Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-01-26
Our Manufactures.
augusta Chronicle.


1t would seem a self-imposed and
wholly unnecessary task to dwell upon
the impoi tance of manufacturing enter
prises, notably of cotton factories, to our
city The theories of the past have been
put to the test and have given place to
practice. Years ago. one dwelt upon
the music Of the spindles; to-day, one,
in possession OF the necessary ability and
having followed up his faith with works,
enjoys. quarterly or semi-annually, divi
dends that are as reassuring as they
are solid and comforting. Notwith-
standing all this, we apprehend
that our people, as a whole, have not
risen TO thorough appreciation of the
immense benefits which annually accrue
to our city from existing establishments
and the largely increased benef which
will come from similar enterprises now
nicely underway, or soon to be put into
operation. Very few pcrs ms, compare.
lively speaking, have anything like a
fair conception of the returns which our
magnificent " ater power is annually CON
tributing to the city's growth and pros
perity. A knowledge of the fact that our
citizens have at this writing invested
in cotton factories alone the sum Of
three and one half million dollars ($3, 500
000), impresses the average citizen with
much less force than il should impress
him. He accepts ii IS fact, but he has
not the time to ascertain whether this
large sum is profitably invested. II he
could DO so ne would at once strike
hands with US in urging upon our citizens
generally the necessity for and the de-
STABILITY of an increase in the number of
cotton factories within or quite near the
city limits. Let US see, for a moment,
what was done by the Augusta Factory,
the Graniteville. Vaucluse Factory and
the Langley Factory, in the way of
moneys paid to operatives, dividends dis
tributed among shareholders and cash
expended ia the purchase of cotton dur
ing the years 1877, '7S, 79 and 80, in
clusive: For the purposes of this arti
Gle, it is not material that two of these
factories arc located in neiehboring
State. Here are three establishments,
having capital of 81 600 GOO, that give
employment to over LOO operatives
and annually distribute among them
$500, 900. During the past four
years, these operatives have been paid
in cash 81 500. 600. Think of this sum, or
of two thirds thereof, percoIating
through the communities directly inter.
ested. Where, within the understood
limits, is the grocer, the dealer IN shoes
and hats and wearing apparel. who does
not month by month, receive, his share
of those well earned dollarsI Again,
the three mills, which we chose as strik-
ing illustrations of what has been done
and can be done, paid out, during the
period of '77-'90, inclusive, in dividends
to the stockholders, the sum of $780,
900, and expended for the purchase Of COT
ton for manufacturing purposes, So. .673,-
$780, What an exhibitl These facts,
true as they are and encouraging as they
ought to be, speak volumes, and are
worthy of the most thoughtful consid
Grafton. 1t is probable that the Sibley
Mills, as soon as they are fully under
way, will give employment to one thou
sand operatives and distribute among
them annually not less than 1926. 900.
The Sibley alone will increase our popu-
lation three thousand souls. But we must
not rest content with all this. There
is room for further effort. Other fac
tories ought TO be built, and we shall
have nO-more auspicious time for the
Inauguration of measures TO that end
than tho present. We believe that the
movement, whenever begun. should con-
template the enlistment of our citizens
Of moderate means, that is to say, the
shares should be put at figures that viii
be within the reach of ell-capitalists
and those who are not capitalists.