The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1894-02-27
THE NEW MILL IN OOONEE.
COURTENAY MANUFACTURING
COMPANY.
"A Northern Estimate of the Work
Done ut Newry-Solid Plans and
Substantial Results,

avs WIZ uCSCTlpUlOu vi Gnc
new cott>,n mill which is now about
receiving its machinery, and recently
erected by the Courtenay Manufacture
ing Co, at Newry, Oconee County, S.
Z. This is only one of the many valu-
able undeveloped water powers in the
South, and glance will show its great
value for a cotton mill site. Work
was first undertaken clearing the site)
in May last, but it WAS not until July
that any progress was made. 1t was
In sparsely settled and unfrequented
corner OF the county; labor had to be
brought there, shelters built for them,
and in fact all the primitive conditions
OF the distant border had to be dealt
with !; machinery for brick-making and
other purposes had to te transported
from distant points, one and a-half
miles OF railroad must be graded and
built the time in receiving necessary
machines and material took three, four,
ana, In some cases, five weeks after
date Of bill of lading.
The mill site is on Little river, water
OF Seneca river, on the southeast side
Of Oconee County. The building is of
brick, and presents an attractive ap-
pearance, and is certainly in strength
and finish one Of the best specimens of
brick masonry in the South.
lFOu WHICH Gn0 water
power is obtained, has it's sources in
the foot hills of the Blue Ridge noun
tains, and with it's numerous tributa-
ries. though small in size, drains an
extensive area of territory largely COW
cred with forests. This insures a con-
slant flow of water, even in seasons OF
protracted droughts. This feature of
the river is known as such from the
earliest settlement of this part of the
State, and is highly valuable for mill
purposes, presenting, as it does, the
great advantage of u normal storage OF
water at all times and avoiding the ex-
pense OF creating storage system.
The river at the lowest stage of water
has volume of 100 feet in width, q
feet average depth, and a flow of 1l2
feet, equal to minimum of 25,OOO
cubic feet per minute, with fall OF %
feet, giving gross of ll00-horse pow
er, more than sufficient to run 10000
spindles and 800 looms. The develop
ment OF this water power has been ef-
fected in solid stone work
The dam is located at q bend in the
river about $50 feet above the north
east end of the mill 1t is built on
convex lines, facing the flow of the
river, and the ends rest on buttresses
OF solid masonry, with continuing re-
tanning walls of stone, built out to high
ground. This form of dam construc-
tion, on the theory of the arch, gives
the most effective strength to such
structures. The dimensions of the
dam are: 140 feet on the outer curved
line (the width of the river is here lI5
fcet.) The hight is % feet above the
normal level of the river, but to secure
solid foundations the dam is from two
to six feet deeper than the bed of tho
river, in part of it's extent The but
trcsses rise to height of 80 feet,
eight feet above the crest of the dam
The continuing wall, on the east side,
Is six feet higher than the crest of the
dam. On the west side the buttresses
are OF like height, 30 feet, and are con-
nectcd at the same height, with the
masonry at the gates, beyond which is
retaining wall extending to high
ground, two feet higher than that on
the east side. The base is lS feet, and
the top is six feet, covered with dressed
granite slabs, one foot thick, full
width, laid in Portland cement. Iron
gates of modern design and construc-
tion have been built in each end of the
dam, with five-foot Ludlow sluice
valves and iron liners OF the same di-
mensions; these give a large control
over the surplus water of the river
during freshets, and keep the pond
from filling with sand, near the point
of tho head gates. Visitors familiar
with such works express themselves in
strong terms of approval of its form
and strength of masonry.
The head gates are four in number,
10 feet high and feet wide, clear wa
ter opening; built in stone and brick
faced to secure a smooth flow of water.
'Hhn tr,, ~ is, 81 foot IN a
from base and connects with the re-
tanning wall. The gates have wooden
guides, strongly bolted to masonry and
are made of selected wood, heavily
framed. Each gate is lifted by means
OF an iron rack and worm hosting
gear; geared so that one man can lift
each gate. This construction protects
the canal against floods or excessive
high water, and also enables the water
TO be drawn from the wheels without
drawing the water from the pond.
The wheel pits are two in number at
the northeast end Of the mill building.
An extensive excavation, involving
much time and considerable expense,
had to be undertaken to secure u sub
| stantial result. After removing II
feet of soil the solid rock was reached,
and nearly 600 pounds of dynamite
used to blast out this large area to a
depth of more than 30 feet below the
level OF the ground. Massive walls of
masonry have been built here and every
seam pointed up with Portland cement;
in developing this work plans and
specifications, embodying the very
latest thought and experience in such
structures, have have been used. The
water is discharged through three
arched openings into the tail race,
which is feet deep at the arches and
30 feet wide. This opening widens out
to 80 feet at the river, giving the wa
ter free exit and is enclosed in stone
walls. Every foundation has been car
ricd down to bed rock and built in the
most substantial manner
In natural advantages OcOnee has
great possibilities in material pro-
gross, Astounding in water powers, with
a population desiring employment of
this kind. This new enterprise on
Little river is the only large industry
in the county, and will have all the ad-
vantages of its isolated position, as
there are no mills nearer than forty
miles on the east, none nearer than
twenty-five miles on the south, while
on the north and west the whole sec
tion is available to draw labor from, in
all the region, up to the Blue Ridge
and to the Georgia line.
The location of the mill is most
favorable for obtaining the inc cotton
grown in this Piedmont section, which
have u reputation on both sides of the
Atlantic, and is primary considcra-
tion in making the bettcr class of
goods, for which the ouliDinent Of thi