Evening star., 1896-02-18
B r DOM FAC TO r Y
New Enterprise Of the Central Union
Mission.
Work for the Poor Outside of the
WOOdyard-The Facilities
Mt Present.

Mission have Just started a new branch
to their Industrial department. which al
ready gives promise Of being as much a
success the WOOD yard has been. 1t is
a broom factory, and in day or so Wash
ington matrons will have an opportunity
to see and try the product of a home in
dustry in their house cleaning. The manu-
factory has been located in the basement
of the mission building, on Louisiana ave-
Hue very near the wood-sawing department
and the room provided has been thorough
ly cleaned and otherwise put in order for
the establishment. The light afforded by
the windows was hardly sufficient, and. in
consequence. those in charge have attached
to the plant system of electric lights. In
addition to this, steam heat has been pro-
vided, SO that those who are employed in
the factory are really better off tn IN many
of their brethren in similar lines of work
In order to afford access from the front Of
the building new stairway has been built.
At present there are eight men who have
been placed at work, besides the foreman,
but these can be increased by the. addition
of three or four more. and II the plant is
SUCH success as to warrant the purchas-
Ing of more machines, there Is space
ugh In the room to permit of there being
twenty and more workmen engaged at the
same time. Three sets of machines COM
prises all the machinery Of the present
plant, but 1t will be sufficient to turn out
large number of brooms each day. In
making the bIooms the first thing the men
do Is to sort the broom corn. This corn in
use at the mission has been purchased at
Richmond, and could not be obtained near
er, SO that the first output of the factory
Will, 1t Is expected. be trifle higher in
price than subsequent lots, for which the
corn can be obtained nearer home and di-
rect from the producer. instead of from a
commission merchant. The handles of the
brooms are also manufactured outside of
the city, but If the factory is complete
success. 1t Is thought that the mission
may obtain machinery to turn out the ham
oies and thereby open up new industry.
W men the broom corn has been assorted
1t Is passed over to those in charge of the
winding machines. This machine arranges
the broom in the manner that every one
has seen on the handles. and secures it by
the Wrappings of wire at the small of the
broom. After this the unfinished broom Is
Passed to the stitcher. The stitching ma
chine runs the threads in and out, binding
the strands of corn firmly together and
then the broom is nearly ready for sale
Inc mission has had it's own stamp and
label prepared, SO that everybody NAV see
Just what the mission can do without being
imposed upon by substitutes. The three
first mentioned stages of the mandatory
are carried on by the machines. but on first
thought one would think that the trade
would be somewhat difficult one to learn.
Mr f. II. Bailey, chairman of the board of
directors of the mission, however. states
that this is not the case, but. on the con-
trary, the men who are now at work. and
without any previous experience have
turned out several very respectable brooms
TWO weeks Is about the time thought ec-
essary to teach a man so that his work can
pass inspection. The directors think that
though this may deter some men from ap-
piylng for this class of work, 1t will be-
better for them in the end. as they will be
In possession of trade. at least. and so
not as dependent as the wood sawyers
ne winding stage of the process Is the
most d1hcult, and requires the most amount
or time to become proficient in.
Inc actual making of the broons will not
put the number of men to work that anoth-
er portion of the factory Is contemplated to
do. Fhis latter is the business end. the buy
ing and selling. Or rs, both wholesale and
retail, are to be fl. ID, and it is expected
That the greatest amount sold in the for
mer class will be from men who are out of
work. and who wish to purchase the
brooms and sell them themselves, at their
own personal risk The mission authorities
are also to employ men appointed by the
superintendent from applications made to
him to sell the output on commission. This
will furnish continual employment at all
times of the year, winter as we'll as sum-
ner 1t is also possible that the plant may
pc extended so as to embrace other
branches of well-esta blshed broom fac
tory, such as making busters and kindred
articles. Those of the men who are now
at work are being taught by an experienced
German workman, whom the directors were
fortunate enough to secure in Richmond
after trying number Of other places. The
superintendent In charge of the business
end of the scheme is A. w. c.. Nowlin Of
this city. Superintendent Nowln claims
that his men will and are able to turn out
as cheap, If not cheaper, articles than those
produced by private factories.