USA > Alabama > Hand-book of Alabama. A complete index to the state, with map > Part 41
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ILAND-BOOK OF ALABAMA.
gulf, down which the water plunges, at times with high falls. Some of these are not conveniently located on the existing lines of transportation, but all will be made accessible and useful as time passes.
The writer, in October, 1890, published an article in The Popular Science Monthly, intended to show that of two mills, exact duplicates of each other, one operated by water power at Augusta, Georgia, and the other by steam in Plila- delphia, the Augusta mill in twenty years ( what is frequently called the lifetime of a mill ) would show a clear, undeniable advantage of $240,000. The attempted demonstration has never been refuted, and may stand the test of the most exigent criticism.
Some manufacturers prefer steam to water, as a more steady power, but when the water wheel is adapted to the work it has to do, it must be more steady than steam power. The water wheel has no dead points, as the steam engine has, but every inch of its periphery has precisely the same speed as that of the periphery preceding and following any given point, and the water wheel must afford a very regular power, not- withstanding all that has been said upon the subject.
In regard to the machinery employed, any manufacturer at the south can purchase the very best; so that in this respect the south stands upon the same level as its competitors.
In a section where land can be bought per acre at the same price as is paid for a square foot in some of the larger cities, there seems to be no wisdom in the construction of mills whose upper stories climb the air.
Why not place the mills all on one floor, entirely uninter- rupted by partition walls. Let the ceilings be twelve feet from floor to the lower edges of roof timbers, and nothing above. below the roof except one or more gangways of stont plank. so as to give access to the shafting for oiling, and at the same time to allow ample ventilation.
There need be no elevators to carry fire from one to three or four other Hoors: no staircases, to weary the operatives ; not even a belt hole in the fioor, which may be four inches thick, so that the entire floor can be flooded in case of incip- ient fire.
Let ample arrangements be made for heating and lighting.
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COTTON MANUFACTURING.
and the windows so arranged that the foremen can readily temper the air in the room to suit not only the comfort and health of the employes, but also the degrees of humidity so important in some branches of the work.
The picking or blowing room is by far the most liable to sudden fire. It should be distant at least twenty-five feet from the main building, with blank walls contiguous. It should be built of brick or stone, with a cement floor four inches, at least, thick, to endure the falling of the cotton bales. It should be lighted abundantly, and when operated at night should have the lamps ( unless electrical ) placed in a close box out- side of the picker room, so as to have the sash as a shield to prevent the loose lint cotton from being accidentally ignited.
The ceiling of this dangerous room should be as high ( twelve feet ) as that of the main building.
There will still be unavoidable danger of ignition of the loose cotton, which burns like a flash of powder, from some extraneous matter passing through the rapidly revolving beat- ers : but with a good system of sprinklers overhead to be set in action simply from the heat below, and with a large hose connected with an ample reservoir outside, the danger and the insurance will be reduced to a minimum.
In such a mill the manager can see the entire work going on, and moreover can be seen by all the operatives. When one reflects upon the physical labor saved in relieving hun- dreds of hands from climbing three or four staircases several times daily, and that for years. the one floor system shows a great advantage.
The cotton may be arranged so as to enter the picker or blowing room at the far end: thence into the carding depart- ment, and so through the various machines to the opposite end of the main building, so that it will pass regularly onward and not be carried back again to interfere with the oncoming work.
With ceilings twelve feet high, there need be no lack of head room in passing under the driving belts, and they may with a little ingenuity be placed in very regular lines, not to interrupt the view, while at the same time they do not compel stooping to pass under them.
Of course an ample fire apparatus will be provided. in
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HAND-BOOK OF ALABAMA.
addition to the overhead sprinklers. In the Eagle & Phoenix mills, of Columbus, Georgia, some eighteen or more streams from inch nozzles can be thrown with sufficient force to cross each other over the ridge of the roof of a five story building.
With a mill arranged somewhat as suggested, there is nothing unwholesome, nothing depressing. The dust is all forced out of the building by powerful fans. There is good ventilation, a proper temperature and abundant light. The work is not hard, and the hands learn rapidly and soon become expert. It affords an admirable education, for it teaches punct- uality, order. cleanliness, proper and commendable submission to proper authority, obedience, carefulness, and what not that goes to make up a good citizen ?
