Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-09-17

Columbia, September IL: Inter-
esting statistics concerning the cotton
mill industry in South Carolina for the
fiscal year ending July l, 1912, were
given out today by Commissioner OF
Agriculture, Commerce and Indus
tries E. ]. Watson. The figures were
compiled from reports made out and
signed by mill managers, ana snow
among other things that during the
year several new cotton mills nave
started operation while others have
enlarged their plants. On the otner
hand one mill has been dismantled,
while several others have reorganiZ-
ed with changes in capital stock. The
comparison of statistics were made
for the four years, 1909, 1910, ISL!
and 1912, and show a decided and
gratifying improvement in the cotton
mill industry, steady decrease IN
the employment Of children ana Wo-
men in the mills, the living up 10 the
child labor law, practically, by the en-.
tire mills of the state, an increase OF
spindles and looms, steady increase
in the use of waterpower over steam
power, and many other gratifying
signs Of upward tendency all along
the line. Especially interesting are
the figures of the cotton mill popula-
ton. The report shows that for this
year there was a total population In
the mill villages (estimated) of 11O.-
ia. a decrease in one year of 1,0S6.
The total number of employees In the
mills are 47,O77, divided as follows:
white males 27,201, an increase over
last year Of 2,945; white females, en-
ployed 1898; an increase over last
year of SOC; negro males employed
2.793, an increase in one year of 424;
negro females employed 110, a de-
crease from last year Of 80. The re-
port shows that the total number OF
male children employed in the mills
"a to 16 years of age) is 2,S4S, an
increase Of 281 over last year; num-
ber Of female children GA to 16 years.
2,225, a decrease in one year or 6O;
total number of male children en-
ployed az to IA years) 2,164, an in
crease in one year Of 1928; total num-
ber of female children employed Q2
to IA years) 1,455, an increase over
last year of lis. The report shows
the number Of male children en-
ployed under IL years and also the
number Of female children employed
under IL years to be none, following
the new law prohibiting the employ
When the law went into effect 41O
children under that age were taken
out and the law is being rigidly en-
forced. There are at present 4,463,-
Oil spindles in South Carolina, an in
crease over last year Of 141,646. The
total number of looms this year Is
106,670, an increase over last year
of 1882. The number Of knitting
machines is 1854. The capital stock
invested in cotton mills par, Is $685.
347.565, an increase over last year OF
s1,565,396. The total capital invested
in plants is $S3,952,266, an increase In
one year of s339,272. The number of
bales Of cotton consumed by the cot
ton mills last year was 1854, a de-
crease over the proceeding year OF
5S,753, but this decrease Is accounted
for by the increase in manufacture
of finer goods and the increase in the
value of the product. Among the
number of bales consumed was about
5S, 900 of the long staple upland cot
ton of the Columbia, Hartsville and
keenan, varieties ranging from an inch
and quarter to an inch and a half
in staple. The total value of the an
nual product in 1912 was $685.
669, an increase over last year Of ST.
S44,579. The total number Of tons
of coal consumed last year was 49,
37S, decrease Of 1858. The tendency
is to gradually substitute electric
power generated by water for that
generated by coal. The horse power
electric generated by water) last
year was 64,915, an increase in one
year of 10,59S, and the horse power
electric generated by steam) was
10,350, an increase of 367.