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TO THINE OWN SELF BE^ TRUE, AND IT MUST FOI.L?W AS THE ^ ^ NIGHT THE DAY, THOU CANS'T NOT THEN BE FALSE T? ANY MAN
BY KEITH. SMITH & CO. WALHALLA. SOUTH CAROLINA. THURSDAY. APRIL 8. 1880. V0L?IIY1K XXXI -_tttVTT
J From tbe Charleston News and Courier.]
COTTON MILLS IN CARO
LINA.
Theil* Nu inlier, Production
and Profits?
. A Steady Increase in the Value of Their
^Capital-The Annual Profits Ranging
'from 18 to 50 per cent.- Thc Advan
tages Over Northern Mills-Ten Thou
sand Persons Employed, or Supported
-An Almost Unlimited Field for thc
litt?ral ive Employment of Home and
Foreign Capital.
Tho public oi'O aware that during tho
last, ten years considerable progress hos
been made in the development ol' tho man
ufacturing interests in South Carolina,
especially in tho manufacturing of cotton
goods. But few persona* have any just
idea of tho magnitude of the work which
'has been done, or what is moro important,
of tho number of pcrsous engaged io it, tho
. amount of raw material consumed, and thc
profit made by those engaged in tho busi
?ness.
Attempts have boen modo ot different
times to show tho extent of thc cotton
'manufactures iu South Carolina, but until
to-day no thorough and complete statement
'upon that subject has been given to thc
.public.
With this will bo found a summary of
tl??ti 'condition of each und every cotton mill
iu South Caroliuu, showing its capacity,
?consumption of raw material, production,
cla-33 ol' goods manufactured, wuter-powcr
'used; tho number of persons employed,
and tho number of thoso dependent upon
thom; tho wages paid and tho rates of
profit, forming as to each mill a plain and
at tho same limo complete exhibit of its
condition and operations.
The information now given was obtained
within tho lat?fc fortnight by a visit to tho
?different foctories in tho State, made hy
.M-p. J. K. J3lackinnu, of thc Arews ana
'Gourier stnff, who has endeavored to give
similar information with regard to oooli
faotory in order that tho results might bt
grouped together.
These results briefly stated ore: Thal
ibero oro iu South Carolina Rovcntcci:
factories,' (not including tho Wcstminstci
Clement Attachment Mill) engaged in tlx
production of cotton yarns and cloths.
These factories buvo 95,438 spiudlct
with 1,033 looms in operation.
They produce 101,338 yards of cloth am
17,183 pounds of yarn for each workinr
day; consuming for each such doy 64,041
pounds of cotton.
They employ 2.206 operatives, who it
turn support 7,013 persons who aro do
pendent upon them, tho monthly pay roll
being over 938,000. Tho eapits) employe)
in these, mills amounts to ?2,288,600, ant
they are estimated to bo worth to--da]
*2,844,G00.
Tho profits raogo from 18 to 50 pe
cent, per annum upon tho capital invested
This 60 per cent, is tho return from th
Westminster Factory, tho well known hom
of tho "Clement Attachment." At th
other factories thc profit ranges from 18 t
25} per cont, per annum, tho highest rat
reported boinj? that of tho "I'icdtnon
Mills" in Greenville County. With titi
summary of general results by way of intrc
duotioo wo pass to the report of tho condi
tton and operations of each factory, whio
every ono oan read and undcrstuud fe
himself. Those detailed reports aro give
10 tho order in which tho mills were visitct
Tlie Gi-auiteville Ma u nine (ur In
Company.
The Graoitcvilio Factory, ono of th
oldest and, at present, tho most extensiv
cotton manufacturing establishments in th
State, is located in thc centre of the ??HY
?of Granitovillc, about ft stone's throw frot
tho Charlotte, Columbia and Augusta Kail
road, and about a milo from tho Soot
Carolina Railroad. Tho factory was lin
organized in 1846 under a charter wilie
ran for fourteen years, and nt rt recen
session of tho Legislature tho charter wi
renewed for thirty years. Mr. Williot
Grogg was tho leuding spirit in startiu
thc cntcrpriso, and Messrs. Joel Stuhl
11 y ra tn Hutchinson and Kerr Hoyt
woro tho principal stockholders. Tl
company started operations in 1840 upon
capital of $200,000, and worked 10,00
spindles and 300 looms.
