The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-10-22
Local News.
Mills, Electric iPnWer and Iiatton $
Ford.


rapid growth of manufacturing in dus-
tries in this County. Cotton mill after
cotton mill has been established within
the last few months, adding thousands
Of spindles to an already highly credi-
table industrial showing. There are
now in operation and in course of
actual construction in this county cot
ton mills aggregating 3G5, 900 spindles.
In addition, there is at POrtman. on
Seneca River, miles distant, an elec-
trical power plant furnishing 5000
electrical horse. power to the city of
Anderson, all OF which is consumed by
the mills, the small industries and in
lighting the city. This industrial de.
velopment has been at Anderson and
along the eastern border of the County
Piedmont and Pelzer along the
Saluda River, and Williamson, BeltOn
and Honea Path along the Southern
Railway track.
No section of this State has made
such rapid strides in the development
years as has Anderson County, and the
Intelligencer has devoted much time
and space to keeping every movement
made in this direction prominently be-
fore the people, thus aiding as best it
could the success of these various en-
ter1rises.
Those of our people who formulated
enc ptdll6 duu CblklCtl luJO CACCu llOu
the various details. which made per-
manent the Industries above referred
to, nre to be congratulated. They
have accomplished II work which will
tell wOnderOusly for years to come In
the development of this section Of the
the State, but this article ia intended
to point to the fact that what has been
done is but a beginning of the devel-
3pment of the resources OF Anderson
County. As has been said, the indus
trial development has been at Ander-
son and along the eastern border of
the County. Beyond the development
of 5000 electrical horse power at Port
man, all of which is consumed here in
the city. nothing Of an industrial ma
ture has been done in the western r0r-
ton OF the county. The Townships Of
Savannah, Rock Mills, Fork, Pendlti-
ton and part of Garvin comprises this
section, and are perhaps the most pro-
ductive Townships OF the County. On
I'nxalOO River. which borders Fork
: Township on the south, at lIattOn's
T..".l. u distance of IA miles from An
d.rsOn on q straight line, are shoals
Ac.ues wnicn Il dam can be- constructed
at nominal cost and water power
obtained which can be made to geDer-
ate 10000 electrical horse power, net,
transmitted to Anderson. This is not
speculation, but based upon careful
surveys and calculations made by
highly reputable engineers. This prop
zens Of Anderson. A few moments
reflection will present to the mind the
wonderful possibilities of Anderson
with this power developed. 1t will be
sufficient to furnish sixteen mills the
size of the Orr Cotton Mill, or multi
tude Of smaller industries. 1t would
make possible an industrial develop
ment more than double that we now
have and an increase in population Of
at least 10000 souls. All that ia now
in the way of the immediate establish
ment ut these shoals of IL power plant
ia want Of unanimlty of action um tho
part ut Those Ut our people now in the
lead IN industrial development. There
ls nn lack ut money nor Is there luck of
confidence, but lack of coming to-
getller in concert of action. Why. it is
difficult to tell, because all who know
anything OF the enterprises already
launched can readily see that contracts
for very considerable amount of elec-
trical horsepower could be signed to-
make the bonds for such an enterprise
ready sale in the money markets.
The plant at POrtman produces 5000
electrical horse power, which ia ONLY
sufficient to run three mills, the small
Industries and light the city. They
have not to-day dollars worth Of
power for sale. The industries already
in operation and to be put in operation
In the near future-induetries in actual
course OF construction, leaving out the
the II. 8. Hill mill. the building of
which Ia an assured fact-will need all
OF 5000 horse power, and should they
decide upon electrical power and enter
into contracts for power 90 be furnish
ed from Hatton's Ford, on Tugaloo
RIVAr hafNrn Qnnthor
this power would be developed aud the
population of Anderson would be
climbing rapidly towards 90, 600 inhabi-
tants. And all depends simply upon
few of our leading men getting to-
gether.
In. development of thi. power
means too much to the city OF Ander-
son to be lost 1t means more cotton
mills and hundreds of small industries
and rich and populOus city. 1t makes
possible the linking tOgel her Of ada
cent towns by electric railways and
the development of resources which
will always remain dormant if steam
power be depended upon.
That this power cannot be developed
and lost to Anderson must not be- re-
garded too lightly. The contour of the
country around HattOn'a Ford is ideal
as a site for u mill aud mill village.
Elberton, Ca, can be reached in 16
miles Dy railway, electrical Or branch
OF the Southern. on a ridge where there
would be practically no grading and
absolutely no tresseling, and Hartwell,
only miles from Horfnn's Ford, with
Elberton, could take all the power not
needed by the mills established at the
power plant.
For those in position til help To sue
cess the development of this Kr.nt re-
source of anderson County I" lit with |
no show of interest while th.. industries
already established are placing their |
orders for steam power, ia contrary to |
the spirit heretofore exhibited hy our !
Leading men and is hard to understand. |
Had it not already been demonstrated |
thac electrical power is decidedly !
cheaper than steam. the recent cundi- |
tiOns in the coal fields nf PENNSYLVANIA |
would appear to be- quite sufficient to |
teach them to take no chances. Two
hundred thousand miners .,n u strike |