The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-04-15


point of view it appears that the fail
ure Of the company to accomplish any,
thing whatever was due to no cause
save lack Of interest 10 the future OF
tie city. A majority Of the men who
had taken stock in the company pre-
ferred that an enterprise that promised
a great deal for the community should
perish almost at its inception rather
than they should suffer temporary lu-
convenience.
When the company was projected
and tie monthly ;nstallment plan
adopted for raising the capital each
subscriber to the stock knew that the
paid 10 capital would accumulate SLOW
ly, and that under 90 condition would
it be possible to begin the erection of a
mill inside Of two years That time at
the very least would be required to
accumulate sufficient money to war
rant the beginning of active work Oh
any enterprise. Nevertheless, those
who had put their hands to the plow
with this full fore-knowledge turned
back, because, forsooth, impcsslbiiities
were not complished aud hundred
thousand dollar factory DOT built within
year This statement may seem Sc
we're, but it is nothing but the bald. un-
vanished truth. We have simply
shorn the facts of sophistry and explan-
i,ory quibbliug
The fate cf the Sumter Maoufactur-
iOg Company, which was undertaken
with so much vim and enthusiasm tells
what is tie matter with Sumter to the
discriminating mind. Our people lack
unity of purpose and devotion to the
general interests Of the town above
individual convenience They lack the
faith in the future OF town and the
enterprising spirit that cause men TO
unite their means for the purpose Of
accomplishing great undertakings. i'm
possible of attainment by a>few They
lack the courage and fortitude to labor
aud TO wait. They are TOO eager to
reap harvest before the seeds sown
have had time to germinate and reach
fruition. They are affected with the
childish spirit that impels the juvenile
gardener to dig up his seed the day
after planting to discover Why they
have not grown into large plants within
night. That is Why Sumter is at
standstill industrially at q time when
the South is going ahead with giant
strides Of progress. And unless a
great change takes place speedily the
name of Snmter, once the synonym of
progress and activity throughout South
Carolina, will soon become as notorious
for stagnation and lack Of healthy en-
terprise.
Fortunately, however, we have
grain of consolation, and can turn from
the discouragiog illsuccess of the
Sumter Manufacturing Company to a
movement inaugurated by the young
men Within the last ten days The
young men propose nothing pre'en'ious,
for they are all poor and have bus
small means. They fully realize that
any enterprise undertaken by them
must have modest beginning and that
time must elapse before it can assume
any proportions They have, how
ever, some enthusiasm, some energy,
moderate amount of public spirit, no
small faith in the future of Sumter,
little money aud great hope that
their store of money will be increased
in time. With this capital they have
determined to see what they can accom-.
pllsh for themselves and Sumter.
Those who have taken the lead iu the
attempt to enlist the interest Of all of the
young men of the city have been en-
couraged by the reception they have
met With. and while it is yet too soon
to say that they will succeed 10 their
undertaking, ye, they believe that they
will succeed Their proposition is to
raise sufficient money to build small
knitting mill as a beginning, and when
this has been successfully established