The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-03-23
NEW COTTON MILL,
ABBEVILLE MUST HAVE 1T, OR THE
PENDULUM WILL SWING BACK.
CANNOT AFFORD, NOT TO
BUILD THE MILL.
Men Suggested to Lead In The Matter.

To the Editor Of the Press and Banner:
} 10 one who has the welfare Of this town
at heart, it cannot but be distressing to
witness the utter Indifference manifested
by our people at the present time as to
measures looking to the prosperity and
advancement Of the same.
Some twelve months ago a movement
was set on foot with a view TO the building
of another cotton mill, and for a little
while it locked as il it would soon be an
. accomplished fact, as there was more sub
scribed to the capital stock thereof, by the
citizens of the town, than was by them to
that OF the mill which we now have.
Matters progressed SO far as that the
man to head the enterprise, as president,
was settled upon, and assurances were
given by more than one party who had
achieved marked success in the cotton
mill business, men of undOubted influen e
in financial circles, that with the amount
Of home capital which we had subscribed
as a nucleus, and with their assistance in
the matter, which was promised, sufficient
out side capital could easily be had to
build IL first class mill.
But strange to say, just as we were be-
bright and promising out look for the old
town, an u~naccountable apathy took pos
session OF those who were expected to lead
in the matter and the enterprise seems to
have died in the borning, as for months we
have heard nothing more Of 1t. But shall
we, Mr.. Editor, on account of this dis
appointment to our expectations, give up
and make no further effort to better u
condition.
1t would seem that this is the conclusion
to which our people have come.
II such be true, it will not be long until
we shall awake to the fact that we are not
only not advancing or lettering our con-
dition, but that we are actually retrOgrad-
Ing and that.too at pace not to be easily
checked.
In order that our town may grow and
keep pace with other surrounding towns,
we must have additional enterprises such
as will afford employment to a population
and such as will bring more money into
our midst, and we know Of no enterprise
so well adapted to meet these ends as that
OF a cotton mill.
We understand that the mill which we
no V have, disburses something like $780,
600 annually, in its operating expenses, Of
which, at least, 80 per cent is spent In our
town.
Consider for a moment what an impetus
would he given to every class Of business,
were we to have another such mill.
The farmers for a radius Of from five to
ten miles around the town would feel the
effects Of 1t in the increased demand for
all kinds OF farm products, and a conse-
quent Increase in the value Of their farms.
The clerks in our stores would be bene-
flied thereby, as the business Of their en-
ployers being so much improved, they
could afford to pay them better salaries. .
The merchant who now pays an average
clerk forty dollars per month could better
afford to pay such clerks forty five or
fifty dollars a month with the advent OF
another mill.
With another mill OF the size Of the one
we now have, there would come an addi-
ton to the population Of the town Of from
seven hundred and fifty to n thousand
persons.
It would be hard to estimate the bene-
fits which would result to merchants, ply
~sicians. dentists, butchers and every other
class OF business men, such a n addition to
our population would bring about.
It does seem to me that every individ-
ual of the above enumerated classes even
III he viewed the matter solely from a
selfish stand point, could not fail to see
that it would be decidedly to his interest
to help along such al enterprise by taking
stock therein to the utmost of his ability.
And this I believe he would do were the
matter properly presented 10 him.
But what we need and mutt v in or
der to succeed in an undertaking OF this
kind, Is some one or more OF our most
prominent citizens of recognized business
capacity, Of public spirit, and who have
shown their interest In the town by what
they have done in the past toward build
ing it up, to take hold of this matter.
The question then is. To whom can we
turn in this our hour Of necessity Who
is it that can fill the bill?
To my mind the men for the emergency
are Mr.. G. A. Visanski and Mr.. Hugh Will
son.
There are no two men in the place who
have done half SO much in the interest OF
the town as have these two, and / believe
they are still willing to spend and be
Ispent in furthering the good work.
1t is to them, together with the late W.
Fl. Parker, B. S. Barnwell and Jno. A. Har-
ris, that We are largely il not entirely In
debted for the splendid cotton mill which
we now havei
There was a time during the construc-
ton Of that mill when, il these men had
not come to the rescue by giving their in
dividual notes to raise money to satisfy
l~certain importunate creditors, the enter
Prise would have fallen through.
OF these five only Messrs Visanski and
Wilson are with us, the others having all
"passed over the river.
Therefore in behalf Of the citizens OF this
town I call upon these two men to lay
aside their :nodesty, avail themselves OF
the experience which they have in the
building Of the mill We now have, and set
the ball in motion, looking to the building
Of another mill.
Gentlemen! will you not heed this call2
Aside from the benefits which would as
surdly accure to each Of you in the en-
HANGED value of the real estate in the town
Of which you are both large owners what
greater JUNCTION could you desire to apply
to your souls in your declining years, than
to be able to point to two magnificent
cotton mills. with their hundreds OF hum
ming spindles and say "these are my jew
els" I was largely instrumental In building
them.