Hi! From Nancy Ann Telfair's book, "The Columbus, Georgia Centenary 1828-1928"" p.79-"Following the opening of the Howard and Echols cotton factory in that year..." (assumed to be 1845 from the first paragraph.) p.83-"In December, 1845, one of the newspapers came out commenting that "the manufacturing excitement is largely on the increase. Messrs. Howard, Bridges, Carter, Baird and Jeter are pushing their improvements ahead." p.84-"The Howard Manufacturing company was organized the following year for the purpose of building a cotton factory. Already the Coweta and Columbus factories were in operation. The new building ws to be 125 by 48 feet, five stories high and to run 5,000 spindles. The directors were as follows: Van Leonard, J. C. Cook, E. T. Taylor, Harvey Hall and J. I. Ridgway. The president was, Van Leonard, and the superintendent, Jonathan Bridges." p.85-:Howard Manufacturing Company; located in Columbus, capital, $85,000; designed for 5,000 spindles and 75 looms, and will employ 100 hands. Manufacturing sheetings, shirtings, and yarns." I will look more through the book later. Patricia Cantrell Columbus, GA __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? The New Yahoo! Shopping - with improved product search http://shopping.yahoo.com