The Washington times., 1903-07-27
Great Growth.

UItdI OlOWln-
The extraordinary development Of the
Southern States during the last two
years is shown by the textile directory.
which has just been issued for 1903, by
the Southern Railroad. Whole new
towns have sprung into existence along
the lines of the Southern. and in many
States the production of every kind of
cotton goods has almost doubled. The
mills are now manufacturing the finest
grades of goods. those which only few
years ago had to be imported from Eng
land. The production Of raw cotton has
Increased greatly, and the thousands of
people who have moved into the South
east have developed dozens of new in-
dustries, and have increased and in
proved the dairy products and all farm
crops. On the trip to and from Atlanta,
one is astonished at the growth. On
the way down one is hardly out Of the
sight OF the dome OF the Capitol before
the scenes of hustle begin Not viii
lage or town or city is passed but what
new buildings are seen in the course
of construction And these are not cne-
story structures They are handsome
dwellings and manufacturing plants.
Not all By any means are cotton mills.
Huge furniture factories. wagon and
machine shops, brick yards, lumber
mills, paint manufactures are every<
where. In some cases where the fac
tories are larger than usual, small
towns have been built up around them
However, the figures IN the Southern
Railroad index tell their own story
For instance, this year there are in
operation in Alabama 45S 1856 spindles.
against 3s9. .29S last year In Georgia, the
spindles increased from S7S.522 last year,
to GOT $50 this year. In Mississippi the
increase was 1000. In North Carolina
the increase was from 1.zSS, $50 10
1.41s.6s1. In South Carolina the num-
Der Jumped from 1876. SEQ to 2,30S, ,53l-
The number of wooden mills has grown
80 per cent in ali of the territory tri-
butary TO the Southern. The same is
true Of knitting mills. The summary
shows that there are now on the South
ern lines 5e2 mills. in which there are
151 ,57s looms and 5.74s.130 spindles.
Concerning the construction Nj. V.
Richards, the land and Industrial agent
of the Southern. says:
ION January l OF the current calendar
year the number of cotton mills equip
ped for operation on the lines Of the
Southern Railway In the States OF Ala
bama. Georgia, Indiana. Kentucky, Mis-
7, sissippi, North Carolina, South Carolina,
Tennessee. and Virginia, was 45S. as
compared with 412 on the corresponding
date OF 1902. or an Increase OF 4S mills.
ION the same date there were in op
eraticn on these lines Il knitting mills
and 81 woolen mills; and these, with 70
mills on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad.
made a total OF 592 textile plants tri-
butary to the Southern Railway and
allied limos on the date referred TO.
THE equipment OF these mills COM
prIsed Isl. .579 looms. STABLE spindles,
5,424 knitting machines. 1.136 sewing
machines, and 265 sets OF cards.
since January l. 1903. there have
been added q new plants. including 70
cottoa mills and knitting mills. which
have added 10 the total equipment 20,
134 looms and 727.35S spindles; and
there are now under construction %
other mills with an equipment Of 14.025
looms and 50o.312 spindles. making final
totals, existing and in sight. OF 642
mills. 1s5.73s looms and 6.s76.s00 spin
dies
The corresponding exhibit for 1902
comprised $50 mills. 1so.O45 looms and
4,975.S11 spindles. This shows a net
| increase of Sc mills, 55, ,6s3 looms, and
! 2,001 ,4S9 spindles."