The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-10-17

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to strike oot upon new line in
manufacturing. At that time not a
gingham mill was built in the.
SouthernaStates, and when the pro-
jectors said they would undertake the
manufacture of ginghams twas pre-
dicted that failure would ensue, as
the South ;conld not compete with
New England .in The finer goods.
Tbs psevalest idea was that the
coarser fabrics should demand the
attention Of the mills in this section,
leaving 10 the North tie more pro-
ftable and difficult undertakings.
It was q small beginning that was
made Of Rock Hill and no doubt that
many supposed it to be too insignifi-
cant to merit their attention. The
plan Of raising the money to construct
the mill and put it into operation is
known as the cooperative plan, which
means that the stockholders agree to
pay for their shares of stock in
monthly instalments. This is a slow
process, and yet it can be made
to achieve wonderful results. It's
success mainly depends upon the
man put in charge Of the enterprise,
who must be practical and sagacious
enough to take advantage of oppor-
tunities..
The citizens of Rock Hill were for
tunate in having the right man for
this position. Mr.. j. R. London had
been successful merchant in that
town for many years He had dealt
largely in cotton and agricultural
machinery, and at the time he, was
asked to take charge Of the new mill
he was doing. an extensive business in
general agencies which was yielding
him quite handsome profit Mr. Lon
don was persuaded to take the bur-
den upon himself, and he has proven
that men are capable of developing
themselves in more than one line of
business. He was totally without
experience in the manufacture of
cotton goods, and knew nothing of
the process except in regard to yarns.
He began the study of the business,
however. and while the instalments
were accumulating he was getting
ready to build the mill and turn out
ginghams after the most approved
fashion He spent quite while III
New England, aud gained an insight
into their methods of business and
practical knowledge of cotton ma
chinery, which. will always prove
valuable to him
When the. payments On the stock
had reached $4,000, it was decided
10 60 ahead with The mill Mr. Lon
don purchased twenty-seyen acres of
land right along the Three e's Rail-
road, and at once began she erection
of the buildings. he borrowed $685.
600 upon the faith and credit of the
men associated with him, and it was
not long until he had the machinery
in operation. One hundred loons
were put at work. From time to
time the machinery and operatives
have been increased, and now there
are Eve hundred looms with three
hundred operatives regularly employ
ed. The capital stock has grown to
$3.50, 900 with considerable surplus
on hand, while dividends of ten per
cent. annually have been paid fiom
the first year.
The majority of the operatives are
men and boys, although young
women and girls are employed to
considerable extent. This labor
comes mainly from the surrounding
country, and lately a number Of
families have been received from
Chesterfield County. Some of the
operatives own their homes, but
nearly all of them live in the double
cottages belonging to the company
These cottages contain seven or
eight rooms, and are usually occupied
by two families, who pay So and 50
respectively per month, the difference
being in the number of rooms occu-
pied. The premises are kept in good
order, an abundant water supply is at
hand and the operatives have very
healthy appearance.
Mr.. London believes in training oar
native labor for all parts of the mill.
He was giving skilled workman
high wages to manage the dye house,
which requires an accurate knowl-
edge of the process for mixing the
dyes, and suddenly the man quit his
employment. Mr.. London spent a
week in mastering the details of
dyeing, and with the aid of a man
who had been assisting the
skilled workman, the process was
fully ascertained and the great mys-
mi Al