Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1874-05-29
VOL. 80.

around us large and dprosperoust town,
extensive factories, fine residences,
and on every hand abundant evidences
Of prosperity and wealth. We antici
pated much, still we were indeed sur
prised In it's future advancement
Durham cannot outgrow the pleasant
recollectio1s of our visit and the gen
erous hospitalities extended to us.
Having passed the hour allotted to
the visit at Durham both pleasantly
and proftably, the members OF the
Press Association, and the other guests
of Colonel Holt, being now joined by
a delegation from the Durham Tobac-
co Exchange, proceeded on their tip
to Haw River, arriving there about
noon.
Colonel Holt formally received his
guests, now numbering nearly two
hundred, in Il beautiful grove near the
railroad on the west bank of the Haw.
He welcomed them in a few remarks,
introducing Colonel /. j. Young OF
Raleigh, who spoke in behalf Of Col.
Holt. Mr.. Nichols Of the Raleigh
Board of Trade, replied for that body
Mr.. G. Il. benson, of the Agricultural
Journal, at the request Of the Presi-
dent, responded in behalf of the Press
Association in a speech for beauty of
thoughts and language we have seldom
heard equalled. This effort added
much to Mr.. Denson's reputation and
gave eclat to the occasion.
After necessary business meeting
of the Press Convention, the guests
were invited to partake of q splendid
dinner, which was worthy the we'll
known liberality of Colonel Holt.
The tables literally groaned under
their savory burdens. Every body
ate and drank to their hearts content,
and but little impression was made
upon the hosts bountiful dinner.
Toasts were drank, of course, one of
which called forth fine response from |
that graceful and fluent speaker, Mr.. |
Duffy, of the Greensboro Patriot.
An hour or more were whiled away |
in this beautiful grove after dinner
most pleasantly The surrounding |
scenery was very imposing. On the
opposite side of the Railroad was the
residence and fine plantation of our
host Before US was the river, its
limpid waters dashing over the rocky
dam, and beyond was the Cotton Fac
tory, the music of its busy spindles
heard above the dashing of the waters
and the conversations of the assembled
guests.
Taking seats in the cars VT passed
back over the fine bridge which spans
The Haw at this point, and L-aded by
the Raleigh Band we proceeded to ex
anime the Factory.
In approaching the Granite Cotton
Factory of Messrs. Holt & Moore
from the Railroad, we pass through
village of forty dwelling houses, neatly
built and located, for the use of the
operatives. We noticed too u Church
and School House, also for their use.
The Granite Cotton Factory is
brick building one hundred and sixty
tive-feet long, ffty-six feet wide and
three stories high, with an attic. On
the first floor there were sixty-six
looms, with Warp Mill, Spoilers,
Quillers, Beamers, &c, turning out
ibout three thousand yards of Cling
hams, Cottonades, Ticks, Stripes,
Shirtings and Drills every
lay.
On the second floor we found the
Spinning and Keeling Department,
running five thousand Spindles, turn
ing off about five hundred bundles of
yarn a day, averaging No. 10.
On the third floor the carding and
other necessary preparations are done.
In tie At ic are the Spoilers and Warp
Mills, where Warps are put ap far the
market.
The machinery of the entire estab-
ishmcnt is driven by a sixtysix inch,
No. 2, Letlels Turbine Water Wheel.
The Dye House is brick building
)ne hundred and twenty feet long and
,wenty feet wide. The boiler in this
building is sufficiently large to supply
steam for dyeing and sizing purposes.
The Haw River FIGURING Mills own
ID and operated by the same parties, is
/ five story building, running five
Dair of burrs with all the
atest improved cleaning, screen
ng and shutting machines. The
capacity of the mill is one hundred
barrels of -four a day, with storage for
ifty thousand bushels of wheat.
The arrangements for the reception
and handling of the wheat are perfect.
The cars from the North Carolina
Railroad enter the fifth story of the
building, and after the reception of
he wheat it is moved by means OF
'conveyors" to any place in the mill
It may be needed.
1t requires nearly or quite two hun
lred operatives to work the Cotton
Factory. These are all white and
large portion of them ore women and
children, some of the latter quite
small. Indeed we were especially i'm
pressed with this feature. Wesaw many
young women and children receiving
profitable employment, who otherwise
would be growing up in idleness and
crime. Coming so lately from the
elegant Female Schools of Raleigh
where SO many of the lovely daugh:
ters of our State are receiving
moral and mental culture, and who are
destined to give tone and character to
society, we could not hut feel that
here too was school, more humble in
it's pretensions, but not less benefnial
in its results. If the enterprise and