The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-07-04
The POLICY OF THE.
NEW SEABOARD
-
tsident Williams Tells of
His Plans.
Up OF THE NEW SYSTEM
'raverses the Heart Of a Magnif-
cent Land.
lP OF THE NEW SYSTEM
RESOURCES ARE UNSURPASSED
,.on Mr.. Williams Has Kept the Railroads Of
the South FIRM Falling Into the
Hands Of q Vast
MONOPOLY.


was the consolidation of the roads now
composing the Seaboard Air Line Railway
System.
In an interview with the Manufac-
turer's Record, Mr.. John Shelton Will
liams. president of the Seaboard Air Line
system, said, just before the consolidation
was effected:
1.-The men interested in this purchase
recognize, first, the remarkable combin-
alton of wealth and traffic creating re-
sources of the country stretching from
Norfolk and Portsmouth (the Atlantic ter
minus of the line) to Atlanta, and sec
ondly, the inherent strength of the Sea-
board system, and its great possibilities
Reaching from Norfolk to Atlanta in al
most an air line, the Seaboard system
runs through the very heart and center
of what has been called the fu-
ture situs OF cotton manufacturing In
the world. It's branch lines bisect 1t,
stretching from Wilmington, on the coast,
to the mountains at Rutherfordton; and
with it's many connections, 1T covers al
most this entire territory. The cotton
mills Immediately on the line of this road
represent an investment OF probably more
than $12 OO0 900, and operate over 200
spindles, while mills that can be reached
by the connections of this system would
add easily another 500, 900 spindles to the
textile interests already, in whole or part,
tributary to the Seaboard. These mills
have been notedly successful. demonstrat-
ing in every way the advantages OF this
territory for this industry. With the
steady development of the practically un-
limited water powers along this line, and
the rapid expansion of cotton manufact-
ure, as yet practically in its infancy as
compared with what it will be, 1t is rea-
sonable to predict that no other equal
railroad mileage will in the future be able
to show a greater cotton industry.
SOMETHING ABOUT THE TERRITORY.
Drawing a line from Lynchburg, Va,
southwestward along the foothills of the
Blue Ridge mountains. stretching past
Rutherfordton, Charlotte and Rome, Ca.
70 Gadsden, thence enthusiastically
through Eufaula, Ala, to Albany. Ca,
thence northward on straight line from
Albany to Norfolk and back to the start
ing point at Lynchburg, we have marked
out the future situs of the cotton manu-
featuring of the south; and that means,
SO far as human foresight can predict,
the future situs of cotton manufacturing
of the world. This territory is, roughly
speaking, about 500 miles long by 100 to
$50 miles wide, and covers an area OF from
so OG0 to 10000 square miles. 1t has al
vantages for cotton manufacturing un-
eoualed by any other country OF the
world, and through the very center OF this
territory run the Seaboard and its
branch lines.
"Briefiy some of these advantages may
be enumerated:
"u) Elevation above sea level.
"(2) Abundant and cheap water power
and coal.
"(3) An abundance of native American
operatives.
40 Low labor cost, because OF low
cost OF living.
"(5) Unsurpassed healthfulness.
10y Cotton supply - nediately at hand.
"(7) Cheap and abunuant transportation
to the markets of the world.
THE PIEDMONT SLOPE.
ssThis favored belt of country is main
ly what is known as the Piedmont slope.
At it's southeastern boundary it has run
ming at the foot of the falls Of the rivers
an elevation of about $50 to 500 feet
above sea level, and along a line running
through it's center from northeast to
southwest an average of 700 to 800 feet
elevation. while nearer to the foothills of
the mountains it rises from 1000 to 800
feet above the sea. Nearly all of the
area of this belt is of primitive or vol
canic formation. with gneiss 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.
"This belt of country is moderately UNI
dulating, hilly and rolling, with but few
outlying mountains, as the great Blue
Ridge mountain range runs to the north
west and parallel with it. 1t is noted for
its healthfulness. 1t is well supplied
with pure water from abundant mountain
springs and rapid rivers; has an equable
climate, neither too cold nor too warm,
and an atmosphere unrivaled for cotton
sp:nning 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 opera
tives can be housed and kept warm in the
cold months at one-half the cost in New
England Its summer climate, contrary
To the suppositicn of many New England
people who have never visited this re-
gion during midsummer. is one OF its
greatest charms. 1t lacks the sultry.
eneryating heat of large portions of the
more northern states, and on the contrary
has bracing air and cool nights that
afford refreshing sleep.
GREAT WATER POWER.
Studying the map, one will note the
james, the Roanoke. the Tar, the Neuse,
the Cape Fear, the Peedees, the Wateree,
Ahe Congaree, the Savannah, the Ogeechee,
nhe oconee, the Ocmuigee, the Flint and
the Chattachoochee rivers. with their
tributaries and branches. crossing this
belt from their mountain sources. flowing
toward the Atlantic and the gulf The