Tho town of Granitovillc, ns it is collei
is not an incorporation, and has no tow
government osido from tho rules and regt;
lation8 of tito factory; iu fact, it is dopend
eut upon and inseparable from tho factor
It has a population of 2,800 sou
lt has tinco ohurohes and an Fpiscop
chapel, and it takes just pride in an aoad
roy, towards tho support of which tl
Manufacturing Compony con tributes SI,0(
per annum for tho education of thc childrt
of tho operatives. The avcrago attendant
at this sohool is 118 pupils.
in 1867 after oovoral years of disostroi
business operations tho factory passed in
tho hands of tho company which no
controls it; Tho officers of tho compat
aro: II. II. Hickman, of Augusta, Pros
dont; W. ll. Walton, ('ashier; James I
Oilos, Sccrelsry, and S. W. llowlan
Superintendent. This company owns nt
controls what is known as tho Granitcvil
Faotory, and also what is known ns tl
Vauoluso Foolery, which is the offsprii
of tho former faotory. Tho capital stock
$600,000. Tho oousumption of raw colt
per month at both fnotorics ia 1,000 bah
and tho number of operativos omploycd
776} twe-thirds of whom are fournies ai
who range from ll yoars up. At tho
Granitcville Factory 24,264 Bpindlca and
584 loom? oro in operation, and ot Vau
cluse 10,000 spindles and 800 looms.
MOTIVE TOWER AND MACHINERY.
Tho motive power is supplied by a littlo
stream bearing thc .somewhat uuouphouious
nome of llorac Creek. This stream fur
nishes GOO horso power nt Orauitcvillo and
300 horso power nt Vaucluse. Two ponds,
created by thc damming of tho stream
covering 37? aoros, uro located a half milo
above thc Granitcvillo Factory, oud tho
water from these pouds is conveyed by
means of a canul and trunks lo n "Pordcn"
turbiuo wheel.
At Vaucluse thc water ia colloctcd by
dams into a pond 343 feet long and is
conveyed to a turbine wheel by on ?inmenso
iron pipe six and a half feet in diameter.
Tho classes nf goods tnonufueto- jd oro
sheetings, shirtings and drills. Tho brands
aro: ij C shirting, {? lt li shirting, 4-4 B
10 sheet ?m.', 4-4 A A sheeting, 4-4 L Ii
sheeting, improved I drills and S S drills.
Tho machinery used at tho Orunitevillo
Factory is nearly all English, while at thc
Voucluso American machinery is used
entirely. It would bc useless to describe
tho numerous processes through which tho
j colton posses in its journeying from tho
I seed to the loom. It is already thoroughly
j understood by thoso who havo seen it,
while thoso who havo not seen it will
I bc no wiser ofter euch a description than
before it. In brief, then, it will bc only
' necessary to stato that after ginning, thc
j cotton first goes through tho openers, then
to tho pickers, theil to tho card-, then to
tho drawing machine, then to tho slubber,
then to tho (ly frame, then to tho mule and
throstle, lt then comes out fi'ling and
warp, numbering from 12 to 20 yarn.
This then passes to tho spoolers, then to
the warper, then to tho slasher, and fina 11 y
to tho loom from which it emerges cloth.
To givo an iden of thc capacity of these
two tullis 1 M cured during un interview
with tho President and Superintendent tlx
following figures which wero taken from
thc books of tho company: Tho daily pro
duction at thc Granitcvillo mill is 35.00C
yards und nt Vaucluse 10,000 yards. At tin
i Granitcvillo mill during two weeks endinp
I Junuary 10, 1880, 105,GIG pounds o
I cotton was consumed, whioh turned ou
140,773 pounds or 480,000 yards of cloth
At the Vaucluse Mill during thc Bann
time 70,738 pounds of cotton was con
sumed, which produced 56,587 pounds, o
197,000 yords of cloth. Thc colton willoi
was used during this time was purchase)
at 11.72 cents per pound. Tho cost, there
fore, for tho cotton used ot both mill
during thoso two weeks was 827,099 51
Tho cloth produced from this colton a
both mills wus 086,000 yards, thc price fo
which in thc murkct ut this time is over !
cents per yard. Culling lt 8 cents n yard, th
voluc of thc cloth produced is 851,SS0, o
within n small fraction of double thc valu
of thc cotton. In other word?, thc proc?s
of manufacturo increased thc valuo ol' th
raw colton 100 per cent.
