The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-02-13
a SUCCESSFUL FACTORY.


ing concern that should be both an
object lesson and an inspiration to all
who, believe shat in manufacturing
les the foundation of the future pros
perisy of this section of country The
history of this concern shows con
clusively that large capital is not the
prerequisite Of success it shows
that industry, skill, good business
judgment and an abundant supply Of
cheap raw material can, compete
with large capital invested in long
established concerns engaged IN the
same line of business. aud. as in this
instance, prosper amazingly
For sometime the press hes been
flied with comments on the pbenomi.
nal growth and financial success of
the furniture factories at High Point.
N. G Now to show that High Point
has not monopoly in this line of
manufacturing We wish to relate as
briefly as possible the history of the
firm of Witherspoon Bros. & Go {,
manufacturers of ccfiins and furniture
This business was established as
Witberspoon Bros in 1895 with a
cash capital of less than 500 and
few tools. but large stock of energy
and a definite purpose. The mem.
bezs of the firm determined TO make
and put Oh the market the best cheap
cotfius TO be bad 10 the United States.
This they did from the start and their
ous put almost sold itself, for the
workmanship and finish of the ccffins
were such that no other coffin factory
could or did compete with them IN
prices The low prices sold the
cofins. and when once Introduced
the quality was so superior to the
average run of cheap cof6ns the
undertakers had been forced to buy,
being unable to get any better 10 the
past, that larger and larger orders
kept coming in faster than they could
be filed At the outset the business
was very small, but the growth has
been remarkable aud today the firm
is selling nearly $4,000 worth of
coHins annually and is stili unable to
supply the demand.
Ia 1895 Mr.. John E Whilden was
admitted as member Of the firm,
the capital increased by $1,000 and
the firm name changed to Wither
spoon Bros & Co The total amount
Of capital put into the business first
and last has been less than Si,100,
bat the total amount now invested in
buildings, machinery and stock aver
ages between $4,000 and $4,000
the year through. Every dollar Of
this has been earned by the business,
except the original investment, not
to mention other profits Withdrawn
from the business by members of the
fin sufficient to have paid very
large dividends on the total capital
now Invested At the present time
there are sixty hands employed in
the factory and as the business grows
steadily the number of hands in-
c,eases from month 10 moth.
The cof6ns are sold ali over the
Unised States, bnt the bulk of the
trade is the States of South Carolina,
North Caroline, Georgia, FloridaP
Virginia, Tennessee, aud Alabama
This record may be eqasli7d by
some other factory, but shat is doubt
ful The growth in cap1tai from ST.
100 TO $4,000 il Eve yeas, the in
crease i6 business from nothing to
$50 600 per year in Eve years. the
increase 10 the number Of hands
employed FROM FIVE to sixty in Eve
years makes up record OF business
building that will be difficult to
match