Miscellaneous [pp. 530-537]

RELATIVE COST OF STEAM AND WATER POWER.
The satisfaction given by the starting of this mill, has encouraged other investments of the same kind; and we learn that a wealthy citizen of Tuscaloosa
county has closed a contract for machinery to be delivered next fall, on estimates
of $50,000, himself the sole owner. Companies have been formed, and others
will follow, under the general charter law of the State for such objects. Individuals have only to specify in writing, the name, capital and purposes of their company, to secure the privileges of incorporation,-the instrument to be recorded
in the office of the clerk of the county court.
But, we did not intend to dwell on the prospects of any one place in the manufacturing enterprise. Our object, mainly was to show that steam was preferable
to water as a motive power for cotton mills. To this end, we quote from the
pamphlet alluded to, which is based on calculations for the country on the Ohio,
but not less applicable to other sections where coal may be obtained cheaply, as in
Alabama.
Here are the promised extracts:
A cotton mill of ten thousand spindles will turn out two tons of goods a daysay six hundred tons per annum; 100 pounds of cotton will average 89 pounds of
cloth; 666 tons of cotton are therefore required by the mill; 1,266 tons cost, aside
from drayage, (a considerable item,) $2,532 in transportation between the mills
and where the goods are sold. Aside from the extra cost of water-power, this
mill would require a capital of not over $250,000-perhaps $200,000 would be suf ficient. This item then is 1 or li per cent. oil the capital invested. Mr. Mont gomery, in his work (published in 1840,) on the comparative cost of manufac turing in England and America, says:
"The attention of manufacturers in New England has been for some time direc ted to the advantages of steam as a means of propelling machinery, the advantages
of a good location being considered equal to the extra expense of steam power."
Another important item of expense avoided, by a steam factory, is that of heat ing the mill. Mr. Montgomery gives the average cost of this at $467 80 per an num for a mill of say 4,000 spindles. Six hundred dollars per annum may then
be put down as cost of heating a mill of 10,000 spindles. And it is not only ne cessary that the atmosphere in the mill should be at the proper degree of tempe rature but of the proper dampness, so that the threads shall run smoothly. Both
purposes require a large part of the fuel and rnachinery used in a steam mill.
The foregoing are not all, but are the most important difficulties attending the
use of water power for cotton and woolen factories. Most of the difficulties are
found wherever this power is applied; and, as a general rule among engineers, at
any position where coal can be had at 10 cents a bushel, steam is as cheap as wa ter power at its minimum cost. Such is the theory. The facts seem to be be yond this; for in New England, where water power is so abundant, the largest
cotton factories, now being erected, are to have steam as a motive power; of this
character are the Naumkeag mill at Salem, and that at Portsmouth; the first of
40,000 and the last of 50,000 spindles, and these are the largest in the world. At
Fall River, Bristol and Newport, steam factories are in successful operation. The
fine goods of the Bartlett steam mills at Newburyport, have a wide reputation.
The recent erection of the James Mill, at the same place, shows the success of the
former; and within the last year the escape steam of a new mill at Lowell is drown ing the noise of the falls of the Merrimack. Let it be remembered that coal in
New England costs, on an average, twenty-three cents per bushel.
As before stated, the water power at Lowell now costs $5 a spindle; $50,000 of
capital is to be invested in power to run a mill of 10,000 spindles.
The interest on this, per annum, is - - - $3,000
Now add the cost of heating the mill - - - 600
And the cost of transportation - - - 2,532
And you have one side of the equation as against steam $6,132
I cannot fix with precise accuracy the steam power and fuel required for a mill
of 10,000 spindles. The only authority before me gives this estimate for one of
3,700 spindles, with the necessary machinery for preparing the cotton and manu facturing the cloth: A high pressure engine of 40 horse power-length of stroke
4 feet, diameter of cylinder 1 foot-makes 40 single or 20 double strokes per mi nute; three or four round boilers, 15 feet long by 2i feet in diameter, requiring
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