The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-11-26
zeigler Brothers.

This house consists of five brothers, whose
relative constituency in the firm is in the fol-
lowing order; John j., Henry z George j.,
jr., William D. and Louis D. Z9gler.
The present co-par,nership dstes from
January lst, 1869, although the senior mem.
Der. John j. Zeigler, had been identified with
the trade some ten years previous..,to that
time.
The Messrs. Zsigler were among the origi-
nal houses to adopt machinery in the manu-
fscture of ladies and chldren's shoes in this
city. AT first there was strong prejudice
against machine made goods; but the perfec.
tioa attained in the style and fsish, in con-
nection with good and sufficient. proof of
their durability, has worn away that preia-
dice, until to-day, in many respects, they are
acknowledged superior to handmade goods,
which cost from thirty to forty per cent
more in the workmanship.
From beginning of twenty-five or thirty
sNchines ia all, this firm have increased their
facilities to over one hundred sewing, and
between fifty and sixty other machines for
solng and heeirg, and to assist in other
branches OF the work.
From September lst, 1879, to September
lst, 1850, they turned ont nearly 400, 900
pairs of the various kinds of shoes they man
ufacture the valuSti Il of the same being
100000.
They represent 525 employees, and occupy
the extensive brick structure No. III, i19
and l2l North Fifth street, which i; l00k70
feet, six stories high, including basement, and
was built by the firm in 1875 This building
is well adapted for the requirements of the
business, and al the time it was built was
considered OF sufficient capacity ms Il manu-
factory for all time TO come; but the trade Of
the house has assumed such proportions
within the past three or four years, that
d lube the amount of space it now occupies
Q I'D we'll be us.d in order 10 accommodate
the steadily increasing trade OF the firm.
The basement is used as n stock department
where the bottoms are prepared, and then
transferred by steam elevators to the fifth
story, where there are ll0employes engaged
in the lasting and preparing the shoes for the
sewing departments on the floors below.
The medium grade of goods are all made
and finished on the fourth floor, where sew
enty-ive hands, with the aid of machinery,
do the soling and heeling excepting the
hand sewed work. for the entire establish
ment.
An expert operator can stitch'the soles on
600 pairs Of shoes per dsy; but the Messrs,
Ziegler never allow their machines to run ri
q higher rate of speed than is necessary to
turn out 400 p hrs; owing 10 the fact that
| first.class work requires more time than the
inferior grades which can DO run at the
| higher rate.
| On the third floor, there are $50 female
employees engaged in stitching uppers
which of late years has become very i'm
porLant branch Of the business, there being
considerable more WORK on the uppels nov
than in years past.
The second floor is used as a cutting de
| partment and bOttomirg room OF the hand
sewed work, snd contains 60 employees.
The first floor above the basement !
where the salesroom and offices are located
and has complement of 20 employees.
The entire building is heated BY steam
furnished by one large boiler in the sub Gel
lar, which drives one Of the latest improves
thirty five horse power engines (manutsc
tured by the Eagle iron works. in wing G
the main building,
There are two or three stsirways lesdin
from one floor TO another throughout tn
entire building, and in case of fire the egrss
is such that the 525 employees can vacate tn
building in few minutes
Tho whole establishment is well sys.ems
lied, and is run with the least possible col
fusion, while Ziegler Brothers are perseve
ing business men, who have helped to bull
splendid reputation for goods of Philsde
phia manufacture.