The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1901-08-15
The Largest OF Its Kind.
THE SEWARD TRUNK AND BAG COMPANY,
OF PETERSBURG. VA


Something About the Character and
Extent of Their Business The
Growth of Great Concern.
The editor had occasion to visit
Petersburg Monday and while there
he availed himself of the opportunity
to 60 through the factory and ware
rooms of the Seward Trunk and Bag
Company.
We found Mr. Joseph w. Seward,
the secretary and treasurer. up to his
eyes in business, but courteous and
obliging gentleman that he is our
wish had only to be made known to
be gratitied. He at once led the way
and babe US follow. We were aware
Of the fact that this is pretty big
concern but we were not quite pre-
pared to find it the immense estab-
lishment investigation showed it to
be.
The entire plant covers several
acres of ground with 100000 square
feet Of floor space. Still they are add
ing to it another large structure just
across the street, connected by over
head bridge, which is nearing com
pletion. This building, part of it five
stories high, will be used chiefly for
storage purposes and offices, thus
making room for several hundred ad-
ditional workmen in the main build
ings where floor space now has to be
occupied for storage.
First we went through the depart
ment where the cheaper grades of
trunks are made-the plain wooden
boxes paper covered and paper lined.
Then better grade zinc and tin
covered and more pretentious in APP
pearance. Next we came to more
skilled workmen and expensive ma
terials where "My Lady's" Saratoga,
tourists steamer trunks and fit recep-
tacles for the costly wardrobcs of
country editors-the finest and best
trunks to be had-are constructed.
1t was busy scene and an interesting
sight that met us everywhere. Next
we visited the department in which
the bags and telescopes are made.
Here every style and quality of goods
under this head may be found-and
there are none better.
1t is said of the Seward Trunk and
Bag Company that they are the larg-
est manufacturers of trunks and bags
in the world. This at first thought
may strike one as rather in the nature
of an eNtravagant claim when con-
sideration is had for the size of this
old foot ball upon which we move and
have our being. But it is no idle
boast. In the first place there are no
very large factories of the kind out
side the United States. But because
this fact is not generally known to
the public, so modest and conserva-
tive is he in his statements that MIR.
Seward is disposed to speak of their
business only as being the largest in
the United States-if you can draw
him out sufficiently to allude to it in
that way at all. And this claim is
substantiated by the number of peo-
pie employed, the amount of hard
ware purchased, the quantity of
leather and other materials used and
the net product of the factory in
goods made and sold
They travel 20 regular men, besides
having agencies in New York, Boston,
Philadelphia, Baltimore and in several
Western cities. Their territory ex-
tends from Maine to Texas, embrace
ing all the country East of the Mis-
sissippi river, and Southwest as far as
Oklahoma. They cater to all classes
of trade and sell trunks at from 81 90
to the finest made; bags at IS cents
and upward.
Two of their most popular and sue
cessful statesmen are Henderson men,
Messrs. Lewis D. Stainback and
Claude Hunter.
Employing a small army of people
as they do and exporting more trunk.
and bags than many large concerns
manufacture altogether, so great is
the demand for their goods.that it is
difficult to meet it. The secret OF
this is not far to seek. 1t lies in the
high quality and low price of the
goods themselves. Nothing but the
best material of it's kind enters into
the makeup of Stewards trunks and
bags, and when person possesses an
| article of their make assurance may
be had of the best service and highest
satisfaction. Quality is the strong
foundation upon which their business
has been built, merit the true test by
which success has been won.