The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-06-03
OUR STATES GREAT RECORD.
South Carolina First to Enter Cotton
misunderstanding.

South Carolina First to Enter Cotton
Manufacturing.
e South Cardinals great development
in the cotton manufacturing industry
is shown In splendid shape in the
bulletin which is being prepared by
j. L. Watkins, cotton expert, for the
Agricultural Year Book for 1904. The
bulletin shows the development of the
entire South.
The bulletin shows that although
Beverly, Mass, is credited with the
distinction Of building the first cot
ton mill in the United States, in 1887,
the historical records show that DUR
ing the same year a small mill, run
by horsepower, was erected on James
Island, near Charleston, by Mrs. Ram
age, the widow of Carolina planter.
The consumption Of cotton in this
country has steadily increased since
1900, 1910 most all of the cotton goods
were manufactured in private families.
In lower Virginia, the Caroinas and
Georgia, almost every article of cloth
ing was the manufacture Of pri yate
families. Statistics show that in 1910
Virginia, North and South Carolina
and Georgia manufactured more house.
hold goods than the combined output
OF the New England States with all
its manufacturing establishments. In
1908 the South Carolina llomespun
Company was organized in Charleston
with a capital OF $4,000 Tue object
of this corporation was to develop
home manufacture of domestic fabrics
South Carolina is entitled no1 only
to the distinction of ranking among
the Southern States in the manufac-
ture Of cotton, but as being the first
to undertake it's manufacture. AS
already stated, the first mill was
erected in 1887. The increase in the
number OF mills was very slow. Re-
tween 1900 and 1920, it is said that
but three mills were constructed in
the State, two Of which being es-
tablished in the upper part Of the
State, one in Grecnville county and
one in Spartanburg. Thus it will be
seen that these two counties have
been rivals III the cotton manufacture
ing business since the first part of the
last century. 1t was not until 1929
that mill was built which was run
by other than horse power This was
erected at Pendleton. In 1916 mill
was built at Graniteville, which was
at that time the largest in the State
containing 300 looms and $500 spin
dies. From this time To 1881 about
eight new mills were built in differ
ent parts of the State. The records
do not show any new mills from 1851
to the beginning Of the Civil war.
However, it was not until 1884 So
that the cotton mill industry of the
State began It's remarkable develop
ment. The census OF 1890 was a sur
prising revelation. In ten years the
number OF mills had been more than
doubled the number of Spindles more
than quadrupled, and the amount of
cotton consumed was nearly five times
as great. Even more wonderful is the
progress OF the development since
1890. The number Of mills increased
from 81 to 1876, the total number OF
Spindles from 332, 7Si TO 2,579, 53l, or
$40 per cent. In 1890 the number OF
bales Of cotton produced in South
Carolina was 747, 100. or this amount,
the cotton mills consumed 1873, 342
bales, or l7.S per cent. In 1908 the
number OF bales produced was 925,-
400, and the cotton mills of the State
consumed 5S6,8I6 bales, or 63.4 per
cent. The increase is something re-
Die. Iii 1902 a greater percent
age than this was consumed, 72.1 be-
ing the percentage for that year.
North Carolina, has 100 more mills
than South Carolina, but the latter
has 6S3, l3l more spindleS than the
former.
Virginia also began the mapufac-
turc of cotton at an early date, re-
ports showing that mill was in ope-
ration at Petersburg in 1909. In
1910 there was % mills in the State,
consuming 1900 bales Of cotton.
Now there are Il mills, 1871 $40 spin
dies. The number OF bales produced
is l5,6li, and the number consumed
is 43,34l, over 25, 900 more than the
State produces.
The average number OF bales pro-
duced per mill in South Carolina is
1915, the greatest in the South; in
North Carolina it is 3,246, and In Vir-
ginia the average is 2,54S, over 300
greater than that of South Caroliua1
For the whole South the statistics
show the total number Of mills to be
639, with total number OF Spindles
aggregating 100, 202. In the last
year the South produced l0,63O, 495
bales OF cotton; and her mills con
sumed 1923, 46l bales, or 1871 per
cent. of the entire crop. Over one
fourth OF the number OF bales CON
sumcd are credited to the mills Of
South ClrOljna