The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-03-26
FOR THE COTTON FACTORY,
More Favorable Comments on
the Subject.
The Mass Meeting at the Academy Tues.
day Night VIII DO Largely Attended.
j. Allen Watts Presents Convincing
Arguments For the Location of Cot
ton Factory In ReaRoke-R. @. Dun &
Co.'S Southern Representative Also
Endorses the Schenee.

The friends of the proposed cotton
factory are confident that the mass
meeting at the Academy Of Music Tues.
day night will be largely attended. A
TIMES reporter talked with several gen.
tlemen yesterday on the subject OF the
proposed factory and found them all
heartily in favor of it.
To the reporter j. Allen Watts said.
THE proposed cotton M Ill can be- started
at an expense of from $3.50, 600 to $500
600, OF which 100000 in stock will be
asked from the people Of Roanoke. or
others outside of those directly inter
ested In the intrinsic advantages this
new industry would bring to this city.
j. ID. Lazell has intimated that he can
raise among business men in the North
the sum of $4,000, which would leave a
balance OF only one. sixth the amount of
the plant to be provided for by the peo-
pie OF Roanoke, upon whom depends the
Advancement of this industry.
The forwarding of this work means en-
ployment to some 300 people, the major.
part of whom will be women and girls.
and outside of the advantages OF employ
ment to these there will be q material
lncrease In the revenue Of the citv
from their labor. The disadvantage Of
the laboring man being the only bread
winner IS overcome as there is school
and trade for the young, out OF which a
commonwealth is advanced.
President Henry, who is the pro ,ector
OF the enterprise, has gained tuition by
experience, having had experience in
increasing the number of spindles in the
mills under his control from 5000 to
$4,000, which has been mainly due to
ms executive ability All Of the cotton
mills in the South show splendid
percentage on the original inyest-
mont and in the expression of
the publics opinion at the meeting
Tuesday night, the question of securing
new Industries for our growing city
should be settled. The meeting is in
tended to explain as near as can be
done, without practical results, the
Deneht OF this new industry. while the
question OF outlay and subscription Will
be matter for consideration. -
Alley Fenton, The Southern repre-
sentative OF r G. Dun & Co., sad. INV
experience in the extreme South is
that cotton mills have not averaged as
much as Is or 20 per cent. In Roanoke
tnere Is the advantages of the energy
brought by people who were the hest
strength Of other sections OF the country
combined with natural resources and an
almost unlimited territory. These valua-
lions and its climate tend to show that
the city would be powerful opponent to
any in the cotton line. Roanoke has
railroad facilities which are denied
most sections OF the immediate cotton
growing districts OF the South, and
everything points to the city as sta
ton OF reception of the raw material,
while it has uneXceptional facilities for
distribution from the seaboard to the
Western States, the Norfolk and West
ern railroad running from the coast to
the interior.
Tho arst thing that should DO done
by the board Of trade is to arrange
schedule of prices to govern the impor-
tatlon of raw material and the exporta-
ton OF manufactured goods. Unless
this is done the cotton business will be
handicapped at the start. Another
thing which will be to Roanoke's ad.
vantage will be that 1t can procure
expert labor, which has been a draw
back to competitors in this line in the
South and for the benefit Of the city.
The plan on foot undoubtedly, from
the present outlook, appears to be the
most substantial enterprise Roanoke
has taken in hand since the boom, and
il the capital is forthcoming there is no
reason why success should not crown the
venture"