The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-12-21

O. orators, saving the usual loss Of powt
t, resulting from the use of shafting an
N oeltlng, thus transforming the entir
n nyaraullc power into electric energy
e only two OF these fumes are bein
d used at present, the others Seing hel
& In reserve to be put in motiuu as tn
d power is contracted for by manufacture
y ing industries.
G or the 1900 electric horse powe
d now being generated and transmitted
the Anderson Cotton Mills take abou
Q i4JO horse power, considerable
y quantity is used in operating tn
waoer works, driving large powc
s pumps, a considerable quantity dis
I tributed to various other smaller in
, dustries, and so much as is neceesar,
used to run the arc and incandcscen
5 lights of the city
The cost OF this electrical power a.
: compared with steam is at least % pc,
cent. cheaper, and when it is con
sldered that 1T can be delivered at any
place designated by the manufacturers
enabling him to locate his industry
with reference to railroad facilities,
taxes, healthful locality and the like,
the advantages Of this wonderful pow er
over steam must add ess itself to cvcry
thinking manufacturer.
Anderson has the power. The plant
Is complete. The enterprise is success.
Ihlrty-slX thousand spindles and
twelve hundred looms are being operat-
ed here in the Anderson Cotton Mills
by this electric energy, as well as
many smaller industries. Cheapnoss s
and convenience is the very essence Of
this enterprise, and Anderson now
wants to sec manufacturing industries
spring up on every side. There is no
city in the South which can offer
greater advantages. Situated at the
loot OF the Blue Ridge mountains, in
the famous Piedmont region, with pure
air and water, delightful climate the
year round, and with natural advant-
ages seldom equalled Anderson offers
all that the most eXacting could de-
mand.
That the development of this great
electrical power plant and the natural
advantages offered by Anderson must
eventually surround this city with
manufacturing industries, there can
be no doubt, and we confidently believe
that In less than a decade the popula-
tlon OF this city will double. But we
would remind those of our citizens who
have been successful in their business
enterprises that the prompt and rapid
growth Of these new industries will
depend largely, very largely, upon the
encouragement and impetus they cx-
tend to them. BY this we mean not
such encouragement as ends with
words, but substantial encouragement
by the investment Of dollars. Every
new industry started will benefit every
citizen. They will furnish work for
our people and prosperity and happi-
ness will most certainly follow.
Before closing this article few
words concerning Mr.. w. G. Whitner,
the moving spirit in the electrical de-
velopment Of this city, cannot be in
appropriate. He was born and raised
in our midst, and his family is one of
the most prominent in the State. He
was born Sept. 3, 1861, and as will be
seen, Is still Il young man. 1t was he
who took the initiative step and laid
the foundation for this great enter
prise. In 1890 he csta taolished the
Anderson Water Works and lit the
city with $50 incandescent lights, gen
Grating the electric current by steam
power. In 1894 he conceived the idea
to utilize some neighboring water
power to operate the electric light
plant and the water works. Mr.. Whit
ner was convinced at the tint that the
transmission OF electric power was
success, and was in favor Of purchasing
Portman Shoals on Seneca river, 10
his associates did not agree with him.
nor was the Anderson Cotton Mill
ready at that time TO make contract
for electrical power to operate the
mill, a condition which was very neces-
Sary in so large an undertaking. MIR.
Whitner, however, feltsu OF his posi-
tion, that the development of Portman
Shoals was the proper step, and com
menced TO buy such parts OF this shoal
as he could secure as a private invest
ment. In the meantime his company
signiiied their willingness to try the
long distance transmission OF electric
power on small scale, and for this
purpose authorized Mr.. Whtner to
lease High Shoals on Rocky river, &
miles distant, and with an investment
Of $25 900, a part of which was Ander
son money, develOped and successfully
transmitted 200 electrical horse power.
The incandescent lights were increas-
ed to 1000 and 70 arc lights were put
in, the large power pumps at the water
works plant were operated by this
power, and the balance was distri-
bUted to various smaller industries in
the city which had been induced to
put in motors.
The cneapness and convenience of
electrical power soon became evident to
our people. Investigation showed it u
necessity. The Anderson Cotton Mills,
through Mr.. j. a. Brock, the president,
| signitied their Willingness to use cleo
| trio power instead OF steam. Other in
dustries did the same and the company
undertook the enterprise determining
20 develop the water power at Portman
| Shoals.
A meeting was called and Anderson
subscribed to $50, 900 of the bonds pro-
posed to be issued. The company was
reorganized as the Anderson Water,
Light and Power Company, with Dr..
S. M. Orr, as president and quite IL
number OF our leading business men as
directors In a short time through the
efforts OF DR.. Orr, MIR. w. j. Roddy and
w. G. Whitner, 100000 was raised
outside OF the city, anC work begun
with the above results. just here it is
not Inappropriate to say that Dr. Orr
showed his faith in this enterprise
from the very beginning, doing every
thing in his power to convince our peo'
pie that the development OF Portman
Shoals was what was really needed tC
give Anderson new start and make II
great manufacturing center. The in
terest he manifested and the work he
did among our business men certainly
played an important part in bringing
about the success which has attended
this great enterprise.
DR.. Orr was ably assisted by Mr.. II
S. Hill, representing the Farmers anc
Merchants Bank, and Mr.. b. II. Maui
din, representing the Bank OF Ander
, sDn yoh hn uprp anpnintp1 a pnn m a,