The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1880-01-14
THE CLEMENT ATTACHMENT.

SPINNER AND SELL IT'S COTTON
AT SEVENTEEN INSTEAD
OF TEN CENTS PER
POUND.
ATLANTA, Ca,
Dec. 10, 1879. {
Col. W. R. German, Geneva, Ga:
Dear S;r-In my letter addressed to
you some days since, in regard to the
Clement attachment, I did not answer
your inquiries as fully as desired, ow-
ing to pressure Of business OCCASION
ed by some days absence from my Of
fee. AT that time I thought it would
be necessary to give detailed descrip-
ton of the entire machinery, which
would have involved both time and
space; but upon reflection think !
can confine myself to narrower COM
pass, and meet all the points set forth
in your letter.
The several descriptions Of this at
tachment, furnished in the columns Of
the Constitution, AZ also the one l SOW
in the Covington Star, we're, in my
opinion, substantially correct. have
also seen an article from MIR. Harden,
of Windsor, North Carolina, and an
advertisement from j. v. StribliDg, of
Westminster, South Carolina, a copy
of which herewith inclose, and which
l think covers trutllfally every mate
rial point. Presenting, therefore, that
you have read a portion, il not all, the
articles referred to, I conclude that q
mere expression of my. opinion Is
about all that 10 desirable.
Although not strictly agricultural,
yet it is so nearly allied to tho farming
interest, l deemed it my duty TO look
into the merits of this machine that I
might, in case ofnecessity, be ready to
give an intelligent opinion. l thought
if everything claimed for it was true
that it might become a revolutionizer;
that instead Of retaining in our midst
merely the proceeds of the sale Of the
raw cotton product of the State, we
might retain to our people the super
added millions from it's manufacture
into yarn; that it might rescue from
the severer labors Of the farm thous-
ands Of our delicate women and chill
dren and bring to them, at least, .
competency. 1t is by bringing light
work within easy reach Of the millions
that France is to day one of the rich
est nations in the world. Every one
there, from the smallest urchins of
both sexes to adults Of threescore
and ten, are contributors to the COM
monweal.h. Anything that would
break the shack.es that now bind us to
the car of Northern commercial des-
potism is a desideratum to my mind,
and believe il to the mind of every
wellwisher of the South, most de-
voutly to be hoped for. Anything
looking to that end should be encour-
aged by the united support of all
Southerners. Animated with these
hopes, and entertaining to some ex-
tent these expectations, l visited q
short time since the little factory al
Westminster, South Carolina, belong
ing to ]. V. Stribling. l found it iu.
deed a baby factory. differing from
other cation MILLS, to the eye Of cas-.
nal observer, bnt little save to the
extent Of it's machinery. Althounh it
was known to the proprietor that oar
party was coming, the machinery was
silent, owing to the dealt, of one of the
operatives. 1t was perhaps as we'll,
as it gave us leisure to examine the
entire affoir, and to discuss 1t without
the busting interference of the ma
chinery. After taking notes of every.
thing appertaining to the mill, l then,
in company with one of the party, en-.
deavored to verify the statement Of
the Messrs. StribliDg as to the profits.
In the matter Of expense l could not
see why the whole could not be COM
prised into two heads, viz: "Interest
on capital and cost of labor" In this,
as in all other kinds of manufacturing,
the capital may be classified as float
ing and permanent, the floating CAPT.
tai being that used in the gurchase Of
stock, and the permanent that invest
ed in buildings and fixtures. In the
case of single attachment, 16O, OOC
pounds Of seed cotton, yielding $4,000
pounds of lint, worth 5000 at ter
cents per pound, represents the float
ing capital. As this investment in
stock is being returned throughout the
year from the sale Of yarns, it is deem.
ed but fair that legal rates of interest
should be allowed for six months only
The permanent capital or investment
l suppose, will approximate IS, 0OO
and on this ! allow = per cent. for the
full period of one year. The matte,
would then stand about as follows;
interest on 5000 of floating capital,
six months ~
Intaraat IN xs O00 ;,,raa4.,aa4 e..