The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-10-27
SHOE FACTORY NEWS,
Echoes From the Brethren.

ASANS W IAN A5SANy" SSAN ~ OL4SSSS
express, money order, or p~ostcfice
money order-the last payable on Raj
eigh.
Bro. L, E. Newsom 81 brought
matter Of running shoe factory before
my county Alliance at its recent meet
ing, and, after it was thoroughly dis
cussed, they decided unanimously in
favor of permanent stock; but they ere
not ready to send in more contribu-
tions, if the factory is to be run on the
beneficiary plan to the detriment
OF the stockholders. Tney can see
no result il favor of the stockholders
by this plan either in shoes or net
profits; and unless some provis-
ions are made whereby they can see
some hope of benefits from the manu-,
tacture of shoes or net profits the mat
ter Will lag in this county,"
I do not know what to say to Bro.
N0wsom. Am glad at least that the
factory was discussed, and that they
had g. unanimous vote. / believe / may
say that I hope no brother will take
stock, expecting to realize any net
profits very soon. The factory ia yet
an experiment with us, and if it is run
the first twelve months 1CjtbOut loss it
will be very much to the credit Of the
management. Now, I don't mean to
6leparage taking stock, but I do mean
that disappointment shall be avoided.
I do not think that either taking stock,
or subscribing on the dollar plan"
will work to the detriment OF the
other. The thing this writer has sought
to accomplish is TO devise some plan
GDy plan-t0 put the factory to work,
and that would bid fair to run itself
1UithOut loss, until it shall be organized
and settle down to steady work. And
why shout it not be run 2 Every day
it stands idle it is eating it's head Off.
Look at this :
Total investment about 1922, 600, at 6 per
cent. interest for one year, 81. 800
Insurance on 81, 500, 1877
Taxes, probably, 100
81, COZ
We are losing more than S. a day for
every day it stands idle. How long will
it take at this rate before our fund is
entirely consumed 2 The fund yields
a profit of only about 81 SO per day.
II the factory is run wisely and eau
tiousIy it is a good Investment. Stand
ing idle it is only a sink hole, and re
quires much of somebody's time to
keep up sign boards. and warn the
brethren OF DANGER. The factory IS
compelled to run, or the Alliance is
guilty Of folly unworthy the intelli
gence of our organic alton. II it is run
on the lone dollar" benefit plan it will
tend to build up the waste places of
the Alliance, and make stronger and
more fertile the fields now cultivated.
If run on the stock plan, and met
profits" is the slogan, it must make the
race as q cold business enterprise. If
run with the Agency funds it will par
take much of the former. But u at
all hazards, or sell the thing out to
the highest bidder, ard stop the leak.
A brother suggests that we run on
half time, or quarter time like other en-
terprises. That is impractical unless
like other enterprises, we had our
hands all around US, and kept them so
poor they could not get away. The
first thing necessary is a 1 200 or ]. 500
dollar man, who thoroughly and prac-
tically understands the shoe business,
understands machinery, and how to
organize and manage hands. Then we
must have a dozen or more expert
hands, who will cost from IS to $12 per
week. These men cannon be fouad
within the sound of the whistle, If in
deed in the State. They cannot be
hired on quarter, or half time. Then
there will be required from 25 to 100
other hands, according to capacity, at
which factory is run. It will take them
all of one quarter to learn anything lat
a loes to the factory, and you have no
that you would get the same
hands the next QQarter-men are look
ing for jobs where they can make a
living, and we would be constantly
employing green hands. To undertake
this our shoes would cost too much.
The thing to do Tin the estimation of
the writer (s to invest some Individual,
who has business capacity, with au
thority to u The enterprises. Go On
with the lone dollar" plan until 1T
spreads over the State, supplement
this with the Agency fund and u the