Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-03-24

practical man, thoroughly conVersant with tne
requirements of the power used in driving ma
chinery for the manufacture of fabrics, Mr..
Henry E. Fries had no reservation in declar-
ing his preference, unqualifiedly and unreserv-
edly, in favor of steam over water; and as evil
dence of his preference, he said if such thing
could be as the substituting of water for steam
power at their mills, without subjecting them
to cent Of expense in making such change,
he would not be willing to do so. This, he
said, if not an argument in favor OF steam,
was certainly the strongest language he could
employ to enforce disposition. Another point
he urged, which to him was an argument more
forcible than any theory, is the fact, that num-
bers of New England factories, as faVorably
located on water as any, are discardlng water
power substituting therefor steam, though
not changing the location OF the mills. a
New England manufacturer, he thinks, would
not substitute steam for water power if he did
not perceive economic advantages in making
such change. He also pointed to their present
enterprise as further evidence of his faith Ill
steam. With their. past experience OF forty
years with steam, were it attended with dis
advantages, they would not have invested the
necessary capital in the erection OF their new
building, in which they are now placing O,4oO
spindles, $50 looms, and the necessary prepara-
tory and finishing machinery, all to be driven
exclusively by steam. Arguments in favor OF
water over steam, perhaps at one time appllca-
ble. are inapplicable now, owing to the hlgh
degree of perfection attained in the construc-
tOn of engines, combining the greatest
amount Of power with almost absolute safety,
at al expense much below the cost OF steam
few years ago, when the steam engine was COM
paratively in crude state and objections to
| it were plausible.
'He, however, preferred to give us the beneht
of the opinion of capable employee in his es-
| tablishment, Mr.. E. G. Rominger, who has
had forty years. experience i'll the business,
eight years of which time were with cotton
factories on Haw River, driven, Of course, by
water power alone, and the remaining portion
of the period. or thirty-two years, with steam
power exclusively. Mr.. Rominger was decided
in his preference for steam First, he said as
to location. If water be the motive power
used, of course you must locate your factory
on the site of the power, which, in the MAORI
| ty of cases, is in some inaccessible region, cut
off from all ready means for rapid, prompt and
cheap transportation facilities, so important in
the prosecution of any enterprise in which
capital is embarked with the view of making
satisfactory returns. AS regards location,
when steam power is used, he said that need
be determined only by never-failing supply OF
water for the engine Be sure you have that,
and you may locate where you will.
"As to the relative cost as between properly
constructed dam and race for water power,
and a steam engine, he expressed the opln-
ion that dam and race, taking out OF con-
sideration the question of location, would
cost more than the most expensive engine,
while the results of the water power cannot,
under any circumstances be so satisfactory
as if steam were employed. This he account
ed for by showing that the supply OF water
in the pond, or reservoir, is too variable to
admit of running with uniform speed-a
great desideratum in the manufacture OF goods
of uniform quality. If the supply of water,
said he, could always be maintained at uni
form quantity, then there would he no difficult
ty; but this would be impossible. The force
varies through the day, as the water flows
from the pond to the driving wheels, and i'll
addition to this, the supply in the pond varies
with wet and. dry seasons, and frequently,
during the rainy seasons, the water supply IS
too heavy, thereby preventing the machinery
from running, which is equivalent to having
an insufficient supply, either OF which contln,
gency is liable on almost any stream, and
against which the skill of man cannot success
| fully contend.
''On the other hand the cost of an engine
being no more than constructing dam, and
he was inclined to think it would at the pres
ent time be even less, you would have 1t III
your power, with steam, to control the speed
of the machinery, the Importance OF which
he had already alluded to, and besides this,
in his opinion, very important consideration,
the mills would never be subjected to the con-
tingencies of drought at one season or high
waters at another while the advantages thus
gained by steam in, one years running, would
more than counterbalance the expense incur
red for generating steam.
| ''ThiS is the substance of the views expressed
by Mr.. Rominger, as before stated, man OF
skill, good Judgment and practical knowledge,
who has long held the position of foreman, IN
which capacity he is employed by Messrs.
Fries, in all of which Mr.. Fries, from life
long experience with steam, and the result OF
| his observations and such theoretical knoWl-
edge as he had been able to obtain, fully con-
Cured"
The results of the inquiries made there and
elsewhere, giving practical experiments upon
these subjects, are of a character SO entirely
satisfactory, that no doubt is left upon the
minds of the undersigned that steam cotton
mill, favorably built and operated, with wood
rat not exceeding 81 per cord, is the equal in
point of paying capacity of mill OF the same
equipment built at water site located five
miles distant from railroad and operated by
water power.
The undersigned, by resolution OF the
stockholders. were appointed committee to
set forth the conditions and prospects Of this
enterprise, and to invite investments OF cap
ital in its aid Subscriptions will be received
in shares of FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS each
After the requisite capital is subscribed and
permanent organization effected these sub
scriptions will be called in by assessments as
money may be needed, which will probably ex-
tend over a period of one year, or more. we
commend the enterprise to the thoughtful con-
sideration of those who have money to invest
in an undertaking that, above all others, gives
promise of satisfactory returns, and, at the
same time, tends to promote the prosperity of
the country by furthering the development OF
our immense home resources.
1t is proposed to conduct this enterprise as
matter of business for the benefit of the stock
holders. Subscriptions to the capital stock
will he received by the President or Treasurer,
or by either of the undersigned.
JAS. F. HART,
j. l.. CLARK,
r. j. LATTA,
J. w. P. Hope,
I. D. WITIIERspoON,
H. F. ADICKEs, JR.,
JOHN F. OATES,
JOHN R. AsnE,
T. S. JEFFERYS,
w. PORTER GoOD,
M n