davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-07-17
THE WINDOW GLASS WORKERS.

Pittsburg. Pa, July I5.-Ihe NatIOn-
81 window Glass Workers to-day gave
President Powers power to appoint four
Of the members of the executive coun-
ell Heretofore the entire eight mem
hers have been elected by popular vote.
4 resolution was passed making nine
roller vases. forty by ffty-six inches, an
hours work and requiring manufactur-
ers to nav extra for anything above that
4 resolution was also presented requir-
ing the manufacturers to pay for all
strins of double thick glass over eight
inches in width. These strips are now
brown away. Action on the matter
nos nostpoed until tomorrow, when the
wage question Is to be brought up.
Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-07-17
rNFn $40 AND COSTS.

special TO the Register
Newburg. W. Va, July 16.-John
prown charged with having in his
nossession property Of the Newburg Or
ri Coal Co. was fined so and costs BY
squire MCGEE this morning.
Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-07-17
ENGLISH ELECTION RESULTS.

London. July 16.-At 10 o'clock TO-
,isbt the result of the general election
MS rs follows: Conservatives, 166.
T-rionists %. Total. 1913. Liberals,
% Parneuites 4. McCarthyites, y.
- ob1r The net Unionist gain up to
tbis hour is 20 seats.
Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-07-17
THE WORK OF FIENDs.

Four Masked Robbers Torture an Old
Couple to Make Them Give Up Their
Money
Ashland. Ohio. July 16.-Last night
four masked men battered down the
door Of John Miblin's house. bound ana
Gagged Miblin and his wife and tortur-
ed the couple. holding burning matches
ro the'r feet and hands. They secured
s13. an the money in the house. MID
lin al. his wife, who are both very ola
and almost blind. did not succeed in re-
leasing themselves until 8 O'Clock this
morning.
Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-07-17
THE CLARKsBUKG PosToFF1cE.
Ex-Congressman Davis in Washington to
See the z. NJ. &. About 1t.

See the p NJ. G. About 1t.
Special to the Register.
Washington, D. c., July 16.-Ex-Con-
gresham John J. Davis, of Clarks-
burg was here to-day and saw Post
master General Wilson in the interest Of
Mr.. Lloyd Reed, for the Clarksburg
postmastership. AIr Davis sold the
Postmaster General that Mr.. Jones, who
had been mentioned for the place, would
not be a candidate against Reed, which
leaves the latter a pretty clear field, the
only other candidate so far heard from
being Assistant Postmaster Horner.
Senator Faulkner was also in to see tha
Postmaster General to-day. He is not
specially interested in the Clarksburg
contest.
Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-07-17
4 srRANGE COINCIDENCE.

Richmond, No, July 15.-Cashier l.
r. Parish. Of the Farmers Bank OF
Orlck. No. has left quietly and $4,000
Of the banks money is also missing.
Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-07-17

Special to the Register.
Steubenville. o, July 16.-Judge
Mansfield has ordered in court mere
tbat as s. K. Wallace. receiver for the
Jefferson Iron Works, has funds in ms
hands not necessary for the operation
of the plant he pay a dividend Of % per
cent. 10 the creditors.
Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-07-17
~ Old TTMER DEAD.

Quincy. Ills. July 16.-Judge Almer-
on Wheat oldest member OF Adams
county bar and legal contemporary OF
Douglas, Browning and Skinner, died
to-day. He was 50 years Of age and
had practleed law in this curcuit for 90
wears
Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-07-17

Christian Schnepf. the Opera House
druggist made the following observa-
tions of the weather yesterday: Z a.
m. 10: a. m, II; Y m, 81; 3. .. u.
s8: Z D. N, 81. Weather. fair
Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-07-17
THE POWER OF THE TROLLY.
4 Load OF e,sOO,OOO Pounds Hauled in
the B. q o. Tunnel at Baltimore.

Baltimore. Nd, July 16.-All possible
question of the ability Of the electric
locomotive No. l, of the B. & O. rail-
road 10 pull the heaviest trains through
the Belt Line tunnel was disposed OF
to-day. With the tremendous load
of 26 freight cars, all laden
10 their utmost, and two large
locomotives. the electric mon
ster pulled through the tunnel
mel this morning with not nearly all
the mower on. This test of the motive
VAS the most important that has yet
been made The load pulled was at
least 2.8OOOO0 pounds.
Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-07-17
rHE ORE HANDLERS STRIKE.

