The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-11-24
FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE.
A MILL OPERATIVES UTOPIA.
Two Visits to the Wonderful Alpaca
Mills of Sir Titus Salt, Of Sal
taire, Yorkshire.

taire, Yorkshire.
SOLUTION OF A SOCIAL PROBLEM.
THE FIRST VISIT TWENTY YEARS AGo-MAs-
sIvENEss OF THE MILLs-A CLEAN AND
BEAUTIFUL MANUFACTURING TOwN-THE
PRoPRIEToR's PROVISION FOR HIS PEOPLE
AN ENGLISH KNIGHT AND A NATURAL
NOBLEMAN.
Occasional Correspondence of the Sentinel.l
WALTON, ENGLAND, Sept. 4, lS75.-When
L was in Europe % years ago, 1 was told
that a certain manufacturer OF light wooden
goods, named Salt, was building a large fac
tory near Bradford, which L ought to see.
Having halt a day to spare l visited the
place. found that Mr.. Salt had bought a
tract of rough, billy land, running down to
the river Air, by the side OF which he was
building an immense factory. On looking
over and examining the building l was
amazed, not so much at Its size, though it
was immense, as at its strength and careful
construction. The walls were stone, three
feet thick. TIE partitions between the va
rious parts of the building were of stone,
with an iron door into each room. The win
dOws of which there were large number,
were made with iron frames, and two heavy
lights OF thick glass. So heavy and thick
tnst could hardly lit one OF them. The
ceilings of these rooms were lofty
and were of srched brick. The
upper part of the arch forming
the floor of the next story was leveled up
with earth, iron joists being placed with
their ends resting upon the walls and the
arch. Upon all this a floor of heavy stone
flags was laid. This completely isolated
one room from another, both in respect to
the noise of machinery and the danger
Il eD1l kof
tar were set on fire in any of these rooms, it
would not endanger the safety of the other
parts of the building. l visited the same
place a few days ago and found a marvellous
instance of industry,
SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS
enterprise and generous munifcence. The
factory that had left partly finished had
been running for twenty years, and had
given steady employment to five thousand
hands. The rough hill side land was now
beautiful town with wide paved streets and
raised flag side walks. The houses were ali
of stone, comfortable and convenient, and
many OF them elegantly built, with every
convenience OF water, drainage, etc. They
appeared to he houses of from six to ten
rooms, many of them had little gardens
with iron fences in front. The streets are
laid off at right angles like an American
town, but they are kept scrupulously clean,
and everything is in the most perfect order
Not gate was off the hinges or thing out
of place in the town. 1t looked
more like the residence of people
in independent circumstances than the
home OF factory operatives. There is large
public hall, most elegant In design and con-
struction, which is used for lectures and
concerts. In this there Is a library and read
inn w W. faA ri
open to all on the payment of trifling
sum. The school houses are spacious and
have large play grounds. There are several
churches. The Congregational, however of
which the Salt family are members, Is the
principal one. This is very handsome
building, with a musical chime OF bells.
The low lands by the river have been
raised and made into charming park and
play ground for the use of the town. / was
astonisbed, not so much at the comfort and
convenience of all that ] saw, as at its taste
and elegance. Everything looked aristo.
cratic, as though designed for people of
taste and culture. This is all
THE WORK OF ONE MAN,
and is his own individual property. Titus
Salt was apoor factory boy, cotton spin
ner, and lived in this neighborhood. By
hard work and close economy, he saved
enough money to start little wooIen mill
of his own. One day, as he was pass
ing through g large warehouse in
Liverpool he saw several bales of foreign,
hermsphrodite looking substance that W as
neither hair nor wool, and yet in some re-
spects it seemed to partake of the nature or
both. On inquiring what it was the mer-
chaut told him that it was some stuff that
had been shipped to them on consign ment,
but they had not been able to sell 1t as
nobody seemed to know what 1t was. Mr.,
Salt took handful home in his pocket and
found that 1t would spin into fine, strong
thread. He returned and bought the lot !.
and afterwards much more of the same stuff
And thus commenced the manufacture of
alpacsg ods and the immense business that
ne has since done. The old gentleman was
in the factory the day we were there. He
still enjoys vigorous health and green,
hearty old age. | felt great deal more like
taking off my hat to him than did to any
nobleman in the land. The later's titles
came by accident. He, fortunately, was the
son of some lord, and not of his footman.
But this man carries with him the broad
stamp of one of natures noblemep,
Queen Victoria, who is an honor to the ex-.
alted station she occupies, recognizing this
fact and the grand example that he had set
to other manufacturers, conferred upon him