The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-04-17

in which to manufacture the gins, I
cannot say; presumably, because Of
Mr.. Miller's knowledge of the county
and the facilities that would be at
command. Having begun the manu-
.acturc at that point, it was most rca-
sonablc, as soon as they were ready to
work, that they should erect and put
into operation the first gin at some
desirable point near the city Of Au.
gusta; for Augusta was the market
for quite all the crops made in Gcor.
gla, the Carolinas, and large part Of
tennessee. Even AT that time, Au-
gusta's trade, first in tobacco, and
later in the surplanting crop, cotton,
was growing steadily and early became
lucrative and extensive. 1t would be
wisest to advertise the gin by erecting
it on some suitable stream near Au-
gusta, so to point on Rocky Creek
two miles from the city, easy of ac-
cess to shose who desired their cotton
ginned and to those who wished to
crafty their curiosity, was chosen.
This was in the fall of 1895 or in 1886
moro probably 1895; for, in the in
PRODUCTION to the census volume on
agriculture, 1860, it is stated that Mr..
Whitney and his partner (Mr. Miller)
had thirty machines in operation in
Georgia in 1896 by either water or
animal power: see census (l860), vol.
Agriculture, page NXVlII.
The land on which the gin was cree
ted and operated belonged in later
years to MIR. John Phinizy, late of
this city, now deceased. 1t is now
the property Of Mr.. j. j. Doughty.
Of circumstantial evidence that the
first Whitney cotton gin was operated
at the point mentioned, there is a
great abundance. This evidence is
itself sufficiently clear and strong to
control in trial before any jury Of
twelve intelligent men.
But we have something more than
circumstantial evidence. A few wears
ago, congressional committee, of
which Senator Blair, Of New Hump
shire, was chairman, visited Augusta,
and invited number of citizens to
come before them and give evidence
touching the degree of progress our
people were making in manufactures
education, agriculture, etc. Among
those who we're invited to appear be-
tore the committee was Mr.. John
Phinizy. He stated, among other
things, that he came to Augusta with
his father in 1900. lie was at that
time seven years Of age. Seven years
later he was sent to Franklin College,
now the University of Georgia, gradu-
ating in 1911. He spoke of the
gradual growth Of the cotton industry,
and said: II own tho place where
Whitney made his first experiment
with the cotton gin. He built dam
across small stream and ran the gin
by water. The dam is standing to
this day, and the water of the stream
turns an improved gin" See History
OF Augusta, page 173.
1t need scarcely be said that Mr..
Phinizy, man venerable 10 years and
standing high in the esteem of his
fellow citizens-a thoroughly inform.
ed and most observant gentleman,
would have made so positive state
ment rs the one quoted had he not
been fully satisfied as to the absolute
correctness of his declaration.
a few years ago, Rev. DR.. Lansing
Burrows, at that time citizen of Au-
gusta, now resident of Nashville,
Tenn, e scholarly gentleman, and a
man OF great research, projected the
idea of monument to Whitney. With
this good purpose in view, he made
diligcnt inquiry into the validity Of
the claim in hand. Ho had accumu-
lated 2 wealth of valuable data, and
was about to give all tho facts he had
collated to the public when the fire
occurred which destroyed the Chroni-
cle building and Offices. His papers
and elcctgos were lost on that occa-
sion.
While writing this article, q letter
came to me from DR.. Burrows, recitinp
the fact just stated, and saying: "a
letter from Mr.. Eli Whitney (son Of
the inventory, of New Haven, Conn.
eorroboratod this view, Chat the first
gin was operated by Whitney in Rich
mond'County, two miles from Angus
ta, at the point mentioned by Mr..
Phinizy), but the letter was destroyed
in tho fire referred to, and believe,
the author is now dead"