The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1889-06-28
BURLINGTON.
rIE KING OF COTTON MANUFAC-
tt RING TOWNS.
" i Growing with Remarkable Rapid
trN-- he Chronicle ellis of its new En-
trrpriet> and its Advantages.

tS--The Chronicle tells OF its new En-
trrpri>e> and its Advantages.
staff Cor. of STATE CHRoNICLE.l
Bl RLlNGToN, n. G, June 24 1889 -
W hea the attention of the readers of this
rtper is called to this young and growing
tt.ee it i, at once recognized as the
company Shops of the past with which
very one is acquainted who ever travelled
II The North Carolina Railroad train.
The name of Company Shops has been
hanged to the more high sounding and
~.Luitcant one of Burlington From the
date of this change it has seen better days
Jaan tefore. Before the Shops were re
moved the company owned all the land
around and refused to sell at any price.
Thus the village was kept village and
Was prevented from being even a town by
the necessary rule of the railroad com
pauy. But at last the shops were removed
Ot course at once the village lost a good
many worthy, skilled mechanics, and
their loss was draw back for short
;me. People in all parts of the State
took it that by the removal of the shops
uyerythlng was taken away, but they never
were worse mistaken. Just as soon as the
shops were moved and the land put upon the
market new enterprises and manufactures
sprung up and they have accomplished
much. The people here have long since
stopped regretting the removal of the
shops and are proud of their achievements,
and Of their future which is indeed most
ltttering one.
THE BEGINNING OF THE TOWN.
Long before any one ever dreamed Of a
~ iron horse rushing through this coun-
trv and even before such thing as a
railroad existed, we can begin with the
history of the progress of Alamance coun-
ty In 1890, man bearing the good
name of HOLT came to within two miles
~ the present site Of Burlington from
Pennsylvania, and settled. He is said to
nave been a remarkably hard working
man and true as steel to the friends whom
te made by his indomitable will and in
dlstry. From this one man has descended
the family who have made Alamance coun-
y famous for its enterprise in manufactur-
Iu-. This mans grand son was said to
have held position in the American ranks
W. the War of the Revolution. His sons
We're MEsSRS. WILLIAM and MICHAEL HOLT.
MH MICHAEL HOLT was father of Mr. E.
MICHAEL HOLT, from whom are descended
Nessrs. THOS. NJ JAS. H., ALEX., L. D.,
T. 5 and w E. HOLT. The son of Mr..
WILLIAM HOLT was Mr.. .JNo r. HOLT who
,,-..- fa+ of NaSSrS 7 ~
and JAS G. HOLT These families are
known by nearly every true Carolinian as
progressive cotton manufacturers. In the
family they have at present thirteen large
mills With the history of this famous
family We can soon show how this town
was begun 1t is mostly due to these men
taat Burlington as well as Alamance coun-
ty IS what it is to day. Mr.. E. NJ. HOLT
Is the Pioneer Cotton Manufacturer, being
the first TO manufacture that staple south
0t the Pennsylvania line. His sons and
their sons, have followed in the footsteps
0f this great man and are blessing TO
their country.
n 1865 when the North Carolina Road
was graded through here there was moth
ing save where the wild animal pursued
his course unmolested. It was not even
within mile of the nearest house. This
being very near the center of the proposed
line of railway it was decided to loc tie the
shops here and accordingly they were
erected in the year 1856. In 1853 the
present cOmm0diOuS hotel was built and
the company's tenement houses finished.
The first store was owned by the company
aud was run by Ex-State Treasurer j. NJ.
WORTH Being Incorporated just after
the war under the name Of Company
shops it began to grow into village. Up
10 $50 no progress was made to amount
u anything and no cotton mills had then
been erected in her corporate limits. Now
she presents view of manufacturing
town and does not look like the same little
row of dwellings that was once built up
by what was then termed the ''Methodist
path" The Methodist path was rude
road early made by the pioneer Methodist
preachers as a shortcut to their appoint
ments.
In speaking of the enterprises which
have gone up in this town We must begin
with that which is the most novel for this
country. Therefore
TIE BURLINGTON COFFIN co.
takes the lead. This is something which
l-ltIhtS every Ludu Ol GIlotI toWu Juo1iJ
proud. 1t is an enterprise which Is not
grpassed in America for beauty OF work,
aud one of few similar establishments
5l the South. Nearly three years ago 1t
1eame evident that this was an enter
Prise that could succeed here. 1t was
aIked Of for some time but few expected
very much At last it begun work and
WIS found to be a good enterprise, one
mat could be made very productive to
EIrington In February '89 a new com
itay was formed and the enterprise be
s.u at once to put in better equipment
lac very finest of machinery, made for the
purpose. was ordered and the very best
wogkmen secured, and now 1t stands out
I.1minent with any enterprise Of It's KIND
I'D The Union. Just here we may mention
uething of the way in which collins are
made The wood is taken by the factory
the rough shape. There it IS cut,
dressed and prepared for the different
lt-terns Of the coffin, twenty in number
caskets and seventeen for collins.
tsre also they are put together and are
taseu TO the finishing department where
They are grained, painted over severa
r.tnes, oiled vanished and put through
many other processes. 1t is a marvellous
70 iooly at tO one that has never