Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-06-09
FRIDAY JUNE 9, 1899
Az INCsDENT.

In fhe Dispatches Biographical sketch
OF Colonel John Bel Bigger yesterday
mention was made Of the fact thar. IN hi'
early manhood ha went 10 Massachusetts
10 live for awhu. AT that timc-as iFter
on-fhe development Of The water power
of the James river at Richmond was
much talked about aud it was the hope
OF many public spirited citizens that our
CITY would become the centre OK the
cotton-spinning business.
Young Bigger was advised that he could
prepare himself for no more pIo-
missing business pursuit than that of cot
ton manufacturing. And SO, through the
influence of New England friends, he was
permitted 10 enter one of the great Mas
saclusetts mills and acquaint h'mseh
with the practical workings Of the bus'-
ness. with a view to making mse Of his
knowledge when such mills were estah-
lished in Richmond
He remained in Massachusetts only a
few months His expectations with re-
ference TO Richmond were not realized.
1t is true that cotton goods manufacture
ing attained to some importance In our
sister city of Manchester but New Eng
land continued to hold the supremacy
until recent years. when inc Carolinas and
Georgia have been dotted over with fac
tories. M
There is story which has been cur
rent here for 10 these many years. that
the men who made such . great success
of cotton spinning ana Weaving ut Lowell.
Mass, came TO Richmond aad examined
our mill sites ana were delighted with the
advantages of this city, but cur people
gave them little or no encoura gemert to
locate here, and they then went to
Lowell and were received with enthus-
iasm and became the means Of making
that town u great industrial centre
This story has been repeated over and
oft. How much Of II is true We do not
know. but Il is certain that about 1871
the old canal around the Pawtucket Falls
In the Merrimac river was enlarged, and
under the control of a water-p0wer com
pany, Inducements were offered to cottoi
and woollen manufacturing companies tC
come to Lowell. Thus Lowell became the
leading cotton manufacturing city OF th'
country and held that position until ;
comparatively few years ago. when 4
was surpassed by Fall River and. posi-
bly,. by some other cities.
1t may be questioned whether cotton
mills would have succeeded az well a
RichmonA as they did at Lowell. if the,
had been established here az the time j.
question. our social order did not alto
gether favor the enterprise. What wa
needed by the mills was great deal o
white female labor. At that time. ant
under thoss Social conditions. IL may h
doubted II Richmond and 'he surround
ing country could have furnished enough
such labor.
Indeed, we may conjecture that on
forefathers looked upon the enteTPris'
with no great favot not because the,
were ignorant Of the advantages tina
prosperous factories would AFFORD IN
city. but because they doubted il the labo
needed could be furnished But see wha
u change time has wrought. Richmond
Is now a large employer OF White fema!
labor. and the dsmand is growing yea
by year. However. for the past 81!
months, tthe demand has outrun the sup
ply. although hundreds OF girls from tn
country have come here aud found en-
ployment
We DO not know how Colonel Blgge
would have succeeded In life had his carl
ambition been eratiiled as he hoped lou
Il seems 10 us thot he was born for pnhli
life rather than Tor business life. ii
was at home with tbs people ana III
people were az home With him. Polite
was the breath OF his life, almost, an
though a Democratic partisan he was Re
markably popular with political oppo
nenty. too
We recall Colonel Biggcr's Massa
chusetts venture with double purpose
10 show the bent OF his mind at thar do,
and, n possible. 10 elicit further infoTma
fion sbou, Ricbmond's missing the %
portunity. which, It is alleged. Lowe
seized. What We have heard on the sub
ject was vaguely stated and with note
worthy absence Of details relating 4
time and circumstance.
s---:s-,------.s-.-- 49,.
detachment OF the Royal Artiller