The boys have opportunities to rise to positions of respon- sibility and trust, and the girls and young women soon make themselves valuable to their employers and respectable to all, instead of toiling in stuffy rooms over the needle and the shirt, " from morn till night, from night till morn," and all for a pittance not to be compared with the handsome, fair wages earned by their more fortunate sisters "away down south in Dixie."
If in a cotton growing region within reach of. the fields, there should be a cotton gin always ready for rapid work. Of course the mill mechanics will keep it in first rate working order. There will not be so much to go to the waste pile if the gin is sharp, in good order and attended by a competent person.
All should be open to the inspection of the farmers of the neighborhood, many of whose crops are too small to bear the expense of a private gin. Let the farmer and the spinner agree upon terms. Avoid baling, which is entirely unneces- sary in such cases. Either buy the cotton in the seed before ginning it, or, after ginning, as lint. The writer has seen the , system operating beautifully in Georgia for years, and in Mis- sissippi. Cotton may be brought to the mill from the field in one, two and four horse wagon loads, weighed in the wagon, and be shipped as faultless yarn the next morning.
From the highest railroad authority the following freight rates on the products of cotton mills are learned : From Mont- gomery to Philadelphia. 53 cents per hundred pounds : to Bos-
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COTTON MANUFACTURING.
ton, 60 cents; to New York, 60 cents; St. Louis, 53 cents ; Louisville, 41 cents ; Cincinnati, 47 cents.
Messrs. L., C. & Co. state that Alabama's home consump- tion, season 1889-'90, was 37,084 bales, in seventeen mills with 94,200 spindles.
Alabama consumed in 1889-'90 one one hundred and nine- tieth (135) part of the cotton crop of that season.
The census of 1880 gives her a erop of almost exactly 700,000 bales. Ten years later she spins one eightieth part of her erop of 1890.
But what shall Alabama do in the future cotton manufaet- ure? Shall she make standard sheetings? The market is full. Shall she make plaids? Already many manufacturers are combining to save themselves and secure better prices. Shall she make printing eloths? The process is slow. Laces ? Too fine, as yet for southern work. It appears obvious that the prospecting Alabama manufacturers should confine themselves principally to the manufacture of yarns, in skein, and in warps and in carpet twine, rope, etc.
This work can be done quite as well and at less eost in the south than in the north and east. There is more skill in weaving north than in the south. The arts of design are better understood north than here, and it must continue to be so for years to come. The proper combination of colors is not to be learned as one learns to tic a knot. The demands of the great markets are better known by those engaged in trade near the great centers of business. Capital is far more abun- dant north and east than here in the south. Some goods are made north throughout the season and stored away for the trade and sold out at the proper season, perhaps twelve months' work in a very few months.
But for the yarn business many of these difficulties are not encountered, and varns are bought throughout the year by those who rely upon supplies from the south to keep their own ivoms at work.
For these reasons it seems to be wise in those who contem- plate manufacturing at the south to direct their attention at first to the yarn business.
Intelligent merchants in New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Baltimore, and in some western cities are competent to advise
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HAND-BOOK OF ALABAMA.
those about to enter on this work of such wonderful promise. as to the most desirable numbers to spin and as to the best mode of presenting them to the market, whether in skein, in warps, on cops, or in twine of various descriptions, cords and rope, of the last of which large quantities are made. It is evident that the preparation necessary requires much care and thought, so that when a contemplated mill is built and equipped with its thousand appliances, it may be found ready to send its products into a constant market.
There is no difficulty in the south, as yet, to be met in procuring an ample supply of operatives, who will flock by thousands to any well contrived mill when they are assured of fair wages, respectful treatment, prompt payment, and loca- tion suited to the preservation of health.
Some writers at the north ( there are but tew at the south ), led by their inveterate prejudices, anticipate and prophesy much difficulty in this respect; but the south knows better, from experience past and present. Thousands upon thousands of young children and young women stand anx- iously idle for want of opportunity, that God-like thing that comes not to all, and when asked, " Why stand ye here all the day idle ?" reply truly, "Because no man hath hired us."
It is astonishing how rapidly these little folks learn to " keep up an end," as the mill phrase goes, "to piece a yarn," to handle a " drawing," with its delicate fibers, to spin, to reel, to warp, to weave, to finish, to pack, and, in short, to perform the multifarious duties which go to make up the daily routine of a well ordered mill.
