Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-02-19
Correspondence Of the Raleigh Standard
THE FALLS OF TAR RIVER.
w. $. Battles Cotton Factory.

J Il. Nemhery 4: Co.:-As the columns
OF your paper have uniformly been devoted
to the extension of information regarding
the natural resources Of North Carolina and
the PRONUNCIATION of all the facts tending to
make non-residents seek therefor, 1 will
aid your praisewortny endeavors by giving
a short statement of the history and pres
ent prosperity OF the large naGnudctltrinq
interests located at the "Falls of Tar Ri
YER, about one mile from the town of
Rocky Mount, in Edgecombe County.
am reliably informed that the First
Cotton Factory in North Carolina was pro-
Jected by Henry a. Donelson, the corner
stone of which was laid in 1916 at the above
mentioned point. The building was con-
structed $50 the present owner informs me)
IN 1877, under the immediate direction Of
Donelson, and under the proprietorship of
Joel Battle. Esq, Col. Benjamin D. Bat
tie, Henry 4. Donelson and Peter Evans.
The entire structure was of rock--granite
with which the spot SO abounds, and
three stories high with basement. With
out data, no conception can be formed of
the original cost of the factory with all its
appurtenances, including the machinery,
out 1t must have been enormous at that
date. 1t was operated by Joel Battle and
his sons until 1S4S, when it passed into the
hands of James S. and William S. Battle,
who reftted it with new und improved ma
chinery. In 1858 William S. Battle became
sole proprietor.
The vicissitudes of war did not permit
the venerable pile - to pass the fe1g
| of New York cavalry raided from New
Berne in 1868 and burned the factory and
grist mill with other buildings to the ground
of the first, only leaving blackened and
crumbling walls to mark the remains.
| Mr.. Battle, with true spirit of enter
prise and provident eye, seeing that so
| magnificent water power should rot re-
main unattuned to the wants Of man F"
commenced in 1866, and completed in 1867
a splendid brick building on the old site.
The foundation is of rock, and with the
basement, a large and commodious room,
is equal in room to four stories. The base
ment is devoted to the looms, the first sto-
ry to carding, the second to spinning, the
third to the reels, in which the dressing
is also effected.
The factory contains Mirt-eigAt looms,
sixteen hundred spindles, and all necessary
adjuncts. The machinery is new and of the
most improved kind, put up to order by
the Rogers Locomotion and Machine
Work of Paterson, New Jersey. In full
operation it has capacity to consume 700
pounds of raw cotton per day, and the
looms will turn out about 1,200 yards of
shirting and 500 pounds of cotton yarn.
Fifty operatives find daily employment
in this institution and when it is remem-
bered that they are exclusively native
whites, with large preponderance of fe-
males-principally between the ages of II
and 25-the heart of the moralist will
thank Mr.. B. for enabling so many poor
girls to earn an honest livelihood, and
avoid the paths of crime to which destitu-
tion SO frequently drives them. This class
Of laborers is always abundant and cheap,
as they infinitely prefer working in numer
GUS companionship in the shade, for Cer
tain wages, to farming, exposed to the
weather with remuneration more uncer-
tain.
The water power embraces the entire
volume of the water of Tar river, which, at
this point is about 80 yards wide, and av-
erages or feet in depth. There is a
natural fall, but the water is rem
dered available by substantial dam, con-
structed of massive blocks of rock hewn
ont of the large rocks lining the river,
which gives fall of Il feet, and which, by
raising the dam, could easily be made 20,
giving force to a several hundred horse
power
This acquatic monster is not allowed to
expend itself on the cotton factory alone,
but is made subservient to large and per-
fectly appointed wheat and corn mill, run
ming five pairs Of stones, and completely
fitted with every convenience of a first
class Touring mill, and large circular saw
mill. The cost of reminding the factory,
mills, store-room, reftting with machinery,
&C., couldn't have cost, in 1867, less than
sixty Or seventy thousand dollars.
| The operatives live in neat white cot
tages, sufficiently numerous to have the
appearance of village, situated within q
convenient distance to their labor.
With the multitudinous advantages Of
fered by this location, within q mile OF the
Wilmington and Weldon Railroad, and the
terminus of the TarborO' branch, which
will soon be completed to Williamson, on
the direct line of the railroad contemplated
to run from Rocky Mount TO Clarksville
Junction, in Warren county accessible to
any market in the United States in the
heart of the richest section Of North Caro-
lima. thus guaranteeing, at cheap rates, a
bountiful supply of the raw material-water
power unsurpassed, climate salubrlous,
labor, for manufacturing purposes, cheap
and plentiful, it Is somewhat astonishing
that the eyes of intelligent capitalists have
not been turned in this direction. The
Spragues might have made safer invest
ment nearer at home.
Could some millionaire, seeking plac e
to deposit advantageo his superabund-
ant cash, once look upon the fine growth
of stupendous oaks, which overspread a
portion of the village, Called The Falls, y
and view the site, designed by nature and
endorsed by art, for large manufacturing
town, he would settle down, be welcomed
by all good men, enrich himself and help
US to prosperity.
I omitted to state that DIr. Donelson
after building the factory at this point
proceeded to Fayetteville and awoke The
people to manufacturing enterprises Il
that locality. ENTERPRISE.
Feb. LIST, 1869.
Fact for Cotton Growers.
DR.. Boagin has recently delivered wei
considered address on the subject of cot
ton prOvinp in which he suggests very