Newspaper Page Text
6
A GREAT CENTRE
OF MANUFACTURING.
What Rome Has Done aiid Is Doing In The
Way of Converting Raw Material Into
Manufactured Articles.
$3,000,000 Invested in Factories
of All Kinds.
Empby Over 1,000 Operatives Whose
Combined Salaries Amount to
SBOO,OOO Per Annum.
HOME OFFERS INVITING FIELDS!
To Capitalists-It Is Blessed With
Many Fine Sites, Cheap Fuel
and Plenty of Raw
Material
The South has for several years past
been increasing in importance as a man
ufacturing section Its chief industry in
this line, however, has been in cotton
goods. No one will now discredit the
advantages of the South over any other
section for manufacturing cotton goeds.
The facts are indeed startling when one
contemplates the vast increase in this
line of industry alone which has taken
place within the past five years,
$60,000,000.
In the past fifteen years the South has
added $450,000,000 to its manufacturing
business, and is now manufacturing
goods every year to the value of over
$1,200,000,000. The South produces 60
per cent, of the world’s cotton crop, yet
only 4 per cent, of the cotton manufac
turing is done here. What vast room for
the still further increase of cotton fac
tork s!
But the object before us is to speak
not so much of the South in general as
of this place in particular. The ques
tion must arise in the minds of those who
contemplate establishing themselves in
this growing section of country, what
particular place is best to my business?
Are there advantages in other lines of
manufacturing besides those of cotton?
The answer is, yes; especially here in
Rome.
A glance at the map of the United
States will show that this city has a geo
graphical location well adapted to be
come a manufacturing city, and as it is
impossible for manufacturing to thrive
without sufficient railroad facilities and
competition, the statement made in other
parts of this edition about railroads cen
tering at Rome and its river transporta
tion, will convince the most skeptical
that Rome has here all the essential ad
vantages that are requisite for the loca
tion of factories, more particularly those
for iron, textile and wood working
enterprises.
The tendency for many years past has
been toward carrying the factory to the
raw material; and tints saving the heavy
freight charges. This can only be suc
cessfully accomplished, however, when
competitor’s rates are offered on the
manufactured product. The city’s three
lines of competing roads all penetrate
the most valuable coal and iron fields of
the South and within a short distance of
Rome, making this the assembling point
for the products of these mines, forests
and fields, and Rome challenges any point
to compare freight rates with it on dis
tributing the products of the factory to
the great n arkets of the North, South
and West,
With all the e advantages, what has
Rome done? Let us see. There is now
invested by large manufacturing plants
alone nearly $2,500,000. This amount
includes only such industries as cotton
factories, iron and wood working estab
lishments, brick and oil industries. Out
side of this there are any number of
small industries, employing from ten t >
twenty operatives, with investments of
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MASSACHUSETTS COTTON MILIS IN GEORGIA.
capital varying from $5,000 to SIO,OOO,
and which would swell the figures given
above to nearly $500,000 more. These
larger factories give employment to fully
2,000 employees, and pay out annually
over SBOO,OOO in wages. A list of indus
tries already in successful operation in
and around Rome are:
Massachusetts Mills,
Rome Cotton Factory.
O’Neil Manufacturing Company.
Patton Manufacturing Company.
Rome Furniture and Lumber Company.
Rome Stove W’orks.
Standard Scale Works.
Rome Furnace.
Morrison-Trammell Brick Company.
Rome Brick Company.
Georgia Cotton Oil Company.
Towers & Sullivan Company (Manu
facturers of Plows.)
George Foundry and Machine Works.
Davis Foundry and Machine Works.
Garlock Packing Company.
Rome Ice Manufacturing Company.
Rome Buggy Company.
R. H. Jones & Sons Manufacturing Co.
Rome Saw Works, three Cigar facto
ries, tannery, three flour and grist mills
and a large number of small -industries,
too numerous to make mention. Thus
one can see how well the manufacturing
interests of Rome are diversified, and
answering by undeniable facts the ques
tion, “Are there advantages in other
lines of manufacturing besides those of
cotton?’’
That Rome has made rapid and sub
stantial progress as a manufacturing
centre is evidenced by this already large
list, but there is ample room for many
more industries. A partial li tof those
that would pay handsome returns on the
capital invested, and the required
amount of capital necessary to their suc
cess is as follows:
Cotton and woolen mills, unlimited.
Packing house, $50,000 to SIOO,OOO.
