The Washington times., 1901-07-29
SOUTH CAROLINA COTTON MILLS.
They Rank Next to Massachusetts in
Spfnd1es and Looms.

Spfnd1es and Looms.
COLUMBIA, s. c., July 3-While, ac-
cording to Government reports. the condi-
ton of cotton in South Carolina is poorer
than in any other cotton growing State.
the farmers may expect higher prices
than anywhere else in the country few
years ago prices here were from 80 to 40
points Iswer than in New York. Last
year that condition was reversed, and be-
cause of the increased local demand the
difference this fall will probably be as
much as a half-cent in favor of the local
market This changed condition is due to
the cotton mills now running in every
part of the State. If the crop is as short
as indicated, these mills will consume
three-fourths of the production, and to Sc
cure their stock at home without having
to send buyers into other States and have
long hauls on the railroads will offer the
bonus indicated.
In the last twelve months South Caro-
lima has taken her position next to
Massachusetts in cotton manufacturing.
There is yet big gap between these two
leading States, but the Palmetto is gain
ing with phenomenal rapidity. This State
has led Rhode Island in the number of
looms operated for several years. but it is
only now that the textile authorities
unite in putting her ahead of that State
in both looms and spindles. The figures
for the present time give Rhode Island
2,O9O1ss spindes and South Carolina
2,249,7 ,709. Rhode Island has 1851 looms
and South Carolina eS.el2.
North CSS-olna is next to South Caro-
lima in the South in cotton manufacturing,
and takes fourth place in the Union.
There the rule has been to build small
mills. There are many more mills than
in this State. but with an aggregate capi-
tai and capacity of much less. She has
1,692, ,333 spindles and 35,5ss looms. New
Hampshire ranks after North Carolina,
then Georgia and Connecticut. The other
States that manufacture operate less
than million spindles.
According to the figures of a recog-
nized textile authority, there was gain
in the United States for the last year of
1,57s,Os9 spindles, or rs per cent, and 34,0si
looms or Z per cent. South Carolina fur
nished 40 per cent of the entire loom in
crease for the United States, and about
6S per ceht of the increase in the South.
The increase for twelve months in spin
dies was 39036S for this State, or just
about one-fourth of the total increase in
additions in the South. Two years ago
some business men declared that manu-
featuring here was being overdone. but
after such remarkable expansion that
idea is not now entertained. There seems
no disposition to check mill building.
great water power on the Catawba River
has recently been purchased by persons
who contemplate its immediate develop
ment, and 1t is intended to not only build
mills near the river. but distribute thou
sands of horse power by electricity where
wanted in adjacent counties.
The war in China has been a setback
to IL few South Carolina mills that had
for years been shipping goods direct to
that market, and had they not been SO
strongly, fortified financially they might
have found it disastrous. AS it was,
most of them met the emergency by put
ting in machinery for the weaving OF inner
cloth.
There has been not the least trouble as
to labor The operatives in number of
mills have been organized; in others the
management has excluded organizers and
union men and there the matter has rest
ed The labor is almost all local but in
the heaviest manufacturing centres the
supply has been exhausted. and in some
Instances the mountain regions of Ten
nessee have been drawn on for hundreds
of operatives. In three factories in Co.
lumbia and Charleston negroes have had
trials in cotton mills, and in every in
stance have failed. They are bright
enough, but will not work steadily.