Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-15
The knitted Goods Industry.
Charleston NeWs and CouIIeTI

charleston News anu NbAiAtl.i
The knitting machine is an impostanr
adjunct to the loom in tho conversion OF
cotton into manufactured forms, and
should. therefore, receive tho most careful
consideration OF the people Of the South
whose general prosperity depends so
closely on the disposition and ability TO
mako the greatest possible prohts out OF
their staple crop. The subject 10 worthy
OF the best attention we can give 10 10
and it's worth is measured in dollars We
have no apology 10 make. therefore, TOT
calling attention 10 it, over and over
again, and presenting it IN varied ways
with all the information and suggestions
that we can obtain or offer 20 enlist the
interest of our progressive businessmen
and progressive communities In IT, We
haye succeeded IN establishing tho manu-
facture Of cotton cloth in the state and In
the South on an important scale, by
"dinelng" for twenty years the cry.
"Bring the mills 10 tho cotton-hclds'
Tho time has come now to vary the
slogan somewhat By making II read and
sound. Bring the knltting-mills 70 the
cotton-heldsv
The impression prevails in this section.
perhaps. that the work OF the knitting
rci1s IL mainly directed 10 the making
Of hosiery and light uDdershirts, but II
il an erroneous one These articles con
stltute but a small proportion In value or
the products OF such mills, the iact being
that they manufacture large variety or
God. vyoolien. cotton. silk and mixed"
for an equal variety OF uses, and that the
most profitable classes Of their products
are those made for other than foot wear.
Fnterprising northern and European
manufacturer, moreover, are constantly
extending the scope OF their efforts and
making more and more varieties or
goods. some recent examples OF their
successful endeayOrs being the man
ufacturo OF spreads. aprons, and even
Aoured woollen fabrics for suits which
ara so manipulated as 10 present the
anpearance OF woven cloths. Every
wear manufacturers strive 10 outdo their
rrevious efforts. and usually succeed. and
this wear, Il Is noted by a competent
authority. there Will be more novelties.
and more really meritcrious lines shown,
than ever before
The South, OF course, cannot and need
not venture into this more difficult field
OF manufacture at once, but it should
manufacture all the simpler forms or
knitted goods required for its own con
sumption. and compete for the control
10 good reason for the belief that it can
capture the United States market for
such goods as certainly ard as speedily
as II captured the market for the SIM
pIer grades OF cotton cloth.
II gives US great pleasure 10 note the
renort OF the success OF an important
undertaking In this direction by some
OF our progressive neighhors in North
carolina-the Roanoke Underwear Com
nanv-vhich was Incorporated q few
months ago. with a capital OF 10000 or
the enterprise and prospects OF this con-
Germ the Mercantile and Financial Times.
OF New York, says:
",rhe Roanoke Underwear Company
hove started in TO make low-priced un-
derwear for men, women. and children.
and they are already Offering thoroughly
reliable and salabe goods AT prices
which northern mills cannot compete
with. Their mills are at Roanoke Rap
| ids. where they have abundant water
| mower. steam being unnecessary M any