market. There is a demand
| also for it's manufactures from Africa-1 900
bales of cloth, each bale comprising 1000
yards, having been sold and shipped to
that market annually for several years.
The value of this shipment is about $780,
900. The Augusta mill runs $4,000
spindles. The "Enterpriso," new mill,
is run upon finer grade of goods, and
operates $4,000 spindies. Two minor mills
employ about 5000 spindles each. $4,000
bales Of cotton, worth S1,600.000, were
manufactured into cloth by these mis- last
year, and this cioth was worth $4,000 00O-
tho difference between the two sums being
the amount Augusta realized in the way of
profits upon tho capital invested and wages
paid for labor from the operations of the
mills and tho enterprise of those who con-
structed them. Of course, with such q
showing, it is not to be wondered that the
citizens are auxioua Northern capital shall
come down and untilize the power of the
canal which now "goes unvexed to tho sea. !"
Graniteville end Langley, two small villages
near the oity, have largo and spacious cotton
mills, which are operated successfully, and
promise to make the fortunes of their
owners. may remark hore, in sort of
parenthesis, that 1873 mills have been
erected in tie South since tho war, aud
that most of them have turned out profitable
investments. The advantages afforded by
tho location of cotton manufactures ia the
midet Of tho country that produces the
great staple, arc so self evident that it is
suporhuous to enlarge upon them. The
citizens of Augusta are very proud of their
canal and the water power it affords, and
you have but to express the wish to see it
in order to have that desire gratificd.
Several Northern gentlemen being tempo.
rarily sojourniog 10 tho city, ex-Mayor
Estes, who is the father of the enterprise
and head of the commission having il in
charge, with Mr.. Hyams, real estate
agent, ex-Mayor Allen, Councilman Den.
ming, Northern man, and few of the
citizens, arranged for tour of inspection
of tho canal and of the dam, buikhead and
looks by which it is supplied with water.
| The length Of the main canal or frs. level,
is seven miles, and including the second
and third levels nine miles. The minimum
water way, $50 feet at surface, lO6 at
bottom, and eleven feet deep, gives an area
way of GROSS section Of 1,408 square feet.
The fall at lqnds available for mill cites il
from ID to 40 feet. The Augustians ap