It is a sight to gratify any philanthropist, to see eighty or a hundred comfortably dressed, well fed, cheerful young people of both sexes engaged in their daily duties, bright, cheerful. good tempered, orderly, obedient young folks, as they pass rapidly among their exquisite machines, sometimes singing in concert, and content - the very people who have had all their lives long nothing to do!
Hundreds of hearts will be lightened, hundreds of sad faces brightened, when they hear of new mills contemplated in their vicinage, when they know the managers to be men of human- ity. of even pity for those whom the fate of life has doomed to lower fortunes than themselves.
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COTTON MANUFACTURING.
I heard of some northern visitors, manufacturers, who vis- ited many years ago the old Augusta factory, ( I like to think of it as the "angust Augusta" ) and looking over the large number of hands, remarked that they had never seen, in their ·· large experience, a better set, nor a better looking, more con- tented set of hands in the more practiced regions of the north and east with which they were familiar, than they found in Augusta, Georgia, "away down south !"
Strikes are almost unknown among these really worthy people, who fill their appropriate squares in the great chess board of life, dutifully and gladsomely, as good citizens, as much worthy of respect and consideration as the merchant princes of the land. One of very considerable extent was attempted a few years ago in Augusta, Georgia, but it failed and has never been repeated. And yet there was no cruelty in repression. These southern gentlemen acknowledge the rights of their employes, and treat them in accordance with those rights - and, what is more, the employes know and appreciate that just and kindly disposition. A kind and respectful salu- tation from employer to employe, and back again, costs noth- ing. but softens a lot sometimes in its start sad from poverty, never from excessive and hopeless toil in this sunny land. How they fought for it !
If only the government - which professes to be " the peo- ple," "the sovereigns "- would allow southern people, and northern people as well, to buy their machinery outfits where they can buy best to suit themselves, our progress would be more rapid ; but the MeKialey tariff imposed an additional duty of ten per cent., to render still more odious, stupid and oppressive the 35 per cent ud valorem on machinery imported, almost, and intended to be quite, prohibitory -- one of the sins the republican party has still to repent of.
Many persons, I hope, will be induced before very long to avail themselves in Alabama of the many advantages it offers. Many have means not needed in their present business, but are without theoretical or practical knowledge of this work. in the vast importance of which you and I cordially agree. Per- haps my life education of nearly fifty years may enable me to put some things in a plain light before such persons whose attention and study have been otherwise directed. With this
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HANDBOOK OF ALABAMA.
idea in view I copy below a table made up some months ago. which I think is absolutely correct, showing the number of spindles required to spin a certain quantity ( say 1,500 pounds daily) in eleven hours of working time, but say, to avoid crit- icism, in ten hours of actual spinning time. There is an essential difference between the two, except in cases of a very perfect administration.
1,500 pounds of No. 10 yarn will require 1,666 spindles.
66
66
(:
14 20 ¥ 24 16 22 12 « 18
66
.. 66 3,028 , 66 3,417 6. רי .. .. 66 66 66 2,200 . 2,450 " 66
3,800 4,332 4,843
The preparatory machinery required for 1,500 pounds No. 20 yarn in eleven hours of working time will be ample for all the numbers indicated above, but if 3,800 or 4,000 spindles are prepared for No. 20's, and if it should become necessary to , change the number spun to 10's, there will appear a surplus of spindles and a deficit of preparatory machinery.
This consideration shows the importance of a careful study of the work to be attempted, so as to avoid, before any expend- iture is made, any changes thereafter affecting more than a few numbers above or below the normal numbers.
The measure of production is generally taken from the number of revolutions per minute of the front roller of the spinning frame, which. being one inch in diameter, of course delivers to the spindle 3.14 inches of yarn at each revolution --- or it should be said. not of yarn, but of untwisted roving. This roving's length is materially diminished by the contrac- tion due to the twisting process. The amount of contraction varies withthe number, its percentage being much greater in some cases than in others. But there is another basis on which to calculate production, which seems to be entirely free of the varying percentage of contraction. It is founded upon the number of the yarn and the number of turns of twist per inch of yarn.
For instance, supposing No. 20 yarn to be in question, and that there are desired twenty turns of twist per juch, and that
·
485
COTTON MANUFACTURING.
the spindle turns 8,000 times per minute, it is manifest that the revolutions of spindle divided by the twist per inch will give the number of inches twisted for each minute of the spindle's action, leaving no question as to the con- traction.
The difference is but small, as far as each spindle is concerned, but if 10,000 to 40.000 spindles are under consid- eration, the error of the first mode of estimating production becomes very obvious.
