The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-01-13
Home EnterprIsc-A Mistake.

Home Enterprl6c-A MISTAKE.
Mr.. EDITOR: What the South needs m ore
than anything else is the development of
| all her industrial resources and capacities.
So far as cotton or wooden manufactures
have been tested they have for the most
part prove satisfactory investments. But
in these departments large capital is neces-
sary for the successful prosecution of such
enterprises. Hence it Is usual in such cases
to enlist more or less OF foreign capital.
But there are many enterprises of smaller
dimensions, requiring only moderate cap
ital, many of which might be started and
carried on successfully with home capital.
Such rs shoe factories, blacksmith and
wood work, pertaining to ell kinds of We.
hicles, harness shops, bucket and barrel
factories, together with the smaller cotton
factories such as Clements attachments,
and many other kinds of enterprises which
might be projected successfully. 1t is un-
necessary in this article, to expatiate upon
the necessity of agricultural development,
for that great and primal occupation Of man
is now receiving degree of public atten-
ton never before equalled. And from the
material capabilities of the South, she must
remain for long, long time eminently an
agricultural people. But the necessities Of
man in an organized and civil condition
demands q variety of occupations to meet
those necessities. Hence, that community,
State or Nation is the most prosperous that
gives the fullest scope and encouragement
20 all the industrial arts, such rs agricultu
1al, mandatory, commercial and mechan
ical. Let US, then, as people, begin to look
around and organic for the Development
of all the industrial arts necessary to reach
q high scale of civilization and moral pow
er, the peer of any section of the Union.
Already there is an accumulation of surplus
capital among the people of the South that
ought to be utilized in the manner indi-
Gated, but the first lesson to be learned by
our people, before any thing can be done in
these directions, is the great necessity and
power of combination. One man with
capital of five hundred dollars, isolated and
alone, could accomplish but little, but
dozen of these small capitalists, by combi
nation, could accomplish much. The
Northern people fifty years ago or more
learned the value of corporate power, and
are to-day rich and prosperous by the judi
cious use of such power. To-day there is
probably nearly hundred thousand dol
lars of deposits in the Anderson Bank be-
longing, for the most part, to the people of
Anderson County. What might not this
small accumulation of individual earnings
accomplish by combination in judicious
industrial enterprises. Every such enter
prise, wherever located, induces innigra-
ton and population, and attracts outside
capital.
Not wishing to be invidious, yet the little
town Of Williamson deserves favorable
mention for the exhibition of sagacity and
enterprise of commendable type. To say
nothing of her educational facilities, which
have attracted public attention far and near,
there are her fine Touring mills, formerly
owned by Maj. Geo. Anderson, on one side,
and soon to be converted into large cotton
factory. And then right in her midst is
little unpretensious enterprise deserving of
general encouragement. 1t is located in the
upper story above the post Office, with but
little Of outside display to attract attention.
We alludc to the shoe factory of Mr.. Thos.
Crymes. Here in plain upper room,
about 12x25, is located the various appli-
ances for manufacturing shoes very rapidly.
Mr.. Surratt, the skillful foreman, superin-
tends the cutting and fitting, but the sewing
and pegging and finishing, even to the eye.
lets, are all done by improved machinery.
The pegging machine cost $3.50, and can at
tach the soles and uppers in few seconds.
The eyelet machine is the shrewdest exhi-
bition of genius, perhaps, of any of the in
ventions. The holes are perforated and the
eyelets placed by the same piece of ma
chinery. Mr.. Crymes manufactures his
own leather for the most part, especially
upper, and finds it more profitable to work
it up into shoes and sell than to sell the
leather. In prices he competes with the
Northern shoe, and in wear and finish is
the equal if not superior. Williamson can
boast of many other industrial pursuits be.
sides those mentioned. r. II. r.