Ishpemig, Mich, July 16.-The situa-
ton with reference TO the strike grad
nally grows more serious. All work at
1-be mines has ceased. About 1000 men
had A mass meeting this morning. They
decided TO hold out as long as possible
and modest all who dare TO resume
work. They will demand 81 a day for
miners and S1.75 for trammers and un-
derground labOrers, and $50 for all
surface hands
Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-07-17

Quincy. Ills. July 16.-Thermometer'
1OS in the shade. Wesley Collins be-
rame crazed while working IN the sun
md Killed himself.
Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-07-17
TIE CHAMPIONS MEET.
Great Joint Debate Between HOrT
and Harvey,

rs Financial School ReOpened
w Fair Hearing for Both
The Opening Statements
The Disputants-What They
v-- EndeavOr TO Prove.
Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-07-17
TIE FLINT GLASS WORKERS.
The Business of the Annual COnven-
ton Is Almost Finished.

The Chimney Men and Prescription
Blowers Ask for an Advance IL
Wages, But it Will all Depend
Upon the Conference.-The De-
mands Of the Flints Dependent
Upon the Green Blowers.
Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-07-17
TuE WEATHER.
Thermnmeter Record.

Washington, d. c., July 16.-For
West Virginia: Fair; southerly winds.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-11-28

MacRaes, the L9dbetters, the Entwhis-
tles-they ali Join in. There is no
scramble for positions on boards of
directors, nor for official positions. They
assume these responsibilities when 1t IS
necessary and each works to help the
other. The result is that Rockingham is
going forward not booming cor Boosting
out building on solid, substantial foun-
dations and steadily advancing the
manufacturing and commercial interest
of a section that has for a century been
noted for the honor, the integrity and
the enterprise of its people.
There was an effort made in Rocking
ham, at the site now occupied by the Pee
Dee Cotton Mill to spin cotton by power
very early in the century. Even then
the advantage of water power on which
the present prosperous mills are now
located was appreciated far and near.
The first effort was made in 1914 or 1915
by some parties from Charleston Eng
lishmen, if we mistake not, Mitchell,
Stubs and Gray. Col. Robert L. Steele
says that he has seen the machinery and
that the effort was a failure.
TIE value of the cotton mills located
at Rockingham cannot be over estima-
ted. There is not an inhabitant in the
town, or a farmer who raises truck,
poultry or anything else that men eat
who is not helped by the enterprise of
the owners of Rockingham Mills. They
are all conserVatively yet progressively
managed, and are run for business. But
the managers also seek to develop every
other interest of the community, and are
in truth the backbone of Rockingham.
Towns are built in these days by great
enterprises that give employment to
many. If the man who makes TWO blades
of grass grow where formerly one grew is
a benefactor TO his race, what shall be
said of the man whose energy and wise
investment makes a hundred hands busy
where formerly most of them were idle,
or employed in unremunerative indus
tries
Like a good deed in q naughty world,
the enterprise of these Rockingham fac
tory owners shines far and near. 1t has
stimulated its neighbors to enterprise and
activity, and proven a stimulus to pro-
gressive men in every section of the
Com monwealth.
This tribute Of Rockingham to our
Cotton Mill Edition forms a galaxy of
individual and collective forces of which
few towns or communities have the
equal. Every mill is distinctive and
every man distinctive force, but there
is blending of harmony and of united
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-11-28
ROBERDEL MFG. co.

The beautiful euphonious name Rob
erdel," was coined from the name of
that sturdy patriot, Col Robert L.
Steele, of Rockingham, whose genius and
grit has done more, perhaps, than any
other individual force to make Rocking
ham for quarter Of a century hum
with the music OF the spindle and the
loom. The same old Steele home that
gave to the industrial history Of the State
the achievements of Robt. L, Steele gave
to the State also that giant of statecraft
and oratOry, the late lamented Walter l..
Steele The maternal branch Of he
same house gave also to the States galaxy
of successful fnaaciers the late Stephen
W. Cole, one Of the most successful
bankers in the State. He was, from the
time Of its organization to his death, the
president Of the First National Bank of
Salisbury.
That splendid cotton mill plant located
two miles northeast of Rockingham on
Hitchcock's creek, known as the Rober-
del mills, is an ever growing monument
to the business sagacity of its eminent
namesake. Col Steele, who is mechanic,
a civil engineer, fnancier, a farmer
all in one and the good Judgment dis
played by him and those with whom he
has been associated, in locating the cot
ton mills in and around Rockingham is
evidence of a high order of mechanical
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-11-28

