New-York tribune., 1901-05-19

with electric motive power, making Columbia the
most important centre for electrically driven textile
mills in the world. Manchester " H. and Lowell
and Holyoke. Mass, each has three mills with cleo
trio power plants.
But the Importance of the equipment of these
mills with the power is that it is done not as
a luxury or as experiment, but for economy.
w. B. Smith-Whaley, who built and IS president Of
the last three electric mills constructed was FIVE
years ago firm believer in steam. AT that time
he built the Richland Mills, in this city and al
though he could have obtained electricity from the
Columbia Canal power declined its use Later he
built the CRANKY. the electric power being trans
nitted one mile by cables from the canal power
house. The president says the cost of repairs in
the steam mill has been twice as great in the
electric mill. although the latter is much larger
and that because of the mere Uniform speed OF the
electric driven machinery it produces per cent
more goods TO the machine
a UNIQUE MILL.
II is the Olympia Mill, however that is attract
Ing the attention Of manufacturers Of cotton goods
in this country. a special train has brought mill
owners from a half dozen States in the manu-
featuring East 10 view this novelty and an Eng
lsh manufacturer has also inspected * with won
. der. Squads OF millmen stil coming down 10
visit this mill The verdict is always the same; II
presents innovation in mill building and archi-
lecture, and is 1.-The finest cotton factory in the
world; but, they all say, wifi IL pay the stock
holders? Mr.. Whaley the architect. builder and
president says that 1t will. and the men who
backed his judgment by putting 81 10000 into this
enterprise have confidence in its success. Mr..
Whaley, who as a mill engineer, has planned
many other mills for different companies. says he
never got an opportunity 10 carry out his ideas
until he built his own. People had got used to
the unsighty brick barns. with no conveniences,
ana We're frightened when he talked OF mill as
handsome as an Office building outside and fin
ti oe lSr DETER man many notes els, .ns
proPosiuon 10 nave great engine room win tied
floors, wainscoted with Tennessee marble and with
an ornamental steel ceiling. rid!culed. He
told by the men who wanted mills built that the
usual sanitary arrangements We're good enough for
8 mill; good enough for the people who worked
mere; ana the suggestion OF porcelain baths. WIN
marble floors and hardwood walls. with such
modern city buildings was not considered for a
moment But all these things and many more are
has order from another section for designs for
double towers with Illuminated clocks.
The absence OF betting and shafting is one OF the
novelties Of the Olympia. 1t IS the only mill in
the country constructed. Three engines each
of 2ee0 horsepower. form the generating plant.
Twenty-two motors, each of $50 horsepower. are
suspended from the ceiling below the floors on
which the machinery is 10 be operated. the short
are other and smaller motors that drive the pumps
70 feed the boilers run the elevators operate the
fans In winter and the cold air fans in summer.
saver: Il carts away the ashes from the furnaces
snc pumps the water into the 10000 gallon reservoir
The switch board, furnished with the other cleo
trical equipment by the General Electric people.
4 inCneS
In length. From this any OF the thirty-odd
motors in the building can be controlled indepen-
dently OF the others.
EXTRA POWER AND THE COST
As the mills maximum consumption of power is
$500 horsepower, and the engines generate 6oOO
horsepower, the excess is disposed OF to the CO.
lnrnoia Electric Street Railway Company, which
slso lights the city
As the of the mill sorna rnapufa faot,,ro-.
have computed il as high 81 spindle as against
sl5 for the best New England mill Mr. Whalev
saws this is an error, that the SIS 90 hut This
includes items. such as $4,000 for a mill village
mill: its 24o 40 inch Draper looms each COST sf
more than the looms of the New mill ara
the cost OF the excess power, which mill sells
sll2.5e0. The total these items &c ssis o,o
spindle.
The cost Of the mill village win indicate ,b,, .,
contains superior houses. The streets are nrett.ln
laid out and double rows OF shade trees have bee1
health OF the operatives, but for those who get sc
the mill management viii provide a hospital nroN
nounced by Columbia physician 10 be the hes,
equipped I'm this part OF the South Here nursine
and Interest some denomination in the Villagers
the management offered TO support a preacher and
give $500 ~ any denomination would Subscribe
Y 500 10 build $500 church The Episcopal Church
operatives has been a subject 10 receive attention
Free Sunday concerts and vaudeville entertain
inens for several evenings each week are provided
by the electric railroad. which is under the samo
been run Into the heart OF the village Free schools
are conducted for the mill children.
- ooiufnDia banker and former mill owner after
inspecting the Olympia, declared that to work In
~ ehe mill working ciass could hope for II must