Canning factory, $5,000 to SIO,OOO.
Box factory, SIO,OOO to $20,009.
Furniture factory, $25,000 to $50,000.
Sash, door and blind factory, $20,000
to $40,000.
Agricultural implements. $50,000 to
$75,000.
Cotton mill machinery, $20,000 to
$50,000.
Spoke and handle $5,000 to SIO,OOO.
Bucket, $2,000 to $3,000, and many
other like institutions.
Our capitalists stand ready to do a lib
eral share by those who are desirous of
establishing enterprises in our midst,
and invite correspondence from all who
desire to locate here manufacturing in
dustries with which they have a thor
ough and practical knowledge, and such
parties who are willing to show their
confidence in their ability to successfully
conduct enterprises, by putting in a
share of their own money to back their
claims, will have no trouble in interest
ing local capital to take a liberal share
with them.
The city will court small industries in
a like manner. We have plenty of room
for a great variety of small industries,
which may thrive here with cheap raw
material, low cost of labor and living
expenses. The success of the manufac
turing institutions, their location in
Rome, substantiate the city’s claim to
its obligation as a city destined to be
come one of the largest manufacturing
cities in the South, and that its location
is most favorable.
MASSACHUSETTS MILLS IN GA,
One of the Largest and Best Equipped
Cotton Mills in the South—History
of Its Operation.
The extended reputation of Rome as a
manufacturing center is largely due to
the high standard of merit attained by
its manufactures, as well as to its re
markably well adapted geographical po
sition.
One of the leading enterprises engaged
in the production of cotton cloth in the
THE ROME TRIBUNE, SOUVENIR AND TRADE EDITION.
South, the Massachusetts mills in Geo
gia, is located at Lindale, four milts
smith of Koine on the Southern and C. R.
& S. railways; where nearly a half
million dollars has been invested in land,
buikliig-i and machinery. This mill is
leased to the Massachusets cotton mills
in Lowell of which Mr. W. S. South
worth is agent.
The entire enterprise was conceived
by and executed under the administra
tion of Mr. Charles L. Lovering, who is
treasurer of both corporation, he having
au able associate and co operator in Mr.
South worth.
The agent of the Massachusetts mills
in Georgia is Mr. A. W. flunking, who
made his first visit here for the purpose
of selecting a location almost three years
ago. About 200 acres of land were
deeded to the mill March 20, 1895; con
struction was commenced May 13th, fol
lowing, and prosecuted with the utmost
diligence with the result that on Christ
mas of the same year the first fires were
built under the. boilers. The contract
ors’ work was completed on February
22, 1896, and the first cloth was taken
from the looms March 23rd following, or
just about ten months after the ground
was broken for construction, an unprece
dented record in Southern mill building.
Within eighteen months of the time
when the ground was first broken, there
had been made 10,000 bales of cloth or
equivalent to seven and one half million
yards. Since the original buildings were
constructed, a large cotton shed 500 feet
by 80, having ten compartments, each
capable of holding 1,000 bales of country
cottun, has been built. All goods are
made for export trade exclusively, part
of which find a market in Africa and the
balance in China. The mill is equipped
with the best machinery and in accord
ance with the very latest ideas pertain
ing to adaptation of same for the manu
facturing of coarse sheetings; there are
30,600 spindles and 1,132 looms. To aid
in the conception of production of this
mill it may be stated that there can be
turned out over 38 miles of cloth every
day. The cotton consumed is something
over 300 bales per week. The main
building is 460 feet long by 128 wide,
'three stories high, being so located that
its longest dimension is exactly east and
west. The power for driving is obtained
from a 1,200 horse power, cross-com
pound Corliss Engine in annexed building
at southwest corner of main mill. Five
vertical Corliss boilers provide the
steam. The smoke stack is 200 feet
high, and is an exact copy of the one in
the 'yard of the Massachusetts Cotton
mills at Lowell.
UNSURPASSED MILL SITE.
Is a term fairly applicable to Lindale—
among the many points (aside from
technical features involved) which sug
gested themselves as deciding the pres
ent location of the mill, were first and
foremost the abundantly flowing spring,
as clear as crystal, yielding 150 gallons
per minute; (analysis of the water by an
expert chemist proved it to be of the
very best for sanitary purposes) this
affords an unstinted supply of clear,
pure and wholesome water for all <lo
nie-tic purposes, which is delivered at
the operatives houses (free of cost to
them) by a system of water-works which
at the same time proves of inestimable
value as a protection against fire at the
mill or village.
