The Lincoln times., 1955-01-17
BY WADE LUCAS

RALEIGH - The growth of the
textile industry in North Carolina
has been truly amazing since the
first successful mills were estab
lished in LincOlntOn (Schenck
mill and Rocky Mount in 1913.
Today there are approximately
1,100 textile plants operating in
North Carolina. In 1853 these
plants produced products valued at
S2,819,000.000, OF about 427 per
cent of the total manufacturing
output of S6,599. 100000.
OF the approximate 464,000 per-
sons employed in manufacturing
in 1858. some $4,000, OF about 50.4
per cent, were listed as workers
in textile mills.
A national leader in textile man
ufacturing, North Carolina is still
attracting textile plants. From
January, 1853. through November,
1854, a total of 81 new textile
plants announced plans to begin
operations i'll the state. They rep
resented an investment of more
than S21 million, with a payroll
potential in excess of $40 million
for the estimated 4,500 persons CT
whom the mills will provide EN-
ployment.
MILLS EXPAND
While new plants continued to
come into North Carolina n d
swell the total of such establish
mentS. it is of considerable note
that expansions of mills already
in operation tHtaled 10 during the
22-month period. More than $40
million are being expended in
these expansions and moderniza-
tions. and. as a result of these
activities. the textile payroll in
North Carolina will be increased
by some Sc million and Jobs pro-
vided for almost 5000 more work.
erS.
Some of the better known tex
tile firms selecting sites for new
plants in North Carolina sin e
January. 1853, are: Sidney Blum
enthal Company at Scotland Neck.
the Bell Company at LincOlntOn,
Premium Spinning Mills at
MooreSville, ROaz Mills at Coler-
idge, Burlington Mills at Frank
lin. Cashmere Corporation at
Weaverville. Goodall-Sanford at
Hot Springs and Joan Plush Mills
at Hickory.
EXPANSION PLANNED
Among the most important eX-
pansions planned or started during
the 22-month period are: Collins
Aikman Company at Siler City,
Siler City Manufacturing Com
pany at Siler City, Benjamin and
Johns at Dunn, Berkshire Knit
ting Mills at Andrews. American
Thread Company at Sewer, Caro-
lima Mills at Newton and Maiden,
Hanes Hosiery Mills at winston
Salem. Johnston Manufacturing
Company at Charlotte, Stonecut-
ter Mills at Spindale, A am s.
Mills Corporation at High Point
American and Efird Mills at Mai
den, Cranston Print Works at
Fletcher. Sidney Blumenthal Com
pany at Rocky Mount and Wilson
and Harriet Henderson Mills at
Henderson.
While textiles continue to be one
of the main bulWarks of the North
Carolina economy it is a matter
Of record that substantial progress
is being made in the diversified
ton of industry.
$40 NEW PLANTS
For example. during the 1852
1854 bienniunn. $40 new industrial
plants were established in the
state, with investments tOtalling
approximately S101 0000G0 These
plants are creating $4,000 new jobs
and additional payrolls to exceed
$66000.000. In the same period
173 plants expanded their opera
tionS by investing S68O00,000 and
creating 5000 new Jobs with s23.-
100000 in new payrolls. New plants
and plant expansions totalled 513
projects, with S169.0O0.00O being
invested in manufacturing facili-
ties. A total Of 35 600 new PmDloV-