The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-12-02
Tho Cotton Hanufaos tory.

In pursuance to q call issued 10 the papers
of this city, quite 4 number of our most
respectable and responsiblelbusiness men and
capitalists assem- bled at the City Council
Room last night, for the purpose of taking
some steps towards ESTABLISHING cotton
msnufactory in this city. Henry Dart act
ed as Chairman, and Spencer White a. Sec
Rotary
Mr.. Babcock stated the object of the
.,;, md Introduced MIR. Little of Mass
schuss,,s. tho party making the proposition
N ,hs citizens of this place. He spoke OF
The company at Pittsheld. Mass, with which
he is connected. He introduced a new
subject, the manufacture OF Msrseilles quilts
in connection with the cotton factory. The
profits, he alleged, on those quilts averaged
SO per cent. the goods we're equal to any
imported they we're the only fabric of the
kind made in the United States that did
equal imported goods; he said that the rep.
uta.ion of the article was now fully estAb.
lished among all the leading jobbers in the
East and West that the demand at present
WIS larger than the supply. In connection
with this he stated that he called on Messrs.
Field, Letter Il Co., while in Chicago, and
that those gentlemen offered
to make q contract which
would fully warrant the establishment of a
factory in the west, and would insure a pay.
ing basis from the start He exhibited
quilts of four qualities, which sustained q
very minute inspection at the hands of the
gentlemen present. The verdict returned
fully sustained his former assertion, that the
goods we're equal to any imported article
He then answered several questions, as the
cost of material, etc., and said that with a
capital of 100000, fifty thousand dollars
profit could be made In the first years work
that TO erect such buildings as we're necess-
airy would cost $50, 900; to put in tifsy looms
would take $4,000 more ; that $4,000
would be sufficient capital, of which him
self and his associates would take SIS, 200 ;
that starting on this basis and with 90
operatives, fully 60, 900 of those quilts could
be made in one year, yielding, at an average
price of 81 each, $240, 900.
Several offers of ground on which to
erect the factory were then made, one by
J. A. Biddison, who offered to take stock in
payment for his ground; another BY MIR. P
l.. Mitchell, who offered to donate the ground
necessary.
a motion made BY Mr.. J. r.. McCalister
to the effect that committee of FIVE be
appointed to consult with capitalists and
consider the sdvisability of organizing a
stock company to erect the factory, was
carried, and the following named gentlemen
were appointed by the chairman as said
committee
Messrs. P. L. Mitchell, J. R. McCAlister,
Isaac Negus, =. J. Robinson and A C Dart,
The committee were requested to report
on Thursday evening next, and the meeting
then adjourned.
The establishment OF factory like this
will materially add to the wealth, influence
and Importance of this growing city, and
should receive the warmest appreciation of
our citizens, and The opportunity Of adding
another factory to the already large lis. now
in operation in this vicinity should not slip
through our fingers for want of encourage
mens and patronage. Ths, this one will pay
there is no question, and those are the ones
that are needed; the Institution promises well
from the fact OF SO many OF our most Influential
citizens taking an active interest In it. Let
our capitalists once more 60 down into their
capacious aud well filed pockets, and bring
forth sutficien, of the root of all evil 10 e..
sabiish this factory on a permanent basis.