The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1889-10-17
HENDERSON AND COTTON FAC
TORIES.

HENDERSON AND COTION FAC-
TORIES.
A Timely and Sensible Article on the
Subjeet-An Expression Of Opinion
from Others Called for. &c.
EDITOR GOLD LEAF:I frequently see
in your paper that you invite correspond
ence on such subjects that would be most |
interesting to your general readers, and |
more especially to those who have the |
welfare and prosperity of Henderson and
it's section of country at heart; but judg- |
ing from your weekly issues your solici- |
tations are but seldom responded to, |
| which is, or ough to be, matter OF gen. |
eral regret The arms of an editor should
| be theoretically upheld and sustained, es-
pecially by those whose interests he con-
stantly advocates, and should receive
every possible encouragement in the
shape of patronage, correspondence, ETC.
Now, all who are acquainted with the
geographical position of Henderson, and
the inexhaustible resources of the sur
rounding country, of which it is the
centre, will tell us that, with it's system
of railways, for shipping facilities, etc,
nothing is lacking but united effort
and spirited enterprise, to raise it to the
level OF it's natural position, which is that
of a great manufacturing and CONNER
cial city: being located in the region OF
the finest upland cotton, and about the
centre of the famous yellow tobacco belt,
which gives it all the requisite elements
to warrant the realization of such a
grand contamination; but sir, you may
write your fingers and your pens to
stumps, and continue to do SO until your
80 tho
fruits of your labor, unless your laudable
efforts are we'll seconded by the public
spirit of enterprise. Now, what is enter
prise? Is it in the building of stores and
their occupancy? Buying goods OF A.
and selling to B. at prices never so cheap?
Is it to be found in these extensive auc-
). ton rooms, the daily mart for tobacco?
Or is it in these huge and towering build
ings where the golden weed is lodged
prior to shipment? Is it in "pin-hook-
ing" tobacco, instead of going into the
field to produce it? Does it consist in
"howdy," and shaking the farmers
hand, accompanied with the request to
"bring me a load of tobaccO?" Is it in
the charitable condescension OF accepting
of a lien or a mortgage from those who
+ may happen to be in distress, which in
time may, confer po'cer on me- to trans
T act little important business at the
, front door of the court house." on be-
half of -, mortgage? To each OF
1 these questions there is but one answer.
, Unless it is of private nature: enter
prise consists principally in the produc-
! ton and the manufacture of the raw ma
, | terial and it must be conceded that these
Southern States stand No. in the pro.
duction of world renowned articles Of
commerce, among which are to be found
those two famous productions cotton
y and tobacco-where they are grown tC
e perfection; and it is lamentable fact
that a great injustice is constantly being
> exercised on the South, by the transport
l. ing in vast quantities her own invaluable
raw material to far less favored coun
J. tries, there to be manufactured and pre-
e pared for universal consumption, thereby
greatly adding to their material wealth
l. and in assisting to build up their popu
# lous and commercial cities, at the expens
- of the all but citiless South. Had cottol
SIS alone been manufactured on Southern
"a soil from the time it was first cultivate.
~ by the Anglo-Saxon, instead of tina
S, blighting INSTRUMENTATION slavery
6, the South would now be occupying he
own natural and proud position as On
r of the wealthiest countries in the world
Ia 1t has been frequently said, the ma
y terial welfare and prosperity of Hendel
re son would be greatly enhanced, if some
- come and start cotton or other factorie
r here. Very true, but possibly "somt
-, body" may get better inducements to e
y and start the same kind of business els
IN where. Capitalists are very timid an
he cautious class of people, and as for cap
IN tai itself, why it is the most avaricious
n all other "existencies;" it expects to b
T. bountifully encouraged by substantit
= bonuses, exemption from taxes, etc.
Id Ii Henderson understands in this hi
day and generation, that which belong
to her present and future welfare, she wi
of be prompt in the manifestation of such
- liberal and public spirit, as shall insu1
~ an abundant increase in the number (
he her manufacturing establishments. If
:. can be done in no other way, let us han
IL down some of the responsibilities to Fl
ture generations; they will certainly al
~ only laying the foundation of their c.
lot lossal wealth; and no doubt it would
80 very gratifying to them to know thu
3D. their forefathers did not distress then
de selves in order to transmit to them uni
,;e numbered prosperity.
-" The great desideratum of the South
ne population and money, so as to enable
i, to develop it's own inexhaustible resou
III ces; factories would secure both. Evel
ed time a community doubles it's popul
IN, ton, it's property doubles in value.
II" was but a short time ago that the publ
ID, opinion of Henderson was partial
4. aroused in favor of cotton factory, al
~ from the amount of zeal manifested
'p- the time, it was generally expected tn,
49, Henderson was about to become an e
10 porter of cotton cloth instead of cote
ay lint. Can you, sir, or any of your hume
!. GUS readers, give feasible reason WI
&c such an important and vital undertake.
Ter was not carried into effect? And wi
u was that same public feeling so speed
nc lullabied into the soft and soothing e1
ng braces of friend Somnas, causing it
fall off into a second nap? Possibly
VI may yet wake up some fine morning, ju
csc in time to see how far Henderson b
been left behind by some of it's more i
III significant neighbors, which, to the
his credit be it spoken, have learnt the gre,
and remunerative lesson of how to co
no vert ten cents worth of cotton lint in
Tue fifty cents worth of cotton cloth, besid
saving the freight charges on a bale
&c cotton to it's destination; and also crea
to ing a home market for other farm Or
duce. 1t has been said that much be
ter and finer cloth can be made before Il
lint is pressed and compressed into bale
II such is the fact, it speaks loudly
favor OF home manufactures. In ii
I'll IL