The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-10-14
Wednesday, Oct. IA, 1908.
Must Abbevitle Stand Still?

Within ten ears AbbeviIle has advanced
at an even pace until her population ID lou
bled and her property values have almost
doubled. What has caused this marked pro-
gress? There are no better merchants; there
are no more trustworthy or industrious far
mers surrounding any town, and these TWO
factors do much in making a place. But II Is
believed that the most potent factors In the
development OF the own have been the
Cotton Mill and the Railroad Shops. We can
not have other railroad shops, but why LOT
another cotton mill? The cotton mill susi-
ness can not be overworked in the South 10
long as q pound OF cotton Is manufactured In
the North and in England. This Is the one
thing that does not compete materially with
similar Institutions in The same town.
But some may say that our cotton mill has
gone through many vicissitudes Of fortune.
Granted that IL has, II Is still here, and will
be here Tor all time. And we believe that
It's stockholders are satisfied with It's present
condition. In three years the stock in thls
mill advanced from about IS 10 W per cent.
What was done in three years can and may
be done in three years more. This however.
Is the smallest part OF It's profit TO the town.
We Will take 1or example, The largest local
stakeholder. He has say SS0,ON invested IN
The mill. He has say seventy thousand in
vested in city real estate. Ten years ago thls
property now worth seventy thousand would
scarcely have brought forty thousand on the
market. Is not this enhancement OF proper
~ q dividend many times on The $4,000 in
vested In the mill? The amounts are estl.
mates, the relative advance in real estate ID
an under Estimate. 4 house and lot In town
which the party offered freely at s2,DO sold
for S. ,0OO in the time named. Another house
which brought only ssOO less than ten years
ago, recently sold for S3,U0. Still another
house that sold within that period at $3.50
was sold recently for $1,000.
With our new. Court house and City hall;
with our government building soon TO be
erected to cost not less than $4,000; with one
of the best schoo houses in the State; with
the town beautiied and given every appear
ance OF the modern city, We feel that we have
improved our opportunities up TO the limit
from an aesthetical standpoint. and for pub
lie utility. But something more is necessary
10 sustain values, and continue the progress.
Then why not another cotton mill?
II is said thai cotton mill machinery Ia now
cheaper than at n time within the past
fifteen years. We are nearer 10 the great
water power on Savannah River b any
other city. We have right In our midst a
man who has no superior in making brick
in the person OF our progressive mayor. He
will doubtless make the prices right and take
q good part OF bis pay in stock. He Is as pub
lie spirited as he is energetic. There is plenty
ofmoney in town with which to set the work
in motion, and people Who mean business at
home, can always enlist northern capital.
This IL where our profit comes in. Say one
hundred thousand subscribed by AbbeVille
and four hundred thousand subscribed by
northern capital. what would that do for us9
The local enhancement of values; the
springinR up Of additional enterprises; and
the pay rolls spent here-these are our divi-
dends even II the mill did not at once get on
paying basis.
Let the city take hold Of 1t as one man.
Let the right man or men push the move
ment and the cotton mill 10 assured. AS a
starter and as an evidence OF good faith the
Press n Banner will subscribe s.. ZOO.