The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-08-10
STANTON, VIRGINIA, AUGUST 10, 1882.
Rich Carolinians.

Rich CaroHnians. 4.eg4s,ls
correspondence of the Atlanta Constitution
MoREHEAD CITY, July 29.-There are two
family histories in this State that may be
written out with profit to the southern people
Forty years ago Edwin Holt and Frank
Fries were poor young fellows just starting in
life 1t is tradition that Fries father de.
clined to stand his security for The purchase OF
a negro, and Holt was probably as poor They
both turned aside from the professions and
from mercantile business, and determined to
devote their lives to manufacturing Mr.
Holt is now worth a million and d half
Frank Fries is dead, but his brother, who
was his partner for many years, and his three
sons under the firm-name of F. & H. Fries.
are worth nearly million, and own five cot.
ton-and woollen-mills at Salem and Winston
The fortunes OF these men have grown
steadily. Year after year beyond contingency
they have grown richer. and have added to
their spindles and looms Mr. Fries, has used
steam power altogether, and has alnassed q
great fortune without having one footof water
power. The sons, educated tor practical work
as their father was continue in the business
and enlarge it steadily. 80 ~ issas} inH
The Hollis do not use steam at all !, but de-
pend on water-power. Most OF their mills are
on Haw river. From the modest beginning
made by the elder Holt there are now nine
mills, all being 4 enlarged constantly Evasy
son and every son-in law owns one mill or
| more.
had pleasant talk with Thomas M Holt.
the most prominent member of the family at
present. He went to college for year or two,
and then went into shop and mill and learn
ed the business to which he was to devote his
life. He started with his present mill at Haw
river, which then had 1858 spndles.i Out of its
earnings he has added to it, until he now has
$425 900 cash invested in buildings and machi-
merry and is just now finishing large addition.
He is himself worth much over hal a million 4
every dollar OF which was made by cotton
manufacture. Iasked him to-day; s4r',.,
IF you were young fellow just starting
| life would you adopt the same course Of life
you have tollowed?" s,ei III 80 81
Certainly. Nothing pays so well and so
surely as the spinning and weaving of cotton
when it is properly looked after. It is assured
wealth and independence to any man of intel
| lgence who will attempt it near the cotton
| field. To show you my faith in it, my son is
now working in a factory in Chicopee,
Mass, and has just finished his study of
the caru-rOOm. lie will soon he cOmpetent |
to take charge OF Il mill, and then he will
have one"
do you consider the growth Of cotton
spinning in the South assured p" a-4Ib3Aai0l
Beyond question. 1t is only question of |
capital and education. New mills are spring. |
ing up on all sides and all through the South |
Our most remarkable progress, however, is
in the quality of our goods. We are now
making the grade OF goods that New Eng l
land few years ago was supposed to have the |
monopoly Of dyed with my own hands the
first piece OF colored cOttons ever woge in the |
South. Now it is being made in many South
ern mills"
"The South has the advantage in cost Of
manufacturer" s3EE12 7sa 4daiffA1
Il can demonstrate to any man that there is
clear and indisputable advantage of II to 2 /
cents apound IN favor of the South over
New England. In this Gay Of competition
and OF swift transportation this difference
must tell at last We are in the dawn OF
the greatest industrial developmentany Sec
ton ever saw" aF' 1't
Does the manufacture of other articles in
your State keep pace with the spinning Of
cotton
Hardly l think We have small factori es
devoted tospecial industries building here and
there, but our people are still dependent on
the North for many things, For example, we
have the best OF walnut forests in western
North Carolina. Our people have sold the
trees in the rough, and the buyers shipped
them north, made them into furniture, and re-
shipped to US. Even when the price went
up, SO that one walnut tree sold for $40, they
did not seem to understand that there was
money in working them UP. Near NV factory
there is abundance OF timber suitable for
shuttles. This is sawed out and sent in bulk
TO the North, where it is made into shuttles
and sent back to me. We are improving,
however and this will come right in time"
One OF the special industries of which Col.
Holt spok. Can be seen ut Greensboro On
the route OF the track rs you leave the town
are three buildings. One is a small wooden
shanty Just beside it is huge brick build
ng-as large as cotton factory. On the hill
behind these is an elegant residence. with
tasteful and luxuriant surroundings These
belong 70 a man who owns u spoke factory.
he started !eW years ago poor man. Inc
I is .ne -. ~ ne I'M In
Inv rrI -oA 40 io lev iao91
~ noIno ~ ~ wy a III - is nonie NC
0appy ;a ny 1911, .l aJ ep9neS' anu
go q , p ~ ~, 80 -. lios
Sa.o i,;a So l,ao -, ~ Spe Ineap
hn m,9 10 ,e and imdpn1 a1u ieiiapie
W An " - a,r;o.,s ;nl''.pt .,
Nan,Iorna II 70 - tha 49, ~ W. oo iouaa ~
No"oenS 49,. =. 30 .no nlAAlns " Moouen
R' a,o ny auSm 40 az ~ useu iol pulIe.
nU ,t W. ,hl, l''' useu lol snls purpose ~
~ ~ Nv " ~, 'h h1 o""hlps nugc
~ -, ,,aol,;no 81 nn.. pianc anu 1tnon
pus ~ OF ~ M accuracy anu sWne-
oaS .nU pos ~ oi.ou =. :no 'uch
MSS i.'s ., inese tnin strips are cut
~ n' dr squ"ae pleves ny acnlefy anu aia up
w. ary ns d souh as shey a,e qrleu tney are
a"iss a.a Piaoie .,ioY "ie Pus lnto
ir,'' 'na. E'so .eiii .no siiape VI piates-
dnw az ~ - INV aa ~ aouooo pa.es pe.
ea',,a ano f n,'s r sa iss enllie product al
+ &c.; w ., moi a. yeaa W oone
az "1,usuIio M NH
XIV up ui, ,o.mIi az !heres
no sucS nro@ra9s sn "; m ,ha sno nou.n ~ ,n
aa6d 1"o hn,e .b 40 - sno lailhg u coI.on
~ tho s,ls inc ;u n n Of oiimis
mast year and this on %' n u1 o1 ta III 'ae
paao 1uan u, a'nd Wis anu more 'h"n TWICE. as
'i"oi "oiAoo up a9aiAtr ainps aill Jiss{if
TALK WITH GOVERNOR JARVIS. snuI
In conversation with Governor Jarvis,
whose family Is here Tor the summer, he. said
Next to Georgia, which we are taught to
believe leads US all, am sure that North Caro-
Ina is the most prosperous southern State;
Our people nave accumulated a great deal OF
money IN the past year, and everything is |
bright and promising
what DO you account the best sign OF the