Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-01-19
Motfs pf Trarfl.

Correspondence of the Yorkville Enquirer.
LETTER FROM NORTH CAROLINA.
COTTON MANUFACTUR1NaIN IN THE OLD NORTH
STATE.
RANDLEMAN, N. c., January 14.-Although
North Carolina has not at this time so much
machinery employed, or so large an amount OF
capital invested in the manufacture OF cotton
goods as one, or probably two, of her sister
Southern States, yet besides having larger
number of mills in operation than any other
Southern State, she can also justly claim the
proud distinction of being the pioneer of those
States in this great industry, the Importance
of which is being realized more and more ev-
cry day, and which in the near future will be
the most potent agent in developing the re-
sources and building. up the prosperity Of the
South
The early history of manufacturing in this
State would not only be of interest to those OF
other localities, whose minds are turned in the
same direction, but might be read both ad-
vantageously and proftably. Themills of North
Carolina, as can be said Of the mills in every
Southern State, are, and have been for the last
ten or fifteen years, in a state Of prosperity
rarely exampled in the history of any manu-
featuring region but it must not be inferred
from this fact that the manufacturing OF cot
ton goods in this section has always been at
tended with equally gratifying results Those
whC first embarked in this business met with
much disbursement and many disappOint-
ments. .......
According to the best information have
been able to obtain, the first attempts at cot
ton manufacturing in this State date as far
back as 1924 or 1926, when, by coincidence or
otherwise, the scheme was projected in oppo-
site sections of the State, a mill having been
built in Edgecombe and onein Lincoln county
about the date above named. The Edgecombe
mill, some years later, was moved to Fayette-
vile, where, after struggling for short time
it ceased to run, while more fortunately for
the one in Lincoln, it became paying proper
ty, though not until after it had passed through
several years of difficulty and financial en-
barrassment. But Notwithstanding the dis
couragement to these mills in the first years OF
their existence, and the complete failure OF one
of them, even after being removed to town
possessing commercial facilities equal to any
then in the State, still there were far-seeing
men-even at this early date, and before the
phraze, ''bring the mills to the cotton" was
written-who, moved by aspirit of enterprise
and q spirit for Southern progress and I'M
provement, had abundant faith in the ultimate
success of home manufacturing, and labored
to enlist cooperation and sympathy. Their
self-imposed task was difficult and laborious.
Men of capital were timid. 1t was then sup
posed that even the coarsest cotton fabr1cs
must come from the North and while it was
a settled conclusion that the people OF the
South would not patronize Southern manufac-
lures, 'sHokes factory, in Lincoln, was deem
ed amply sufficient to supply all demands that
would be made for homemade goods. Those
possessing capital were slow to perceive any ad-
vantages or pecuniary profit to be derived from
investing in business new to the people, and
which seemed to require so vast an outlay for
machinery and equipment, especially in view
of the fact, as tradition hath it, that there
was already one factory in the State"
Yet, in spite Of these discouragements,
here in the county from which write, where,
it is claimed, the spirit of Southern manufac-
turing had it's birth, that spirit was nurtured,
the earliest and most persistent advocate being
Col. Benjamin Elliott, who, in 1929, purchased
site OH Deep River, at place known as
Cedar Falls, hoping to be able to organize
company for the manufacture of cotton goods.
His hopes were not Immediately realized but
his agitation of the subject attracted the at
tention of Henry Humphries, of Greensboro,
public-spirited man, possessed OF ample
means, who Immediately went to work and
erected steam mill in his own town, which
was the third built in the State. 1t was
financial success from the start, owing to the
business sagacity of the proprietor, and the
further no less important fact that he employ
ed ample capital, in ready cash, to keep his
business under perfect control. After Mr.
Humphries' death, this property passed into
the hands of the late Thomas Tate, who con-
Quoted the business successfully for number
of years, and then moved the machinery to
Mountain Island, on Catawba River, where,
if mistake not, his sons are now conducting
large and prosperous manufacturing business.
The success of Mr.. Humphries afforded en-
couragement to COL Elliott, and naturally had
the effect to change the opinion of many, who,
hitherto, had been decidedly skeptical upon
the subject. So that about the year 1885, Col.
Elliott was enabled to secure the pecuniary aid
necessary, and his long g-cherished plan of build
ing cotton mill at Cedar Falls was consum-
mated. It was a small establishment but at
that day, was considered an immense under
taking. Probably not more than $4,000 OF
stock was subscribed, and it is not unlike
ly that the stockholders numbered twenty or
twenty-five persons-none being willing to
take heavy risk. But under all the circum-
stances, this mill-the fourth in the State
did good business. 1t was obscurely located !;
at that time almost inaccessible, and for its
wholesale market depended upon Fayetteville,
distant nearly one hundred miles, to which
place it's goods were hauled on wagons, which
returned with raw cotton for consumption.
In this day of steam and electricity, the Won
der is that the mill could have maintained an
existence for any considerable period but the
fact is, it prospered to such an extent that
about the year 1S49, large building was erect
ed and equipped with machinery which placed
it in the front rank of similar establishments
then in the South. Its manufactures, warps,
sheetings and drillings, acquired high repu-
tation, and the capacity of the mill was taxed in
filling standing orders for jobbers and supplying
the demands of traders who found it pro6ta-
BILE to peddle the goods through the country.
The success of this mill gave stimulus
+o r,anufa cturinp in the immediate section.