The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-04-06
MILL MEN IN THE MOUNTAINS.
A VISIT To VANDERBILTrs NORTH
CAROLINA CASTLE.

work Being Pushed on the Costly
Pile in order That Its Owner May
he Able to Eat His Christmas Din
ner in It-It VIII Represent "A Cost
of s5,OOO,OOO and the Surrounding
PARK. When Laid Out, Will Repre-
sent as Much More.
Charlotte. N. c., April 5.-The Massa-
chusetts mill committee has completed
its inspection of the four largest mills in
south Carolina, and arrived in Charlotte
tonight on its way to Columbia, s. c.,
and Augusta. The committee continues
TO find very much that is of interest and
freely express themselves as pleased with
the conditions that exist in the south.
1t was the desire of several of the
party while in this territory to visit
Asheville, N. c., and the Southern rail-
way extended a cordial invitation to the
committee to visit that resort. The spe-
cial arrived in Asheville at midnight, and
bright and early this morning the party
went to the Battery Park hotel for an
early breakfast. and on the way up caught
an impression. of Ashevine.
From the hotel the party went on It's
special train to Biltmore. which is pro-
posed to be the most magnificent residen-
tial estate in existence. The millions OF
George w. Vanderbilt that have already
been spent in the building of this property
are manifest on every side. There are about
500 hands employed on the estate at this
time and the work on the palatial residence
is being pushed in order that Mr.. Wander
bllt may be able to eat his Christmas din
ner in it. The mill men did not have
over an hour to spend at Bntmore, but in
that time, through the courtesy of Mr.
Vanderbnt's representative, they We're
shown through the premises, which, when
completed. win cost considerably over
$50000OO, the total estate, with its 100000
Of acres Of land, costing double that.
There seems to be no limit to the improve
ments proposed by Mr.. Vanderbilt and
Asheville and that section is deriving con-
siderable revenue from his work.
The party made quick trip back to
Spartanburg, where, through the courtesy
of President Montgomery, the operations
of the Spartan mills were shown. This
mill operates 81, ,162 spindles and 100 looms,
with $50 operatives.
The party then went to Clifton where
the Oldest of the large South Carolina. cot
ton mills is built. Fourteen years ago d,
T. Converse started out with a 900 spin
Ore factory, which has in the meanwhile
been enlarged by the addition of another
mill to 81, 900 spindles and added to this the
Clifton Manufacturing Company is at
work upon an entirely new mill which will
operate 10000 spindles.
At Glendale the D. z. Converse Manu-
featuring Company operates 1900 spindle
factory
At all of these mills sheetings, shirtings
and drills are most proftably made.
The mill committee which is bent upon
gathering all the information 1t can, does
not have much to say but is fulfilling it's
mission in getting all of the data it can,
and as the mill owners are practical bust
ness men, they are not taking a one
sided view of the situation. Most of the
committee are preparing notes upon the
conditions existing in the mills they have
visited, which are representative of those
in this section.
E. st. John. vice president of the Sea-
board Air Line, and to whom is due
very much of the success of the under
taking of having this inspection of the
southern mill territory, will join the party
at Columbia, where the morning will be
spent President r. C. Hoffman will also
Join the party at Columbia.
y. II. Sampson of Boston, who is largely
interested in southern cotton mills, Joined
the party at Spartanburg to-day.
c. w. Amory, who has been with the
party UP to this time, returned to Boston
from Asheville, on account of his indis-
position.
Fred Oliver. president of the Charlotte
Oil and Fertilizing Company, left the
party at Charlotte.
William c. Lowering, who is president
of the Arkwright Club. and one of the
Largest mill men in tno east, and who
is in charge of the party, tonight said
10 the correspondent of the News and
Courier in reference to the trip: I'VE
have already visited mills representing
several hundred thousand spindles most
OF them working on the same class Of
goods, namely, standard sheetings and
ofllls. AS a rule, they were all making
very fair goods, and it is evident that
Ihey have been able to market them at
profit during the last year, while some
OF the northern mills have on similar
goods made but little or no profit. We
continue to be impressed by the appear
ance of the operatives, who seem to be
vigorous and earnest in their work"
D. A. Tompkins, who is in charge Of
the party, has received numerous requests
durlng the day to change the programme,
out 1t is his intention to have it remain
as announced. unless it is the desire of the
committee or st. John to make further
stops.
The remainder of the itinerary is: Ar
rive Columbia Saturday morning; leave
Columbia via Southern railway Sat
urday for Augusta; leave Augusta Sun
day at p. m. via the Port Royal and
Western Carolina and Greenwood ar
fVlng at Moncure Sunday night; sleep
a T. Moncure. visit Lockville Shoals Mon
DAY morning; at Raleigh 1880 to 80 Mon
gay; at Weldon 4 p. m. to 8 p. m. Mon
day; Portsmouth Monday night.
The committee will think about the
Rhapadonce, at Vanderbilts place. and
the prosperity of the cotton mills in the
Cafolinas. The committee is making dill
igent inquiry to get at the details of the
southern cotton mill business.