The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-01-11
who Built Our Cotton Mills.

task for claiming too much credit to itself for
the industrial development of the State,
namely: In the building Of cotton mills !;
In the cultivation of tobacco; in the plant
ing Of peacan trees; and in the establish
ment OF other sources of material prosperity,
throughout the State. not including the rum
ming Of the railroads to the water lines In the
city of Charleston whereby draymen and
horses lost their jobs. Neither did the
enumeration claim anything especially great
on the building of the electric street railway
In the city by the sea.
The State is willing to award the News and
Courier much credit for good work, but that
paper claims big slice for itself which 1t
generously divides with the country press.
This, we believe, is about fair statement.
Viewing the matter from our standpoint,
the act Of newspapers advising capitalists
what to do with their money, has much of
the ludicrous In it, and, as far as we are in.
! formed, no newspaper has ever induced q
capitalist to invest single cent here or else.
where, except as that newspaper may have
advertised or made known facts and condi-
tions. The mere opinion OF an editor that
this or that place is suitable for cotton mill
counts for nothing. The man who owns the
money, after consulting with experts, Is
pretty apt to act on hisown judgment,
when he has been made acquainted with
the facts. The idea Of an editor giving advice
to an experienced mill man, and his publ.
cation of advice on manufacturing matters.
Is about enough to make horse laugh.
II the News and Courier, or the State, or
any other newspaper has made public any
facts which would induce investigation By
capitalists, then they may have Ibeen instru-
mental in bringing capital to South Carolina.
But glittering generalities and general
hurrahs by the newspapers never built cot
ton mill.
OF course kindly remarks by newspapers
In reference to the men who are at work on a
great enterprise is always grateful but we are
Of the opinion that editorial pufs never put
a dollar into any enterprise.
This editor is not an expert on the subject
of mill building, bnt he now knows more of
1t than he did three years ago. And our lit
tie knowledge of the business leads us to be-
lieve that no newspaper has had the least
influence in building any mill-except pos
sibly in advertising advantageous conditions
or positions.
How much capital has the News and
Courier induced into the Charleston mill?
How much capital did The State induce to
come to any mill? We would venture that
neither Of these newspapers sent q dollar to
Abbeville's mill. Even the great city OF
Charleston has not g cent in our mill. No
control capitalists, why did they not send at
Ixo, .ksnr rtntS0 fo.
our mill?
We cannot think these eminent mill build.
ers.-(The State and the News and CouIier,e
had anything against Abbeville. II they
built so many mills, why is 1t that Abbevllle
got no share Of their benehcence or liberalitys
If they were giving direction to capital, why
were We left out OF the consideration?
We venture TO suggest those newspapers
and all other newspapers In this State can
produce certificates of stock for all the money
that they have brought to the manufacturing
Industries. .....
The Press and Banner will furnish first
class chrome to any editor who will bring
evidence that he ever induced dollar OF
money to be put into any cotton mill-e1
cepting OF course. the money which he him
self may have contributed.
The News and Courier In its effort to boost
the mill business In this State sometime ago
made publication that one mill had been
built for SIS spindle. Such statement
might be accepted by the general reader. but
no man who has learned the first lesson In
mill building can understand how 1t can be
done for SIS spindle.
An expert mill builder recently said that
Northern mill men would not invest In cheap
mills, that Southern people too often made
the mistake of making cheap mill house;
that the first question Northern investor
asked q Southern solicitor for subscriptions
WAS the cost Of the mill that 1t was much
harder to get subscriptions for cheap mill
than it was for good mill.
In connection with this matter we may
mention with pardonable pride, that Alb
beville has $500, 900 mill, with 1O0s0 spindles.
The only debt now outstanding against the
constructive account is q note FOR 81 900, which
will be paid next month, and note for 81 900
which will be paid on demand.
The outlook for the Abbeville mill Ia most
Tomorrow the stockholders
will meet to consider the question Of enlarging
the mill and increasing the capital stock TO
$4,000 In view OF the probable action Of the
promised sl5,0O0. Another will take $40 900.
And 30 1t will be seen that further progress
In mill building at Abbeville will likely be
made next spring.
The Architect, Mr.. Stephen Greene, OF Bos-
ton, is now preparing the plans.
Two or three contracts for making brick
may be given out at an early day.
Capt eagle. OF Greenville, is figuring on
bid TOR building the new house.
This newspaper has published volumes
about the Abbeville mill, and the enterprise
has been pleasantly mentioned by other
newspapers, but 1t took solid dollars to build
the mill. Wind had not one thing to do with
the structure or its contents, and II 1t Is en-.
larged, as we now hope that 1t will be, wind
mills and gasometers are good enough In
their ways, but they cannot do more than the
recording Of progress which may be made
with the money Of wise and sagacious North
ern capitalists, who have faith in the mill,
and confidence In President Bailey.
Neither did this newspaper, ncr any other
newspaper, have the least influence In build
ing the Abbevile mill, except OF course as the
different editors took stock that represents
money-solid dollars.
We would not deprive our contemporaries
of pleasure in contemplating the mills which
they may have bbuilt
They have published many kind things of
the different mills, and, as far as they may
have helped the Abbeville mill, we are pro-
foundiy grateful. The only thing about 1t is,
that 1t is not clear,-exactly clear-where or
when they helped us. We think the men
who invested their money deserve at least a
little of the credit