The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-07-28
RIG COTTON MILLS
FOR CHATHAM
Durham Co. Buys One of the
South's Best Water Powers.
TWO COTTON MILLS NOW
BRANCH OF SEABOARD AIR
LINE TO BE BUILT.
WILL GIVE EMPLOYMENT TO HUNDREDS
Active Work Will Also Begin at lockvle and
Over Hundred laborers Fu TO Work
.Ena'ging The Dam Across
Deep River.

Chatham county is destined soon to he
one If tho leading counties in the State
in the manufacture of cotton goods.
This paper was the first te announce the
purchase Of the famous lIockvllle Wa
ter powers by a company OF men com
posed of the Morgans. Carr and Dukes
to develop that plant. \ few weeks
ago the Chatham Record minated
that there were other important enter
prises of like character which would
add greatly to Chatham's wealth. and
Yesterdays Record gives the following
particulars:
'.rhe Erwin Cotton Mills Company, of
Durham. has bought one thousand acres
of land on both sides Of Haw River for
Il distance or about three miles. extend
ing from the mouth Of Roberson'S creek
,below the county bridge near Moore :
milD up to and including the old Hem
ley mill tract OF course this purchase
includes the water power and all riparian
rights. which was the real object of
the purchase and will he utilized in
oInrating two or more large cotton
mills. \ thorough and accurate survey
| of this water power was made before
| the sale was contaminated. and il is
| found to be one Of the most valuable
! Ill tift fSUulH. the IAN btiif- utiNttH
| ninety and one hundred feet.
| .'rhe Erwin Cotton Mills Company
! is corporation organized a few years
| ago at Durham. where ii erected and
| has most successfully operated one OF
| the largest cotton mills in this State
| Its officers are Il. \. Duke, president:
/ G. w. Watts. vice president; and W.
/ A. Erwin secretary and treasurer three
| IF bo hy aud rt,llia S,tipitf,I
citizens Of this State. They appreciate
the value OF this property on Haw river
| ard will ut once proceed to develop and
! utilize it on an extensive scale. Com
/ tracts will be made ut once for timber
to be used in the preliminary work. 1t
is probable that two dams will be
constructed. and two cotton mills be-
built at ai early day. one on each
! side of the river. When completed
these mills will employ several hundred
/ operatives.
I'm addition to The erection Of fnesc
cotton mills the company will also con-
| struct railroad 1rom their property
either to Pittshoro or to some point on.
/ the Raleigh and Augusta Air Line Rall-
road. Already one route has been par-
tally surveyed and several will be sur
/ veyed before Il location is made II.
| would seem that the proposed road
ought To run from here down Robersonss.
/ creek. a distance OF about five miles.
and the rolling stock of the pittshnro
| Railroad could be used in operating
/ it.
This important sale was effected by
and through Mr.. j. T.. Bryan. of Mon
cure. who has displayed much energy
and business sagacity in its consrmma-
ton. 1t is undoubtedly the most impor-
tant sale that has ever been made in
this immediate section, ana will be of the
very greatest benefit 10 Chatham coun-
ty. The erection and operation Of the
proposed cotton mills and the develop
mcnt of this valuable WAFER power
will give steady employment to several
hundred persons. and will put in circu-
lation in this section a very large
amount of money.
"Mr. w. A. Erwin. the secretary and
treasurer of the company, arrived here
last Tuesday afternoon. accompanied by
the company's attorney, r. l.. Fuller.
Esq. and chief engineer. Mr. j. w.
Hays. for the purpose OF receiving the
deeds for the property ana paying the
purchase money. alter dcing this they
went to Haw River and examined their
property
I'VE are pleased to note IN this con-
nection that active work will soon be-
gin at Lockville by the purchasers of
the splendid water power at that place.
A party OF engineers is now hard at
work there preparing for the Improve
ments that will soon be started. In
a few days over a hundred lahorers
will be employed in enlarging anu re
, pairing the dam across Deep river, ana
Their work viii, begin on large cotton
mill"