Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-07-05
THE GRANGERS.
A Great Cotton Manufacturing
Enterprise to be Set on Foot.
Immense Mass Meeting of Cit
izens and Patrons at Man.
chester Yesterday.
Between $500 and 1000 Per-
sons Present.
Great Enthusiasm Manifested and
the Spirit of Progressive De-
velOpment Thoroughly
Aroused. O..
Special to the Union and American.

Grangers and citizens generally, at Man
chester to-day, was the most imposing af-
fair in point of numbers and enthusiasm
that has ever been witnessed III this sec
ton of the State. At least thiTty-tiye
hundred persons were present, and
some placed the estimate at be-
tween four and five thousand. The
majority were from Coffee county, but the
attendance from Warren, Rutherford and
Bedford, was also quite large. Many farm
err came from points as distant as thirty
miles, On horseback, and by almost every
conceivable means of conveyance, bringing
tlaeir families with them --sss
Col. ". s. Higgins grounds, about half
mile west of Manchester, and near a
magnificent spring, had been selected for
the meeting. The woods were literally
alive with the yeomanry.
Judge w. p. HickeTson presided, and
Mr.. T. J. Wilson, of the Manchester De,a-
Ocrdt acted as secretary.
Col. Matt Martin explained the object of
the meeting. 1t was in no sense of the
term political gathering. In pursuance
Of one of the great objects sought by the
patrons of husbandry, the establishment
of manufactures the Patrons Of Coffee
county had been for some time considering
the question of utilizing the vast water
power at Manchester, by starting cotton
factory in the interest Of the Order. 1t
was at first intended that the enterprise
should be carried out exclusively by
the Changers, but, rs the plan began to be
developed such general interest was mani
tested by the citizens of all classes through
out the surrounding country, that the orig
inatorS deemed it advisable TO give that
body an opportunity to aid in pushing the
project forward to success.
Hon. Asa Faulkner, the most successful
cotton manufacturer in Tennessee, then ad-
dressed the aSsemblage, urging the impOr-
tance of the enterprise to the people at that
part of the State, and giving the results of
his experience as a manufacturer. 1t was
eminently practical address, full Of hard
facts and convincing figures.
Col. A. Z Robertson, formerly of Coffee
county, and now Of Nashville, read letter
from Gen. w. III. jackson, in which he ex-
pressed regret at not having been able to
attend the meeting, on account Of illness
in his family.
An elaborate address, which had been
prepared bv Gen. Jackson for the occasion,
was read with admirable effect by Mr.. W.
A. ThOma, of Manchester, and was listened
to with deep attention.
After this came two stirring songs by
two gentlemen and lady, which were p1-
ceived with enthusiasm.
Col. Matt Martin then read the terms of
stock subscription under which the factory
is to be established and this was followed
by a recess for dinner.
Some seVenty-iiye wards from the speak
ers' stand two long tables had been loaded
down with the Joint contributions of those
present. Hard as are the times, there was
a profusion Of the substantials Of life, which
suggested that The farmers DO not yet
run any risk Of starvation. There was
enough to have fed six or seven thousand
people. Every possible preparation for
ment of the multitude had been
made by the citizens of Manchester,
who entered into the spirit of the affair with
an earnestneSs worthy Of the great interests
involved. A scene of fraterniZation occur
ed which was emineutly interesting to yOnF
representative. All parties mingled har-
mOniousiy and discussed. from their various
points Of view, the great enterprise which il
l No. r.r,.rpCad carry Politics
were ignored. If there were any Office
seekers in the crowd, they took care to in
| teryiew the sOvereigns in 4 very sUOdued,
undemonstrative way. The people were
never in less humOr for talking about mere
party questions. Their material interests
were at stake, and they showed that
| they were fully aware Of the fact. An as
semblage more quiet and orderly (there
was not a drunken man on the grOunds)
| and vet more thoroughly in earnest could
! not have been imagined.
The afternoon was devoted to addresses
! from Col. ThOs. q. Mosely, Of Bedford.
| Chairman of the Executive Committee of
! the State Grange, and Judge Hickeron,
| the latter of whom requested that sub
! scriptions of stock be now made. In
| Response stock to the extent Of several
! thousand dollars was taken, and the proceed
| ings closed with encouraging indications
| that the enterprise will be set on foot at an
early day. Ii is estimated that the factory
! will cost between $4,000 and $4,000.
Universal regret was eXpreSseddhat Col.
!. =. Killebrew, Secretary Of the State
| Board Of Agriculture, was not able to be
/ present. An address from him had been
anticipated IS the big feature OF the day.
This meeting has q peculiar significance.
/ II shows that the Changers are terribly in
! earnest as TO the establishment of manu-
factures, and that their leaders have been
wise enough to pitch upon the most avail
| able locality in all Tennessee to make
the first experiment on a large scale. In
the course of his remarks, Col. MOSely said
that. at their recent session, the Executive
Committee OF the State Grange, had made
| arrangement to run boot and shoe factory
in Nashville thai would turn out 80 pairs
per day.
COLUMBIA.