del Southern Subsidiaries that, al
though made from the heecy staple of
the South, was so perfect in texture, in
color, in smooth and glossy finish, as to
justify the name they bear, fabrics thhat
have made for themselves and for their
manufacturers reputation and renown.
The Roberdel Manufacturing Co. was
organized in 1881, and the mill was
erected in 1882 and began operations
with 1900 spindles 1t has been en-
larged aud increased from time to time
until now it has 5000 spindles, 800
looms, lappers, carding machines, stor-
age and dry houses indeed it is a thor
oughly equipped Gotten manufacturing
establishment, decreasing in size aud in
its annual production as the years
go by. The machinery is turned
by steady volume Of water flowing
down against a solid stone dam, IS feet
high and sufficient at all times to keep
the machinery going. Surrounding the
mill and situated on little plateau of
gently rolling hills is village Of com
Portable, nicely painted, well arranged
houses for operatives with churches and
schools with preachers and tea chers whose
salaries are in the main paid by the
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-11-28

are building on the site Of the old Steele
Mills. The new Steele Cotton Mills
will in a few months be equipped
with 5000 spiudIes and 800 looms, and
joining in the chorus of industrial pros.
perity that enliven the braezes up and
down this busy little river. The first
spade of dirt was thrown a
few days ago by Col. Robert
L. Steele, the second spade was
thrown by Mr.. Robert L. Steele, Jr., and
the third spade by Master Robert L.
Steele, Jr,, Jr.-thus three generations
joined in the inaugural exercises of the
formal beginning of an important indus
try, and re-dedicated the home of their
departed forefather to modern useful
ness and prosperity.
1t is positively inspiring as we'll as
pleasant to witness the unanimity with
which tho people of Rockingham join
in industrial pursuits. There are no
jealousie existing in Rockingham, there
are no efforts on the part Of one to out
do the other. They work in unison.
When scheme is proposed, having for
its object the building of an enterprise
that will build up their town and com
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-11-28

families at cost. At another, five hun
dred punches Of yarn was donated to
soldiers wives. At another, motion
was passed TO sell no yarn except on
magistrates certificate. This was done
to keep the yarn ont of the hands of the
spectators, and to provide for its sale
only 10 those who were needy and de-
serving
Prior to the beginning Of the war the
Richmond Mills don't seem to have been
very profitable, as few dividends We're
declared, but during the war protits
were enormous, meetings were held
every month aud dividends were de-
clared almost every meeting. The accu-
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-11-28
ROCKINGHAM MILLS
ROBERT l.. STEELE THE DEAN
OF PEE DEE COUNTRY COT
TON MILL INDUS IRY.
OLD AND NEW MILLS Prospecting

The Ioug ami Successful Career OF
Rockingham as A Centre of Cotton
Manufacturing Inspiics Els progres-
sive Citizens 10 Enlarge and Improve
Old Mills and TO Build New and Inn
proved Ones-- Even During the War
theRockingham Mills paid aDlvidend
Rockingham is lively little town
built on high sandy knobs between two
ever flowing creeks These creeks flow
from the pney wildwood, east OF the
town and are formed from the clear
waters of numerous springs that gush
from the sandy hills of Rockingham
county. These waters as soon rs they
gusn from under these hills be
gin racing down the fanded
slopes towards the Pee Dee River,
one comes tumb.ing over shoals
and down steep falls to the right of
Rockingham, the other makes mad
rush over shoals and down even sleeper
falls to the left Of the town As they
rush over the high stone dams at R9eber
del Pee Dee, Great Falls, Midway,
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-11-28

