Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1904-02-04
GREAT OPPORTUNITIES.
WHAT THE WATCHMAN IN
THE TOWER SEES.
If We Would Realize Greater
GOldsbOro Our Citizens Should
Come Together For Consul
tation and For Action.
NO "a


What has become of the Colds
boro Chamber of Commerce? Do
the business men-the property
holders-the wage-earners the COM
munity-think that the city can
grow of itself; that without unity,
without intelligent cooperation,
without patriotic interest united in
common effort we can realize
"Greater Goldsboro''?
The ARGUS has ever adv ocated
systematic cooperation and the COM
ing together of our citizens under
some organized body for occasional
con5ultation-for in the mature coun-
sci of many there is wisdom and
wisdom gives guidance to effort and
strength for achievement.
And we see so many rare oppor-
tunities passing that might bring
greatness and opulence to Goldsboro
if grasped by her citizens and bri-
died to her service, that we feel it in
cumbent upon Us to administer
somewhat of a rebuke upon our dis
united people, not only as duty we
owe them, from the watch tower,
but as greater duty we owe to
po5terity and the State.
Just at this time-and more so
than ever before, and permanently
the cotton mill industry of the
Northern States is moving to its ap-
pointed place of leadership. Many
years ago far-sighted persons real
lied that eventually the bulk of the
cotton crop would be manufactured
in the South, and that the stands
would be shipped from the cotton
belt in the form of thread and cloth
ana yam, rather than in bales.
The news that the Merrimac
Manufacturing Company, of Lowell
Mass, will commence at once to
build a large cotton factory at Mer-
! rimac, Ala, in addition to the two
great mills already operated in that
place by the same corporation, is an
other indication Of this steady change
and movement. The Merrimac cir
cumstance is of peculiar significance
because this company, it is said, has
decided to duplicate its Lowell mills
in the South on account Of the de-
creased margin of profit on cotton
manufactured in New England.
This margin has been well nigh
wiped out by the recent phenomenal
rise in cotton.
The bull movement in the staple
is thus fastening rapidly the estab-
lishment of the seat of the cotton
mill industry in the cotton fields.
| This phase of the situation Is pre-
cisely in line with prediction made
two months ago, when it was pro-
posed to curtail production, north
and South. eff anybody can stand
it, the Southern mills can," we said
at that time; and this proposition,
almost an axiom from the beginning
is now being realized with such
| clearness that northern mill owners
are moving their plants to the South
in order to enjoy the advantages Of
close contact with the raw material
Such a movement is indeed the only
, alternative left them, with the rul
ing price of cotton, if they are tc
manufacture the ordinary grades o
goods.
The ceutering of the cotton manu-
7 featuring business in the South, a
: an earlier date THAI mad been ex
! pected, is another of the substantial
t | benefits which high cotton is givin,
t our section, but unless we can Undue
/ some of these'large plants to come t.
s Goldsboro, where we have every
q thing that could be desired in natul
q al advantages and railroad facilities
our city will not be the beneficiar,
of the coming of these mills to th
lSouth.