“Reservoir Hill,” with its smoothly
rounded summit was assigned its share
in tlie enterprise at first sight. The old
“Brick Mill” built some fifty-six years
ago by the father of Mr. D. "W. Barnett
(from whom most of the land was ob
tained by the mills) came in for its share
too; the water power, by a little im
provement, was arranged so as to pump
the water from the spring to the reser
voir.
SANITATION.
Last to be named, though not least
among the considerations influencing
selection were the topographical features
of the land now occupied by the village.
A strip fully a half mile long by a quar
ter of a mile wide, having a gentle de
clivity toward the west, insured with
absolute certainty the most perfect drain
age of the entire residence district; all
of the surface water flowing directly into
the little stream skirting the western
boundary of the property.
Houses have been built which afford
accommodations as varied as the sizes .
of tlie families which are continually
seeking employment. To insure clean
liness a system of sanitation in use in
Birmingham, England, has been adopted,
removing all garbage twice a week to be
used as a fertilizer; disinfectant freely
used keeps the village in a most whole
some condition.
The country in the vicinity is very
pr, tty—there are rolling hills and fertile
valleys, producing much cottonand other
crops. No more healthful location can
be found anywhere, and tlie mill village
is almost an ideal one. The mortality
■,.. . . ... ■ ' —~'-’"I
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ROME FURNITURE AND LUMBER COMPANY’S PLANT.
record since January 1, shows an annual '
rate of 13 per thousand.
CHURCH AND SCHOOL.
The Silver Creek Presbyterian Church,
though built several years prior to the
inception of the mill enterprise, was
found to be sufficiently near by to be
easily made available for church pur
poses —several hundred dollars having
been expended by the company in re
pairs and improvements, it is now one
of the prettiest country churches any
where to be found—in consideration of
this expenditure the church is open two
Sundays per month to other denomina
tions for worship, Baptists and Metho
dists holding services at stated times'
Tlie school at Lindale is an interesting
feature; although at present no building
especially designed for its accommoda
tion has been constructed, one is in con
templation of the future. One hundred
and twenty pupils are enrolled with an
average attendance of nearly one hun
dred. School furniture of the most
approved pattern has been furnished by
the company and the whole school placed
under the control of tlie School Com
missioner of Floyd county. No charge
whatever is made to parents for the edu
cation of their children, the only ex
pense being the cost of necessary text
books.
ORGANIZATION OF HELP
Proved a very perplexing problem. Long
before the machinery was ready to run,
applications were received in vast num
bers, partly from the farming class and
partly from regular mill operatives.
Without the slightest means of selecting
tlie best, other than by an opinion which
could be formed during a necessarily
short interview, the process of collecting
began.
As might have been predicted, many
people wholly undesirable acquired a
foot hold. The law of “survival of the
fittest” found a demonstration here; the
town has been gradually purged of that
rough element, and now the citizens of
Lindale feel that their community with
a population of over a thousand souls,
gathered from every direction, is one of
the most peaceable and law-abiding in
tlie country.
Cash payments are made weekly, en
abling those who are so disposed to “pay
as they go.” Many instances are found
of thrifty operatives who are able to lay
aside very creditable sums of money in
the way of savings.
IDENTITY OF INTERESTS RECOGNIZED.
A recapitulation of the foregoing items
shows that thousands of dollars have
been expended by the Massachusetts
mills for the exclusive interest of their
employees in the comfort-producing and
sanitaiy appointments of the mill itself
—in its heating, lighting, ventilation
and sanitation—as well as in the village
and its appurtenances, believing, always,
that fair treatment will win respect and
enable capital and labor to go hand in
hand to the ultimate benefit of both.
The good will of the people is recipro
cated by the management, and it is their
aim to be progressive and to advance the
interests of the people while advancing
those of the corporation.
BENEFIT TO ROME AND FLOYD COUNTY.
That the location of this mill at its
present site will be of inestimable benefit
to Rome and vicinity goes without
saying.
It pays the largest tax of any corpora
tion in the county.
Os tlie wages disbursed weekly to its
operatives fully three-quarters find their
way ultimately to Rome—either directly
through purchases made by the opera
tives themselves in Rome, or indirectly
through the many stores at and near
Lindale, which in. turn buy their stocks
in Rome.
