The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-04-07
MILL MEN NOW IN AUGUSTA.
THEY SPEND THE MORNING TAKING
IN COLUMBIA.

the Appearance and Condition of
the LabOrers in the Southern Mills.
The Party Then Move on TO Au-
gusta aud Meet With n HOspitabIe
Reception.
Augusta, Ca, April 6.-The AIassachu-
sets mill committee closed its week OF in
! specting southern cotton mills by visiting
the mill districts at Columbia, s. c., ana
Augusta, Ga. The committee continues to
find very much that is interesting and in
structive. As each day goes along the cas-
tern mill owners appreciate the conditions
in the south all the better and there is per-
feet freedom among them in admitting
| the business like appearance Of tho mills in
the southern territory. The one thing that
is most observed and commented upon by
them is the superior condition of the labor
as well as the outlook that 1t will continue
to be of native growth for some time to
| come. The committee spent the morning
much to its delight, in Columbia. The mill
men were very quick to appreciate the
wonderful facilities and natural advan-
tages Of Columbia. Columbia has of re-
! cent years made rapid industrial progress
and with her canal. with developed
horse power of i, 600: her many railroads,
phosphate and cotton mills; with her ad-
mirable climate and natural advantages,
| naturally has every reason to expect a ma
| terial increase in the already large indus
trial growth. one of the chief features
Of Columbias industrial development is
the Columbia cotton mill, which is the
only large cotton mill in the country that
is entirely operated by electric power. The
power IS developed by the canal.
From the Columbia mill the party were
taken on a drive through the city, wound
up by being taken to the city hall, where
an informal luncheon was served. Mayor
Sloan, Of Columbia, together with all Of
the citizens, made the time pass quickly
and pleasantly. and secured a most favor
able impression from the visitors.
Thomas Motley, who represents the
Chicopee, Saratoga and Victory mills,
and who has been with the party since
it left New England, in talking of his
| impressions with the Southern Associated
| Press correspondent said: I'VE are very
much pleased with the hospitality shown
us, as well as the interest manifested in
our visit. In Columbia they certainly
| have great facilities for water power
| and the Columbia mill is OF great inter-
| est to those connected with or interested
| in manufacture. They appear to have
| demonstrated the fact that power can be
transmitted by electricity. We have been
very much impressed with the beauty and
points of interest of Columbia"
Talking of the mills he had seen in the
Carolinas, Mr.. Motley said: I'VE have
mills in the south "a bar Of
which have struck US very favorably.
OF course we find quite a difference in the
mills, just as would be seen in any manu-
featuring district, north or south"
MIR. Motley expressed himself as very
much pleased with the appearance and
condition of the laborers in the southern
mills.
The party was Joined at Columbia, upon
the invitation of d. A. Tompkins by SEN
ator Tillman, w. b. S. Whaley, president
of the Richland cotton mills; Editor n.
G. Gonzales of the Columbia State, c. II.
Fisher, president of the Edgefeld cotton
Oil mills, and ID. NJ. Thompson, president of
the Corliss Steam Engine Works.
President Hoffman and Vice President
St. John of the Seaboard Air Line were in
Columbia awaiting the arrival of the party
and joined them for the rest of the trip.
superintendent Berkely accompanied the
committee on its ride over to Augusta
In Augusta the committee were taken
charge of by the Young Mems Business
League, Mayor Young and other prominent
citizens. AS has been the experience all
over the trip every courtesy was extended
The committee was taken in a special
train to inspect two of the largest mills
in Augusta.
The Sibley mills were first visited which
operate 1926 spiudles and LIZ looms and
consume sixty bales Of cotton a day
From the Robley mills the party went
to the John 2. King mill, which is also
operated by power furnished by the splen-
did canal. This mill is one of the most
successful in the country, and operates
1000 spindIes with 100 looms.
There were in Augusta at the last cen
sus 21S,O00 spindles and 4,S5S looms in the
twelve mills.
President Dyer of the street railway
company after the inspection of the mills,
which were taken as models, took the
party on electric cars to see this prosper
GUS city.
After a pleasant ride the party was
taken to the Commercial Club, where a re-
ception was held. President Barrett acted
as toastmaster and first presented Mayor
Young. who assured the committee of a
most hearty welcome, temporarily or per-
manently,
President Hoffman. of the Seaboard
Air Line, responded briefly, and expressed
his qualification at the marks of prosper
ity he had seen around Augusta and the
south generally.
Mr.. Edmunds, of the Manufacturers
Record, in response to a call, thanked
his friends for their attentions and called
upon D. A Tompkins, whom he regards
as one of the most successful of south
ern men engaged in industrial develop
ment Mr.. Tompkins, after few felici-
tous remarks. went on to say that after
the mill owners had carefully looked over
the field the mills of the north and east
could not help coming south, but IL they
were coming he would rather have them
leave their labor and take that to be found
here If the mill men came to the south
as he felt they would do, he wanted them
to be successful, for their success meant
that much more success for the south
Mr. Tompkins went on to say that IL the
mills came south he thought they ought
to locate in what might be called the
Piedmont Belt, which extended from
DanviIe TO Atlanta, and which included
Augusta
Mr. Lowering, who is president of the
Arkwright Club, and who is one Of The !
largest New England mill men. said
the gentlemen of the party had come |
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