The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1867-12-03
Rock Island Manufacturing Company.


n. c., is the most extensive establishment OF
its kind south of the Potomac and Ohio rivers.
Ii has in full operation six complete sets of wool
len machinery of the most modern description,
with all the Improvements of value up to this
date.
To comprehend fully the extent and value of
this establishment would require more than an
editorial notice in newspaper. Its order, conf
pieteness, ample supply of the best description
OF machinery necessary for a manufacturing es-
Enlistment of its proportions, and the character
and quality of its productions, require personal
examination to have them adequately under
stood. With the hope, however, of attracting
the attention of the people of our State to it
both merchants and consumers, We propose to at
tempt brief description and history OF it.
The Rock Island Wocilen Mandatory was
built in 1S47, by r. c. Carson, John A. Young
and Zenas A. Grier, on the Catawba river, in
Mecklenburg county, and operated by them in
copartnership, styled Carson Young & Grier,
They commenced with simple set of machinery,
which was increased from time to time, as the de-
mand for their goods required until it has reached
its present capacity. During the twenty years
of its existence, the style OF the Arm has been
changed to Young and Wriston, and to Young.
Wriston Or, by purchase from the original
proprletors, until the termination OF the war,
when the machinery was removed from the
Catawba river and put up in Charlotte, where
it is now being operated under charter from
the State Legislature, the proprietors being John
a. Young, Zone of the orig inal copartners) NJ.
L. Wriston, John Wilkes and James Earnshaw.
The building is of brick remarkable for its soil
dly and fitness for its purpose. 1t is four stories
high, with ample elevation of ceiling 10Ox5O
feet, with an addition to its entire length three
lr.ho 4ook,r i
addition to its entire length one story high and
twelve feet wide. The first story of the building
is occupied with the Pulling and Finishing and
drying machinery, large steam drying room and
the dyeing ROOM The location and conve nience
in the arrangement OF the machinery and apart
ments OF this floor, will strike even an inexperi-
enced observer having been directed by ex-
perienced and competent judgement. The Sc
cond floor Is the weaving room, where jerks
cashmere, and Cromptons machine looms fill
the entire space of the main building. Here
these fabrics are woven which, before the war,
made for this establishment a reputation as
broad the Southern States. Adjoining this
floor is the dressing and beaming apartment.
The third floor contains six sets of wollen cards,
two breakers and fnisher to the set of large
proportions, all working with steady and easy
motion, which makes the hundred cylinders
ferent landings Of the wool necessary to keep
them supplied, most interesting and instruc-
tive scene Of busy industry.
The fourth floor is the spinning room. Ifthe
visitor has been interested in his progress upward
through this establishment, he will feel. when he
stands amid these long railway spinning machines,
known among manufacturers by the euphonlous
cognomen OF ''mules" and ':jacks,'' as they grad
ually move up and back, while their thousands
OF little whirng spindles out of view are convert
ing the soft merino wool into welltwisted yarn,
that he is brought in contact with machinery
which seems to understand it's own business.
The entire machinery Of this manufacturing
establishment is propelled by an engine which
does its work we'll and gracefully that it seems
to have no labor to perform, and the steam for
the large dyeing apartment, and for heating the
entire building, is generated in an hundred
horse power Harrison boiler. Water and steam
are conducted through every apartment in the
building, and can at all times be commanded as
may be necessary for the use of the mandatory,
and the wants and comfort Of its hundred opera
tives. The whole arrangement of this establish
ment has been pronounced by manufacturers
from various northern States being remark
able. almost unsurpassed, for its completeness,
its convenience, its substantial character and the
uniform harmony in all its appointments.
Of the fabrics produced here it is not neces-
sary for us to speak. A reputation, unsurpassed,
of twenty years standing, has made them known
to every intelligent merchant in the State, and
through the South, where the proprietors have
alone sought market, and with very great and
marked improvements, they are Offering
their goods to the home market warranted to be
free from shoddy or any mpurity which so great
ly deteriorates woollen goods generally, and in
styles and at prices which will give them ad
vantage over any goods of similar character that
can be purchased in any northern market. The
working of the machinery and production of the
goods in this mill is under the skillful manage
ment of James Earnshaw, Esq, under whose d.
rection the arrangement OF the machinery and
application OF power made. The business
of the company is under the direction of John A.
Young President, and John Wilkes, Treasurer.
And now, merchants and people of North
Carolina, if you desire to see your native State
rise from its present PROSTATE condition, and to
stand firmly upon basis which cannot be shaken
by the shifting winds of trade; and her people
moving onward and upward in steady prosperity,
you must give your support and concentrate
your patronage upon worthy manufacturing es-
| Establishments within your own State llmlts-and
we point you to this one -Roletgh Register.
->~>
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.-1he
| annual Meeting of the Trustees of the University
of North Carolina will be held at the Executive
Office, in Raleigh on Tuesday, the 18th day Of
December, at which time President will be
elected and all the vacancies in the Faculty will
be filled. The exercises of the Institution will
be resumed with full corps of instructors at
| the commencement of the next session In j an