Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1873-02-26


On the oath of December, 1872, Mr.. Peter |
Staub, who feels deeply interested in the
growth and material welfare of our city,
addressed letter to Mr.. John Syz, Zurich,
Switzerland, one of the wealthiest bankers
in Europe, whom he know to be connect
ed with cotton factories in that country, on
that subject, and requested him to see if
some practical cotton spinners with some
capital could not be persuaded to visit this
country for the purpose of starting an en-
terprise of the kind also promising to
give all the assistance possible to any one
coming for that purpose. He receiyed an
answer from which, Mr.. Staub kindly con-
senting, we translate the following. The
letter was dated Zurich, Jan. is, 1873, and
after some lines in regard to his investing
some additional funds in the Louisville
and Nashville railroad he writes on the
cotton factory question as follows:
What you wrote TO me III regard to 4
cotton factory has taken me quite by sur
prise. / had believed that long since you
mad such establishments as with the cot
ton close at hand, without any tariff upon
IT. such business must surely be remu-
1erative one if properly managed, and ors
peratives can be reasonably obtained. My
nearest relatives here, as Miss Kate, can
inform you, are all spinners; and my
father-in-law, as well as my uncle own
large establishments of the kind. Also
the Credit Bank owns superb cotton FAC
tory. Now, l can inform you that the bu-
siness here, where the tariff we have to
pay on the raw cotton, and then again on
the goods are enormous, paid about twenty
per cent. last year upon the capital in
vested. BY this you can readily see that "A
Young man who has sufficient capital to start
n factory here, could hardly be induced TO
leave Switzerland; and even most of the
worthy young men who do not possess such
capital are eagerly sought as foremen IN the
shops of the rich spinners, or are called to
Germany and Austria, where the Swiss
are liked and known as good spinners.
Even we of the Credit Bank had consider
able trouble to find q suitable man rs fore
man in our factory.
Just, however, as l received your lines
on the subject, the thought presented it's
elf to my mind that perhaps might after
all be able to serve you. l have, namely
a nephew, "a sisters som. who served his
apprenticeship under Mr.. Oberst Rictor, in
Winterthur, where he gave most of his at
tention and learned thoroughly the con-
3truction of cotton factories. (Obcrst Ric
tor is namely one the largest builders o
cotton factories in the country) After my
nephew, Stocker had served his time, Mr.
Rictor sent him to Steiermark, in Austria
in order to superintend the construction
and put in running order, a large factory
After the completion of which, he imme
diatey received from the owners the me
chanical supervision of the entire estab
lishment. About . years ago the estab
lishment was reduced to ashes by fire
and my nephew superintended TIN
construction of another factory in it
stead. Since his connection with that firm
81 TO- al.
wife, and has one child of about six year
of age. Last summer while here on a visi
he stated that he felt very lonely at hi
place of business, and also complained tina
in Austria the business did not pay rs wei
as it might, and that he, although beini
interested in the factory, had been enabled
10 ley aside but little, and in the CONVEX
sation gave me to understand that he woul
willingly exchange his position, if / coul
obtain something for him in Switzerland.
however, encouraged him to remain Il
Austria, as l believed glowing future wa
also in store for that country. But nov
that have read your letter, the though
struck me that perhaps he might be will
ing to remove to your country. l do nc
know, but il you think that an hones
clever, and thorough No. l workman @
above described, would meet with induce
ments such as he could accept, the matte
would be worth while to enquire into.
My nephew does not alone understan
the spinning business from A to u, as b
had to instruct the wOrkmen in Steiel
mark, but also, as already stated a buildt
of spinning factories and Il graduate (
the Rieter school, and would, of course,
once be able to say what kind of shoI
you should erect there in order TO max
them remuneTative.
The question, however, here arises
Have you water power, or must steam
used? Have you workmen? or rathc
material from which spinner eau
MADE: Negroes or whites? aud win
wages are paid such laborers per day
Where would you get the principal POI
ton of your raw cotton? And what do'
il cost per pound?
think that the idea would be TO spi
principally a course yarn. and have
woven into cloth in the same establish mel
In short, If it il your desire to call into e.
isterce such an establishment, you mus
if possible give me oil the particular
Although my nephew has been for. hftee
years IN the spinning business, he has NJ
spun for himselfa fortune principally Ov
ing to the fact that Austria IL bad fiel
for cotton operations Nevertheless, !
has saved something, even lift don't, 30
say, amount to much in dollars Nov
the fact is, / can tell you, that with $ll
a. man can not go far, Here We count Il
cost OF each, spindle, Including Lam
building, canal, &c, from $3.50 to 81
and each loom 70 500. 80 you see.Sthi
according to these calculations 800 vi
not reach far rs / take IL for granted tn