The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-07-17
Cotton Mills in South Carolina.

who has been visiting the cotton mills OF
South Carolina, says that the advocates or
Southern nome industry are justly eiateo
over the gratifying reports from the c0'ton
mills in that State. Despite the general oe-
nresSion in business from various causes,
among them yellow fever, last summer, the
cotton goods increased in quantity and I'M
proved in quality, and found ready sales.
chief obstacle in the way of success was the
scarcity of competent operatives, but with
the aid of a few taken from Northern mills,
a sufficient number of young native women
and men have been taught to feed and direct
the machines. They are furnished with
neat cabins in the vicinity OF the mills, ana
their pay ranges from % cents to 80 a day,
according to their usefulness. The increase
of local sales is specially noteworthy. The
Piedmont Company,s books show the follow
ing profits on sales for the fiscal year ending
March 81. 1879: New York, $9,40l.5S
Boston, warns, Sl0.6l9.6 GA; Baltimore, ST.
1902; local, S24, 320.O4; all other sources.
S5,l63.4 6. This, In proportion to the size
and capacity of the other mills, Is a tar ex-
hibit for all.
The Langley Manufacturing Company
was incorporated in 1870, with a capital OF
| $50. 900. Its mill is in the town Of Lang
lev. Aiken county, on the Charleston and
Augusta Railroad. The main building IS
229 by l04 feet, and the water power IS equal
to $50 horse power. The lO,SSO splndles
and :32S looms are operated by 32o mill
hands. Four hundred and fifty bales of cot
ton are consumed monthly, which produce,
on the average, about 500, 900 yards Of shirt
ing, sheeting, and drilling. The president,
w. c.. Sibley, reports the trade brisk and
prospects very encouraging.
The Glendale Mill, situated on the Enovee
River, about six miles east of Spartanburg,
is owned by a private firm, consisting of
Messrs. Converse, Zimmerman 4 Twichell.
The main building is five stories high, and
measures $50 by so feet, and the side build
ing is GO by 40 feet, and three stories high.
The mill consumes 40 bales OF cotton weekly,
and produces so, 900 yards of shifting, sheet
ing, and drilling during the same period.
Five thousand spindles and 100 looms are
daily fed and attended by l25 operatives.
The water power at low water is estimated
as equal to $50 horse power. Most of the
goods Manufactured during the fall, winter,
and spring months are sold at home, but
during the summer months the greater pOr-
ton is shipped North and West. Tie pres
ent handsome structure was erected soon at
ter the war IN place Of the old tumbledown
factory which had occupied the site for %
years. In reply to inquiries concerning
business prospects, Mr.. Converse said
Trade has been better thus far this season
than it was for five years. Up to May | we
were ahead of production all the time, a
great many of our goods being taken for ex-
port. We have about caught up with our
orders, but have no accumulation"
The Reedy River Manufacturing Com
panys mill is on Reedy River, about four
miles east Of Greenville. The machinery is
limited to 1000 splndles and IS looms,
which, attended by 30 operatives, produce
l,,1- . -nn ~ 80 ,nr anI onD ,,,,nal,
of yarn. This company was organized III
1875 with a capital of $47, 800. Its trade is
almost entirely local, and, according to the
superintendent statement, very lucrative.
The Graniteville Manufacturing Company
was organized IN 1880. The advocates of
home industry were less numerous at that
time than they are now, and the company
experienced some difficulty IN obtaining a
charter. Their establishment is situated on
Horse Greek, in the town of Graniteville,
and employs 240 operatives. The mill CON
sists of $1,000 spindles and 3O0looms, which
produce monthly 100000. The water pow
er is equal to $50 horse power. A short
time ago the company also purchased 200
acres OF land, and the water power used by
the Nancluse Mill, burned in 1874, and
bnilt a new mill of granite and brick, which
Is being rapidly supplied with the most APP
proved machinery, and will soon
operations. Inc uam Tor tnlS new mill Is
built of granite, and measures 342 feet in
length. The expenses for the latter were
paid from surplus funds and without an In
crease Of the capital stock-which is 5000
600. President hickman reports trade very |
good for the season.
The Piedmont Manufacturing Company
was Incorporated three years ago with a paid
IN capital of $G35,O00. It's mill is on the
Saluda river, on the Greenville and Column
bla Railroad, about eleven miles from
Areenyille. ~Seventy-six snow white outra-
ges, surrounded by neatly fenced gardens,
inhabited by 30 operatives, line the main
approach from Greenville for nearly half a
mile, and present a very pleasing sight. The
main building, containing ID 300 spindles
and $50 looms, Is three stories high and 256
feet long. About Is bales of cotton are
daily consumed, which produce, on the av-
erage, 10000 yards of cloth and :, 200
pounds of yarn. The water power is unus-