Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-03-17
5f}istellameuns &eading.
COTTON MILLS IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
From the News and Courier, Chnrestc o, 8. c.

COTTON MILLS IN SOUTH CAROLINA
From the News and Courier, Charlestcn, &c.
The Camperdown Mills,
This factory includes two mills, about 15(
yards apart, situated on the Reedy River
in the city of 'Greenville, and is the only cot
ton manufacturing establishment in the State
which is located within the corporate limits
of city. Both buildings are of brick. That
which is known as the lower mill is three
stories high, and is run by two turbine wheels
with 125 horse power, having fall of 81
feet. The upper mill is a two story brick
building, and is run by 40.inch Lefell tur'
bine wheel with 200 horse power and fall
of 80 feet. The lower mill was built in 1874
and the upper mill in 1876. At the upper mill
both steam and water-power is used, the
steam being 125 horse power In few
weeks the company propose to introduce
steam to the amount Of 325 horse power in
both mills. This is to avoid the contingent
cy of failure of wateri in the summer months.
These mills were formerly owned by Samp
son, Hall & Co., and in 1876, when the new
mill was built, the name was changed, and
Mr.. Hamln Beatie was elected president OF
the company. At present MIR. j. A. Sand
ford is the general superintendent. He is a
New Englander, and is thoroughly educated
in the cotton manufacturing business The
capital stock of the company is sl6S,O00. The
total capacity of the two mills is 12,S4O
spindles and 1l2 cards. The class of goods
manufactured are hosiery yarns from to l6,
and twisted yarns as high as No. 36.
The consumption of raw cotton is 1000
pounds per day, or 100 bales per week, and
the daily production of manufactured goods
is 5000 pounds of yarn.
Two hundred and sixty operatives, all white,
are employed, about one-half of whom are
females. These operatives are accommodated
in 72 tenement houses, owned by the company
and rented at from $3.50 to So so per month.
The operatives are all native with the excep-
ton of five skilled hands from the North.
The pay roll per month, including salaries, is
$4,000. During the past year the company
has paid an 8 per cent. dividend, has laid
aside reserve fund as commercial capital OF
$4,000, and has expended $4,000 in i'm
proving the property. The property is now
valued at $4,000. As these mills were
run by both steam and water, | thought l
would be able to get definite opinion as to
the relative cost of these two classes of power.
In answer to my inquiry upon this point, Mr..
Sandford, the superintendent of the mills,
stated that he had never kept any accurate
account of the matter. He rather preferred
steam, he thought, because it could be more
closely regulated, and was more reliable.
"A combination of steam and water" he said,
twill yield the best results | know that
when we run by water alone our production
falls of. The Merrimac Mills at Lowell are
run by both steam and water, and they have
an abundance of water power if they prefer
red to use it. I know that the steam mills
at the North pay higher dividends than the
water mills, and that the mills which are run
by combination of water and steam produce
the Lest results. you can get good and
cheap class of operatives in Charleston, you
can run a steam cotton mill as cheaply as
water mill here The cost of coal would be
cheaper in Charleston than almost anywhere
else in the State. l pay sl.25 per ton for my
coal at the mine, and yet it costs me here
$6.1O per ton. Coal could be laid down in
Charleston in bulk by vessel much cheaper
than that, should imagine. AS to the salt
damp atmosphere Of Charleston, | don't
think that an objection which needs con.
sideraton. The same objection exists at
Fall River, and it is never considered there
Goods are in those places manufactured en-
tirely in an artificial atmosphere. AS to the
general prospects of manufacturers in this
State, my opinion is that the prospect is very
favorable. l think that the same class of
goods can be manufactured here half cent
cheaper than at the North under ordinary
circumstances, and besides the manifold ad-
vantage of position, we can run here seventy.
two hours per week to their sixty. The ex-
emption from taxation for ten years is, with
out doubt, great inducement for the estab-
lishment of new factories, and besides it places
the State on footing with the surrounding
States where this exemption exists | think
if Northern capitalists only thoroughly under
stood the condition of affairs here, a great
deal of capital would be invested in this State.
You would be surprised to know how little
the North really does know of the condition
of affairs at the South. | know how ignor-
ant they are, because have been there and
was raised there myself. Inever had an idea
until | came to the South of the very great
advantage she possesses over the North as a
cotton manufacturing country. The South has
one of the best climates in the world, the labor
is cheap, the cotton is right at the doors of
the mills, and, in addition to these, the South
has the advantage of extra running hours.
think that England will be the greatest
sufferer by the general establishment Of cotton
manufactures at the South. The North, as
soon as the South goes into manufactures
generally, will be speedily compelled to aban.
don the manufacture of the coarser goods,
and will, as an act of self preservation, take
up the manufacture of the finer goods, in
which England now takes the lead. In time,
of course, the South will monopolize all the
coarser manufactures, and, if she chooses to-,
there is no reason why she~should not get her
share of the finer goods. There is plenty of
room here, and no one need fear competition.
There are only about 100000 spindes in
operation in the South against 100000 in
the United States, and 100000 in the
world. This last year England has had 3O,-
100000 spindles stopped, which is three times
as many as we have in the United States. The
field here has not begun to be occupied. If
we had the same number of spindles here we
would beat the North to death in short time.
These are bound to come in time. AS young
as am, remember that 20 years ago we at
the North thought it impossible to get along
without English superintendent in our facto-
ries. They have become educated to the bus
mess now themselves, and they never think
of calling in foreign skill. 1t is the same
way at the South. You are just beginning
and you think you can't get along without