COST OF PRODUCTION.
lloving arrived at tho relativo values c
tho raw cotton und thc manufactured good;
wc must next try und arrive at thc cost c
production, and thereby estimate os nour t
possible tho net profit in thc business.
1 found thc President und Superinten
dent, while scrupulously courteous un
obliging, a little vnwilliug to divulge wi.;
they termed thc secrets of tho company,
could not, therefore, get thc exact ftgun
of tho cost of production, but on estima!
very nearly exact may bo arrived ut i
another woy. Tho poy roll at Grnnitevil
for tho two weeks ending January 10,187!
was 81,938 92, and nt Vaucluse for tl
samo time it was 32,188 74. This mnki
thc loiul poy roll at both factories $7,127 (ii
Tho cost of supplies, puch ns oil, hornes
ppools, eco , is 3100 a doy ot both fnctotic
Tho supply account, therefore, for tv
weeks, of six days each, would he $l,20l
Tho cost of producing 680,000 yards i
cloth, therefore, was ?8,327 G6. Add i
this 327.699 51, the cost of thc cottoi
and wc have 886,027 17 as thc total cost i
thc manufactured article to thc compon
This a amount of goods, ni shown above,
worth in the market 851,880, or a m
profit of $18,852 73 in two week?. Thei
may bc incidental expenses which havo Di
been calculated, and whioh may slight
but not muierially niter this result. The
of course, must also bc deducted cotnmi;
aibtisO? finies and freight and insurance
Tho real success of thc company cann
perhaps bo boiler demonstrated than I
quoting thc language of tho President hin
self, who, despite his cautiousness, cou
not help expressing his prido and satisfai
lion in tho work he had nccomplishc
"Wo have," said Mr. Hickman, "be
running since 1873 between two fires, b
wo seem to havo emerged from that trout
now, and wc aro at present making ham
some profitr?. If tili? condition of alla
continues for five years, and I think it wi
wo will moko a heap of nionoy. Ever
thing hos conspired (luring tho last twcl
montha to help this country, and of cou?
cotton manufacturero have come in I
their sharo of tho profits. Tho success
this concern has bean really wonderf
although 1 havo seen some hard times.
WOB clcoted President of this company
tho fall of 1367. Tho foolery was then
a dilapidated condition. It had been r
t? doath during tho war, and tho eoinpo
hud no orodit, and wc wcro iii debt 850.0(
Wo were paying 12 por cent, intc?oat on
tho money wo were using.
"I wont to New York and scoured I
money WO wanted and commenced opel
lions. Tho GiV-uvtovillo Mill was tl:
producing 240,000 yards of doth per foi
night. Tho production now is 489,000
yards per fortnight From tho time 1 took
ohorgc up to tho present I have spent ou this
mill nnd tho property on tho place 8200,
000 at, least. I novo doubled tho produc
tion of tho mill. I purchased 1,100 shares
of stock, for which I paid 8150,000, and
cancelled it, reducing tho capital stock to
8600,000 from 8710,000. 1 have built tho
Vaucluse properly out of tho curnings of
tho Grouitcvillo Mill. That property is
worth 8350,000, and duriug all this time,
in addition to these outlays, I havo paid
dividends averaging per cont, on thc
capital ?took. Wo havo been moro fortu
nato than some of tho other factories with
respect to tho sale of our goods.
"Wo sell our goods nt tho market voluo
when delivered) oud ns wo ure always
behind our orders wo have reaped tho
benefit of tho boom, o nd aro getting 8
cents for thc same goods that other factories
under contract uro furnishing for 0} cents
per yard, I linvo orders ahead now for
350,000 yards of cloth, and have not a halo
on hand.
