The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1916-06-09
ONE COTTON MILL
YEAR DUKE PLAN
Millionaire Head of the Southern
Power Company Willing to CO.
operate to This End-Must
Be Located on the Inter-
urban.

the plan and purpose of Mr.. James
B. Duke and associates for this terri
tory according to we'll authenticated
statements emanating from sources
thoroughly reliable.
By the term "unit" is meant the
mill proper, the mill village and then
all the adjuncts that go along to con-
stitute complete plant for the
production of textile products. Some
OF the units are large while the 9TH
ers are comparatively small, although
all of them are relatively large when
compared with the majority of mills
in this section.
| BY the term association" it is not
meant that Mr. Duke must have
Messrs. w. S. Lee, c. I. Burkholder,
+. c. Marshall, z. V. Taylor or E.
Thomson in the company, but that
any cotton mill men who have the
reputation of being good manufac-
turers, who are willing to go into
the proposition with their money and
time and who can show their ability
to deliver the goods, will be financial
ly backed" to the limit in any tex
tile enterprise that holds forth the
promise of safe and satisfactory re-
turns.
There is only one condition prece-
dent to the enterprise and that is that
the mill must be located somewhere
on the Piedmont & Northern line.
1t is not necessary to require that
motive power shall be procured from
the Southern Power system for that
will be dictated by good business
judgment and sense. The vast ma
jority of mills are now being Carried"
by the hydroelectric system Indeed,
Mr.. Duke has been quoted as declar-
ing that after this summer that cot
ton mill in this section which shows
smoke escaping from it's smokestack
is an evidence of extravagant opera
ton in view of the fact secondary
power will be available at prices that
will put coal out of the question as
laIcompetitor.
l. Isl Textile Center.
Just the significance of this latest
plan of Mr.. Duke is one hard to
grasp at first blush. 1t means more
tASemore that this section is to be-
come in fact as we'll as in name the
center Of the textile interests of the
south and maybe of the nation.
There are mills now going up with
surprising rapidity and this means
that the number will be augmented.
For some time past, it has been the
exception when new cotton mill was
not announced for CASTOR county
every week or two. This prevalence
of mills is to be extended to Meek
lenburg and other counties within the
zone of Interurban activity.
The Southern Power-Duke interests
today control surprising number of
cotton mills and there are scores and
scores of others in which they are
largely interested. 1t is good busi-
ness for them to maintain these in
terests and also to cultivate others for
they reap the benefits at so many
turns. For instance, the Southern
Power sells the current that run the
mills. The Interurban brings in the
raw material and then after the raw
material has been spun into yarn or
woven into cloth hauls the bales of
manufactured product to the markets
of the world; the increase in popula-
ton provides more folks to ride on
the trolley system and to consume
power and the gradual filling in of
towns augments the commercial zone
which in turn reacts in behalf of the
power company as well as the electric
railroad. There are so many phases
to the general situation that the ag-
gregate makes it one of great advan-
tage to the power company.
Is Good Business.
Mr.. Dukes idea of one cotton mill
yaer is based upon the best busi-
ness sense imaginable. Over and
above all it is developing the terri
tory which will rebound to general
advantafies to all parties. 1t is fur
thermore to be remembered that en-
terprises in which Mr.. Duke, Joins
hands are conducted on the very best
and most up-to-date methods. He is
the great apostle of efficiency, of
utilization of every ounce of effort and
service and those mills in which he
launches must be up-to-date and up
proved. His enterprises are there
fore models of their kind.
Those who are following the tex
tile development of this territory,
must bear in mind Mr.. Dukes slogan,
zone cotton mill year" in their cal
culations of future growth. He has
numerous other plans for development
which are we tembryonic but they will
transpire, in due season.