The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1873-06-13
A Model Establishment.

A Model Establishment
Russell. Blind and So,h Fdctory--A Description
of ~ Acehiaery-Eeonomieai Aanagement-
Tasi'reeaxtions Against Fire.
Auong the many evidences Of, the growth and
properity Of Charleston there Is none, perhaps,
mre cheering or more complete than that which
T. afforded by the extensive factory of Messrs.
" y. Russell & Co., Mt the east end Of Hasel
street.
THE MAIN FACTORY
is located in spacious building three stories
in height. Upon the first foor, tho principal
feature is an immense lathe, upon which huge
sticks of timhor are turned into columns and
pillars. There are also other machines used in
preparing material for doors, sashes and blinds.
The machinery Of the entire factory is driven
by a powerful engine located on this loor the
boiler being in 6re-proof clubhouse adjoining
There is
planning MACHINE,
n complication of cogs and wheels, but in itself
the perfection of mechanical skill and ingenuity.
rough board is run through it, and, by the
single process, comes out planed both sides,
and tongued and grooved ready for use for CELL
ing and flooring. On the second floor, where
the material prepared below is glued together
there are all the latest improvements in ma
chinery In the manufacture Of blinds, for in
stance, no work OF all is performed by hand.
The Stats are cut, plaued aud trimmed to the
proper size by machinery. The side pieces are
put into machine that grasps them and punch
es the holes into which the stats are fitted and
in less time almost than it takes to tell it.. the
blind is ready to be glued together. In making
DOORS AND WINDOW PnANEs,
all the moulding, morticipg, dove-tailing and
planning is done by machinery and there Is lit
tie need FOR other human help than such as is
necessary 10 direct and manipulate the macbiu
cry The stuff is all cut out and shaped on the
second hoor. 1t is then left to dry and season
for several weeks, ard is finally put together and
carried up TO the store room on the third floor
Here the glazing and painting is done, and the
sashes, blinds and doors Of all sizes and descrip-
lions are stored away to fill orders. But il is
not aloue TO the making of windows and doors
that the work is confined. There is now in course
of erection
SPACIOUS CARPENTER SHOT,
which will be supplied with improved machin-
cry, and in which viii be built all the separate
parts which constitute tho framework of house.
At this time the firm are taking orders for the
erection of houses, every part of which is built
in their estabishlocnt, and sent of in detached
pieces The facilities for doing the work arc
ofcourse ample, and houses arc frequently cut
Out, as it were, and sent of to distant parts OF
the State to he erected. Messrs. W. p. Russell
4 Co. have associated with them, as superin.
tendeat of their establishment, Mr.. VIM e.
Speir, an active and energetic architect and me-
chanic, and plans and specifications Of buildings
can now OC huu at the factory.
The economy with which the entire establish
incnt is managed is worthy of note, The
SAFEGUARDS Fou TIE rREvENriNG OF FIRE
arc nuinorVus. U"ds- Tho main buildinr is nm
enormous cistern, and on every foo, oro nlocod
racks of buckets filed with water which are
every evening taken down and placed on the
floor in different parts Of the building But the
most ingenious feature of the entire economy
of the establishment is in tho mana agement OF
the watchman system. The night watchman is
sr,ned with an instrument called Buerk's watch
mans clock, which he has to carry around with
hlIu, and which is itself n triTmph of mechani-
Cal art. IL has six keys which are lock oil up ia
little boxes placed in different portions of the
premises; aud the watch is run in such VA.
that the wutchmau has to visit each of these
station boxes once every thirty minutes during
the night Should he miss round the dial of
the clock tells the tale in the morning, and the
sleeper is tned. SO perfect is the mechanism
Of this Instrument that by no possibility can tho
waichnan evade his duty without detection, and
the station boxes being placed in such positions
rs to carry him through the entire premises
once every half hour the rotection to to Il the siaSss
human contrivance The business head Of the
firm,
Mr.. W. p. RUSSELL,
is nm energetic man, and has BY his own indivi-
;:uai effort built IN the large factory which now
bears his name. The establishment is n monu-
visit to the plnce and an examination of its de-
tails and h.tricncics will amply repay the visi-
tor The factory gives employment to about
sixty persons who are kept busy supplying the
demands of business that is increasing daily
TiII CoLonEp MILITIA. The lovers of peace
and order throughout the State will regret to
learn that steps are being taken in various sec
tions to organize colored militia companies SO
preposcrous does the measure seem, that when
first we heard such a movement was on foot, we
were 10th to believe 1t, and only credited the
story as an idle sensational rumor But our
doubts, we regret to say, were unfounded. and
while companies have already been organized in
some localities.
We deprecate this movement, and hope our
coiored citizens will reflect before taking step
which cannot confer the least possible benefit
upon them, either class or individually,
while il may possibly involve them in trouble,
To tho detriment of both races, and cause q re-
petition of the troubles Of only two years ago,
from which this immediate section has not vet
recovered. Surely, neither the whites nor the
blacks desire recurrence Of those troubous
1NWagD Il