The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1900-02-08
TIE EFFECT OF COTTON MILLS

years in the number of cotton mills i,
the South is the result, primarily, O
the knowledge that such undertaking
pay handsomely for investments II
them. The movement has been on,
of constant accclcration, into whicl
other elements than mere dividends TO-
stockholders have entered. Actua
money received from the operations O
mills has not been the only ncentiv,
to prompt subscriptions to the stock o
new companies and a lively campaig,
Of organization. One of the mos
powerful impulses, perhaps, has bee,
the effect Of cotton mills upon tb,
communities in which they haze beer
established and upon the surroundin,
country.
The Manufacturers Record has re
Gently received several letters from ,h,
cotton mill region Of the South detail
ing the effects upon the communi,,
aud the surrounding country of the cs
tablishmcnt OF a cotton mill. Mr.
Frank Hammond, president of Tho
Peoples Bank of Grccnvillc, S. G.
writes
"lt is now about twenty-five wear,
since the first successful cotton mi
was built in this county, the l'icGmon,
mills in 1876, situatsd some ten miles
below here. What were then Doo,
hillside farms have been transformed
into Il thriving village of 5000 people
The Saluda river, that rftI to waste
now is made to turn 81 900 splndlcs
using - 500 bales Of cotton and
marketing its product all over the
world. Farm lands then worth 81. SO
per acre now sell for $40 to $50 PEI
acre. ThG experience at this mill
is but II duplicate of a score or more OF
other mills in tins State. The mills in
this city are of much later date, all
with the exception Of the IIugucnot
having been built during the last five
years.
"Pcrhaps the most Noticeable effect
from the building Of the mills is a
more even distribution OF moncv
throughout the whole year. In any
strictly agricultural section the bulk of
business is largely during the period of
the marketing Of the crop. This is
practically true of the South. Long
credits and yearly settlements are the
rule. Tins has all been changed
within two years IL naf dozen
stores in this city have adopted the
spot cash system with gratifying sue
cess, while Il large number of others
do business on thirty days time, max
ing collection monthly. This one adj
vantage cannot be ovcl estimated, and
in my judgment, the time is not far
distant when in sections where cotton
mills are built the retail business will
be cash. This is not only true of the
city trade, but cXtc Ids to the farmers
as well. The large number Of con-
sumcrs added to.a community in mil
help makes steady and profitable
market for the smaller products of the
farm. The potato patch, which was
form crly for family use, has been en-
largcd and the increase marketed.
Butter, milk, chickens. eggs, etc., arc
now regarded rs just SO much cash as
soon rs they arc taken to market. and
! these III no small way produce ready
money all the year round for the minor
needs oi the family, and the balance OF
money needed for making the crop is
obtained from the banks.
"With the building of the mills here
, have come important imrl ovcmcnts i'm
| business property. Olh stores have
been lcmodclcd and new ones built
y vacant business house Is now Il rarity,
OF couiSc, these conditions have affect
cd prices. ! know Of one considerable
piece OF business property (vacanD on
Main street, Il part Of which sold for
SGG per front foot, that now sells for
n SIll ,rI
CT one piece which was bought for $3.50
per acre that is now selling for 81 900
| pen acre.
"Fhe mill hands live well, and
! placiicaIlN spend all Of their wages in
! the towns where the mills are. A
small prol lorlion finds its way into in-
vcstmcnls, chiefly around town or m
small farms. In not few instances a
farmer fading himself unable to lift a
mortgage ON his farm, goes to the cot
ton mil, and with the wages he re-
crlrcs in Il few years pays of the mort
| gage and returns to the farm.
"Ihc building OF the cotton mill in
The South has been the salvation of
white labor. I'm mill WORK is 10 be
found the only line where competition
is not had with cheap negro labor. The
effects Of this are just beginning to be
felt. The future results arc greater
and more radiant than any man can
torcscc.
"Gcncrally stated, the new conti-
uons are these y bale of cotton is
made to bring twice as much manu-
facturcd us raw. The cost of manu-
facturc ranges from thee and onc-half
to five cents per pound, according to
class of goods. That is all spent at
home. Under present conditions the
profits range from two and onc-half to
four cents per pound. This goes as
dividends and increased capacity of
plants. The resultant is more bust
ness locally III every line, more equally
distributed throughout every month in
the year,
Nearly the whole South African
plateau Is covered with long, slender
grass, which, under the fierce sun, is
often n, Gry no tipIpr NntbinD o,p