In 1869, four years after the war
closed, and third of century after the
first cotton mill meeting in Rockingham,
another meeting was held At
this meeting appeared the Leaks,
the Steeles and others, not the
same men who met in 1888. Many of
them had passed over the river, but their
nantes had fallen on worthy shoulders
sons and grandsons who we're minded
to take up the industrial weapons laid
down by their ancestors and continue
the fight for industrial victory. At this
meeting the Great Falls Manufacturing
Company was organized. The old
Richmond factory site was secured
and III a few months on the ruins
of the old ante bellum mil was
reared the large four-story brick
building in which the Great Falls Man
ufacturipg company has ever since had
its busy and prosperous home This en-
terprise started with 600 spindles It
has increased from time to time and now
has 4,512 spindles, 30 looms; employs
115 people; has just added new lappers,
new cards and other machinery of latest
design; consumes, 1000 bales of cot
ton annually, and manufactures
thousands, yea millions, of yards
Of brown sheetings. This product has q
name from one end of the land to the
other. The Great Falls sheeting has been
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-11-28

and engineering genius. Col Steel is
modest man and if he were
present, as / write these truths, he would
bid me stop, but when fnd a North
Carolinian whose locks are frosted and
along whose cheeks are the burrows of
ripeniDg age, even though his step is as
elastic and his eyes as bright as are
Col Steel8's to-day, whose life has been
so fruitful Of business successes, whose
enterprises have kept busy s. many
hands tha5 might have otherwise been
idle, and clothed and fed so many people
w}o might have sought in vain for re
munerative work-my pencil gets I'm
ruly, and takes. its own risks.
But OF the Roberdel Mills. find here
stately building of brick stretching
along the banks Of the busy stream, with
story piled on top of story, and each
filed with modern machinery, each piece
Of which seems automatic and animate.
Six thousand hustliug spindles and three
hundred LIONS, all in the midst
of nearly three hundred happy
and cheerful men and women
spinning and weaving the famous Robert
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-11-28

Secretary; Robert L. Steele, Jr., Super
intepdent.
Two miles from Rockingham, towards
the Pee Dee river, at q shoal just below
the confluence oe Hitchcock and Falling
creeks, is situated the Midway mills own
ed and operated by a company inc0rpo-
rated under the name of Leak, Wall
and MacRae. OF this company
Mr.. James r. Leak is President
aud manager, and Messrs. T. G Leak,
II. @. Wall. James r. Leak and Mrs.
Jennie MacRae are the incorporators aud
principal owners.
The Midway Mills have followed in
the lead of their Rockingham predoces-
s0rs and have done their part to
wards making the cotton mil interest
in the thriving community in which they
exist potent and powerful They are an
important link IN that chain of mills
located on the banks Of busy Rocktish
Greek
The Midway mills are equipped with
5 900 spindles and make cham warps
that are sought fer at fair market values
by weave men all over the country.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-11-28

Mr.. James r Leak, the manager OF
the enterprise, Is gentleman Of sterl-
ing integrity and trained mill man.
who knows the details Of warp and
yarn making, and who combines practi-
cal knowledg e with executive genius. To
him and his efficient management is due
the success that has attended the estab-
lishment and operation of the enter
prise. -.
The mills are built along by the side
OF Midway Shoals of Rockfsh creek,
and the machinery is turned by the
waters that have already set in motion
the thousands of spindles and looms at
Great Falls, Pee Dee and Roberdel.
From Midway it rushes on to Ledbetter's
and Steele's mills, thus keeping in mo-
ton the machinery OF six cotton mills in
a distance of like number of miles.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-11-28

splendid plant, designated the Pee Dee
Mills The Company has been syste
matically, economically and intelligently
managed, and therefore, they have been
uniformly successful and steadily grow
ing. 1t is surrounded by high, pictur-
esque hills, and on these the Pee Dee
village sits, peopled with the
mill operatives and their families -
all living in cosy, comfortable
ZONES, surrounded by grassy lawns, gar
dens and truck patches, with here and
there churches and school buildings in
which preachers and teachers are teach,
ing and preaching moral and intellectual
excellence.
The officers Of the Pee Dee Manufac
turing Company are W. O. Leak, Presi-
dent and Treasurer; Geo P Bntwhistle,
Superintendent. The Pee Dee Mills have
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-11-28

