Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-03-03
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COTTON MILLS IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
From the News and Courier, Charleston, s. C.


The public are aware that during the last
ten years considerable progress has been made
in the development of the manufacturing in
terests in South Carolina, especially in the
manufacturing of cotton goods. But few per-
sons have any just idea of the magnitude of
the work which has been done, or what is
more important, of the number of persons ell.
gagged in it, the amount of raw material con-
sumed, and the profit made by those engaged
in the business.
Attempts have been made at different times
to show the extent Of the cotton manufactures
in South Carolina, but until to-day no thor.
ough and complete statement upon that SUBJ
ject has been given to the public.
With this will be found summary of the
condition of each and every cotton mill in
South Carolina, showing its capacity, con.
sumption of raw material, production, class of
goods manufactured, water-power used, the
number of persons employed, and the number
of those dependent upon them ; the wages
paid and the rates of profit, forming as to each
mill plain, and at the same time, complete
exhibit of its condition and operations.
The information now given was obtained
by visit to the different factories in the State,
made by Mr. j. K Blackman, of the Neus
and Courier Staff, who has endeavored to give
similar information with regard to each facto.
ry in order that the results might be grouped
together.
These results briefly stated are: That there
are in South Carolina seventeen factories, (not
including the Westminster Clement Attach.
ment mil, } engaged in the production of cot.
ton yarns and cloths.
These factories have 95,93S spindles with
1888 looms i'll operation.
They produce 10l 1888 yards of cloth and
17,4S3 pounds of yarn for each working day !;
consuming for each day 1884 pounds of cot
ton.
They employ 2.6l2 operatives, who in turn
support S.l43 persons who are dependent upon
them, the monthly pay rolls being over $685.
600. The capital employed in these mills
amounts to 2,293, 500, and they are estimated
to be worth to day s2.S5l 900.
The profits range from Is to so per cent.
per annum upon the capital invested. This
so per cent is the return from the Westmin-
ster Factory, the well.known home of the
Clement Attachment" At the other facto-
ries the profit ranges from Is to 25! per cent.
per annum, the highest rate reported being
that of the "Piedmont Mills" in Greenville
county. With this summary of general re
suits by way Of introduction we pass to the
report of the condition and separations Of each
factory, which every one can read and under
stand for himself These detailed reports are
given in the order in which the mills were
visited:
The GIanitevilIe Manufacturing Company.
The Granteville Factory, one of the oldest
and, at present, the most extensive cotton
manufacturing establishments in the State, is
located in the centre of the town of Granite
Vile, about stones throw from the Char.
lotte, Columbia and Augusta Railroad, and
about mile from the South Carolina Rail-
road. The factory was first organized in 1916
under charter which ran for fourteen years,
and at recent session of the Legislature the
charter was renewed for thirty years. MIR.
VIM Gregg was the leading spirit in starting
the enterprise and Messrs. Joel Smyth, Hiram
Hutchinson and Kerr Boyce were the princi'
pal stockholders The company started ope
rations in lS49 upon capital of 100000,
and worked 10000 spindes and 300 looms.
The Town Of Gruniteville, as it is called, is
not an incorporation, and has no town gov
ernment aside from the rules and regulations
of the factory; in fact, it is dependent upon
and inseparable from the factory. 1t has a
population of $500 souls 1t has three
; churches and an Episcopal chapel, and ii