Jhat the farmers of Floyd county are
benefited is amply proven by the vast
number who appear weekly in the village
with their products for sale—vegetables,
fruits, eggs and poultry —for which there
seems to be an endless demand and for
wbich ready cash always awaits the en
terprising farmer.
A BIG SUCCESS.
Rome Furniture and Lumber
Company, Incorporated.
An Institution of Incalculable Benefit
to the City—Employs a Large
Force.
Rome has many manufacturing insti
tutions of note and some of the largest
in the South. The Rome Furniture and
Lumber Company’s plant, located at
North Rome, is the third largest of its
kind in the South and is one of tlie chief
manufacturing industries of the city.
The business was incorporated under
the present styled title in March, 1896.
The business was incepted about ten
yeais ago and conducted as the Rome
Furniture Manufacturing Company,
which company was succeded by the
present one at the time designated above.
The amount of capital required in the
prosecution of the business is about
$25,000. Those at its head are:
J. C. Lewis, Manager.
M. G. McDonald, President and Treas
urer. ■
C. S. Sparks, Secretary.
The plant covers several acres of
ground, upon which are erected the
buildings required in the operation of
the business. Few of the residents of
Rome really comprehend the magnitude
of this concern, nor the scope of its
transactions.
There are few plants in the South that
are as intelligently and thoroughly
equipped in all the necessary’modern ma
chinery and labor-saving devices as this
one. All these advantages, under the
direction and management of skilled
operatives, mean economy of production,
superior excellence of workmanship and
finish and enhancement of quality. The
attainment of the best results, regard
less of expense, lias always been the aim
of this company, and as a result its dif
ferent ; r des of goods are often above
the standard. |
The energies of the Rome Furniture
and Lumber Cempany are devoted to
the manufacture of oak suits, sideboards,
chiffoniers, bedsteads,etc. Nearly every
piece of furniture manufactured is of
oak, although some little poplar is used. ,
The aim of the company has been to I
manufacture articles in their line tliat
would equal both in price and quality |
those manufactured anywhere. How
well the management has succeeded is |
best evidenced in the trade enjoyed,
which extends from Maine throughout l
the Middle and Southern states, to Texas
and Arkansas. This vast territory is
covered by twelve traveling salesmen,
and the amount of furniture sold is
something enormous. In the operation
of the business three buildings, besides
the dry kilns, are required, and in them ;
every available space is occupied.
The kilns of the company are brick
ones, and so arranged that lumber can i
be loaded direct from the cars into them. 1
Track facilities for this purpose have t
been constructed. The same is the case .
in removing the dried or seasoned him- ■
ber, which is conducted from the kiln to i
the factory in cars constructed for the [
purpose.
The glue room is a two story struc
ture 40x60 feet in diminsions in which
that part of the manufacture of furni
ture requiring the use of glue is con
ducted. Almost adjoining is another
large two story structure 50x200 feet,
the first floor of which is the machine
room wherein the wood is first worked
upon. The second floor of this building
is used as the cabnet department where
the various parts are put together. The
funiture thus in its rough state is then
sent to the finishing department located i
in a building immediately adjoining,
and with which it is connected by ai
wooden bridge some one hundred feet,
in length. This building is 125x75 feet |
in deminsions three stories high,
used as the finishing department and
warehouse.
Track connection have been made so
that small shipments of freight can be
load or unload direct from passing train
ings. For the shipment of car lots the
company has its own side track which
runs immediately along side of the ship
ping department.
The company gives employment to be
tween ninety and one hundred hands
and pays out in Rome for lumber, labor
etc., SB,OOO per month. This amount is
a great benefit to Rome as it all comes
from Maine to Texaj. The retail mer
chants of Rome get all this money, as
it is expended in the city. The man
agement deserves great praise from
Romans, and well they merit it, as in
stitutions of this magnitude is of in
calculable benefit to a city.
Tlie plant is replete with the latest
and most improved machinery, to which
much of the success of the company
may be attributed. Through the cour
tesy of the management The Tribune
representative was permitted to visit all
the departments, ahd from his inspec
tion has no hesitency in placing this
plant among the most complete equip
ped furniture factories in the South.
LUMBER DEALERS.
The O’Neill Manufacturing Com
pany are Enterprising and
Prosperous.
