The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1894-08-09
A GROWING ENTERPRISE.
THE SCOTLAND NECK
KNITTING MILLS~
Enlarging their Capacity.

Turning a few days ago into the
Scotland Neck Knitting Mills. by the
consent of Mr.. A. Mcdowell, the clever
manager, we found everything as busy
as beehive and felt proud that Scot
land Neck has such an enterprise.
One Of the two things which this
paper has constantly advocated for seven
years is the encouragement of local
manufactures OF various kinds As an
evidence of the benefit of such enter
prises both to the community as a
whole and TO the investor. one has but
to note the organization, growth and
work of the Scotland Neck Knitting
Mills.
About the first of the year 1890 the
stock-company organization of these
mills was completed with about $36 600
capital paid in. Machines were placed
for the employment Of about 90 oper-
atives, which was about the number
employed for two years. For the first
two years only hosiery was manufac-
tured, the capacity of the mill being
$50 dozen pairs of stockings day.
At the end of the first two years
machines were put in for knitting
ladies' underwear, and recently machin-
cry has been added for knitting gentle
mems underwear also.
PRESENT CAPACITY.
Quite a number of new machines
! have been added to the plant recently
and the mills with the new machines
all placed give employment to 15O
operatives. The present capacity OF
the mills is $50 dozen pairs of hosiery
daily and 100 dozen vests. the capac-
j ity both IN the hosiery and underwear
department has been gradually increas-
ed from the few machines that were at
first operated to the present capacity.
/ All grades of hosiery and underwear
are manufactured here from the com
monest to the finest grades, and the
grades are much above the average
manufactured by other mills of the
country.
We learned, as we passed through the
mills, that the stock has been sold close
up. There is not summer garment
now In the mills.
| TERRITORY OF TRADE.
Manager Mcdowell told us that the
most of the goods are sold in the South
though quite quantity is shipped te
Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, New York
Ohio, Kansas and other States.
RUNNING DAY AND NIGHT.
All the goods now being manufac
tured are winter goods and are for or
ders already taken. Indeed the orders
now in tor winter goods will keep the
mills running day and night until 15tl
of October. The mills are now run
ming day and night trying to keep VI
with orders.
DAILY EXPENSES.
The daily expenses of the mills art
about $3.50 and as an evidence orwha
such an enterprise is worth to com
munity the payroll of the mills il
50, 800 a month, every dollar of which
is spent in Scotland Neck. This mean
at least $4,000 year circ ulation il
Scotland Neck directly through these
mills.
From these observations it will read
lily be seen that these mills are worth
great deal to the community in TIVE
ways: They give employment to man.
worthy girls and young ladies VIII
before had no profitable employment
and the industry puts good deal Q
money in circulation, which is wortl
much to the business of the town.
Besides the direct advantage to tn
community, from all appearances
would seem that it is good enterpris
tor the investors. 1t is a nOtewOrth,
!, tact that while most of the other knit
} ting mills of this section have shu
down these mills are running night am
day so as to be able to fill orders alread
received.
! COURTEOUS MANAGEMENT.
Mr.. A. Mcdowell. the general man
ager, and Mr.. John Fox, the superir
tendent, are very courteous and cleve
! and take great interest in the work
These gentlemen are we'll up with tn
business, Mr.. Mcdowell having bee
manager from the first, and Mr.. Fo
having had fine experience before Ii
took charge of these mills some month
ago.
1t is an interesting sight to look dow
the building. which Is 200 feet Ions
and see the bands and pulley, and M
chiles and fans all humming with pc,
feet regularity and it is especiali
interesting to see such busy :hron
of bright and happy girls and youn
ladies doing their work cheerfuliv an
we'll, glad of the opportunity to max