The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1881-04-15
THEi COTTON GIN.
IT'S HIsToRY NARRATED by COLONEL W.
III. SPARKS.

ii. SPARKS.
Events transporting in country, which
have operated material change in the in
dustries and the prosperity of its people,
constitutes, in great degree, its history.
These events or discoveries usually transmit
the names of those iuventing or discovering
them to posterity as bancfactors OF tn hu-
man family, and are held in just reverence.
The names of Watt, the inventor of the
steam engine, Of Godfrey, the inventor of
the quadrant, of Stevenson and Train, the
discoveries Of the railroad aud the locomo-
tive, and Arkwright, the inventor of the
spinning jenny, and of Whitney, the inven.
tor of the cotton gin. with Morse, the dis
4 ~ sS ts
human family.
All of these inventions are cras in the
progress Of the world, from which will be
dated the commencement of n new AMI more
rapid stride to civilization, health and pow.
er, and this advance will ever be credited to
the wonderful genius Of these men,
Whence and wherefore the appearance and
the inventions Of these wonderful minds !?
II has been aptly said the exigencies Of
man are ever answered by the inspiration
Of God, and that these are spccalties in the
progress of time, designed by supernatural
| wisdom for that advancement in the knowl-
| edge of man, necessary to his comprchen>
sion OF that perfection in nature which en-
abled him to comprehend the wisdom, power
and mercy of the great Creator, which in
all things is but part of this divine essence
However. be this as it may, is no part of
my plan in writing these crude sketches of
the early history Of Georgia.
In 1870 Robert Peel, of England, com
mcnced in a small way the manufacture of
cotton goods. The supply of cotton was
very limited, and chiefly from the British
West Indies. The price Of cotton was then
SO high that now it would be considered cx
orbitant. This arose from tho costIincss of
separating the lint from the seed. The in
PRODUCTION of the long staple cotton into
Georgia and South Carolina preceded some
years that of the green sc ed or short staple
cotton, and means had been invented for
ginning or taxing out the seed of the long
staplcd cotton, known as tho roller GIN
This was slow process aud ineffectual for
the purpose Of taking the lint from the seed
of the short stapled or upland cotton, rs it
was then termed. The consequence was
there was very little cultivated for market
Small patches were planted by tho farmers
Just enough for h)me consumption. -
| When this was TO be used the seeds were
picked ont with the fingers. There are
some old enough to remember how this was
effected in every family. I remember it
well. In the long winter evenings the
children, white and black, had weighed out
to them one ounce of seed cotton, from which
the seeds were to be taken. These ounces
wcrc spread out before the fire iu the room
of the house where were assembled the
family, and i'll very large portion of the
community this was the only room 10 the
house. This was done to heat the cotton
as the seeds, when the cotton was warm,
more readily parted from the lint. AS q
stimulant to active and quick work, re-
ward of biscuit or lump of sugar was
promised, and the largest biscuit or lump of
sugar was for him or her who frs: com pic.
ted the task, and tho cotton thus prepared
with the fleece grown on the farm consttu.
ted the fiber from which the entire raimcnt
Of the family was fabricated
The commencement Of the manufacture
Of cotton In England, and it's very remune.
rative price stimulated its growth in the
South, and the separeting or cleaning the
lint from the seed in more rapid and cf.
fectual manner than by the hand became
| desiratum.
In 1898 young man from New England
came to Savannah to teach in private fam
lily, but having been delayed in coming, be.
yond the stipulated time for his arrival, his
nj hoA IaI b.,o A. IL
time there was residing some twelve miles
above Savannah gentleman by the name
of Miller. He was from New England, and
had married the widow of General Nathan.
iel Greene, Of revolutionary fame, and was
iu possession of the Mulberry Grove plan
tation, which had been donated by the State
Of Georgia to General Greene in reward for
his revolutionary service.
Mr.. Miller chanced to meet this youth
in Savannah being countryman aud with
out employment. he invited him to the hos.
pitalities Of his home. 1t was whilst here,
and nightly witnessing the picking of the
seeds from the cotton by numerous flock
OF Juvenile darkies seated around the fire,
and as they idled and nodded at their work
was evidence OF fatigue and want of sleep.
his sympathes were awakened for these
children, and expressed himself as anxious
that some other means for this purpose could
be invented, that should secure them from
this untimely and fatiguing labor. In this
wish he was joined by Mrs. Miller, who was
at the time preparing some small rods to be
used in holding the wicks Of tallow candles,
better known as tallow dips, in the primitive
days OF the State. With the end of one of
these sho bent into sort Of hook tho p,int
end ard taking up handful of seed cotton
she pulled with it the lint from the seed
This action suggested to the mind of Whit
ney, who was tho youth soiourning ut the