The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-31
LAURINBURG.
A 100000 Cotton Mill Soon to Begin
Operations.

Operations.
To the Editor: In reply to your in
quiry concerning am article with refer
ence to the industrial development of our
town and section and the outlook for
1900. would say, that l regret my inabil-
ity to do justice to the subject owing
to a lack of sufficient tfme for its pre-
paration besides other matters that de-
mand my attention at this time.
However. even in hurriedly written
sketch, some features of industrial prog
ress may appear, showing the many read
ers of the News and Observer that our
town lis not altogether asleep as the days
go by.
1t will be remembered that Laurinburg
was once the seat of the railroad com
pany's shops. In some respects the shops
We're valuable acquisition, especially in
a business and financial way. The COM
pany, of course, paid its employees month
ly. and the cash, the payroll being prob
ably about $4,000 per month. OF course
this money was turned over to the mer-
chants for supplies and this monthly in
gathering of hard cash was necessarily q
stimulus to our business interests.
But even with these advantages, there
were corresponding disadvantages that
could not be over looked. There was al
ways much talk of the shops being re-
moved; the air was full of such reports
and mem of means who regarded the
shops as the bone and sinew of the place
were slow to invest their money in any
enterprise as in event of removal their
investments would be that much dead
loss.
Well. the shops were finally removed
and as expected, n depressing effect was
the result for awhile. But. us wise men
had predicted. the town, being been sew
cred from this source Of revenue, was
thrown on its own resources. Confidence
was again restored and the people were
not slow to recognize the necessity as well
as the wisdom of feeling back ON their
own resources if they Were to have any
part in the great Industrial wave that
seems to have taken in so many Southern
cities and towns.
Perhaps 3 cent cotton the panic of
1893, and general stagnation i'll business
circles. though sough experiences. were
helpful in laying the foundation for the
better times that followed.
They instituted a more economical and
diversified system of farming. The farm
ers reduced their cotton acreage and gave
more attention to the cultivation of grain
and other crops. Tobacco a crop hither-
to unknown, bias fair to replace a cOnsid-
cradle per cent of the cotton acreage.
The farmers have acquired valuable ex-
perience and will plant more Of the weed
the coming year. A convention OF Scot
lands tobacco growers wall meet here to-
morrow for the purpose of electing dele
gates to the State convention which meets
in Raleigh Jan. 18th. The idea seems
to be not only to raise those things neees-
sary for home consumption, that can and
should be raised ON the farm, but to raise
other crops that can readily be converted
into cash and not rely on cotton as the
sole dependence.
From business point, we don't think
the town was ever in better shape. The
good prices prevailing this year have ell
abled the merchants to make good col
lections and the average farmer has not
only paid out but has supplies at home
on which to start the new years business.
SO far as town property is concerned.
building lots are not only i'm demand, but
come high. Handsome residences of
modern style have been erected and are
in process of erection; there has been n
general advance in rents and withal,
there is not an umoccupied dwelling in
the town.
OF course. we Scotchmen think that
our new county of Scotland has had
much to do with stimulating progression
along all lines, Our opponents used
to- speak of us as ''threshing over the
same old straw but what does that mat
ter as long as we succeeded in obtaining
| the pure grain?
| The people have also observed that the
rapid growth and development of Other
towns, have in most instances, been
traceable to the attention given to man
ufacturing. AS said by another, there
can be no doubt but that 'smanufactur-
| ing is the great pioneer of industrial de-
yelopment"
We think we have made a fine start
| i'm this direction. The Scotland cotton
mills a 5000 spindle mill. built almost
| entirely by home capital, is one of the
| best built mills in the State and as fit
| ted UP throughout. at great expense.
with the latest and most improved ma
| chinery.
The plant cost 100000 and will be
ready for work in s or 10 days. The
product of the mill will be hosiery yarns,
| from 24-40 and employment will be
| given to about 100 hands. Although the
i mill has not yet made a beginning, yet
the stockholders would mot take par for
| their stock today. Already rImors are
/ being circulated that this mill will be
followed by another one in the near flu
| ture.
This is n brief and necessarily am i'm
perfect sketch of our present condition.
| together with the outlook for future busi-
ness. Had we the time and space we
/ might make mention of other matters
along this line. hut for the present, the
above will suffice.
/ j. T.. MEGA CHIN,
editor. Exchange.