Thc Vaucluse Factory,
aa I said before, was built out of thc
earnings of tho Qranitovillo Mill without
increasing thc capital stock. Tho founda
tion stono wan laid in July, 1877, nnd
operations wcro commenced in tho fall of
1878. The erection of tho property in
round numbers cost 8350,000, which
includes tho erection of 70 operatives'
houses, the building bf dams, bridges, con
duit pipes, iScCi
"Tho building ls constructed of graute
and brick thu first story being of stone.
It is located three miles from Oranitovillo,
j on thc Charlotte, Columbia nnd Augusta
Railroad. At Qranitovillo wc have 230
operatives' residences, und ut both factories
these houses are rented nt about half their
rental vnlue. Jvich house hos a gardcu
attached which is cultivated. Tho opera
tives raise their own chickens and hogs,
and aro allowed the privilcgo of cutting all
thc wood they want from tho place without
charge. Houses of fro til eight to nine
rooms rent for six dollars, and houses from
three to four rooms for tinco dollars pei
mouth. Our operatives consist almost
entirely of families from the surrounding
country in tho neighborhood. They have.
bcnn educated to ibo business by skilled
hands, and their moral, ns well as theil
mental and phytdool, condition has beet
greatly improved. As n rule they aro t
well-behaved and thrifty set; nnd they cot
live so cheaply that they save money, SOUK
of which they deposit with tho company
Weelo all wc can to encourage thia anion?
them.
LANI) AN Ir IJA?O?.
"At Qranitovillo and Vaucluse ibero ari
besides tho operatives, 1,050 persons de
pendent upon tho factories for support
Land herc is very cheap. It is not wort!
moro than o uplift h of what thc same kim
of land would bring at tho North. Thor
is another great advantage which wc posses
over thc Northern manufacturers, and thu
is thc absence of strikes among our opera
lives, In nine cases out of ten t. o strike
ut the North arc caused aud lcd by forcig
help. All our operatives aro raised rigli
hero and aro not subject to these influences
I might say, ns n further proof of on
succesp, that the stock of tho company sol
for 803 a sitare in 1S07, n:id now is quote
ut 8123. Even this ?gu.r.a is not a fui
estimate of what it ls worth beca uno nobod
wants to sell. 1 could go iii thc inarki1
to-morrow and run it up to $130, or eve
8150, just by offering that for it. This i
not what we want, however."
1 nskod tho .Superintendent why it wr
that they did not employ colored operative!
Ile replied that it was difficult t? work th
white and colored operatives together, bi
his opinion was that a factory could I
started and run with colored oporativt
entirely superintended by skilled whil
operatives. Such a factory ooitltl bo ru
40 per cent, cheaper than ono whero whil
labor was used entirely. Tho expevimen
however, had never been practically tric?
Mr. Howland, thc Superintendent of th
company, who is n Northern mab an
thoroughly acquainted with his business, i
answer to a question ns to what io] h
opinion was thc prospoot for manufactorii
in this Stato, said:
"1 think that tho prospect for tnanufac
tories in this Stato for thc next live yeo
nt least is decidedly good. Thcro arc loee
lions in this State which for tho purpo:
excel any locality in thc world. Manufac
tories in tho South aro no longer nu cxp<
riment: ul) thut is needed is good manage
.neut.
A UV A NT AO KS F. ?? JOY BP.
"Tho advantages wc enjoy over thc Nc
England manufacturer arc too numerous
mention. Roughly estimated tho cost
manufacture hero is 11 cents per pout
cheaper. Wo can run all tho year roun
aro not liable to strikes and have abunda
labor nt very muoh lower ra?ca. In n
opinion if thc first cost of applying wat
power is taken in tc consideration, nnd t
interest o:) such investment is calculate
tho aten ll) power in certain localities',
really ehcapcr than tho water power. Tl
depends very muoh upon tho situation,
thc factory; for instaneoj ?v ntcam factory
Charleston where coal can bc obtained
bulk nt reduced rates, could bc run
cheaply if not ohenps-r than water pow
A'steam mill away from tho railroad viou
of courso, cost moro. Thc question
health nlono is thc ouly advantage tl
tho country would havo ovor Chnilcoton.
"Tho health hero at ilrnuitovillo nnd
Vaucluse is excellent. 1 don't think
need any legislation from Congress to c
courage manufactures in thc South. 'I
only encouragement manufacturers nt
is tho exemption fro in taxation Vfhioh now
exists ou oil new machinery."
