The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-10-09

years OI eNperle' along with per-
feet organization, both in making and
selling their products, as we'll as an
established reputation; and you know
from experience how hard it is to in
troduce anything made by a new con-
Germ against that Of an established
concern. 1t means not only that you
have to sell at a lower price, but also
that your product must be equally as
good or better. and equally as i'm
portant to be considered, is the lower
freight rate they will have against
you, so that aside from having to
learn to handle these big enterprises
ourselves, we will also have the task
Of educating the railroads up to the
point where they will appreciate the
increased traffic manufactures origl-
nate and give us rates so that we can
meet competition half way on an
equal footing instead of competition
being able as at present to meet us
almost at our nearest market upon
equal or better rates than we can OBJ
tain.
have heard it said that we could
hire the necessary men of ability
from abroad to manage these enter
prises for us. I'll admit that we can
hire the men to manage them all
right, but can we hire, or I should
say employ them and be sure that we
are getting what we want. Men who
will successfully manage them? I
think not for how often have you
heard parties remark, "That man
came with the very best recommends
tions. but find that while he is q
good. steady man. he is not able to
fill the bill, and I wish knew where
could get one." If that Is true in
filling a mere clerical position, what
must be said Of the difficulties in
filling the position of manager Of
large enterprise. who will have the
entire responsibility df making it a
their lack of experience in the mat
ter, would be unable to advise him
how to make a cut here and a change
there to get the lowest cost of pro-
duction, while they would be the very
best kind to discover If the enterprise
was losing money, but utterly incom-
petent to suggest remedy.
Now II we start small enterprises
of one thousand dollars, five thousand
dollors or ten thounsand dollors cap
ital. as little as is necessary, to sup
ply what we consume at home and
for which we have TO send elsewhere,
we would have many advantage ges.
First. we would save the freight, and,
second, II the enterprise was not a
success financially the loss would not
be so great and most likely If some
were not able to pay dividends direct
on the stock. they would pay indirect
dividends by keeping the money we
now send off, circulating at home and
giving employment to those who
would need groceries, clothing,
houses. etc. While on the other
hand, If they are successful more cap
ital could be added as experience is
gained and 1t can then reach out to
supply the wants OF nearby towns and
keep on expanding until it meets a
competition that it cannot overcome;
and IL these small enterprises are
given the same care and attention by
our business men that they would de-
vote to large enterprise the growth
would be strong, healthy, and rapid,
while II neglected and left to strug-
gle along without their advice and
assistance they would most likely dry
up and die. One fault Sumter has,
In common with the rest Of the mid
die and lower part Of the State, is a
desire to do something about which
they know nothing on a big scale and
anything that is started on a small
scale Is too insignificant to merit their
attention and help. 1 would rather
see $4,000 invested in various small
healthy enterprises than to have dou-
BILE the amount invested in one large
concrn even If 1t be successful, as the
indirect returns would be greater
froim the smaller ones than from the
larger ones. as aside from being less
seriously affected by dull times we
would get better class Of citizens to
whom more money would be paid,
which would mean more money spent
for the necessities and luxuries as well
as demand for moro and bet or
homes. If we look at the few factories
We have we will find ! might say that
every one has been started by indi-
viduals and with one exception these