Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1894-05-26

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theless, it is a fact.
The machines in use are the result {
many inventions by Mr.. r. E. XII
bourn, president of the company, an
are believed to be the finest machine
in the world for the production Of fin
seamless hosiery, enabling the CON
pany to compete successfully with til
Germans in our own market. eve
under the proposed reduction in tn
tariff.
This has not been accomplished il
a day, but is the result Of earnest labo
on the part of Mr.. Kilbourn durini
the past 40 years. He was the invent
or of the machines used by the Nor
folk & New Brunswick Hosiery Com
pany in the manufacture of full-fash
toned underwear, was oneofthe origina
organizers of that company and TO
many years its superintendent AM
one of its board of directors, and il
now president of both the Kilbourf
Knitting Machine Company and tn,
Middlesex Knitting Company. TIL,
Kilbourn Knitting Machine Company
was organized in 1887 for the develop
ment of the patents of Mr.. Kilbourr
for the manufacture of seamless no
siery, and is the exclusive owner of al
these patents. 1t has a capital o
$3.50, 900, owns a well-ftted up ma
chine shop for the manufacture O
these machines in New Brunswick.
N. J., has in Martinsburg one of the
finest plants in the country for the
manufacture of cotton and wooler
hosiery, is the owner of a controlling
interest in the Middlesex Knitting
Company, and in addition to the free
use of all the Kilbourn patents in theii
own business is in receipt of a large in
come from royalties from other manu-
facturers using their machines.
A prominent business mar furnishes
us the following accurate and succinct
account of the establishment of the
hosiery industry in Martinsburg, and
its future prospects:
1.-The Improvement, Loan, and Build
ing Association of this place first built
a hosiery mill at an expense of $Io,-
500, leased the same to Col. Hickman,
a ~licensee of the Kilbourn Knitting
Machine Company, and loaned him
$4,000. This was the beginning of
what has become a mammoth bust
ness. On the death of Col. Hickman
the Kilbourn Knitting Machine Com
pany organized the Middlesex Knit
ting Company with a capital of $780,
900. This company purchased all in
terest of the Hickman estate in the
plant. The Improvement, Loan, and
Building Association adding $Io,o 900
to their loan, and the citizens of Mar
tinsburg giving the company a bonus
of 81, o to secure the enlargement of
the plant.
"The Improvement, Loan, and Build
ing Association loaned the Kilbourn
Knitting Machine Company $4,000
and to this the citizens of Martinsburg
added a bonus of $500 in cash and
90 lots of ground as an inducement to
build an additional plant in Martins
burg for the manufacture of cotton
and wooden hosiery. This plant has
been built and partly filed with MA
chinery and in successful operation
for over s years. The two companies
are now paying out fully $4,000 a
month for labor and have made a
proposition to the citizens Of Martins
burg for the enlargement of their busi-
ness which will probably in the pear
future more than double this amount.
Both companies have done a success
full business from the start and Through
all the present business depression
kept their mills steadily running sell
ing all their production