The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-08-14
CAPT. ELllcON A. SMYTH.
from the TcrtiLe World.

tile industries in the South, there is,
probably, not one SURPRISING that Of
Ellison A. Smytb. In thirteen years,
| under Capt. Smyth's active supervision,
| community of over 1000 people has
been established in retired country dis
trict, where score of persons formerly
housed themselves in three log cabins.
Within this period 700 dwellings, three
churches, and all the buildings necessary
for a we'll developed town have been
erected by single corporation, which
has, in the meantime, Increased lts capii-
tai from 100000 to Sl,00000 its mills
from one to four, its spindles from 10000
to 10Y 900, its operatives from GOO to 5000.
More than this-the Pelzer Manufac-
turing Company, of which Capt. Smyth
has been president and treasurer since
it's organization, is now completing one
of the largest cotton mills in the world
under single roof, and run by electricity
generated by water power miles distant.
This mill has aYailed itself of the advan-
tages made possible by modern science,
and occupies splendid piece of table,
land, giving an elevated view of the Blue
Ridge mountains, with contemptuous
disregard for former conditions, which
necessitated the nesting Of mills in val
leys, hard by their water powers.
In all these accomplishments Capt.
Smyth has had the assistance OF the
capital of Francis ]. Pelzer, whose name
the town and mills will perpetuate. Mr..
Pelzer, however, stands IN need of no
such memorial, for his name is lastingly
linked with the industrial development of
he Palmetto State, the inhabitants Of
which will ever hold his unswerving
integrity and conservative judgment in
grateful remembrance.
Mr.. Pelzer in great part furnished the
capital, Capt. Smyth set up and kept the
wheels in motion; both have brought their
best thought to bear on Pelzer, each the
complement of the other-and now the
result. Capt. Smyth's business career
has been contemporaneous with the
development of Pelzer as community,
30 the history of both can be best related
together. Capt. Smyth, who is now only
46 years old, is of Southern birth, being
the youngest son Of the late Rev. DR..
Thomas Smyth of Charleston, noted
Presbyterian divine Of Scotch-1rish an
and VIM. Lobby, organized the Pelzer
Mfg. Co., in Charleston in 1882, with
S4O0, 900 capital, the site selected being on
the Saluda river, 1G miles below Green
Vile. Several shoals of the Saluda were
under consideration, Wilson's shoals
being selected because the tracks of the
Columbia and Greenville railroad were
only half mile distant.
Mill No. /. 10000 spindles), which
began business in 1888, was followed by
mill No. 2, in 1885, and mill No. 8, in
1888. This brought the total Of spindles
to 52,O 900 and looms to 1G00. The paid-up
capital had, in the meantime, been in-
creased to 100000.
The company had bought several shoals
on the Saluda River, and combining
three, secured the development Of 5000
horsepower, by building stone dam q
miles below the Pelzer mills. In August,
1894, it was decided to develop this
property and build an additional mill.
The building of the dam is nearly COM
pleted. The stone was taken from a
quarry owned by the company which
controls both Sides of the river for seven
miles. After much consideration it was
thought best to concentrate all the mills
at Pelzer, and not build 3 separate village
and separate plant at the site of the new
dam, which was three miles from the
railroad. It was finally decided to build
No. 4-the new mill at Pelzer, away from
the river near the other mills and the
Pelzer station.
The capital Of the company was in
creased last fall from S6OO,OOO to Sl,OOO,-
600, the new stock being placed at 25 per
cent. premium, netting the company
100000.
This No. 4 mill will contain $4,000
spindles and 1000 looms, the necessary
power being transmitted by electricity
from the dam 21 miles away. 1t will
REQUIRE 1000 net horsepower to run this
mill, and 500 horse power as substitute
for steam in mill No. 8, for the use of the
electric drive will stop the engine run
ming that mill. This will leave large
amount of power fully developed at the
new dam, but not yet utilized.
One thousand of the looms are the new
Sons, the other 600 being from the
Knowles Company. This will give 5000
looms.
The new mill is 5OS feet long by 131
feet wide, 80 feet high, is four stories at
one end and five at the other. It will
have between six and seven acres of floor
space and will be lighted by about $50
windows. Eight tenths of the wall space
will be glass. The structure is built ac-
cording to modern ideas, with the weight
and strain all borne by columns reaching
from foundation to roof, the walls being
| merely the casing.
Messrs. LockW wood, Greene & Co., Of
Boston, were the engineers for the new
No. mill, and the General Electric Go.
furnished the electrical equipment
When the fourth mill is completed the
company will be making into cloth
5000 bales Of cotton annually.
Thirteen years ago there was not even
flag station on the G. & G.. road at this
| point. Now spur Of the road runs to
| the mills, and the Pelzer Company pays
| 100000 year in freights. With the new
mill the annual freights will be close to
100000.
Messrs. W. II. Langley = Co. IS and so
Worth ST., New York, are the sole selling
Capt. Smyth is deservedly proud Of the
schools run by che company, which are
open ten months every year, and are free
to all the children of the town. Pelzer
also maintains lyceum and reading
rooms containing library Of 5000 vol
umes and subscribes for 25 newspapers
and magazines. These are also free to
the inhabitants. There is successful
State savings bank at Pelzor, known as
the Chicora savings bank, of which Capt.
Smyth is president and l.. d. Blake,
cashier. The Pelzer Company does no
| merchandise business, but built ten
stores which it rents to as many mercan-
tile concerns. There Is active competi-
ton for the trade of the town. The COM
pany expects to start Mill 4 this fall, as it
is practically completed, some OF the
machinery having already been shipped.
Pelzer is situated in hilly, rolling coun-
try and is remarkably healthy, the death
rate last year being 90 deaths to Isl births
out of 1000 population. The other off,
GERS of the company are A. L. Blake,
secretary, and B. F. Guy, superintendent.
A town started, built and establiahed
in thirteen years-a town representing
investments of over million dollars-a
town without corporation, municipal
government or any politics-yet town
in which disorder is almost unknown, in
which the people are thrifty, sober, moral
and contented.
Such is Pelzer, South Carolina.
The Crops in August.