Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-01-26
SOUTHERN INDUSTRIES.
COTTON MILL INCREASE-IRoN
BUSINESS-NEWI INDUSTRIES.


Especial to virginian-Pilot.)
Baltimore. Jan. 25.-The great in
crease during recent years>in the num-
Der of cotton mills in the South is the
result primarily of the knowledge that
such undertakings pay handsomely for
the investments in them. The cove
ment has been one OF constant accelera-
ton, into which other elements than
mere dividends for stockholders have
entered. Actual money received from
the operations OF mills has not been
the only incentive to prompt subscrip-
tons to the stock of new companies
and lively campaign of organization.
One Of the most powerful impulses.
perhaps. has been the effect of cotton
mills upon the communities in which
they have been established and upon
the surrounding country Charlotte, n.
c., is q notable example for other towns
of the South adapted by location and
by the spirit of their citizens to sue
cess as cotton manufacturers. Hunts
Vile, Ala, with its progress during the
past few months. following the location
there Of the Merrimac project, Is an
example. Three letters in the Manu-
facturers' Record from mill towns In
the Piedmont region of the South pre-
sent other striking illustrations of the
benefits Of cotton mills.
Mr.. Frank Hammond, OF Greenvlle,
S. c.. points to the Piedmont mills In
his county as typical OF n score or more
other mills in the State The Piedmont
mills in a quarter Of century have
transformed poor hillside farms into a
thriving town Of 5000 inhabitants while
neighboring farm lands have risen in
value from $3.50 to $40 an acre. The
building of mills at Greenville has been
accompanied by the remodelling of old
business properties and the building of
new ones, with n perceptible advance
in the price of city and suburban
property.
Mr.. l.. Lanier, Of West Point. Ca,
points to Riverview. with 1000 inhabi-
tants: Langdale. with $500 inhabitants;
and Lanett. with 1900 inhabitants; live
towns supplied with free schools and
churches for citizens drawn from the
surrounding country as purely the ere
alton of mills which were built there.
while the country for miles around is
in prosperous condition, and the Trade
OF West Point (the shipping place for
the three mill towns) has been largely
widened.
The increase In the population of
Rock Hill, S. c., Is. according to Mr..
John G.. Anderson, mainly due to the
establishment of six mills there, and at
that point, too, the value of real es-
tate has appreciated wonderfully.
These experiences are typical OF many
Southern mill towns. The influx of
population receiving wages at definite
intervals and the purchases of cotton
have strengthened the retail business
of the towns, have made the local sup
ply of money more stable, and have
given the nearby farmers permanent,
steady market for butter, milk, poultry
and vegetables. and have thus encour-
aged the diversfication Of farming op-
erations, which, more generally adopt
ed will do much to solve the cotton
problem of the South.
Prosperity for merchants, cash mar
kets for farmers, steady employment
for the population, brought at the same
time close to opportunities for improv-
ing their conditions. and the adj
vantages of local sales for cotton
growers, have come from the building
of mills It Is no wonder that cotton
manufacturing is following closely up
on the heels of the centre of cotton
growing.
The aggregate iron business during
the week In me birmingham district
showed an increase. though there were
no large transactions. The iron mas
tiers believe that there is n brisk de-
mand just ahead. and they regret that
it may find them fully sold up for
months ahead in spite OF the fact that
new furnaces are coming into the field.
The reason for this is that the product
Of these furnaces was all placed for
months ahead before their fires were
lighted. Expert inquiry. too. has ma
terially increased. In the Admission dis
trict the activity in mining famous
brown hematte ores is increasing.
More than 1000 cars week are now
being mined but the demand still eS-
ceeds the supply.
NEW INDUSTRIES.
Among the new industries reported
during the week to the Manufacturers
Record were the following: Fifty
thousand telephone company. in Ala
bama: $4,000 medicine factory, in Ar
kansas: $4,000 sawTnill. in Florida:
ST. Q0, 900 gold mining company, $4,000