American mills are on track to process the least cotton this year since ’85. The year 1885, that is. The same year the Statue of Liberty arrived in New York City’s harbor. According to an updated U.S.

HONEA PATH, S.C. — It began simply enough. A photograph bought at an auction. One of those long, black and white panoramic photographs. Rows of cotton mill workers, men in coveralls and women in ...