of the Rockingham Manufacturing Com
pany, which BOOK is now in the posses
sion of Col Il bert L. Steele, is recorded
the minutes Of the first and all the sub
scquent meetings Of this old company.
The first president OF the company was
w L. Leak Ia the list Of tie first board
of directors appear the names Of Robert
J. Steele, W. f. Leak and James P.
Leak.
At a meeting held in 1887 r J.
Steele was instructed to go to the
New England States and buy ma
chinery. He went. bought machinery,
and ordered it shipped to Fayetteville.
The mill was started in 1888 with w.
G. Webb, a native of Rocky Ford, Con
necticut, as Superintendent at a salary
of $500 per year. Later on the company
made a contract with Webb 10 spin the
yarns at coat Of two cents per pound.
The minutes Of meetings held during
the years 1869 '63, "a and '65 are eX-
ceedingly interesting. AT meeting
held Sept 20, 1862 a resolution was
passed appropiating $3.50 as a thanks
giving day offering to the opera
tives and $500 was appropriated
to build church. At another
meeting it was ordered that bacon and
other provisions be sold to soldiers
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-11-28

Steele's Mills have been known as
Steele's Mills for 10! these many years.
1t was the old Steele homestead, the
property of the late Robert J. Steele,
father of Col Robert L Steele and the
late COL Walter L Steele. 1t is located
on Rockfsh creek, three miles west of
Rockingham. 1t is magnificent water
power, but has for many years
been flowing to waste but it is now be-
ing harnessed, ready to turn the wheels
of bran new cotton mill.
A new company has recently been
formed, known as SteeIe's Mills, of
which Col. Robert L. Steele is the head.
The plans are all matured, the
capital subscribed and at this mo-
ment fifty or more workmen
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-11-28

on the market now for more than two
dozen years and has made friends out of
consumers at home and abroad. There
are seventy five shareholders in the Great
Falls Company, mainly native Rocking
ham people.
The energetic and efficient manage
ment Of the mill comprises the Presi-
dent and Treasurer, Capt. Vim. /. Everett;
the secretary, Mr. w. B Cole, and the
uperintendent, Mr.. S. VI. Steele, These
gentlemen are all experienced mill men.
The enterprise is situated Immediately
off the main line Of the Seaboard Air
Line, at a point where the waters Of
Falling creek fall a distance of forty
three feet down q rOeky-faced precjpice,
making one of the finest and most reli-
able wster powers in the State. The
operatives at Great Fatls have schools,
churches and other advantages, and they
inhabit a cheerful suburban village Of
Rockingham that seems to be famed
with breezes Of good health, good morals
and good cheer.
THE PEE DEE MFG. co.
The mills of the Pee Dee Manufactur-
ing cOupduy art iOCdttd Ou bhC Ud1hs
Of Hitchcocks creek in the northeastern
suburbs of Rockingham This company
operates 6 600 spindIes, 800 looms, gives
employment to 275 operatives, consumes
1900 bales of cotton per annum, has so
shareholders and $125, 900 capital in
vested. These 5000 spindles aud 300
looms are whirling away day in and
day out, making the South's great
king Of staples into the latest
sty'e3 aud designs Of plaids and cotton
AIDES. The Pee Dee plaids have crossed
state line after State line until to-day
they are at home on the shelves of store.
keepers and in the ware rooms of jobbers
and exporters all over the country. They
have helped to build the States reputa-
ton on this class of cotton fabrics and
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-11-28
TIE PEE DEE N F'G. co.
Rockingham, n. G.

INFLATED profits were in provisions and
cotton yarn and these things were dis
tributed instead of money. At the last
meeting, held in February, 1865, all
provisions and yarns was ordered to he
divided among the stockholders, with the
request that it be removed Immediately
A few weeks later the wisdom Of this or
der vas demonstrated, for, with the
coming of Sherman's Army, the mills
were set on fire and enti ely consumed
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-11-28

PresluenJ Jreat ais MIG. IOmpahy.
Rockingham manufactured cotton
away back in the long ago AZ Great
Falls, in 1886, dam was tuilt, a com
pany organized named the Richmond
Manufacturing Company, and cotton
mill was built. It was known as the
Richmond Mills, and, strange to say, the
very names that appear in the Directory
of this old company are, to large ex-
tent, the same that appear now in the
management and directories of the half
dozen mills that make industrial music
for Rockingham. In book of records
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-11-28

Roberdel Company. tits charming To-
cation for a manufacturing enterprise,
and is famed by the healthful breezes
that blow through the long leaf pine
forests of this beautiful section.
The officers of the Roberdel Manu-
featuring Company are Robert L. Steele,
President and Treasurer; r. A. Johnson,