The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-12-27
4 MANUFACTURING ENTERPRISE.
Arrival From England OF l:0 Operatives to
DO Employed In Rhode Island.

Arr1SuI from EnElnnu Oi l.O OporntlNes 10
bo Employed In Rhode Island.
Providence, Il. l., Dec. 2G.-By the
early train from New York, Mr.. John
Cooper, with 19O English operatives, mr.
rived in this city this morning, and
Immediately took carriages to Simmons.
vile, village n few miles west OF Provi-
dence, where houses haye been erected
and furnished ready for them. Anew
and 'commodious brick mill has been
erected OH an old mill privilege there and
filled with machinery imported from
England, and these operatives were
brought from nottingham 10 begin bust
ness at once. In answer to query as to
| what caused him to come to America and
embark in this undertaking, Mr.. Cooper
said: ''For twenty Years had been
manufacturing the finest kind OF hosiery
for men, women and children. My place
OF business was in Nottingham, England.
Finally business began TO ilag, aud found
it necessary to seek another place 10 DO |
business" . '
"When did the decline set in7, /
"Weil, for the last ten years there has
been steady decline. In fact, not only |
in my line Of business, but in the entire |
list OF manufacturers, the whole trade is
declining"
"And to what cause do you attribute
thisW 7f-Il
OWING TO FREE TRADE.
ITO free trade. It is great mistake
England has fallen into, and her people |
are beginning to see it. The Germans
are running away with the business.
They have cheap labor, and consumers are
learning that they can do better by going
to the German markets. | am going to
be the pioneer British manufacturer in |
coming TO America 10 sell directly TO the |
trade. For numberof years baye been !
accustomed TO make trips across the water |
and place my goods in this Market
"What difference did you note in the
business ?"
"a great deal. Why, when first came |
here used to place E70,C00 worth OF goods |
year. Latterly, with better facilities for |
producing goods, / was unable to place |
more than 100000 worth year. In the
best years of rmy busifess=I@pi goods |
in this market valued, including duties,
cost OF transportation, etc., ut $500,O00 per
aanum. ou will see that in the closing
years the business done was not one.third
OF that amount per annum." .l=.a,
WATCHED THE MARKET.
Mr.. Cooper had watched the market
for several years, and six months ago de-
cidcd it was time to take this step. He
has plant worth $4,000 in the new mill
and expects TO start up by the first Of the
new year with an ability TO manufacture
700 dozen hosiery weekly. The firm will
be known rs the British Hosiery Com
pany," and will require the employment
Of 100 persons. Of these fully so have
worked more or less in Nottingham. The
party left England December l3, and con-
sists OF 50 men, so women and girls, and
20 children. The wages here will be 30
percent more than what they could make
in Nottingham. Their cottages will cost
them 20 percent more than they paid in
England, but their food will cost them less
than they have been paying for it. The
operatives are delighted with the change.
SENSATION AT DEPARTURE.
Mr.. Cooper was asked, "Did the depart
ure Of the party make any excitement in
Ensland?"
s.Yes, it did. There were about 10000
people at the station to see us OF. We
had great difficulty in getting our car
riages, and some. Of the party wercleft
and had to come on the next train. The
local papers spoke Of it as great under
taking, and said that they never remem-
bcred seeing anything like the demonstra-
ton made at the station. rGA
"Do you think that your step has at-
tracted the attention Of other English
manufacturers ~ s.,
"Yes, 1 DO. feel thatthe eyes OF many
OF them arc upon this little party, and
that whatever we do will be closely
watched. II We make success oil it, they
will surely come to America also. Free
Trade is doing all this. 1t has undone the
manufacturers and brought poverty upon
the people. There are thousands and
hundreds of thousands OF people there
out OF work. Never has the business OF
the country been SC. depressed as it now
is" - 80. e.,
TIE SPINDLE" CITY.
rrt.- ~