The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-09-30
A NEW FEATURE FOR CLEMSON

leRo.
The following communication has
been sent to the board of trustees of
Clemson College, and it was considered
at the recent meeting. Mr.. ID. A.
Tompkins is a practical machinist and
cotton manufacturer, and Is one of the
chief factors in the development OF
this industry In and around Charlotte,
while he has aided to large extent in
promoting the manufacturing interests
Of South Carolina. He Is q native of
Edgetield County, and naturally feels
an abiding interest in the success and
prosperity Of his native State, especi-
ally in whatever means will best ad-
vance the training and education of
young mon for future usefulness.
The trustees Of Clemson were great
ly impres sed with the argument of Mr..
Tompkins in behalf of his proposition,
and committee was appointed to look
into tho feasibility and advisability of
establishing branch for textile teach
ing at Clemson College. The commit
tee consists Of d. K. Norris, b. II. Till
man and M. l.. Donaldson, and their
report will be awaited with interest.
Every citizen Of South Carolina Is
interested in the movement, and no
one should fail to read the letter of Mr..
Tompkins, which is rs follows:
CHARLOTTE, N. c., Aug. "a, 1897.
TO tho Hon. II. w. Simpson, Chair
man, and the Board OF Trustees, Glenn
son College, S. G..
Gentlemen: Pursuant to your re-
quest mado when | discussed before
your board the subject of a textile de.
partment at Clemson College, | submit
tho following suggestions.
conceive Clemson College to have
been established in Difference to the
wishes OF the people OF the State to
have school where the youth Of the
State could, in getting an ordinary
college education, do it in way that
would qualify them to find an easier
entrance into some profitable occupa-
tion than it was found could be done
from the ordinary literary institutions.
Tho education and training given at
such an institution ought to be of q
kind that is calculated to bo most use
full to the graduate and also of the
greatest advantage to the other people
| OF the State, and Of the State at large.
For the accomplishment Of these ad-
vantages, it seems apparent that tho
| courses of study and training should
| relate to those pursuits into which
students could at once enter in the
State.
| Two Industries which have developed
moro rapidly and more extensively
perhaps than any other in the State
| are the manufacture Of cotton oil and
| the manufacture Of cotton. The youth
Of the State have found employment to
! a very great extent in oil mills and cot
ton mills. What they know Of these
subjects has been necessarily picked
up by the rule Of thumb method. Both
these industries furnish the most un-
! limited opportunities for the work Of
every graduate Of Clemson inside the
State. In cotton oil, besides the pro-
cess Of manufacture, there are great
possibilities in refining, in making
soap, in the production OF feed stuifs
by mixing the hulls and meal, in max
ing fertilizers and in other ways
With IL better Knowledge Of tho sub.
| ject, many collateral industries might
be established. Glycerinc, candles,
fancy soaps, table oils and many other
articles Of great commercial value are
| already made from cotton oil in other
| sections Of this country, and with Il
proper exposition Of the knowledge
| relating to these subjects, all these
products might be made in South
Carolina, furnishing lucrative employ
| ment to the young men of the State
| and keeping in the State Il resource
| which comes from q product Of the
State.
In the manufacture of cotton, the
field is probably still greater and the
Importance Of extending, among the
youth OF the State, knowledge Of the
textile art. could hardly be properly
estimated. Up to the present time
the product Of the factories of your
State has been chiefly plain white
cloth. Simple as the manufacture Of
this cloth is, it has been necessary to
employ many men from other sections
OF the country to conduct these opera
tions in South Carolina while in many
cases the young graduates of your
State institutions. being untaught and
unskillcd in the textile art, have been
compelled to go North or West to fir
employment in lines where their edu-
cation and training in your schools is
more applicable. 1t is notable also,
| that those young men who want to 90
| into some line OF textile manufacture
90 not consider any Southern school,
but go North either to school or into
the shops, or in some engineers office.
| some people think that the develop
| mcnt OF cotton manufacture in the
south In the line of coarse white goods
has nearly reached its profitable limit.
u this Is true, 1T is all Important that
the youth Of the present generation
should be educated to extend it into
other lines. The tendency will natur-
ally be towards finer goods and towards
colorcd dress goods, which is field of
Infinite variety.
! Your State was foremost in the de.
vclopment OF cotton production. On
plans that were formulated and exc
cutcd first in South Carolina, tho cot
ton area OF the South is furnishing the
great bulk OF the cotton supply OF the
world. This was all original work.
No other people had done such work.
There were no mothods to copy. Does
1T seem proper that In the manufacture
OF cotton, the people OF tho State
should content themselves with dupli-
eating the simplest processes Of cotton