The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-11-28

quarter yards to the pound, ball sew
ing cotton, and other yarns. These
products of the spindle and loom
are second to none made in the State,
and finds a ready sale in the chief mar
kets of the word.
Until June, 1890, the cotton con-
sumed in the mills had to be hauled
by wagons from the railroad to the
mill, and the product of the mills had
likewise to be hauled to the railroad
and thence sent by rail to market. In
that month and year, the Factory
branch of the C. +. & Y. V. railroad
built jointly by the owners of the
factories along Deep river and the C. f.
81 :. V. road. This has proven great
convenience to all the mills, and an
impetus to the growth of Ramseur. A
successful cotton mill is the forerunner
of everything else that is progressive.
The best way to get railroad, the
telegraph, the telephone, a bank, any
and all the modern conveniences is to
build a cotton factory. 1t is the mag
net that draws everything else to it.
business man, and laid here the founda-
AS stated above, Mr.. j. S. Spencer,
President of the Columbia Manufac-
turing Company, is also President of
the Commercial Bank of Charlotte.
He is also President of the Henrietta
Cotton mills, in Rutherford county,
which is the biggest cotton factory
in the State. He spent the early years
of his life in Randolph county, and
obtained here the training and expe-
rience that has made him successful
business man, and laid here the fouda-
tons of his Christian character. His
heart has always been true to these
early surroundings, and his connection
as President of Columbia Mills serves
to make him still, though not a citizen,
one of Randolph's most useful sons.
Mr.. w. III. Watkins, secretary and
Treasurer of the Company, who has
charge of all the business connected
with the mills and is its practical and
financial manager, is one of the best
men in North Carolina. Allusion has
already been made to his devotion
to his commander in the Confederate
army. Brave and gallant as was the
distinguished Ramseur, he was not
a whit drawer or more loyal than Mr..
Watkins. The same qualities that
made him a good soldier makes him
an Industrious, energetic and success
full business man. He is of the type
of man who seeks to know his duty,
and when he sees his duty clear to per-
form it with whole hearted fidelity.
Talking not very long ago with
prominent citizen of Randolph county
about Mr.. Watkins, he said: There
is the best man | know. He has a
head full of sense, hand that does
not know how to be idle, land heart
that is as tender as a woman's. He
is not only respected by the men, wo-
men and children who work in his
mills, he is loved by them with gen.
uine affection that is pleasant to
see He is never too wrapped up in
business to help the humblest opera
tive in the factory, or take in his arms
and comfort the smallest child of
and the people look to him for guild
ance and leadership in politics.
church and everything else. With all
this power, he is the most modest OF
men. As an upright Christian man;
good citizen; and a successful manu-
facturer, w. III. Watkins is a man
whose example ought to be held up
to the South for emulation.
The men and women who work in
the mills are not regarded as mere
hands" Mr.. Watkins regards them
as having also hearts, heads and ambi-
ton, and he encourages them, one and
all, to make everything possible out
of themselves. He not only encour-
ages them; he helps them in every way
in his power, giving by his daily walk
and conversation a practical evidence
L. Il - 41z t.x.xZt I1x I<s~Ss Il
in man. He is keen discerner OF men,
an excellent judge of human nature.