"What do you think about tho Cl?mont
Attpohmcnt?" I asked.
"1 dou't think (ho Clement Attachment
will hurt anybody," Mr. Ilowlaud roplicd,
.'except tiloso who iuvcftt in it. 1 think it
will brcuk 8 out of every 10 planters that go
?uto ?t. Sly main reasons for thinking PO,
oro that it will bo next to impossible to
store enough seed cotton to ruu u largo
mill, and a small mill will not pay.
"Yarn oannot bo made without the em
ployment of skilled labor, und it will not
pay to engogo suoh labor for a small mill
which only turns out a few bunches of yarn
a day. At any rate it will not uffeot tho
largo factories iu thc nligliteat, because if
they manufactured all tho cotton in tho
Stato into yaru wo would manufacturo moro
doth and linn I ly ibo South would manu
facturo all tho coarser goods; loaving New
England to mako thc fiuor gooda whioh sho
can now manufacture cheaper than wo
oau."
Thc properly of tho (iranitoviilc Manu
facturing Company is valued at $1,000,000.
Tho G rani to ville Factory is built of solid
gtanlto blocks, and is provided with every
modem upplianco in thc woy of machinery.
Tho system of live protection is perfect, and
tho grounds in front of tho factory aro
beautifully luid off. Tho Vaucluse Factory
is a stroug red brick building, thrco stones
high. Kvcry thing around tho plueo is
new and clean, and tho owners olaim that
it in recognized to bo thc best mill of its
size for thc manufacture of brown goods iu
thc United Slates, lt is furthermore, they
claim, thc ouly mill in tho South that paid
anything during tho first yeur of its opera
tion."
Thc S.aiiglcy Manufacturing
Company.
Tho Langley Factory is within cosy dis
tance of thc Charlotte, Columbia and
Augusta . Railroad, and is directly ou thc
lino of tho South Carolina Railroad
William C. Sibley, of Augusta, Ca., is thc
president of tho company, and M. F. Fostci
is superintendent. The town of Langley,
which, like Qrahitevillo, isjiotincorporated
is n neat little village with a population o!
825 inhabitants, all of whom arc dependent
upon tho factory for a oupport. Tho fac
tory is a hnndsomo red brick building
th reo and a half otorico high, and is sur
rounded with grounds neatly laid off. Tin
village is composed of ouo hundred dwell
ing hottSRQ, of from thrco to eight rooms
in which tba operatives of tho factory re
side, and for which they pay from twenty
livo to thirty seven and a half cents reu
per week per room. A oh arch is now bc
inc? built by tito company which will cos
88,000, ?nd n school is in operation
towards thc suppost of which thc compati;
contributes a handsome sum annually
Thc company owns thc PO tiro village, inn
they have, including their ponds. 4;00'
acres of land.
Everything about thc place is kept ex
quisitoly neut and clean, and the observer i
impressed at n glauco with tho pet fee
order and good management which every
where prevail. Thc factory was erected i
1SGG, and in 18G8 thc company having i
in chargo failed. In 1870 tho presen
company was organized with a capital c
SHOO.000, with tho privilego of raising i
to 8400,000. By a recent uct of thc Leg
islaturc thc company has the privilego c
increasing the capital steck to 8S00,00C
Tho capacity of thc factory is 11,88'
spindles, 828 looma and 101 cards. Th
inaohincry is all American, and wt
made by thc Lowell (Mass.) Machino Shop:
The water power ia obtained from Hun
Cree!:, und 800 horse power is used. IJ
means of extensive dams two ponds cov?rin
an hrcn of V18 nefen nrc formed ribov? th
factory which furnish a fall of 20 feet upo
an American Turbine wheel. Tho Langte
factory bas au advantage over tho Uran ito
ville und Vaucluse factories with vespoot t
its water supply, ns it hus thc uso of two <
throo tributaries to Horse Crook, which flu'
in below Qranitcvillo
VIVE C?.ASSKS OF GOODA
manufactured nrc: 7-8 Langley A ahirtin
3 4 Langley shirting, 7 8 A drills; 7 8
drills, 4 4 Langley A drills and 4 4 Lan
ley B drills.
