The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-02-03
THE WESTMINSTER FACTORY.
Practical Results Obtained from tho Cle-
mont Alta achinent.

From the News and Courier.
The following letter from the
Westminster Manufacturing Company
shows the success that has been achiev-
cd by the pioneer mill in this State:
" Our little New Process Yarn Mill
is situated on Il branch of Choestoc
Creek, two miles distant from West
minister, on the Air Line Railroad.
"Our organization, known as the
Westminster Manufacturing Company, ,
composed of farmers who raise small
amount of cotton as u surplus. We
were led to Investigate this enterprise
in November, 1877, by the experiment
of the late Col. T.. T.. Harrison, Of
Andcrsonvillc, S. c., and were adj
viscd by him that our crop of 1877.
amounting to $4,000 pounds of seed
cotton, would be sufficient to run ono
set of machinery for five or six
months. Accordingly we agreed to
prise. We then purchased tho % fol-
lowing machinery, viz: One Clement
Attachment, one 34-inch Wellman
top-ifat card (thcsc were all now and
combined all the principles Of the
Clement Attachment for converting
seed cotton directly into slivcr,) ono
four-dc'ivcry Dantorth drawing-frame,
one twclvc-bobbin Dantorth specdcr,
two Dantorth spiming-fi'ames, 1872
spindlcs each; two reels, one bunch
press, and one balc-prcss, Gall good
ssccond-hand.) This. completed the
list OF machinery Of our new process
mill, Of capacity Of 150, 900 pounds of
seed cotton per annum, and cost $2,-
500. For buildings, motive power,
furnishing, &C., 81 200 more was OK
pended, making an Investment Of
$500. On the lst of April, 1878, We
began to operate. Our operatives
consisted of seven young girls Of the
ncighborhood who had never seen q
cotton factory, and one young man of
experience, who operated the card
and trained these raw hands. A SOL
Of one ofthc proprictors, young man
of no experience in the business, but
with fine scholarly attainmcnts, a
graduate Of one of our best colleges
and trained by practical father, was
employed as superintendent. OF
course the want Of operative expert
encc resulted III more or less loss to
us for seven or eight weeks, but at tho
end Of five months VIC had q well
trained set of hands. BY the 1st of
November we had completed the
manufacturing Of tho crop of 1877,
and proceeded to reckon tic crop lust
made and found that it amounted to
$4,000 pounds. Knowing this would
run the machinery only about seven
months, we decided to use the pro-
cccds Of our sales for the purchase of
200 pounds more to make enough
to run twelve months. For the last
mentioned 81 900 pounds we paid an
average Of two and thrcc-tOurths cents
per pound, thrcc-tcnths market value
OF lint cotton. Many Of the surround
ing farmers preferred to sell to us,
and we could have bought enough to
have run four or five times rs much
machinery. If our motive power was
sufficient, VIC would ut once increase
the capacity of the mill. Instead Of
tho experienced young man we had
at the beginning, we now have boy
OF eighteen of tho neighborhood, who
is now a good, attentive card and
drawing g-frame hand.
LAS farmers we formerly owned
three gins, with presses, powers, &c.
Our experience is that we can haul
tho seed cotton to the mill, q distance
of ten miles over this hilly country,
and effect small saving over ginning
at home. The change, or the use Of
the Clement Attachment, has there
fore wrought for us, as farmers,
saving of the Investment in the above
named three gins and fixtures equal
to $2,25O, The gins were only used
one month in the year. Then the
arrest Of this $2,250 saves the interest
OH it for eleven months Of each year,
which, at seven per cent. per annum,
is equal to $144.374. We are also in
debtcd to the Clement Attachment for
saving the purchase of bagging and
ties for sixty bales Of cotton, ut $3.50
per bale, equal to 800.
GAS manufacturers, our operative
and contingent expenses arc $3.50 per
day, and our net profit is equal to one
cent on every pound Of seed cotton We
1t is our opinion that
q mill of q capacity Of 100000 or 700,-
o0o pounds per annum, judiciously
will pay one and onc-half
cents for every pound manufactured.
The demand for our thread is always
good. In the fall and winter seasons
we cannot supply the local trade. In
spring and summer we ship to New
York and Philadelphia. Wherever
sold it is pronounced 'thc'best. Here
is what buckingham 81 Paulsen, of
New York, say about it in letter ad-
dressed to us December 10, 1878: eve
have seen some Of your yarns in Phila-
dclphia, and they are the handsomest
goods we have ever socn. We have
Il demand here for an extra quality of
yarns, nnd would like TO have shin
mcnt from you.' Also, under date of
June II, 1879: 'There are no better
yarns made, and they arc put up in
excellent shape Again, under date
Of October II, 1870: 'Wc wish you
would make us shipment of yarns to
as we have an outside
trade for 1t thcro, and for superior
quality of yarn, such as you make us,
can find ready MARKET"
AS to the purchase of seed cotton,
Mr.. Stribbling stated that he could
get any amount that he needed. lie
gives tho farmers the cash value of
their seed cotton-that is, what it
would bring if ginncd and sold as lint,
md ch0pOpo M tyin foo ,,,1,s1I> '