The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-10-15
A BIG BLEACHERY
|. TO BE ESTABLISHED
"A Meeting at Sanford in Re-
gard to it.
LOOKING FOR A SITE
FAYETTEVILLE AND SANFORD
ARE ALREADY BIDDERS.
WILL HANDLE PRODUCT or TEN MILLS
The Small Plant of the 0delI Company at Con-
cord the Only One Of tie Sort in the
State. R. |. Steele Of Rocking
ham Behind the Enterprise.
ham Behind the Enterprise.

Hamlet, n. G., October a. (Special.)
Last night there was large and en-
thusiastic meeting of the town council
and public spirited citizens of Hamlet
in the paror of Mr.. ID. McNair's hotel.
The occasion of it was proposition
from Mr.. Robert l.. Steele, of Rocking
ham, to erect in this section, at what
ever town should offer the best in
ducements and could afford the best
advantages, an immense bleaching and
dyeing establishment. Already induce
ments have been proffered by the towns
of Fayetteville and Sanford. Mr..
Steele himself was present, and indeed,
it was at his instance that the meeting
was held. He stated that there was
not in the State single establishment
of this kind. The Odel manufacturing
Company is doing some of this work in
small way for its own mills, but it hiis
been demonstrated that the nature or
the work is such that nothing less than
Il ten-ton plant will pay. This would
amount to handling and working of the
entire product of ten mills Of the ca
pacity of the large Steele mill at Rock
ingham. At present the mills Of the
State are sending their fabrics to North
ern bleacheries TO be finished An es-
adjustment of this kind is pressing
need. To make this venture the pro-
moter must have the assurance of the
immediate patronage of certain num-
Der of mills. This he has--enough TO
start withholding less than ten-ton
plant, and the prospects are that it
will be much larger.
He stated that Sanford had offered
to give a fiye-acre plot between the two
railroad lines and water privileges free,
also exemption from town taxes for
twenty years. He could not expect
Hamlet to do more than this, nor did
he ask it. All he asked was an offer
equally as good He had been led to
of its railroad facilities, but more espe-
cially its proximity to his business at
Rockingham.
Mr. Steele has had already letters
from Northern capitalists desiring to Sc
cure stock. He has had letter from
one man offering to furnish all the cap
ital But he says that he intends to
have the controlling stock owned by
local capital, and will take subscriptions
for small amounts from those in the
neighborhood, who desire to subscribe.
There was an enthusiastic response
on the part of the citizens, and several
choice sites were offered. Hamlet
agrees to do as much in the way of site
and privileges as Sanford or any other
town. and more if necessary to secure
the plant.
There is doubt in the minds of some
as to whether a town has rights to ex-
empt from taxation, but if any other
town has, Hamlet has. Mr.. Cameron
Morrison was present. having been hur-
.riedly summoned from Rockingham, and
the question wis submitted to him. He
will give them an opinion in writing next
Monday.
TO make success of an enterprise of
this kind the movement must be headed
by man who has the confidence of the
community and can command the pat
ronage Of mill men all over the country.
Northern capitalists recognize this and
that is their reason for wishing to take
stock in Mr.. Steele's movement rather
than inaugurate one of their own.
Although Mr.. Steele says the bleach
cry is not certainty, we believe that
it is practically assured and that it is
headed by the right man. The question
is, who gets it? Hamlet or Sanford?