Evening star., 1896-07-30
NEGROES TO BUILD A COTTON MILL
Interesting Experiment to BE Made
by the Race in North Carolina.

Interesting Experiment to BE Made
by the Race in North Carolina.
From the Charleston Is. c. News and Courier
A dispatch from Concord, N. G., an
nounces that NEGRO capitalists of that
place are about to build a cotton mill 'for
the express purpose Of manning 1t with
negro labor, and thus trying to settle the
disputed question whether the negro will
make a good mill operative. The capital
lists, It, Is estimated, are rather small ones,
but one Of them, n. C.. Coleman, vino Is
the leader of the venture. Is worth between
s25, 900 and $4,000, which he has made at
Industrial pursuits since the war, and he
speaks confidently regarding his scheme"
II 1t is found necessary, he says he and
his associates will be glad to have their
white friends help them out with subscrip-
tions but, If possible, they would like to
have all the stock taken by negroes in
order to make the mill essentially a negro
enterprise" and he thinks there is little
doubt that the mill will be built and put in
operation this year.
This is very different experiment of
course. from that Of employing colored
operatives in mills owned and run by white
capitalists, and 1t must be considered ac-
cordingly. We think the promoters Of the
experiment have erred in determining to
try 1t In town where there are mills
operated by white labor, as they would
doubtless have more sympathy and support
and would have less reason to fear friction
of any kind in an unoccupied field. This is
a question Of their own decision, however
and, as they appear to have decided it al
ready to their own satisfaction, 1t only re-
mains to await the issue Of their venture
There is no good reason that we know of
why they should not make it and be en-
couraged to make 1t. If they can afford to
risk their money in it.
All kinds of pursuits that can be conduct
ed by members Of their own race are now
open to the colored people; there is no rea-
son why an exception should be made Of
cotton manufacturing or any other kind of
manufacturing. If they can make a success
of spinning and weaving cotton goods they
are entitled to any measure of success, from
the lowest to the highest, that they can
achieve, and all right-thinking men will ap-
prove and encourage their self helpful ef-
forts. The colored people have compare
lively few opportunities for skilled and
profitable employment: 1t is to their interest
and the interest of the white people among
whom they live that they should have more
and all that they can make and use to ad-
vantage.
1t may be added that the proposed expert
ment at Concord will not be altogether as
novel in Its way as its promoters appear to
regard 1t. We are informed that a small
mill was operated by colored laborers on a
large cotton plantation near Bainbridge.
Ga, before and during the war. 1t was un-
der white management, of course. The spe-
c!ai interest of the Concord mill will be due
10 ITS management as we'll as It's operation
by colored men. The success of their enter
prise will hardly disturb the conditions Of
cotton manufacturing in the south, in any
event, but 1t may have a very important
bearing on the future Of the industry and
or the negro race In Africa.