Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1883-02-17
Interesting Talk With the Pho
neer in the Business.
What Asa Faulkner Knows About
Cotton Mills and Water Powers.
The Industrial Advantages Of Caney
Fork Falls.

IluS advantages Vi OuC HtuCu-ldNOI6u
section this article will prove of partic-
lar interest, as Mr.. Faulkner speaks
from practical knowledge, having been
actively engaged in manufacturing
pursuits in this section through long
and peculiarly successful life. The
american says:
Hon. Asa Faulkner, the veteran
pioneer cotton manufacturer in this
State, is in the city. He has recently
made purchase of valuable water
power at the Great Falls of the Caney
Fork. In view of the interest just now
felt everywhere in the south and in
this State particularly on this subject
of manufactures, an American reporter
was directed to interview this veteran
in the development of home industries,
to get authentic information as to the
industrial possibilities of this region,
just about to be opened upby heSparta
Branch Railroad.
Said the American reporter: What
is the capacity of the water power at
the Falls of Caney Fork, MIR. Faulkner,
and what are the adaptabilities for
manufacturing purposes?"
Mr.. Fanlkner-The Caney Fork is a
considerable river. You know it is the
largest tributary of Cumberland river,
and drains the counties of Warren,
Van Buren,, White and a great portion
of Grundy, Coffee, Cannon, DeKalb and
Putnam, including the first plateau of
Cumberland Mountain. In the descent
of the Caney Fork from this watershed
to the Limestone Basin" of Tennessee
it falls SO feet in a halt mile. The first
perpendicular fall is about 40 feet. In
regard to its capacity, can only COM
pare it with other powers that l have
visited. Not being a civil engineer, l
cannot estimate the number of horse
powor it will give. have visited the
falls of the Merrimac river at Manches-
ter, N. H. at Lowell and Lawrence,
i'll Massachusetts,, all of which have
been estimated by the Hon. James B.
Francis, who stands at the head of the
list of civil engineers of America, and
he says the three powers each, of the
Merrimac river, are equal to 10000
horse power, and | am sure the falls of
Caney Fork are equal to either ofthem.
Rep.-What are the advantages for
manufacturing?
Mr.. F.-The first and most impor-
tant is constant and reliable water
| power, not affected by high or low
water or ice. The next local advantage
is its isolated situation. 1t is about
thirteen miles from Sparta, and about
the same distance from McMinnville,
and free from the burden of corporate
taxation. The County Court Of War.
ren county as an indGcement for i'm
provements and developments of the
falls have agreed to exempt all I'M
provements from county and school
taxes until five years after the first ter
power looms are put into operation al
that place. Next it is a very healthy
location. Then the Chattanooga q
ST. Louis +. r. management has pro
posed to give freight rates to and from
| Nashville and Chattanooga to the FALL
and all points between for Is cts pei
| 100 pounds if there is as much as $40
900 capital employed in manufactur
ing at the Falls.
Rep.-What are the building facili
ties.
Mr.. F.-Building material is abun
dant and convenient, including rocl
for foundations and the best brick dust
that could be desired, and plenty o
timber.
Rep.-What is the character Of tn
banks and bottom of the river?
Mr.. F.-The river bed is flint an,
limestone-the lowest bank being fit,
feet above high water mark.
Rep.-Is it convenient for the con
struction of mill machinery?
Mr.. F.-The power is more easil
and cheaply harnessed than any powe
/ ever saw, being no dam or abutmen
necessary to put the water in the pen
stock. Then the power can be trans
mitted to the shafting more cheapl
than any power of its magnitude tina
, | ever saw. FL
Rep.-What has been your exper
ence in manufacturing cotton in Tenn
essee, Mr.. Faulkner.
Mr.. FL have been manufacture
cotton in Tennessee for thirty-five year;
| am the pioneer of cotton manufactur
. ing in Tennessee.
, Rep.-During this time have yor
E visited other manufacturing section;
and what can you say on the relativ
merits of Tennessee compared wit
E other sections, and especially with refe
S ence to the question OF labor.
, Mr.. FL have visited several manu-
$ featuring cities in Massachusetts an
. Maine, find after investigating tn
, subject, that my labor is as reliabl
l and skillful as the labor of the othe
e sections, and | have no operatives bu
. Tennesseans. | have hands in my mi