Wilmington daily commercial., 1874-10-01
FIRST EDITION.
Good Hope.

| A MANUFACTURING vIILAGE-BEAUTIFUI SCENERY
| --FARMs AND FLOWERS.
| About milo and half or two miles in a
south-westerly course from Landenberg is the
busy little manufacturing village of Good Hope.
1t is located on what is called the West Branch
of White Clay Creek, which gathers its waters
| from the country contiguous to Kimbleville,
| Chesterville, Hickory Hill and other places of
more or less note. The village is small one,
containing five tenement houses, one large farm
house with barn and outbuildings and a large
wollen manufacturing establishment.
| These buildings are all located on farm of
| 102 acres which is leased from the proprietors
by Mr. William Crossan, an old and experienced
| farmer. The woolen manufactory is a large
one, being three stories in height, 80 feet in
length and 80 feet in breadth. 0ne-third of the
building is entirely new, and the old part has
been oyerhauled, repaired, remodeled and re-
painted 30 that the whole mill would indicate
that it might be new from the hands of the
builders.
1t had been formerly used for cotton mill
on small SCALE but new machinery has been
substituted, and it is n6 W one of the best and
busiest Woollen Mills in Chester county. A new
turbine wheel has taken tho place of the Tyler
wheel formerly used, and in place Of stoves,
which at all times are dangerous in such mills,
the whole building will be heated up with steam,
the boiler for which is now being put in. The
mill gives employment to 10 hands, runs night
anu udy, turns DetW6en fUU ana SUU bplnuleb and
spins about 500 pounds Of wool daily.
The wool fabrics here manufactured are used
for the finest hosieries and broad cloths, and
after being spun and reeled are shipped to par
ties in Philadelphia.
word now for the proprietors of this little
busy place amongst the hills beautiful with Au-
tumn foliage, and rich with Autumn fruits. Rob-
ert Preston and William Bowers were formerly in
the employ of M. Iiandenberger & Co.. the for
mer as general manager and the latter spin
ner, at the Laurel Mills. About year ago, con-
cluding to make strike for themselves in life,
and having saved a sufiicency Of their earnings,
they formed the firm of Preston & Bowers and
bought the property already described, which,
when repaired, cost them about $22, 600, and as
the firm informed us, the best of all is, it was
paid for, and unless something unforeseen occurs
they are not afraid Of the Sheriff knocking at
their doors.
Through tho kindness OF Mr.. Preston, senior
member of the firm, we were treated.to carriage
ride for some distance around the country where
we had fine view of some OF the best farms in
Chester Co. Passing up the West Branch through
forests and fields of eurpassing beauty, we pass
through the large farm of John Jones, an indie
pendent and thrifty farmer. Mr.. J. has large
acreage of splendid woodland, which he has
preserved with scrupulous care from the wood
mans axe. On a little farther the forest ceases
to exist, and we emerge iuto a beautiful open
country of green fields, where droves of cattle
quietly Craze in the verdant meadow-lands. Here
Hfo tiib bpieuulu ftblueHceh hllu llb iuinDeT hHu
Touring mills of the Mercer family, who cannot
fail to be happy amidst 80 much beauty and pros
perity.
We next visited the residence OF Mr.. L. b.
Speakman, farmer and florist of cousdera.
BILE note. His flower beds are subjects upon
which we might dwell at great length, He loves
his profession for two reasons 1et, because
lie loves flowers and I'd, because there is mon
ey in it two very good potent reasons. He has
very extensive hot houses, and almost every
tu of fa,trun and vpfa
He is just now preparing for the winter trade
and is cultivating an apparently endless amount
of pinks and carnations for cut flowers.
Leaving Mr.. Speakmans with an armful Of
winter blooming plants, we return again to Good
Hope By another and more romantic hill side
route, aud from thence to Landenberg again,
thankful to our friend Preston for our after
moons enjoyment. s..