The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-05-06
Negro Labor Problem.

In Wednesdays issue Of The Eo'
quirer, We suggested that if the expert
ment Of introducing Negro labor into
the cotton mills of The State should be
tried, it would prove success. Al
though. we we're afraid Of the result 10
other directions, we were Influenced III
the opinioo by actual observation of a
similar experiment in the South Caro-
lima penitentiary We we're aware OF
the fact that there is universal opin-
ion to the effect that the Negro could
not be trained to use machinery of any
kiud-even such as is used on the farm
-intelligently; but we're disposed to
think that in this opinion there was
more or less predjudice The discuss
sion of the subject has brought to oue
attention certain facts which, we think
will prove valuable contribution just
at fhis juncture Here are the facts
just as they have come to US. and they
may be taken as they are given
Down in Chester county, pear Fo't
Lawo. there is factory known as the
Cedar Shoals mill. 1t was built by
Captain O A. Barber and others soue
10 years ago, when cotton mauufactur-
ing was at the zenith of its prosperity
in this section. The plant consisted of
about 600 spindles, and the first cost
was very close to $4,000. possibly a
few thousand dollars more or few
thousand dollars less The mill has not
turoed wheel for about three years
and it is for sale for $4,000, or auy
reasonable am ount in that neigh borhood :.
Messrs. j B. Pegram and w. R Car
roll, two Yorkville gentlemen who have
the means. went down to Cedar Shoals
one year ago for the purpose of looking
at the property with view to buying.
They took along with them Superiu-
tendent Morton. of the Glover mill. as
an expert, aud here is Mr.. Pegram's
story:
1--WE looked the property over we'll,
found good building, splendid wa
ter.power. and every reason to believe
that the earning capacity Of the mill
would warrant purchase at the price
at which it was offered. The machine
ry, however, had been badly used. and
as the result of our Investigations it
was developed tha, toe mill had been
largely. if not almost entirely operated
by Negro labor. A gentleman who
was we'll acquainted with the histor" Of
the enterprise Informed us, among the
things, that the habits of the Negro
spipners we're very careless. Wbeo a
thread would break on a nalf filed
spool, for instance. instead of tying il.
or unwinding the yaru, the Negro spin
uers would just pitch the whole thing
out of the window iuto the creek i
venture the assertion continued our
informant, that if you would seine the
creek you would get something like a
whole carload of spools that have been
thrown away by the Negroes 10 this
manner The whole surroundings
presented the appearance Of sloveupess,
and although | would GOT say that the
failure Of the mill was caused by Negro
labor, would not be surprised if that
did not have something tc 90 with IT,"
"Superiasendeut Mortoo advised Us
to buy the plant. put iu white labor aud
run it for wbatit was worth. He said
that be felt like guaranteeing that We
would get our money back in two years.
Mr. Carroll was right in for making the
purchase out I backed out. did oot
discount the opinion of Mr. Morton;
but I was so impressed with the uniavlt
ing surroundings. lack os educational
facilities and civilized society, etc that
I decided that I would not move my
family down there for the whole outfit
as gift
So far as The Enquirer is able to
learn, this mill is still standing IDLE
and is awaiting purchaser at some
thing like $40, The original
owners have been thoroughly disguised
with the result Of their unlucky ven
ture and do not seem to have the beart
to try again. After while. however,
some shrewd business men Will probably
60 down and buy the property, repair
the machinery, put things generally in
decent shape again, employ white Ia
Dor, and make ten strike.
As we suggested the other day,
nothing bvt the hope of larger divi-
dends is likely to induce mill managers
to supplaot white with colored labor:
In the light Of the circumstances just
related, We think capitalists will prob
ably proceed in the the matter with at
least little caution -Yor#ville En- !
quirer