The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1880-05-20
ABOUT COTTON MILLS.

ABOUT COTTON MILLS.
JUST ut this time, when the necessity
becomes so apparent that Austin peo-
Pile must resort to manufactures to
maintain any dignity and character for
the place, it. Is interesting to review
what industry has done for other pla-
ces. Not far from Augusta, and close
TO the little town of Aiken, in South
Carolina, there Is village called
Graniteville, where many years ago
there were nothing but pine groves
and hickory thickets, and glades COW
cred with laurels and fragrant honey.
suc&les and yellow jasmines. Gran
iteyille is now the most active town
along the long liRe Of railway from
Augusta to Charleston, with popula-
tion OF some two thousand people, and
vast business that gives employ
ment to several hundred persons.
Here arc what are called the Granite
Vile and the Vancluse cotton mills,
owned mostly by gentlemen living in
Augusta. All that the place HAD 10
recommend il as the site for manufac-
tories was the existence of a little
brooks winding their way through tine
sand hills and presenting opportnni-
ties by utilizing their waters TO estab-
lsh power. Dams and conduc-
tors have been so constructed as to
give vast force with little water, SINH
lar application of which applied to the
water of the Colorado, would produce
power sufficient to keep ten
thousand operatives employed. The
cost of the Vancluse mills is
$3i7. JS9.47, exclusive of cost of
land and mill privilege. The CONNER
cal capital was $500, 900. The sum
credited to profit and loss is 1926, 649-
&c, making to profit and loss SIS, :
060. 30 over and above all liabilities,
while the interest on money borrowed
would increase this sum to $1G1, 352. 26,
or nearly 27 per cent. of the capital.
The production OF the Grsniteville mill,
for the fifty-two weeks beginning with
March 3, 1879, was-11, Az, 179 yards.
The quantity of the cotton consumed
in this production was 3, 9s5, 35tpounds,
or nearly $3.50 bales of $50 pounds av-
ersge weight. The loss of running,
by reason of low water, was seven days.
The production of the Vancluse mill
during the same period, was 4, 692, 600
yards. The cotton consumed in the
manufacture of these goods was 1,751,-
10S pounds, or nearly 3,892 CONNER
cial bales. The loss of time from the
lack of water during last summer was
only one day, and that loss would not
have occurred had not one of the ponds
which furnished water for that mill,
been drawn upon to aid the Granite
vile mill. The GrsniteYllle mill
was insugurated in small way
some years before the war, but
1t did not get under full head
way until 1867. Up to 1867 dividends
had been at rare intervals, and the fac
tory stock soldat 65; the company was
without money or credit, and the pro-
duction of the mill small. Since then
new operatives houses, new and inn
proved machinery and new slasher
house have. been added, and the COM
pany has bought up $115, 900 of the
capital stock, reducing it to 5000, 600,
having paid cut OF the earnings of the
company for this purpose S160, 600.
The new improvements have been TO-
600 spindles, 800 looms and seventy
operatives houses, costing $347, 1894
all paid without assessing the stock
holders one dollar, or increasing the
capital stock, or interfering with the
diVidends, which have averaged over
ten per cent. during thirteen years.
Such is one OF the many model facto-
ries Of South Carolina, by which the
value Of its cotton is being more than
doubled, and through which poor peo-
pie and women snd children of that
state have been trained to honest em-
ployment. Il took money to start such
works and the return has been rich
but not ss much of success as
could be achieved here at Austin.
Why is it that our people hOA back
snd refuse to put money IN enterprises
that would pay snd the Inauguration
of which would in few years enhance
the weslth of the place TO the extent Of
millions.