The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-04-07
A MODEL COTTON MILL.
PRESIDENT LUCAS MEL AT LAU-
RENS ABOUTCOMPLETED.
Running In Less Than a Month.

fore the Roof was on-Laurens
Takes New Life on the Prospect
of this Great Manufacturing En-
prise-Cheaper Than Any, But
Second to None.
About the first of last year the
people Of Laurens came together
and decided to build a cotton. mill.
Ihey had made numerous efforts to
establish such an enterprise before
and failed, and consequently it was
with some misgivings that the pro-
jectors set to work.
Mr.. w. E. Lucas, of this rity!then
president of the Morgan Iron
Works, was chosen president and
treasurer of the mill and confidence
in the enterprise soon came. The
capital stock of 100000 was read
lily subscribed and a site purchased.
which is splendidly suited for the
purposes of the mill. 1t Ia on an
elevated, gradual slope, between
the Charleston and Carolina West
ern and theLaurens and Newberry
railroads, thus giving the benefit of
competing lines. Both roads have
put in side tracks and freight can
be handled either by the p. r. &W.
Q. with Seaboard Air Line connec-
tions or over the branch road to
Newberry, operated by the Allan
tic Coast Line, with traffic arrange
ments with the Southern. This
gives direct connections with tho
three great systems East and
West.
The mill owns 100 acres of,Iand.
A stream of water runs through the
property, giving ample water sup
ply for fire protection and steam
purposes. All of the bricks were
made on the land owned by the
company, the clay being OF superior
quality.
On April 10Th, 1895, the first
work on the mill was done, On
March 25th Following, the first cot
ton was run through the mill and
President Lucas established his
claim of building a mill in the
shortest time on record and at the
least cost.
While this mill is the cheapest
ever built, it Is in construction and
equipment second to none. The
walls are unusually thick and the
workmanship throughout is excel.
lent, all the work being done with
day labor.
The directors we're so we'll
pleased with their start that before
the machinery was bought thew
decided to double the capacity of
the mill, and the engines, dynamos,
shaftings etc., ip the present mill
were placed with a view to the dou.
BILE capacity.
The main building is 100 feet
wide by $40 feet long, four stories.
The engine room is 4Ox5O feet
Roller room 35x60 feet. The boiler
is 1900 horsepower and is of the
patent upright build, showing the
best coal test of any on the market.
The engine is made by Geo. 1T. Cor
less, and has a capacity of zoos
horse power. The present building
has q capacity of $4,000 spindles
and a complement of looms. The
extension to be built as soon as the
mill is running will hold 10000 adj
ditional spindles and looms; using
the same power and lighting plant,
picker room, carding elevators etc.
The designing and engineering
of this mill was done by MI, s. ri.
Chadwick, of Charlotte, who is
perhaps the foremost man in such
work in the South to day, and who
Is doing as much as any man in the
Sonth, to build up this country, and
developed our resources. This mill
is certainly a credit to his skill.
The tenement houses are neat
and very comfortable, single story,
horizontally weatherboarded and
built for occupancy by single fam
lies. Ample grounds are given to
each house, and they are delight
fully situated on an eminence back
of the mill.
The product Of this mill will be
twill goods, 40 and 4 6inches, yards
to the pound. The product will be
handled by Gary, Bayne g. Smith.
President Lucas expects to have
the mill in full operation by May
LIST, and but for some delay in the
shipment of machinery it would be
running now.
Every piece of machinery in this
mill is new and up-to-date-the
best of its kind on the MARKET
Mr.. Lucas is familiar with all the
details Of machinery and has been
careful in each instance to get the
best, regardless Of cost. But by his
good Judgment in building he has
made the mill cost less than $500
per spindle, including the land and
al! building machinery and ap-
pliances. When the addition is
made as contemplated, the cost
Will be very much reduced per
spindle.
The building of this mill has
already had a perceptible effect on
the business of Laurens. The mer-
chants are more hopeful and the
citizens generally are taking new
interest in their town. Laurens is
n of the best counties in the State
and tbare is DO reason, now that
her people are united on this great
manufacturing enterprise, why the
town should not grow and prosper.
SO mote. it be!-Spartanburg Her.
aid.