The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-05-18

brief synopsis Of the conditions found
in CASTOR County and the city Of
Gastona contains figures and facts
that are authentic in evcrv way, hav-
ing been compiled from information
on file al the Chamber OF Commerce
and secured from many sources. in
Guiding government ard state reports
and information secured direct by
the chamber;
While the history Of CASTOR Coun-
" might we'll he divided into two
periods. the first from the immigra-
ton Of the early settlers prior 10 the
Revolutionary days TO the year 1873,
when the first railroad was built
through the county, and the second
from the advent of the railroad to
the present day, yet there are two
other periods Of time that have made
history or which CASTOR is proud.
and bring 10 our attention facts and
figures that are, without the most
careful study, not only inconceivable
to the outside world. bat marvellous
to those who have witnessed the
changes that have produced success
full manufacturing and advanced
agriculture.
The first period that Of evolution,
and the second. that Of progress.
have wrought most marvellous
change in conditions In a nutshell
CASTOR has changed from the banner
whiskey making county Of the State
Of North Carolina TO absolute prohi-
bition and successful industry. the
licensed dfsttftery has been supplant-
ed by the textile mill: open field ana
forest have become the most densely
populated rural section OF the State
with a rural average Of over eighty
five persons to the square mill de-
ficiency has given away 70 efficiency
in education. with ia schoolhouses
in the towns. mil villages and farm
ing sections-from a measer $39i05
a = provided for the schools during the
first year Of the county's existence
ls4S. the appropriation today has
reached s125, o0o. The huh-deep mud
ruts, used for public highways. have
changed to good roads handsome
church Buildings have been erected:
and a low tax rate has been estao-
lished
1t would be folly 10 attempt 10 srve
the details Of the evolution and pro-
gress OF CASTOR County at this time.
The statistics of the county as II is
today prove beyond doubt that
CASTOR Is both the leading; textile
county of North Carolina, II not of
Tue ohten states' one OF the fore
most agriculture counties OF the
STATE and included among the leaders
IN olher businesses anu professions,
The area or CASTOR County is 81
square miles or 28s $40 acres. II
"sS created IN ls41 and named in
honor Of the Hon. William CASTOR
The foundation of the textile center
OF North Carolina was laid one year
later IN lS4s. when the Mountain
lfiano Lotton Mill Was erected. In
1850 the second textile plant was
established, the third in 1872, and the
fourth In ls7S, BY 1885 seven mills
were IN operation The wear 1908
saw twenty mills while today Gas
ton is the proud possessor of sixty
elgnt 'eXtlie plants In operation, more
than any other county in the South.
ana close second for the highest
number OF any county in the United
states. Five other mills have been in
corporated and are in the course OF
construction
These sixtE-eight mills. with CAPT
talization Of over 100000, repre-
sent one-seventh Of the textile cant
tai of the whole state: give us a pay
roll, exclusive OF salaries of s1.953,-
bs', and furnish employment to thou
sands of Gastons 47.0O0 population.
They operate 60s,712 spindes one
sixth of the entire spindles of the
state: consume annually 42.057.542
pounds of cotton. one-fifth of the en-
tire consumption of the State. and
produce millions of miles Of warn
cloth and other products represent