Thc production of thc factory is shown
tho following statement taken from tl
company's books. Tho consumption of ra
cotton for tho year ending 27th Dcocmhc
1870, was 2,11G,G22 pounds or 5,598 bale
Tho amount of cloth turned out during tl
snnic time was 2,182,240 pounds or G,898
784 yards. Tho waste is estimated at lc
per cont. net. Thc number of operativ
employed is 830, all white nod two thin
fem?lo. T|tO avcrago rate of wages pi
day is 78 cents, and tho poy roll for tho
months ending December 27,1879, w
$77,fiS0 -10. Daring tho lost twelve mont
two semi annual dividends of G per coi
each have been paid, and during tho thr
years previous dividends of 4 per cor
semi annually were declared. Besides t
payment of th COO dividends tho ootnpa
has laid asido a commercial capital
8150,000, nt:d has made improvements
tho property coaling many thousands
dollars.
I nuked Mr. Foster, tho Suporintcndr
of tho factory, who is n man thoroughly i
formed upon all mattors relating to
business, What he thought was.
THU PllOSr-ECTH l'OR MANUFACTURES
in South Cnrolinr, judging frotri his o
expevicnoo and kuowlcdgo of tho odvatu
gea afforded by tho Stato. Ile replied; (,'I
manufacturing boniness is 25 per oo
bottor than it was a year ago, and tho
hibit which con bo raado by tho rnamtfac
rios of South Carolina is OH good
anywhoro in tho world. Thoro is tn
encouragement for manufactories to bo
started in tho South thuu any other section
i in tho world. I don't say South Carolina
I alone, but sho has ns good chanco ss auy.
She grows as much cotton in tho scotious
where laotorics would bo likely to start,
and has a climate equal to auy iq tho world,
She has suporior advantages to thoso of
New England, of Old England and of
India. Wo hove a groat advantago with
roBpcot to labor, and thc advantago with
respect to the procuring of tho raw uiato
jiol is immense. Wo can ship our goods
to tho Western markets justas cheaply as
they eon from Lowell, oud nt tho same
lime Hiive all tho freightn, commissions,
stetilngc, insurance and risk on tho cotton.
Wo have an advantage of fully li Centn ou
a pound over thc New England manufac
turer. I dou't think wo nocd any National
legislation to encourage manufacturers in
tho South. If thc question of manufac
tures is taken into Congress it will bo bound
to go ogainst tho Southern manufacturing
interests. AB to Stato legislation, I think
that tho
EXEMPTION FROM TAXATION
for ton years on all new machinery should
be continued. This exemption is nec
essary to placo this Stato ou a footing with
other States where it is in force. I think
tho exemption should bc ou tho capital
stock of thc company. Our property bas
increased in value under thc prcsopt D10D
agemcut 30 per cent., as ls shown by tho
sale of our stock in tho market at 130."
As to thc relative cost of running a fae
tory by steam and water power, Mr. Foster
Said: "That is a matter whioh depends
greatly upon tho situation. If you can
find water power on the Hue of railroad it
possesses all the advantages of steam aud is
cheaper, but if it is located away from tho
railroad whero you havo to haul your goods
it cannot bo compared with cteatn near tho
railroad. Thc first cost of applying wuter
power is greater than steam. A steam mill
could bo established in Charleston near ono
of tho wharves .to aa much advantage as
onywhero in South. Carolina, provided you
have a railroad runuing to tho faotpry so
that tho cotton can bo dolivorod at tho mill
and tho manufactured goods Tie shipped
directly from thc mill by rail or water.
Under such circumstances
A BTE A M MIM. IN CIIARLKSTOW,
whero coal can bc obtained cheaply, abc
whero thero is a market for cottou all tin
year round, .would bc cheap ns any watei
power ld tho country."
