The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-07-19
DO SMALL MILLS PAY2
The Records Seems TO Indicate That
Small Mills Pay q Larger Per
Cent. on the Capital Invested
Than Larger Mills.

There are many small communities In
South Carolina which seek the benefits OF
cotton manufacturing but have not the capi-
tai 70 build large mills. Pre1adicea agslnsss 81
coming OF outside money, losing meanwhile
the profits and the growth which were all the
time within their reach.
A few weeks ago we touched upon tnis
point and urged the example Of North Caro-
lima as proof that small mills, we'll managed,
could be made to pay as good dlvldenos as
large ones. In support OF this positlop we
now quote The American Wool and Cotton
Reporter, recognized text authority
The question as 10 how large cotton man.
ufacturing plant should be In order TO secure
and labor expended in running 1t is one
which is received increased consideration IN
this area OF large industrial combinations,
when the energies Of manufacturers are being
directed towards attaining q maximum OF
profit at minimum Of cost. No hard ana
fast rule, OF course, can be laid down by
which this question can be answered. MAI
ural conditions and other circumstances, In
which the business Is to be carried on, will
have q great deal to do with determining tne
size OF the plant. In most portlops OF Inc
south the people are not used TO handling
and some OF the largest mills which have
been operated in the former section nave NOT
been by any means the most prohtaole; IN
the south the greatest proft per sPinole, I'D ~
have have in in mind a mill Of only 5000 spindles
which cleared from IS to loo per cent. profit In
one year, while number OF the mllls run.
ming about 1900 spindies say: nave beee Seee
netted their stock holders very handsome
In New England, however, the relative cost
Of operating such small p!ann ~, wouIa 1o,,n, De
ing, Of course, that the latter are managed py
practical, capable and up.to-date men. Inc
tendency In New England has been 70 greatly
increase the size Of cotton manuiactn..ns ny
attained enormous proportions. NUMBER
OF them have been very successful; as We
have shown from time 70 time, but tnouBnt-
tul, practical mill meE are BEGINNING TO ques, les
large TO be operated with the smallest reia'
One OF the most successful mill men In New
England The snperintendent OF large Soe'Gn IN
every respect, is strongly OF the oelleI tnaI
many OF these concerns are getting TOO large;
He has found from experience that mlll
containing from 5000 to loo'Uoo spinaies aI, car
million, and, II anything. more cheapiy:
This view may be at variance with that OF
some others, but the gentleman referred 70
points to the fact that while the larger plant
might be able to purchase some OF Its sup
piles on slightly better terms, this advantage
would not amount TO much when compared
with the great advantage which would accrue
in the handling OF the smaller plant. In tne
practiced which could not be IN case OF the
former. The man running moderate slzed
mill would be able to exercise greater Watcn,
ulness over It's ae
them more carefully, and as result there
would be more uniformity and less haphaz.
ard work throughout the plant. AT the same
relative cost he would pc better ensGIeI %, 10 20
where a mill which formerly had lOO,OOo spin.
dies increased its capacity until now 1t has
about 275,0O0. This mill has been one OF the
but It is stated that Its percentage OF proht
per spindle Is not as great as 1t was when II
had only 100000.
Upon which The State Of July Is, comments
as follows:
In this connection 1t is we'll to remember
that although the mills OF South Carolina
now average much larger number OF spin
dies and looms than those OF any other soutn.
whose success was builded the present great
development Of our cotton manufacturing
Industry, were very small compared with
Grafton Of the mills Of South Carolina made
In 1882 by the department OF agriculture We
get the following results:
There were q mills, with an aggregate OF
weave mills, using 8.4lS looms. Therefore the
average number OF spindes per mill was 6,73l
and the average number OF looms IA. There
is not new mill In the State at the present
time which was planned for 30 small q um.
Der Of spindles and looms as the average
South Carolina mill OF II years ago; yet the
entire industry has sprung from the expert.
ence OF these elder and minor mills.
LET THE PEOPLE OF ABBEv1LLE HEED THIS.
1t is we'll, OF course. to aim high. and, neces.
sarily, the larger the mill the greater the I'M
pulse and population 1t gives TO tts com
nifty but, on the other hand, II is better TO
have small mill than have none at all, and
II is always easier TO raise money for an add.
tion TO successful mill than for an entirely
new enterprise. We are therefore strongly Of
the opinion that It Is good policy for small
towns which have no certainty OF better re-
suits from waiting, to make q start II they
can raise money enough to erect building
for 10000 spindles and put In 5000 to begin
with. They can I'LL up ont OF the profits or
from subsequent increase OF capital II the
mill is we'll managed It will pay at the pres
ent and prospective prices OF cotton goods.
After all, good management is OF much
greater importance than size OF plant. The
best brains Of the community ought TO 60
Ito the cotton mill-that counts for Infinite
ly more In proht-making than multiplicity OF
spindIes and looms