The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-05-09
THE FACTORY IS c|NCHED
WILMINGTON GETS THE BIG
HOLT COTTON MILL.
A Capital stock OF s2so.ooo Has been
subscrfbed-The Lands Purehasedfo for
the PIant-The Factory Site VIII be
at the Minera S~pring-The VIII TO be
Ready for Operation by Japuary-n
Will be n Fine Factory

Ready for Operation by apuary-h
VIII be n Fine Factory
For some time negotiations have been
on foot with Mr.. E. c Holt OF Bur
lington. and other well known capital
lists. 10 establish q big cotton mill IN
Wilmington. Mr. Holt and his assocl-
ates have contemplated the enterprise
for some time. and have looked over
the field and made inquiry into the
advantages OF several cities with a
view 10 locating the mill. Stock was
offered by the capitalists OF several
cities, and among those whose advant-
ages We're considered was Wilmington
All the additional stock necessary 10
make up a capital stock Of s25o,@O was
quickly guaranteed by our city, and
in fact more capital than was neces-
sary was readily subscribed by our
leading business men. The advantages
Of our city for manufacturing were
also put forward. and after looking
critically into all the conditions, Mr..
! Holt decided to build the big mill
here.
The decision was made in " OF
Wilmington some days ago, but We re-
| Trained from mentioning it until all the
! rrangements could be completed. The
land for the plant of the mill has been
purchased and the contract for the
min buildings will be let in a few
days.
For the erection Of the mill, Mr.. Holt
has purchased from Mr.. w. A. Wright
100 acres of land aroun the mineral
spring, a mile in The southern limits
| of the city. The lands lie between the
tracks Of the Wilmington and New
! Bern branch of the Atlantic Coast Line
and the Wilmington S~eacoast railroad
and the elegant shell road of the Will
mington and Coast Turnpike Com
pan Part of the track takes in the
junction of the Wilmington and New
Bern and the Wilmington Seacoast
railroads.. This will give ample trans
%portation facilities, as sidetracks will
be run into the factory plant.
The location is n of the highest
and most healthful around Wilmington.
The mineral spring affords pure water
Of the very best quality. There is also
ample water of the best quality for
running the steam plant and the dying
departments, and for use in case of
fire. A large standpie will be erected,
and if necessary artesian wells will be
bored. Professor ]. A. Holmes. the
state geologist, has expressed the opin-
ion that good artesian water can be
obtained.
The main mill building, the plans for
which have already been made, will
be $50 feet long by 125 feet wide, and
two stories high, with a section three
stories high. The engine room will be
so feet. Besides there will also be
warehouses, a building for a first class
dye plant, and other buildings neces-
sary TO make the plant complete. In
| addition to the mill buildings, 125 one
and two story cottages will be erected.
SO that a pretty village will be built
or the grounds. The buildings will be
erected at an outlay of $40, 900.
The mill will embrace 10, 900 spindles
and 500 looms, and will employ from
250 to 300 hand1 A speciality Will be
made of colored goods. In all particu-
lars the mill will be equipped with the
latest improved machinery, and it will
be the most thorough and up to date
mill that can possibly be built. Mr..
Holt expect 10 have the mill built and
ready for beginning operations by next
January.
The factory is a big thing for Will
mington and those interested in the in
dustrial development Of our city are
confident that it will be the entering
wedge for an influx of other enter
prises. When it is remembered that the
a~daptability Wilmington for
turing purposes was thoroughly exam
tned into in comparison with other
North Carolina cities. and the balances
largely outweighed in favor OF Will
mington. il is d great triumph for this
city. No city in the south has greater
resources Of supply OF raw material,
more superior facilities for water and
rail transportation. and better climat-
&c conditions the ear round, not 10
mention the uneQualed school and
social advantages which our CITY Of
fers.
We are pleased TO learn tha; Mr.
Holt will remove his family To our, city.
He will probably purchase or build a
residence. He has already bouga. 2
cottage al Wrightsville beach. the one
built by ex-Mayor ;. H FishbIate. and
recently we by Mr.. George Har-iss.
Jr, from whom Mr.. Holt purchased i
He VIII occupy his seaside cottage this
eason
MI Holt, who has been here several
times recently looking after the fac
tory project, left last night for Bur
lington. He expects 10 return ba-a
ABOUT the middle OF the morth Il or
L 0Q n -1E