How about tho Clomont attachment? ]
asked. What do you thiok of it? Mr
Foster replied: "1 think tho Clement At
tachment is a humbug. 1 might as wei
oall things by their right natucu. . As i
practical man I should object to it on ita mc
chonical construction. . I believe thu
manufacturing is a special business tim
requires skilled and educated labor, whiol
thc planter cennot command without payiii{
for it. . A Bmall factory connot bp compar?e
to a largo ono with respect to the cost o
production? olid, ?ho profits ona sinai
machine, auch ns tho (Moment Attachmen
men propose, would bc no email that i
would not pay to employ tho class of . labo
whioh would bo necessary to moko.a style o
goods which would rita nd tho tent, of th
market. This Clement Attachment i
simply a revival of tho Henry Attachmcnl
which proved a failure thirty years ago,"
In nu8Wor to further inquiries Mr. Fostc
stated that
LABOR WAS VERY PLENMFUL
and that they could get 20 per cent, mor
than was required to run thc mill. Th
operatives, ho said, ore tnfido up entirely t
tho people bufo und raired right in th
vicinity. Tho overseers oro New. Englan
men. One half of thc stock ia held i
New York aud thc other half is equally di
vided between Charleston ond Auguoti
The cost of lund in South Carolina is ulmoi
nominal. Mr. Foster said: "Tho lan
around Langley wes not worth n dollar a
aero a few years ago. It is now, of courin
without the improvement!!, increased I
valuo more than a hundred per cent. Th
health of thc placo when we first took hoi
waa not good, but by thorough draina^
and strict sanitary regulations wo hn\
mudo it os healthy OB any placo could b
Wo havo bad but thirty deaths io thn
years, and fiftoen of tkeso wore infants."
Tho Langley Faotory ia in good hand
and with n continuation of the present ff
vorablo condition of affairs it cannot ?
to yield a net profit of 20 to 25 per ccu
on tho capital invited during the ensuii
year.
The lied Ita ult Iflaiiiifactiiiiii
Company.
This js t'.iQ nanto of a thriving litl
cotton factory oituatcd on Ked Hank Cree
in Lexington County, about 13 miles frc
Columbia. Tho factory which was erect
in 1873, is a two-story frame building, 1
by 45 feet, with a picker room attach
19 by 25 feet. Tho company was ?r?t i
gani/.cd lo 1873, with Mr. J. P. Southe
as .President, Mr. John Groen aa Super:
tendent and Mr.W. C. S wo ifield as Secret!
and Treasurer. Mr. (Jreen now fills t
position of President arid Superintendc
and Mr. SwafHold r?mnin? Secretary ti
Troasurcr. Tho cap tal stook of tho co
pony is 3-15,000, with a commercial cap
of $7,300', which has been created sit
1878. Tho fnotory runs 1,036 spiud
and new inachiuery hos been ordered wh
will in?rense tho capacity 50 per cr
Tho muohinory used is partly Amati
and partly English, and is in excel!
order. Tho company omploys 31 opt
lives, all wliito, who nro paid on nn aver
of $4 33 por wock. The weokly poy-r
not including salaries, is 8134 47. 'I
operatives aro accommodated in se
I-.-7^--"-i-1-r
I singlo und five double bousea oWDcd by
tho company on tho placo, rent freo. . TJi?
operations of the factory are confined to th bj
manufacturo of No. 20 warps, which ?od a
roady uiarkot iu Philadelphia at thirty couta
per pound nt present, against eighteen couts
per pound a year ago. The consumption.pf
raw cotton in 13,000 pounds per mooth, and
the production per month, is 11,000 pounds
of Warp. Tho Wasto is about 18 per cent.,
a largo proportion of which is utilized sud
manufactured into cotton twine. Tho Red
Bank Creek furnishes 50 horso power, ano)
tho factory is run by a 52-iuoh Lafoll's
turbine wheel. In answer to a question as
to how the enterprise was paying, Mr. ,Swaf
fluld, tho Secretary nod Treasurer of ?hp
company,, replied, that tho company had
paid an annual dividend of two dollars por
sham, abd had devoted tho bulk of tbp
profits to tho purchasing of now moohinpry
and tho creation of a commercial capital.
Tho factory is now paying a profit of
ONE PER CENT. A MONTH
on a capital of 810,000. "Wo havo nevor
had a balo of tho warp oti baud for sale."
Mr. Swaflicld said: ''Our orders arc always
ahead. In August lust our warps wore
selling at ?O.?.8 cents per pound, and oot
tou was selling ut ll cents per pound. At
thc present time our warps aro selling ot
30 cents a pound, and cotton is selling at
ll GO cents per pound. Our labor is com
posed entirely of natives, who havo been
educated to tho business. They are very
comfortably located, and have tho freo use
of hil tho wood they require."
