The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1897-07-28
SILK Making in the South.
Atlanta Constitution.

Carolina papers that one of the
greatest silk manufactures in
America is to be moved from Pat
erson, N. j., to Greensboro.
A few weeks ago Mr.. Joseph
Bamford, j., visited number of
Southern cities at the invitation
of Mr.. M. V. Richards, the indus
trial agent of the Southern Rail-
way. Mr.. Best, of that depart
ment, accompanied Mr.. Bamford
on this trip. Mr.. Bamford's firm
had started to build a factory in
Ohio. The site had been secured,
plans had been made and work
was actually under way. The
members of the firm had never
thought of moving South at all.
They have a yerv large establish
ment at Paterson, employing 1 500
operatives and manufacturing i'm
mense quantities of silk goods.
They really had four large mills
at Paterson, and their investment
there is upwards of 100000.
But they have had some trouble
with labor, and more trouble was
threatened. They did not know
when their operatives would strike
and leave them unable to finish
orders. Paterson is a large manu-
featuring city, and has suffered
from sympathetic strikes. While
the operatives in the silk mills
might have no grievance of their
own, q sympathetic strike might
take them out at any moment.
This appears to have been one of
the reasons which decided the
Bamfords to move their plant else
where.
Mr.. Bamford visited Green's
boro, Charlotte, Spartanburg, Co.
lumbia, Atlanta and other points.
He was strongly impressed with
Atlanta, but concluded that the
city was too large for his COM
pany's purposes. Land here was
too high, while some of the smaller
towns offered to give a mill site
and make low taxes for a term Of
years. The silk manufacturer
went through cotton mills else
where, and he had not been in the
first one ten minutes before he eX-
pressed surprise at the skill of the
operatives. 81 never saw more
determined operatives anywhere, "
he said. ''Such labor rs this is
all we need for silk manufa cture.
| had been told that the Southern
operatives were not sufficiently
skilled for our employment. |
see for myself that they are
The manufacturer was favorably
impressed with Greensboro from
the first. He talked with other
manufacturers there, and when
he learned of the conditions there,
of the cheapness of labor, the alb
sence of agitators, the low taxes,
the cheap fuel, and the cheap liv-
ing, he telegrapbed his firm to
stop work on their new mills in
Ohio until he could pursue his in
vesGigations. AS serted above, he
was favorably impressed with At
lanta, and aIsu with Columbus.
Gu, but on Returning and pay ing
a second visit 10 = .'eensboro lie
decided to report fayor,,bly on
that point.
Now it IS given out that the
mills will be moved to Greensboro.
This means an inve.i1nent of q
million dolb,rs there In a ,.l,,nt.
| 1t means the employ menr If ] SOC
operatives and nearly 81, Nm, 900 a
year to be distributed in wages.
Tue product is sold chieiy in che
North and Middle West; SO che
money which the industry makes
Will practically all come into the
South from other sections.
( This move is the direct result of
the work of the Southern Railways
industrial department. No rep
resents,tlve OF that department
was here yesterday, and these tales
OF removal could nor be obtained
but IL IS understood that work will
proceed as fast as possible.
The investigation conducted by
Mr.. Bamford was done very quiet
ly, and few knew anything of it.
When he was in Atlanta lie was
urged to locate here, and said that
he would do so if the CITY were
smaller, but he had made up his
mind that the best site would be
In town not exceeding 10000
population.
| What is said to be the finest ond
most costly saddle in America ie
owned by wealthy rancher of Cal
lfornia. 1t is made of fine em.
bossed leather, set thick with sill.
yer buttons and rosettes, the pom
mel IncaSpd with silver ~