The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-03-29
people working for common end. Re

j
we do not have here. It gives employ
mont to class now unemployed, in
Guiding men, women and children.
am disappointed at the few feople who
have come together to discuss this sub
lect. We see property deteriorating
day by day in Roanoke, and this in
dustry will distribute money all over
the town, and also be an indirect bene.
fit to tho city.
'The motive of this meeting is to
find out If we are to sit down and do
nothing, or show that there is still in
this city the same spirit that built it.
The laboring men bring to city posi-
tive assets, they bring brains and
Drawn and they come to us and ask for
an opportunity to earn more than the
bare necessities Of life"
Mr.. Watts then expla ined the cost
and probable profits; that there was a
cotton mill in Lynchburg which paid Is
per cent. per annum On the capital in
vested. In closing his address he
spoke of the present condition of Roam
oke, and said that without industries it
is going to be just as hard to make ends
meet year from now. He noted the
presence of the clergy and said: II am.
glad to see the ministers here, as I
believe this is a good moral object. 1t
is for the benefit of the city. This
amount must be subscribed to in sums
OF from 500 TO $500. Each and all
citizens should subscribe. The sub
scription to this object should be the
criterion OF good citizenship"
Lucien Cooke, Esq, was the next
speaker. 81 think it is the duty OF all
citizens" said he, ito come together
and confer, when as in this ease it is for
the benefit of the community at large.
don't think there is any one who
objects to cotton mill coming to this
town, but it is not this; we want to find
out what actual interest each individual
will take.
"This enterprise can be secured only
by the combined efforts of the citizens.
The time is past for an industry of this
kind to look to any ono citizen for it's
support. The time is past for specula.
ton. The only mode of building up
this city, being an inland town, is by
the encouragement of manufacturing
industries. 1t is matter Of history in
Lynchburg, Danville and other cities in
! our Immediate vicinity which have had
cotton factories, that the profits from
the investment have been large.
1T seems to me that we ought to
make some sacrifice in order to get this
| industry. If q man can't subscribe $500
let him subscribe less and pay it. Let
us look at both sides OF the question and
discuss it in q calm and dispassionate
manner. can only say that the loca-
tion Of such an industry will BIO of great
! advantage TO our city"
N. b. Johnston spoke of "self help as
the best help" He referred to the com.
ing to Roanoke of the different indus.
tries, the Roanoke and Southern rail
road, the Lock Works, and said with
what pleasure the citizens. in times of
depression, heard of the starting up of
work at the Machine Works; then of the
coming of the Chesapeake and Ohio rail
road. AT the mention of the Chesapeake
and Ohio he was interrupted by salvo
OF applause. He asked the friends of
the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad to
help this industry, as it would help
bring the road, and those that were OPP
posed to the railroad to help it, as if
they feared the Machine Shops would be
moved to Bluefield. this industry would
help fill the gap.
1--WE must make a sacrifice for this
industry If we want it here. l don't
mean to say that the coming of the
cotton mill will make us rich, but it will
give us self.confidence. I don't believe
in bringing people to Roanoke and not
giving them employment. In this in.
dustry we have chance to advertise to
the country that we can give employ.
ment to people. Nelson's flag at the
battle of Trafalgar, was ENGLAND ex-
poets every man to do his duty" and
this applies to the citizens of Roanoke
for the advancement of this new In
dustry"
President Deauon: "There is no
doubt but every one would like to sec
cotton mill in Roanoke. If this cotton
mill is to be built from the crowd
present tonight, it is to be built by we
poor people," After reference to the
terrible suffering among the poor of the
city during the recent hard winter, he
said Let us have this industry, if
| not as matter OF business, let us do
this for the sake OF sweet charity, This
meeting will determene whether we are
to have cotton mill or not. If any
thlng is to be done the poor people must
do it,"
Rev. j. Cleveland Hall said he was
confident that there was something in
the new industry, that there had been
an awful lack of labor for strong people
to do. He dwelt upon the subject in an
earnest manner and the benefit to como
to the laboring classes by tho introduce
tion OF tho cotton mill, that there would
| be work for the wives ana daugh-
ters of the workingmen of the city,
that there were workingmen who
had lost not only their employment
but the little money they had invested
and were even without resources He
said: The bone and sinew Is not in
the rich, but is here with us. l believe
the cotton factory is but o small edge
of the wedge, and if we have industries
tho railroads will come. The women,
tho girls and tho boys need employ