The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-06-08
Special Correspondence Of The Tribune

grcSSiVe men. Many northern Capi-
talists have come here and allieu
themselves and their interests WIN
the younger up-to-date southern-borh
business men, many of whom are sons
Of former Confederates, VINO, forget
ting past differences. join hands with
their northern neiGhbors in developing
their city and surrounding country, in
manufacture, agriculture and com
merce. The board of trade. the cham
ber of commerce, the board of health
and the city councils are made up of
this young blood. the average age be-
ing IS ears. From this business ele-
nent the hand of friendship and good
will is ever extended to the new conner.
who is received with old tire SOUTH
ern hospitality. The two social clubs
comprise the best elements of the city,
and visitors for either pleasure or in
formation will be cordially received.
iOyalIy entertained and made to feel
at home. We were especially indcbt
ed to the secretary treasurer of the
Merchants and Manufacturers club,
William t;ist Duncan. also to chairman
Of city schools, A. T.. Funderluni, and
representatives of the Columbia press,
for polite attention and valuable men,
oranda.
THE COTTON INDUSTRY.
We submit the following concise sta
tistics pertaining to the cotton mill
industry here. courteously given me
by Editor N. G.. Gonzales, of the State,
one of the three daily papers pub
lished in Columbia, and regarded as
one Of the brightest. ablest and best
papers in South Carolina, His state
nitnt has since been verified by the
Manufacturers Record: Columbia is
is the largest manufacturing city in
the south today. She runs 240, 900 spin
dies to Aueusta'S 100000 and Chalotte's
Wooo. In 1894 she had but one cotton
mill. The Olympia is the largest cot
ton mill in the United States under
one roof. with 100000 spindles and 2,4OO
looms. 1t makes print cloth only and
cost Sl.57o.no0. The CRANKY has 65 900
spindles and 1,600 looms and cost $780,
600.
THE POWER PROBLEM.
The power problem is by far. the
most interesting feature of the cotton
manufacturing industry in Columbia
t"' The use of electricity as a
"owcr in cotton mills has here
cen considered luxury and
! economic reasons. impracticable;
nut the results accomplished with the
TWO power plants here. are simply mar
Helous and are having an important
influence upon tho utilization of water
powers elsewhere in the South.
The development of the Congaree
Water-!'ower into electric power tO
run the several cotton mill and other
establishments, is Introducing new
activity, and new social problems into
the life of Columbia and the South,
even the whole country and the world,
Is anXiously watching the experiments
alton with electricity as the coming
motive power. This oyperimentinc
commenced with the Columbia cloth
mill here about six years ago. And
that mill is about the first in the
world to have its machinery driven
directly by electricity. Within the
last three year; four other mills
through the enterprise of w. 3. Smith
Whaley. and an eastern manufacturer
have beer built and equipped with
electric motive power-the CRANKY
the Palmetto, the Capital city and
the last, the palatal Olympia, the
finest mill in the world. Columbia
today is the most important center
10" electrically driven textile mills, in
the world. The results of her expert
ments have led to the creation of three
mills with electric power plants in
both Manchester, n. II. and Lowell
and Holyoke, Mass. The Columbia
duck mill, built i'm 1895. consumes as
much cotton as 1000 spindles can use
and cost sl.11O,OOO, The Richland has
26OoO spindes and 76O looms. 1t
makes sheetngs Three other smaller
mills make sheetings. The Capital
City, built in 1900, makes print cloth.
1t has some 5000 spindles. Has 100000
capital. The Palmetto. built in 1898.
makes print cloth. has some 5000
spindles. and represents 100000 capi-
tai. The duck mills manufacture
every kind of duck, up to 40 inches in
width. The total capital invested in
the cotton spinning industry in Col
umbia is A,75O.oOo Five mills are
run by electricity, the Columbia, is the
first large mill run by electric power
In the United States
The Columbia, CRANKY. and Palmet-
to mills are run by electric power
flom 10000 horsepower electric
plant owned and operated by the
Columbian canal company, corpor-
alton of New England capitalists that
taps the Congaree over. The
Olympia and Capital City mills are
operated by electricity generated by
steam, coupled right on the steam en-
slne.
The Richland mill is run by steam.
The electric light system and also the
Electric city railway, are run from
he surplus power of the Olympia.
These mills employ from 4,5O0 to 5000
hands, all white people. All this has
been accomplished since 1894.
The great electric power house with
is eight huge turbines of l,o5O horse
power each, (making in all, 10000 horse
,ower), Is one of the sights of the
.ity and the South--a yeritable mecca
'or progressive mill men and manu-
,acturers, delegation of whom re-
ently came from New England and
lther states north to see this novelty.
Unusual interest centers in this huge
Enterprise, as well as the New Olym-
,ia, which is the creation of w, b.
Smith h-Whaley, to whose memory
,ther enterprises backed by Northern
capitalists, Columbia is greatly in
lebted.
AN UNIQUE MILL.
Having viewed most of the large |
otton mills in New England and the |
Worth. / feel warranted IN saving the |
olympia, excels them all in size, ele- |
;ance and massiveness, with the |
most advanced ideas in construction
md equipment. The Olympia Is no |
insightly brick barn. with no con-
eniences, but as handsome as an
ffice building outside and furnished |