The Orangeburg democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1879-1881, 1880-02-27
Meeting OF the Agricultural Society.

The fl st meeting Of this society
was held at the Fair Building Satur-
day last, February 21st, DR.. w. +.
Burton, President, in the chair, and
MIR. Kirk Robinson, secretary. After
reading the minutes of the last meet.
ing, the secretary stated that lie had
sent on for the Pearl NIillet seed as
ordered by the society, which would
be distributed to the members when
received. Mr.. IIarpin Riggs, chair
man of the committee on the Clement
Attachment, made report which
was favorable and in substance the
same rs the account given in the
NcaVs and Courier. Mr.. Riggs in a
few remarks impressed the necessity
of such an enterprise upon The mem
bers. Like every other undertaking,
those who went into it first would
reap the benefits it. a building
like this (Fair Building) would ac-
conn,odate four machines and 1GO,-
600 pounds would keep one machine
running during year. He had seen
one Of these machines at work anu
thought it performed all that was
claimed for it Ivy the inventors.
L. al
Agricultural and Mechanical Associa-
ton q! the last meeting adopted a
resolution asserting the Willingness
Of the mcmbc:S TO unite with This sD-
cicty if the chances were IN favor of
the success Of the Clement Attach.
mcnt. And lie thought with this re-
port before them the union could be
perfected. 70
DIR. Barton favored the Attachment
and recommended that two machines
be purchased at q cost of S., 900 and
that steam be adopted instead of
water for the mo- i've power. The Gu
tire cost would require Il cash capital
Of not more than $4,000 TO begin
with, and the seed cotton necessary
TO keep the mills running would per-
haps increase the cost to $4,000.
Upon this investment sthe society
would certainly realize a profit of not
less than lG per cent. Ii factory
could not be established here, it
would pay three or four farmers TO
unite and purchase one machine for
spinning up their own crops.
Mr.. Riggs said That at least 100
bales of cotton in the seed was bought
in Orangeburg by the merchants
which might come TO the factory if
established.
Mr.. l.. II. Beckwith said that the
profits Of the machines had never
fallen under 40 per cent. He advo-
Gated steam as the motive power
and thought $4,000 would be neces-
sary TO start the factory. lie advo-
Gated such an enterprise, but his cX-
pcriencc had taught him that every
body, white and colored, was so tied
up by factors and merchants that the
crop could not be controlled.
Mr.. Hadlcy favored the project
and next fall would make o handsome
contribution TO it.
AIr. Muller thought that some
members were throwing cold while
others hot water upon the enterprise.
There were thirty mcmbers present
and fifty dollars from each would
make up the necessary amount.
DR.. j. G. Holman desired 10 see
how many bales the farmers will sub
scribe. He did not think it would re-
quirc SO much morcy, but what was
wanted was cotton. lie will sub
scribe 10 bales as stock.
Mr.. Briggman thought all the seed
cotton, bought now by the merchants
could be purchased by the factory.
lie did not think the Objection raised
hy h1r. Beckwith had anything to do
with it. If all the stockholders in
the Agricultural and Mechanical AS
socintion were 10 put their stock i'm
this factory, its establishment would
be easily accomplished.
d.. Barton said there couid bc no
better place for factory than this
building II was large, well built and
strong and just suited for The purpose.
He was willing 10 contribute 81 900
in money toward raising the stock.
AT this point tie following amount
and bales were subscribed: Mr..
Riggs, 4 bales; Mr.. Bennett, 2 bales ;
MIR. X Rohipcnp f,,r NJ, S,,,, -