The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-12-18
TIE SOUTHERN STAPLE.
Americas Cotton Manufacturo Of the Fu-
farc--Steam and Water Power Compared,

~A''NA ~ fSNhst ANofCtioCI OV, lS0Us
There are some 100000 cotton
spindlea operated in tho Union. In
the year 1900, only nineteen years
away, there will be 10000, 900 needed,
because the increase Of population and
expectation of American goods will
demand them. The population, as as-
certained BY the recent census, is, in
round numbers, 60,0Oo,000. In 1870
1t was $4,000, 900, iii increase Of thirty
one and half per cent. in ten years.
The Same rate Of increase for the next
two decades will nuke It $4,000 900.
To sustain this estimate lot me suggest
that from 1870 to 1920, and for each
succeeding period Of thirty years, the
"Compendium United States Census''
shows al average increase of over one
hundred and forty per cent. This
ratio applied to the $4,000, 900 of 1870
gives us over 90,0o0,000 in l900-thir-
ty years later. So it appears that
twenty years hence we may expect a
population nearly doublo that Of the
prcscll year as just asccrtained. Even
IT this estimate of population fails,
the increased tendency Of the people
toward manufactures will compensate
for tho smaller number Of the popula-
ton. Will not two pounds Of cotton
goods be required from the United
States mills in 1900 for one pound now
produced? 1t this is correct, 20, ,O0O,-
O0c Of sDindlcs will be required. Dur
ing the interval Of nineteen years
most Of the spindlcs now in use will
be worn out or otherwise DESTROYED.
Let us say that 100000 must be re-
placed. and 10000, 900 moro must be
supplied-im all 100000, with all
their preparatory and following ma
chinery-before tho end Of this cen
tury. Is this extravaganza l think
not. Onc-half OF the 7,00O,O0U al
work IN 1870 were operated hy steam,
the other halt by water power. The
FtHanc'Hi Chronicle reports the home
consumption last year at 1900 900
bales, averaging 46l pounds each.
This is cquiracnt to over %65 GOO ,ODO
pounds. If the ratio of 1879 has been
maintained, some 13O, ,QU0.OpJ bounds
have been manufactured hy steam in
1870 and 1880 Is this economical? ?
1t pays, rcri:.ilIy. 5ul does i, nav as
well rs with wafer power? The re-
quSitc power for l,OoJ spind'cs with
looms has been vuriously estimated ut
fifteen TO twenty-five horsepower.
AS all speeds have been accelerated
since the introduction Of the American
ring spindle, let us take Gn mc6io) tie,
ratio of twenty horsv-pnvcr. Fer
20,o00,SC0 spindic*. witt, looms, this
ratio demands 100000 horse power.
COUNTING TIE coaT.
The steam engines Of Tic country
VIII average, | SUPPOSE, Il con$ump-
ton OF six pounds of coal per horse
power per hour, ur sixty pounds per
day OF ten hours work. At this rate
there will be required 24,0uO,OuU
pounds Of coal Gaily, or 1900 tons.
to do the amount OF duty required. |
suppose the average cost Of coal will
oe Sl' to cover prn.c cost, freight
dr@yagr. labor and storage. Here we
have charge for steam fuel alone ul
S4S,O0 per day, and for orking
:e"i Va o1@ o'!s VI Cio,Uoo,ooo. t,,iS,
to this the wages Of engineers, fire
men and lahorers to handle the cunl :
the excess OF repair, cost of engines
wv Nh"tt W WI (Hc tNCCSS OF
on required Ga few gills daily are Suf-
ficicnt for turbine of l00horsc-pnwcr
making eighty revolutions per min
utc); the greater cost Of engines; the
unavoidable outlay for "ugine and
boiIcr-houscs and stacks, and the
somewhat Increased danger Of fire.
and it seems that $l5, ,0O0,O 900 is low
estimate of the annual cost Of steam
power for 20,00O,000 Of spindlcs with
looms. What would be the cost with
water powcr2 The city of Augusta,
Ga, has built a magnificent canal,
which furnishes now $4,000 horse
power, with capacity of great increase
ut tho annual charge Of $3.50 Der
horse-powcr, or lie. per horse power
FER day. One hundred horsepower
on this canal will cost q manufacture,
$o50 per annum. This is a splcndid
climate, with cheap building material,
abundant and cheap labor. tcachablc
tractable, thankful for cmploymcnl
and utterly unacQuaintcd with strikes
and State taXation.-thrce-tcn OF !
per ccnt-to be reduced rather tha,
increased, for the State finances are il,
most satisfactory condition. Geor.
gia has floated per cent. bonds n,
par, Il financial feat, I believe, not par.
allcled by any other State. Manutnc.
: lures arc firmly established there and
very remunerative. Stocks are ia.
above par. At the water rent fixed
by the city Of Augusta, the 400. .UOC
horsepower estimated would cost
81 100000 instead of S15, ,OOO, 900 by
steum, a saving Of nearly $4,000, ,OOC
annual, and Of $250, 100000 in TWEEN.
~ years. If these estimates are eve,
approximately correct, there can be nc
doubt OF tho greatly superior economy
OF water over steam power.
RESOURCES OF THE SOUTH.
Water power abounds in North and
South Carolina. Virginia, Georgia and
Alabama, and Is to be found in otbc,
Southern States. At Aup"..a thf
supply can be doubled when needed
at Macon n similar canal is practic;,
blc, which cam furnish an immcns,
power. at Athens, Ca, and its i'm.
mediate vicinity, there are numerous
falls of great capacity. At Tallnsscc
and at other points in Alabama, the
falls arc very fine. The Chuttrhoo
chce river. in Ills i. tate, falls ll2 fee
in distance OF twelve miles, with In,
sncccsslul manufacturing city of Co.