Following this line of thought, it will be found that if the number of the yarn be multiplied by the number of twists per inch and that product by 50.4 and, the entire product be divided into the number of spindle revolutions per minute, the quotient will be the weight of yarn produced in ten hours of constant spinning - not, be it noted, of working time. The following formula is short and easily remembered :
SR N . T> 50.4
equals the weight, in pounds and decimals, of a pound of yarn spun in ten hours of constant work.
The degree of twist, i. e. the number of turns per inch. varies with the purpose for which it is designed. James Hyde, an English writer of ability, gives the following scale to indi- cate the twist (per inch) to be given for different purposes :
He multiplies the square root of the number by different multipliers for different purposes, thus : For hosiery yarn he multiplies by 2,5: for doubling, by 2.75: for weft yarn, by 3.25; for common mule twist, by 3.75; for extra twist, by 4.
I have seen authoritative statements made that in some cases the manufacturer multiplies his square root by even as high a multiplier as 6. but was unable to imagine even a reason for such a super-extra hard twist as indicated.
In the formula above, which is more easily remembered than the other mode, S R . the spindle turns per minute: N represents the number of yarn in question ; T_ the number of twists per inch, and 50.4 is a constant multiplier. For 10g hours of constant spinning, instead of 10 hours, the multiplier becomes 48.
If any one who may think I- put too much stress upon the matter of twists will take the trouble to calculate the different
-
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HAND-BOOK OF ALABAMA. .
yield from eighteen turns of twist on No. 20's to twenty turn- on the same number, he will be astonished at the result if applied to 10,000 spindles for 310 days in the year.
Every unnecessary turn of twist is just that much mann- facturing force costel. The twist ought to be that which the purchaser wants, of course; for the yarn is made to sell. and the weaver will not buy if the twist does not suit him. But, nevertheless. the weaver often wants more than he needs.
Those who may have patience enough to read this long essay may esteem the writer an enthusiast. So be it. I confess that I have an enthusiastic love for my "art and mystery." It is sustained by the beautiful accord between theory and practice ; it is increased by the wonderful promise of the southern cotton manufacture of the future, as one of the most potent elements in the resuscitation of the once desolated south, when
"Secessia fell, unwept, withont a crime."
Millions of dollars are invested in railroads and other enterprises, and many more millons have been invested and secured, as the phrase goes, in United States and State bonds at a wretchedly low rate of interest, which ought to be in- vested in this most promising interest, so full of hope to the patriotic citizens of old Dixie. The railroads may be ren- dered useless and their bonds valueless, by competition, or by this, that, or the other. But if a modern mill is conceived, built and equipped with the full and wise consideration its importance deserves, it will stand and stand and stand. It promises employment, home, subsistence and a valuable train- ing to the young : a fair income to the capitalist and a far more than moderate return for the use of his money. It gives occupation to the neighboring farmer, to supply provisions to Helen's little chappie, " who wants to see the wheels go wound" and who is to be, perbaps, another Arkwright or Hargreaves. Isaac Taylor says: "There is no harm in en- thusiasm, even if the mind is on fire with the velocity of its pursuit of its chosen object, provided the object is worthy of the effort to attain it."
Steam will answer the purpose, and do it well, where water power cannot be had ; but for me, give me water power every time-if I can get it.
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COTTON MANUFACTURING.
The time is coming, in my opinion, when tons upon tons of admirable yarn will be sent from the south across the ocean, to be woven in different countries. Let Alabama look into the future. She has but few spindles now. She will have millions more ; and do not let Alabama forget what Col. Sellers said : " There's millions in it."
NOTE .- Since writing this essay, something recalls an interview with a yarn merchant in Manchester, England, which is quite germane to the subject, and may prove not only interesting, but instructive.
It was in 1869. I asked him what he thought of the man- ufacture of cotton yarns in the United States for sale in England and on the continent. He replied :
"Manchester is the yarn market of the world. It cannot be glutted. You can put your yarns in paper bundles as you please. It will be repacked in England to suit our market. If you will go into the yarn business, on your return to America, and send your yarns to me for sale, I will make yon a return every thirty days, will charge you two and a half per cent. commission (the commission is five per cent. in America, just double). I will keep you advised as to the numbers most in demand, and will deposit in the Bank of Liverpool £10,000, subject to sight draft, accompanied by bill of lading for shipment, to three-fourths of the market value at the time, and I will always keep my deposit up to £10.000 .*
The Cotton Mills of Alabama .-- Addons Cotton Mills .~ Montgomery. Organized 1>83; capital 875,000; spindles. 3,015 ; looms, 96: steam power: sheetings, shirtings, osna- burg's and ducks.
