The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-01-26
high POINT GREAT
FURNITURE TOWN.
It's Loss on the Tobacco
Crop Was a Blessing
in Disguise.
CENTRE OF GREAT
LUMBER REGIONS.
Eigbty-Odd Factories, Apcratcd
iii the Main by Home Capital
and Energy-Furlliture and
MI Wood Products
Manufactured at
High Point.
Especial 70 rhe rlme..pIspa,eh.l

Many years ago the town OF High
Point, then mere village with Il few
stores, a tobacco factory and q hotel.
made an effort to become tobacco
VILE, In Virginia, Winston-SaleEt.
Durham and Greensboro. in North Caro-
lima were too much for It, and the
great tobacco, market did not materia-
HE here. but a greater destiny awaited
the town.
The very fact that II failed as a to-
bacco mart aroused latent energies
which have made II not only the pride
OF the State, but town which, attracts
the attention OF the industrial world
IT Is manufacturing town. wood
working town, may say. that Is a
wonder to the slow people In some oth-
er communities.
Working Out Its Destiny.
High Point has achieved a success IN
manufacturing. within the past twelve
Years, which is wonderful. It's success
has demonstrated a principle OF It's own
creation-tte working out OF Its own
schemes from Its own pOtentialities.
While other towns In the South were
thinking of their possibilities, provided
they possessed capital. High Point
went TO work with what resources II
had, and began to solve the problem
OF manufacturing. II neither waited for,
nor advertised for capitalists to work
up" the large bodies OF fine oak timber
OF this section into furniture, but conf
meg ced, in a small way, 10 mannfac-
tuTs cheap line OF chamber suits.
This was In 1889. All that time the
village OF 1000 people had a tobacco
factory, sash. door and blind fac
tory and mill. which turned out
spokcs and shnttle-blocks. To-day II
possesses eighty factories, engaged
chiefly In the manufacture OF furni-
t;re OF various kinds. from kitchen
safes to chamber suits. When. thir-
teen years ago. three young men put
what money they had-a few thou
SAND dollars--into rough frame build
Ing. and filled II with saws. planners,
sandpapering machines. etc. which con
s,ituted the first factory. the more con-
scrvative thought 1t would be better
had they kept their small resources
Iii the dry goods and grocery business.
But they had confidence in their under
taking. Tho future was kind to them.
From the first there was q demand for
their furniture. and success was as
sured. Then followed venture after
venture on the part OF other young
men. The result was to give to High
Point the chief place among the fur
niture manufacturing towns OF tho
South. and to inspire hundred towns
to build factories.
A Striking Advantage.
Tho advantage which High Point
has over other towns engaged in man
u1acturing is In the variety OF arti-
cles manufactured. This fact is ap-
preciated both by large and small re-
tailers. 1t is convenient for the for
10. f,.<,, ,1,S
may procure all that he needs at once
the latter TO have the advantage OF
mixed cars-that Is, different kinds OF
furniture occupying the same car. II
may readily be seen that such con-
dition Is OF great advantage. both as
regards promptness and freight rates.
This fact. together With the estab-
lished reputation for reliability OF
goods. fills the High Point market with
dealers the whole year, and has built
up enormous mail order departments.
Home Folks at Work.
a unique feature Of manufacturing
in making High Point is. that of its
eiEhty-odd factories, none Of them has
an enormous capitaliza ton. The com.
pan1es run from $4,000 to sl75OO0
This is natural outcome OF the pec,l.
liar conditions already alluded TO, ant
has been OF great advantage to Higl
Point as manufacturing town, Hon,
capital and home talent have been pu
into tho different enterprises The
sririt OF manufacturing has been In.
stilled into Its citizens. Merchant. phy
stefan, lawyer. preacher, allshaye stock
many Of them Important executive no
sttions. In the new and growing fac
tories. Young men in shop, counting
room. or on the farm, look forward {,
the time when they will have sum
cienty money saved to take stock IN on,
OF the factories or build one fort hem
selves. This has produced a spirit =
1rugality and purposes on tile part 3
the young men of the community a
once safe. practical and dlvertinE. AM y
gives them an interest in the buildin.
ar Of the town they would not other
wise have. ~
OF the factories in High Point. abo,,
oine are engaged In the manufacture
Of furniture. one of sash, doors blind
and other frame building MA terial, on
engine-butlding works, two foundrles
enc basket factory one excelsior works
one ,veneering works, two trolser fac
tories. one shirt factory, one coft,1
h factory, one flour mill. one shuttle
block and bobbin factory, one show
( case! factory, one paint works, on:
molding and novelty works one whee
factory, one silk mill, and an organ
factory, etc. etc.
Seven Years. Growth,
All the interests mentioned are dom,
h o remunerativo business. but. as ma!
be seen, the manufacture OF fnrnitur.
pre- ponderates.@ The articles made com
prise chamber suits, odd pieces. fchal rs
sffce desks, tables. mantels, punt sets
:ouches, bed lounges, bed springs, side
Soards, &chlffoniers. Kitchen safes an
Eines, films, desks. sll woases, cottol
garments. and numerous other lines
The amount Of nmber used annual