What a strange and vague question for my very first post... Hi all, i am currently writing my very first novel (daunting) after writing a grand total of 7 or 8 decent length short stories. Its going fairly well so far, though i am having trouble finding some answers to questions thrown up by my specific setting. I have created a fictional mill town set in the States, (Alabamba to be exact) complete with fully functioning turn-of-the-century cotton mill. Now i have added in three huge chimney stacks, each belching smoke out into the hot southern skies, all very atmospheric (If i do say so myself) but have just realised i know next-to-nothing about cotton mills, and i'm not entirely sure that cotton mills even need chimney stacks? What would they burn after all? From what i can read up on Wikipedia they were mostly water and steam powered! Can anyone out there in the great wide world of the internet point me in the direction of an answer, no matter how vague?? All help would be muchly appreciated!! Thanks for listening to my inane ramblings, and Hi again to all on this great forum!! Richard C
As far as research goes, Wikipedia is a somewhat questionable source (though I do love it). Google what you're looking for. It may take more time, but you'll probably find what you're looking for, and in more detail than Wikipedia will give you. And, as this is your first post, why not introduce yourself in the New Member introductions section? We'd love to know who you are! Welcome to the forum!
Thanks for the quick reply Minstrel! I agree Wikipedia isn't the most reliable, but it sure is handy! I will go over and introduce myself now! Thanks again! Richard
1 small thing:it is Alabama, not Alabamba, you might want to correct it. Cotton mills did have chimneys if not for anything else then for the boilers they used. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotton_mill
Thanks Xatron, I do know its Alabama, that was unfortunate typo!! Teach me not to read through my post before i hit send! Thanks for the link though!
Photos of turn-of-the-century cotton mill in Alabama: http://www.flickr.com/photos/deepfriedkudzu/24956348/ This one is an interesting article on turn-of-the-century machinery with photos as well (not necessarily cotton mills): http://userpages.umbc.edu/~arubin/HIST402_SP2007/C6D1E5EE5673C7E90D4F7B8A7A2B6671.html This one is a nice, long article that may be worth scanning over (including Mississippi Antebellum Cotton Textile Mills): http://narvellstrickland1.tripod.com/cottonmillhistory2/index1.html Another good article with some great machinery photographs (check the section: The Old Alabama Town Cotton Gin): http://www.alabamaheritage.com/vault/kingcotton.htm Hope some of those help you out.
Thank you so much dbrou, you truly are a gentleman!! Those links are a GREAT help! Wow it really was a good idea to join this forum, you guys are great!!
