Birmingham age-herald., 1895-07-09
NOW SP|NDLES WILL HUM The Cotton Mill Deal Is Closed s at Last. ITS AN INTERESTING STORY Proving That Pluck and Perseverance Will Win
 Every Time. TIE ENTERPRISE SITE WILL BE USED It Will Begin With 5000 spindles and the Number Will Be Increased-A Letter
 From the Far-of Mediterra,
 mean About Our Iron.
ITS AN INTERESTING STORY
THE ENTERPRISE SITE WILL BE USED

That long looked for cotton mill Tor Birmingham is at last a certainty. and by the 1st of September 5000 spindles will be in operation in the Magic City transforming raw cotton into merchant able articles.
 The deal that brings the mill to T3ir- mingham was closed yesterday, and work on it will begin immediately. For some time past Secretary Thompson of the Commercial club has been in core spondence with J. B. Cotton and asso- ciates of Chester, Pa, with reference to the location of a cotton mill here, but not until yesterday were the final arrangements made.
 The mill will be located at Second avenue and Eighth street. the old lGn- terprise mill being used for that purpose. It will have 5000 spindles to begin with and if it proves success. and no one doubts it will, additional spindles will be put in later on.
 The location of the mill here is due to the joint efforts of M. V. Richards, land and immigration agent of the Southern Railway company; Secretary Thompson Of the Commercial club, the Commercial club and the Berney and Alabama Ma tional banks, in the order named.
 This has been the most carefully E all the way through, and too much praise cannot be given those who thus show to the world what union of effort can accomplish for the welfare of any community
 The Commercial club was organized principally to bring about such union Those who expected great things without much effort rushed into il, but not being able to turn the world over at once they rushed out. A brave and devoted few t,A6 i,, basis could Birmingham be built up and Its development secured These few have had to meet the criticism and sneers of many who should have been shoulder to shoulder with them, striving to advance Birmingham. and the objection was con- mercial club proves it is worthy of sup port, then I'll join it." Well, the club has done something and it is a bigger thing than any one dreamed of. because in a field that opens up vaster possibili- ties than exist in any other direction. It breaks the ice in the cotton manufactur- ing line and now Birmingham will no longer be known only as an iron and coal center. But this opens up separate line that means greater development than perhaps any one now dreams of The moral effect of this enterprise is therefore almost beyond computation.
 But to the facts regarding it: It IS now about four months since MT. Rich ards came to Birmingham to confer with Secretary Thompson regarding the wants of the city. These two workers spent one day together, no one else being ad mitted to the conference. and no one else being appraised then or even later of the object of MT. Richards visit Corre- spondence was kept up during this pe- riod and then MT. Richards and MT. J. B. Cotton of the ThurloW Cotton Manufac turing company of South Chester, Pa, came to Birmingham by special appoint ment with Secretary Thompson. They then went over the situation here very fully and MT. Cotton was shown the En- terprise Manufacturing company's prop erty, with other possible sites. The mat ter was still kept very close, the direct ors of the Commercial club themselves not being aware of the efforts being put forth.
 Mr. Cotton was averse 10 even consid- ering Birmingham at the start, it re- quring considerable diplomacy to get him to come here, but when once on the ground and giving all conditions careful consideration, the advantages of Bir- mngham grew on him until he finally opened up negotiations for the property. It was then the directors of the Com mercial club were informed of the mat ter and asked to take it in hand; but even some of these were skeptica1 until MT. Cotton himself appeared, and at a meeting of the board of directors held on May 31, confirmed all representations that had been made for him, and in per son informed the board that he would take the property and erect a 5000 spin dle mill thereon. Then active steps be- gan and the negotiations have been pushed since that time as rapidly as cir cumstances would allow. The Alaba National bank and the Berney National bank having had the property sold to satisfy claims against it were asked to place it at such figure as MT. Cotton had agreed to pay Other claims ex- isted which had to be settled, and it took considera ble work and no little money, which the directors of the Commercial club agreed to raise, if the banks did as requested. One or two obstacles arose that threatened to stop all further nego- fiations, but these were finally overcome and the following telegram, sent to Sec retary Thompson on yesterday, explains the situation as it now exists, MT. Webb agreeing that the title to the property is in the parties who agreed to convey it to MT. Cotton:
 ..Thurlow. Pa.. July 5. 1895. "N. F. Thompson, Secretary Commercial Club, Birmingham. Ala:
 You can announce the deal, provided " "J. B. COTTON"
 The following letter was received by Secretary Thompson yesterday
 Chester, Pa, July 6, 1895. "Mr. N. r. Thompson Secretary Com imercial Club, Birmingham, Ala.-
 Dear Sir: l am in receipt or your telegram of yesterday and thank you very much for your kindness. which l fully appreciate. I wired you last night that you could publish the deal, If my attorney J. E. Webb, approved. shall hold myself in readiness to go to Bir- mingham on notice from MT. Webb. I extend to-you congratulations. and your committee also. Trusting to meet you soon in your city am yours truly.
 "JAS. B. COTTON"
 Others in Sight.
 Secretary Thompson of the Conner cial club is in negotiation with several other parties who desire to come south for the purpose of establishing manufac- turing plants of various kinds. and the