One of the most enterprising firms in
North Georgia, and one that has done a
vast amount of good for the upbuilding
of Rome and neighboring towns, is the
O’Keill Manufacturing Company, of
which Capt. J. J. O’Neill is president,
W. A. Patton secretary and treasurer,
and J. H. O’Neill vice-president. The
gentlemen who compose the company
are reliable, enterprising and up to date,
and operate one of the largest planing
mills and sash, door and blind factories
in the state. They use about ten million
feet of lumber a year, and during the
past summer they have furnished mate
rial for a vast number of buildings in
I Rome and the neighboring towns. They
I deal in and manufacture all kinds of
building material, consisting in part of
■ rough and dressed lumber, flooring,
I siding, mouldings, laths, sash, doors,
blinds, window and door frames, man
tels, banisters, railings, verandahs, new
els and all kinds of interior finishing
material. They do all kinds of turning,
hand and scrool saw work. They are
also contractors and builders, and last
year built about 150 houses under one
contract and filled all their other orders
promptly, which could not have been
done without superior facilities for turn,
ing out work. They recently secured
the contract to build the new N. C. & St.
L. depot, and when completed it will be
one among the best pieces of architec
ture this firm has turned out. The fac
tory has all of the latest and most im
proved machinery, and the firm
two salesmen on the road, and a large
portion of its manufactured products
are shipped to New York and the Middle
| and Western states, besides the business
done in the section tributary to Rome.
About one hundred men are employed
by the firm, and it is one of the most
substantial in Rome. "The firm takes
pleasure in furnishing prices, plans and
, estimates upon application.
GARLOCK PACKING CO.
! The Only Concern of Its Kind in the
South.
I Some nine years ago the Garlock Pack
ing Company’s name was added to the
list of manufacturing concerns in Rome.
. Not so much was this a notable event as
the fact that it was the only concern of
; its kind iu the South, and thus attract
ing wide attention to this growing city.
The business under the able management
] of Mr. A. D. Hull has prospered, and the
success of the enterprise was assured
from the start.
The energies of the Garlock Packing
Company are devoted to the manufacture
of packing for machinery, engines,
| pumps, etc., and in addition the hand
‘ ling of engine-room supplies, such as
: sheet packing, gaskets, boiler compound,
belt dressing, etc.
The popularity of the goods of this
widely known concern is evidenced f.i
the large sale and the vast scope of its
business transactions.
The many years experience of the
promoters of the company in the manu
facture and use of packing of every de-,
scription, enables them to provide pack
ing of standard quality for steam, gas,
water and ammonia. The company is
owner of numerous patents and secret
processes which, together with the supe
rior quality of the material used, enables
it to maintain the high standard of ex
! cellence In their manufactures and most
favorable reputation which their pack
; ings have established among the con
-1 suming public.
MOZLEY’S LEMON ELIX R.
Cures indigestion, constipation, head
ache, biliousness, malaria, kidney dis
ease, fever, chills, loss of appetite, de
bility, nervousness and sleeplessness reg
ulating the liver, stomach, bowels, kid
neys and blood.
It cures all diseases caused by a torpid
or diseased liver. It is an established
fact that lemons, when combined prop
erly with other liver tonics, produce the
most desirable results upon the stomach,
liver, bowels, kidneys and blood. Sold
by druggists.
H. Mozley, M. D.,
Atlanta Ga.
From A Prominent Lady. r
I have not been able in two years to
walk or stand without suffering great
pain. Since taking Dr. Mozley’s Lemon
Elixir I can walk half a mile without
suffering the least inconvenience.
Mrs. L. H. BboodwoßTH, Griffin, Ga.
Dr< H Moz'ey— Dear Sir: After ten
years of great suffering from indiges
tion, with great nervous prostration,
biliousness, disordered kidneys and con
stipation, during which time I need all
known remedies, and at great expense,
exhausted the skill of many eminent
physicians, and continued to grow worse.
I have been cured by your Lemon Elixin
and am now a well man The
Elixir, at the same time
relieved me of a most severe case
Piles of many years’ standing. W
Rev. C. C. Davis, ■
Elder M. E. Church South,
No. 28 Tatnall Street, Atlanta, Ga, ’
A Card From Cuthbert
This is to certify that I used Dr. M< z
lev’s Lemon Elixir for neuralgia of the
head and eyes with the most marked
benefit to my general health. I would
gladly have paid SSOO for the relief it
has given me at a cost of two or three
dollars.
U. A. Beall,
Clerk Superior Court Randolph Qo., Ga.