Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-11-04
NEW ENTERPRISE.
Brooms and Broom Making.


Since the close of the war the inherent
energies of our people have been developed
to wonderful degree, and, thrown back
as it were entirely upon their own indi-
vidual resources, hitherto unexampled ave-
nues to profitable employment have been
opened up The manufacturing facilities |
of Nashville have been increased by the |
appliances of labor, capital and machinery |
to a degree almost amazing. During the
past few years manufacturing establish
ments of every sort, and some of them OF |
extensive capacities and dimensions have
been put in operation, giving employment
to thousands, bringing into home use the
native material with which our State so
prolifcally abounds, and extending the
general trade and business of the country
to almost an unlimited degree. As we de-
sign, from time to time, as the occasion
NAV require, to advert to the
several larger branches of our man
ufacturing interests we devote this article
to that of brooms and broom making.
This is comparatively a new business
with us. as it has been but a few years
since when, with the exception of the
"Shaker broom, we relied upon Northern
| importation for the article as one of mer-
| chandise and wholesale trade; yet
there is nothing to prevent their extended
| manufacture from becoming an important
branch of home industry, remunerative to
private enterprise, and source of general
business and commercial revenue.
| There are already several establishments
of the kind in successful operation In the
city and vicinity, which employ the best of
workmen, and which are fitted up with the
most approved appliances, and which
using the best material-turn out superior
work in every sense of the word. The
most extensive of these establishments is
perhaps that of Messrs. Toon d Co., No.
81 Broad street This establishment has
been in operation not quite q year, and yet
it has built up an enormous business.
The buildings three stories high, with %
feet front and is 100 feet deep. 1t is divided
in several compartments, most admirably
adapted to the business to which their
capacities are devoted. They have from
seven to 10 machines which are kept in
continual operation and which are of the
very best quality. They employ near 80
hands who are kept busy IN meeting the
orders and demands made upon the estab-
} lishment. They turn out from 40 to 90
| dozen brooms per day, and have sale fol-
J all they manufacture. The firm does all its
own work; though they buy largely of the
! raw material, they raise, themselves, the
greater portion Of the broom-corn used
The article is raised in the Shelby bottoms,
on the north side of the river in Edgefeld.
Thus profitable branch Of agriculture as
well as manufacture is developed.
, The brooms they manufacture are un,
, surpassed in finish, excellence of material
: and substantial make, by those of any es
: tablishment of a similar character in the
J country Few articles produced by oul
: farmers will return them larger profits witt
, a smaller investiture of capital and labor
: than will that of broom corn, which com
: mands ready and certain home market al
; good prices and at all times. We are in
formed that these broom establishment:
continually ill large orders for their hrooml
r from Louisville and from points mucl
) farther North and Northwest, while theil
! Southern and Southwestern trade is very
extensive. These are gratifying facts, as
demonstrating the truth of what we have of
ten said, that Nashville, from her geograph.
zeal position, as well as the varied and ex
haustless products of the country adjacent
possesses elements of great manufacturing
center, surpassed by those of no city in the
South or Southwest.