Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-01-20

board. These mills have been noteily
successful. demonstrating in every way
,he advantages of this territory for this
INDUSTRY. With the steady Development
Vi the practically unlimited water-pow-
ers along this line, and the rapid ex-
pansion or cotton manufactures, as yet
practically in its infancy az compared
win what it will be- II Is reasonable
10 predict that no other equal railroad
ihs.eage VIII In the future be able to
s"o" i greater cotton industry.
SOME ADVANTAGES.
Drawing d limo from Lynchburp
Va. southwestward along the foothii;s
Oh the Blue Ridge mountains. stretch
ing past Rutherfor iton, Charlotte and
holne, Ga, TO Godsden. thence SOUTH
eaStwardly through Eufaula, Ala, to
A'oahy. Ga. thence northward on
s.tss'sht line from Albany to Norfolk
ana pack to the starting point att
L!nchburg, We have marked out the fu
'lre situs of the cotton manufacturing
% the South. and that means, as far as
human foresight can predict. the future
S.tuS OF cotton manufacturing OF the
world. This territory is. roughly speak
ihS' about 800 miles long by 100 to $50
ml!es Vide. and covers an area of from
'VoVo - $4,000 square miles. 1t has ad-
V'hiaSes for cotton manufacturing I'M
equAled by any other country of the
world. and through the very center OF
Its branch lines. Briefly. some Of these
Advantages may be enumerated:
~ Elevation above sea level.
20 Abundant and cheap water
power and coal.
90 An abundant supply OF native
American operatives.
90 Low labor cost, because Of low
cost OF living
'(6D Unsurpassed healthfulness.
% Cotton supply Immediately at
hand.
- Cheap and abundant transporta-
ton to the markets OF the world
This favored belt of country is main
ly what is known as the Piedmont
slope. At its southeastern boundary IL
has running at the foot of the falls OF
the rivers an elevation of about $50 to
800 meet above sea level, and along a
line running through its center from
northeast TO southwest an average OF
200 TO 500 feet elevation, while nearer
10 the foothills OF the mountains it rises
TO from 1000 to 1900 feet above sea
level. Nearly all Of the area OF this
belt is of primitive or volcanic forma-
ton. with gne!ss and granite ranges.
from which come the best of building
and foundation stone, which is nearly
everywhere in this territory TO be had
In abundance and at but little cost
other than that of quarrying.
a FAVORED SECTION.
This belt OF country is moderately
undulatlng. hilly and rolling. with but
few outlying mountains. as the great
Blue Ridge mountain range runs to the
northwest and parallel with II. 1t is
noted for It's healthfulness. 1t is well
supplied With pure water from abund-
ant mountain springs and rapid rivers:
has an cNuahle climate, neither too cold
nor too warm. and an atmosphere I'M
rivalled for cotton spinning. In much
of this area but little artificial heat Is
necessary for spinning rooms. and this
only from November to April, and for
this reason the operatives can be hous-
ed and kept warm in the cold months
at one-half the cost in New England.
Its summer climate. contrary to the
superstition of many New England peo-
pie who have never visited this region
during midsummer. is one of its great
est charms. 1t lacks the sultry. ener-
waiting heat of large portions OF more
northern States, and, on the contrary.
has n bracing air and cool nights that
afford refreshing sleep.
MAGNIFICENT WATER POWER
studying the map. one Will note the
James, the Roanoke. the Tar. the
Neuse. the Cape Fear. the Peedees. the
Wateree. the Congaree, the Savannah,
the Ocmulgee. the Flint and the Chatta-
hoochee rivers. with their tributaries
and branches. crossing this belt from
their mountains sources. flowing to-
wards the Atlantic and Gulf. The ag-
gregate powers that could be furnished
by these rivers has been roughly eSti-
mated to be several million horse
power.
MILD WINTERS.
AS this belt is free from severe win
ters. ice distractions are practically un-
known, and floods are rarely trouble
some. Nearly all OF these streams
have their origin in the foothills of
the mountains. are never-failing and
suffer little from drouths in summer.
as the rainfall of this belt is uniform
Continued on Tenth Page.)