The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-04-22

roads mel are busy opening new
farms from the forests. On both sides
OF the roads men are making new
ing for an increased acreage OF cotton
to go to the mills that will be run
with Rockfish power.
This making of new farms is not
confined to any one section of the
State. Like the development Of power
all over North Carolina SO the devel-
opment Of farms is going on all over
he State, and they are not only cot
ton farms, but farms of all characters,
to supply the many things that are
to be needed, not only in the markets
Of the North, but in the growing mar
kets Of this growing and broadening
State.
I want the old folks to say TO the
boys a here is destined to be one
OF the great industrial ields of the
world, and l will enlarge a little on
the vision that unfolded itself to me
as I watched the men begin that dam
at ROckfiSh.
The three great industries of the
world are providing food, providing
clothing, and providing shelter for the
human race. Of these providing food
is the foremost. Providing clothing
i I1O A4CAt III lax A1OFld11iS liz
ter is the next. After the manufac-
ture of food products, the greatest
manufacturing industry in the United
States is the manufacture Of textiles.
There on Rockfish creek is outlined
n of the great industries Of the coun-
try. Cotton for the factory grows
within a hundred yards. of the mill
dam. Year after year. to the end OF
time. water will flow past the cotton
field On the Rockfish hills Year at
ter year., to the end Of time, cotton.
will grow On the hills to afford raw
by Rockfsh power.
Now compare this with the fac
tories Of other sections Of the coun.
try. Pennsylvania is one of the fore;
most manufacturing States of the
Union. Pennsylvania has depended
or. coal for power. The coal is go.
ing. In time water power will hav.
TO be used. The water power of tina.
State is hampered by the freezin
] weather of winter.
t Pennsylvania gets its iron ore from
Michigan and Wisconsin. and is yearl,
/ using up the supply. No more i
: raised from year to year, as is the cas-
< with cotton. PENNSYLVANIA can lool
I ahead to the day when its liberia
stores of iron ore will be exhausted
: So restricted are the supplies that
: new iron manufacturing establishment
ann now be set up for want Of or
;. to operate.
In North Carolina a new cotton mil
: may be built any day and in any quar-
ter of the State, except 1T the higl
u attitudes, with the assurance that ray
| material can be provid FL !~nGehnitel
; right at the door, and for all time.
: birmingham, Ala, is a good illus
. tratiOn of the value of fuel, or power
4 and ore, or raw material, close to
z gether. Some years ago somebody dis
covered that in the vicinity Of BIZ
mingham coal. iron ore, and limeston
n We're abundant. Iron furnaces wer
built, and in a few years Birmingham
has grown up to be one OF the mo!
pOpulOus cities south of the Ohio rive
a crOWding close on the heels of som
II OF the manufacturing cities Of tn
North.
Birmingham had the power and tf
raw material, being in that reSpe.
: sel~f-dependent. Unfortunately, Ri
;, Iningham is each day consuming HI
- raw material and her power, and bot
=, are Of such a character hat the
cannot be replaced.
I, There is where North Carolina h.
G. the advantage over any of the indu
in tries hat are using a raw materi
Ip that is not produced by the work
re the farm. That is why, in a fe
TO years, North Cardinals textile indu
III tries will surpass the iron and ste
n industries of those sections that d
I'll pend for their endurance on a VA
"a. fishing product. There is no like
OF hood of a dearth of mineral produc,
but there is a possibility that wi
the need of finding something TO r
he place the vanishing cheap iron vY
n of Michigan, Wisconsin and Mimi
sofa. the big metal industries Of Il
North May be competed TO shift SUI