Anniston Mills .- Anniston Manufacturing Company, An- niston. Capital $250,000; operations commeneed 1881 ; spin- dles 11,200: looms 320; cards, 104: steam power ; brown sheetings, shirtings and drills.
Autaugaville Factory .- M. M. Smith & Co., Autaugaville, Autanga county. Spindles, 2,200; looms, 63 ; water power; sheetings, shirtings and osnaburgs.
Bell Factory .- The Bell Manufacturing Company. On Flint river in Madison county, ten miles northeast of Hunts- ville : postoffice. Huntsville Spindles. 3,200 : looms, 80;
. Mr. Meigs' article end- here.
.
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HAND-BOOK OF ALAB.1M.1.
cards, 26 ; steam and water power ; sheetings, shirtings, ging- hams, tucks and plaids. Idle sinee 1885. For sale.
Cypress Mills .-- Cypress Mills Company. On Cypress creek, in Lauderdale county ; postoffice, Florence: operations commenced 1873 ; spindles, 2,500 : looms, 60; cards, 9; brown domesties and yarns. Not in operation.
Cherokee Mills .- L. F. Irwin, president and manager, Mo- bile. Spindles, 1,000 ; steam power: twine, rope and batting.
Dallas Mills .--- Dallas Manufacturing Company, Huntsville. Capital 500,000; operations commenced November, 1892 : spindles, 25,000 ; looms (broad), 750; steam power : sheetings.
Embery, Son & Young .- Florence. Spindles, 2.500 ; looms. 30 ; water power : yarns and jeans.
Eufaula: Cotton Mills. - Eufaula. Capital $100,000; ope- rations commeneed, 1$$$ ; spindles, 6,528; looms, 224 ; cards. 36; steam power; brown sheetings, shirtings and drills. -
Fall Manufacturing Company .- On Big Bear creek, Ma- rion county, 33 miles from B. S. & T. R. R. Postoffice, Bear Creek. Spindles, 1,200 ; looms, none ; cards, 12 ; water power: yarns and rope. Idle since 1890. For sale.
Galeton Cotton Mills .- Formerly Huguley Cotton Mills. Near West Point, Ga., on Chattahoochee river. Postoffice. West Point, Ga. Capital $100,000 ; spindles:' 6,000; looms, 163 ; cards, 63; water power; cotton duck.
Huntsville Cotton Mills-Huntsville Cotton Mills Com- pany, Huntsville. Capital $140,000 ; organized, 1881 ; spin- dles, 10,048 : steam power : yarns, warps, etc.
Hurricane Creek Cotton Mills .-- Hurricane Creek Manufac- turing Company. Spring Garden, Cherokee county. Capital $24,000 ; organized 1853 : spindles, 1,000 ; water power ; single yarns and rope.
Mathers Cotton Mills .- Mathews Cotton Mills Company, Selma. Capital, $170,400 ; operations commeneed 1877 : spin- dles, 10,000 : looms, 285; cards, 64: steam power : sheetings. shirtings, drills and osnaburgs. Company adding new ma- chinery and improving the plant generally.
Mountain Mills .-- W. H. Cherry & Co., Mountain Mills, Colbert county. Operations commenced, 1886 : spindles, 6,000 ; looms, none : cards, 41 : steam power. yarns, single and ply. Piedmont Cotton Manufacturing Company. Piedmont. Cal-
-
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COTTON MANUFACTURING.
houn county. Operations commenced 1892 ; capital, $105,000; spindles, 4,600 ; looms, none ; cards, 10; steam power ; cotton yards.
Prattcille Cotton Mills .-- Prattville Cotton Mills and Bank- ing Company, Prattville, Autauga county. Operations com- menced 1888; capital $125,000; spindles, 5,000; looms, 140; cards, 55 ; steam and water power ; osnaburgs, shirting, sheet- ing, drills and cotton rope.
Rosedale Manufacturing Company .- Rock Mills, Randolph county. Operations commenced 1887; capital $45,000 ; spin- dles, 5,000 ; looms, 78 ; water power ; duck, osnaburgs, sheet- ings, and yarns.
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