Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-06-01
Correspondence Of the fOrkville Enquirer.
TIE FISHING CREEK COTTON MILLS.

TIE FISHING CREEK COTTON MILLS.
Rock HILL, S. c., May 29.-It was my
pleasure, a few days ago, to visit the flshlng
Creek cotton mill. had visited the spot ire
ouently prior to the commencement of the
factory building, and in my opinion feel salts
fled that no place is better suited for the erec-
ton of such building as now adorns the site,
and for the purpose of its erection. L am
glad to say that the architect and artisan nave
taken every advantage that the situation
afforded The factory building is one of the
handsOmeSt, and the most substantial III the
South having a granite foundation SIX feet
wide, with all the other material used OF Il
corresponding character, making the structure
well worthy Of the digniied name OF Got
ton Mill'
| Operations were commenced on Wednesday,
the 10th of May. by the accomplished superin-
tendent, Mr.. VIM. II. Steele. MIR. Steele IS
| thoroughly educated in the business, having
spent many years in the Piedmont mills, serv-
ing under the direction and instruction Of his
father, who was then, and is now, the superin-
tendent of the Piedmont mills, in Greenvi]le
county, this State.
The work in the Fishing Creek cotton mill
was commenced with 5000 spindles The
entire machinery used is of the very latest
and most improved quality. 1t runs steadily
and smoothly and with the most perfect accu-
racy Samples of the thread show uncommon
smoothness softness regularity and strength.
The superintendent is now engaged in adj
justing the machinery so as to be able to
make any size thread, from No. 6 to 20. The
present supply of water is sufficient to run
twice as much machinery as the house will
contain: but of course the supply will of ne
cessity be run short during the summer months.
1t is contemplated to build the dam several
feet higher, thus providing against the con-
tingency of drought, and ensuring supply OF
water in the driest seasons The fall is 29t
feet. With the quantity of water that the
aqueduct affords, rushing upon forty-inch
turbine wheel, the motive power afforded is
tremendous.
The annual meeting of the stockholders was
held in the factory building on the oath instant.
Mr. F. II. Barber was reelected president,
and also made secretary and treasurer of the
company, with an increased salary. Mr.. John
Agurs, of Chester, was elected vice-president.
The old board of directors was elected with
the addition of Mr.. Madison Heffley. An
additional amount Of $4,000 capital stock
was subscribed by the stockholders, and the
minimum capitalfxed at 100000. There is yet
$4,000 to be subscribed before bringing the
capital up to it's minimum. 1t is contem-
plated to add to the equipment of the mill
1000 more spindles and so looms, which will
I'LL lUC dfdlldDlc SpdCc VI IiiO plCSCilO
ing. The prospect for the successful opera
ton of the mill is very bright.
The occasion Of the annual meeting of the
stockholders of the Fishing Creek Manufacture
ing Company was propitious one. Arrange
ments had been made for basket picnic. A
long table had been erected along the banks
of the creek, beneath the cool shade of the
wide-spreading boughs of the beech and oak.
A large crowd assembled. The table was
bountfully supplied with temptingly prepared
deicacies and slbstantials. Near by flowed
the cool crystal waters of an old rock spring
the same, doubtless that supplied water for
Lord Cornwalis and his men, as tradition has
it that he built the first mill at this spot,
where he went into winter quarters when on
his march to Yorktown, Va.
The youth and beauty of the three sister
counties graced the occasion, and the day was
a highly enjoyable one-especialy to the young
ladies and gentlemen, the result OF which may
be union between the houses OF York ana
Lancaster, and for aught we know, OF Chester
too. / sincerely hope that many such happy
days are in store for them, and that success
will ever crown the untiring efforts OF the
president and his youthful but efficient super
intendent. and that ere long they will proudly
wear the champions belt of all the cotton
mills in the South, with the motto engraved
thereon, "Excelsior ~ VISITOR.
Correspondence of the Yorkviile Enquirer.
yoRKylLLE NOTES AND IMPRESSIONS.
KISARD's, May 27.-To resume and con-
clude, cwrente caldn1o, my brief series OF notes
and impressions of your cosy little town, as i'll
dicated in my last. is the work of this writing.
inadvertently; while alluding to the church
es of Yorkville, omitted to mention the local
babituation of our Baptist friends. AS re-
lieious habit,e, this division of Christ's church
in the world has followed the banner Of the
cross wherever it has been planted. The Bap--
lists have church at YOrkville, the date OF
the establishment of which did not learn
Among the colored churches, too, found one
under the pastorate of worthy young colored
preacher named Mcdonald, whose earnest
struggles for education 1 recognized during
my acquaintance with him at Sumter. was
pleased to learn that he is doing good work
among the cOlOred people of YOrkville.
1t was with unfeigned pleasure that grasp
ed the cordial hand of the hOnored head OF
your long-establshed military school, Col Cow
ard. Pleasantly meeting with him, called up
pleasing "reminiscences Of a previous meeting
during one of his visits to Sumter. We were
mutual guests at one of those-I had almost
said s'inimtable fish frys' for which Gains
Mill, in Sumter county, during the life Of it's
noble-hearted proprietor, Major R. NJ. Cain,
was celebrated. When the luscious ''steW OF
the inny tribe" and other luxurious edibles
had been fully discussed, we found ourselves
in a ste,o of a different character-an ominous
gathering together of the crowd-and we were
unexpectedly called on for political speeches,
the first attempt of the kind which either OF
us had ever made. 1 know not what the peo-
ple thought of my maiden efforts; but the
Colonel and myself congratulated each other
warmly, and there seemed to be mutual de-
gree of self-satisfactiOn. This was at the pc
riod when the spreading fires of secession and
separate State action were sweeping with wild
impetuosity over our fair sunny land-the pre-
cursor of which we were so wonderfully Obllv-
ious, of that tideof fire, blood and sword which
was to sweep away, in it's track OF wreck and
desolation the very foundation andsuperstruct-
ure of our whole industrial, social and politi-
cal system And what has God not wrought
for us from this chaos of ruin and desolation !
He that is failing to learn the lessons it teach
es is living to little purpose, andis but contrib
uting to the reformation of another storm
cloud of disaster. which. if it be reformed in
the same revolutionary heat of spirit, will
react with redoubled force and fury.
Besides Col Coward's school, which was
pleased to learn is we'll maintaining its estab-
| lished standard of usefulness and success,
Yorkville has female college conducted by
Rev. w. G. White, of the Presbyterian church.
Of this institute, l regretted that time and
circumstances did not permit me to learn
more than of the high esteem in which it is
held in the community generally, as charged