Concerning tho relative cost of
WATER AND STEAM,
Mr. ownfiicld gavo it as his opinion thal;
while wuter power was ohoaper, steam was
surer. "Tho relativo cost would depend
greatly upon tho location, but, said ho, lani
satisfied that a handsome profit can be made
with .steam power. iu any. locality where
fuel can bc obtained in bulk and at whole
sale rates. Steam can bo worked all tho
time." . ..
With respect to the prospcot for oottod
manufactures in this State, Mr. S wolfie ld
said' "I think there is a great deal, of
money in thc business in this State, abd if
the prices keep up in proportion td tho
prtco ol cotton any ordinary faqtory will
pay from 15 to 25 per cent, during tho
ensuing year. Wc havo. everything in thia
State to inako cotton manufactures a
success. ,.
CHEAP LAND, CHEAP FUEL, CHEAP LABOIt
and tho great nd von togo of having tho
ootton right at hand-hoing able. to. work
the year round without any interruption
from cold. Toking into consideration tho
diffcreuoo in tho cost of labor, fuel ana
transportation thoro.is fully ll to 1^ per
cent, n pound advantage in favor of. thia
Stato over New England ip tho oo8t dt
production. Tho proof of .that is thut tho
Southern fuotorics havo always muda money,
even iq the most trying, times. .There ia
ho doubt that - tho law. exempting mill,
property from taxation for .ten years isa
great onco?ragemcnt to the storting of, new.
factories, but taxation wouldn't deter . mo,
from going into ono. X :tbiok the cotton
industries aro going to pay a fair profil.,
and should contribute nt least to tho sohool
fund." ,
With reference to
THE CLEMENT ATTACHMENT,
Mr. Swofiield said, that ho was not suffi
ciently acquainted with the prooesa to give,
cn answer. . "J. hardly think,.however*" hp,
saitl, "that it is practicable, and even if it is
I think it will only roeult in attracting
attention to manufacture? generally, .andi
increasing tho number of largo factories all
over tho South. There ia a Gold hero
largo enough for an unlimited number of
factories to moko monoy. The South,
beforo very long, will bo manufacturing ali'
thc coarse goods."
. Mr. Swallicld's opinion with respect to
colored operatives was that thoy oould not.
bo properly cducatod to db tho work. Tho
whites and blacks will not work together,
and wo have an abundance cf while labor,
which is certainly superior to any class of
colored labor that wo could employ.", , . ,..
Tho lied Bank proporty is valued at
800,000.
Tlic Srtfmlri Cotton factory.
This tfmnll but prosperous, faotory ir
located on thc banks of tho Saluda River,
about two milos from Columbia, in tho'
county of Lexington. Tho building, whioh '.
is a substantial traine structure and storm
foundation three stories high, 205 feet long ?
and 50 feet wido, is located on the site of{
the old Saluda Factory, which wos burned'
by Sherman ot tho oloso of tho war. Mr*.
Wm. Johnson formerly of North Carolina, '
is thc owner and proprietor of tho property
and Lis son-in-hw, Mr. J. M. Campbell, is'
the Superintendent. Tho water power of
tho river is estimated at 25',000 horses,-]
10,000 of whioh are under control and 100
in uso. There aro ot present 7,000 spindles
in operation and on addition of 1,500 moro
will bc rando shortly, and will be in opera?'
lion by tho first of Maroh. Tho faotory
Diso oontaios 100 looms", whioh aro not
now running, the operations of tho faotory
boidg entirely confined to tho manufac
turo of No. 20 yarn. Ono hundred opera
tives nil) employed, twenty-fivo of whom aro
colored, ranging ita ago from' oight ysare
un. Thc rato of Wagos paid ranges from ,
25 oonts up to 83 per day. Tho Weekly;
pay roll amounts to between $400 and
8500. Between three and four hundred'
porsons aro dependent upou the faotory for
a support. Tho operatives live in houses
looatcd around tho factory owned by Mr/
Johnson. Theso residences rent for from1
20 ocnts to 81 per week, and ranga in aloe**
from 1 to 10 rooina;