The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-03-13

Efficient Service More Profitable
than Capital Stock In Manufactur-
ing Enterprises-Cbild LabOr-ROl-
ling Stones Not Needed

Mr.. ]. B. Campbell, of Green wood, was in
town few days ago. He talked pleasantly
of Greenwood and the cotton mill in which
he is employed, and, among other things,
said that the mill was connected with the
city water works. By this connection the
labor and the expense OF keeping up steam
from Saturday afternoon to Monday morning
ia saved. Arrangement with the insurance
companies sanctioned the saving to the mill
without increasing the insurance. The town
is also a gamer by the arrangement. The
steam pump at the mill being connected with
the water mains, the mill could, in case OF
emergency, furnish water for fire'purposes.
The arrangement IL seems Is beneficial
alike to the town and to the mill.
OMr. Campbell has been in the cotton mill
business for twelve years. Commencing at
the bottom he has made upward steps from
the machines to loom -fxer, and from loom
fixer to boss OF the spinning; Lately he was
the carding rooms. with increased pay. He Is
ambitious to reach the top, and hopes by
fidelity and efficiency, to be called up higher.
Mr.. Campbell says the present is the hardest
times the mills have ever had, and he thinks
that he would prefer to have a good paying
office TO owning stock In mill. He be.
lieves that efficiency and fidelity pay more
certain dividend than capital invested In
stock.
Mr.. Campbell says that. as q rule, the best
element Of the cotton mill operatives Is op-
posed 10 any law regulating child labor in the
cotton mills Such law would seriously
affect the operatives, but could not perman-
emily ipjure the manufactures. He says 1t is
true that a few triflng men live off the labor
OF their children, but such cases are the eX.
ception. Mill operatives may be trusted TO
take care of their own children. The propo-
sition TO interfere with mill operatives and
their children comes from one Of two classes
OF men, namely:
|. Those conscientious and honest men
who are ignorant OF the real condition OF the
mill people.
. Those who are prompted by illwlll to-
ward the cotton mills.
When asked If the people In the Green.
wood mill had educational and religious
facilities. he said that they were we'll provid.
ed with a school, and that religious services
were held In the mill chapel at least twice q
month. AS rule, the mill people attended
the city churches. They were as we'll dressed
as the city people, and have no hesitation In
going to the city churches, where they are
made welcome.
The Greenwood mill has a most excellent
class OF help. The rule in that mill is to let
mach ines stand, rather than employ objec
tionable people. Sometimes the operatives
temporarily take extra machines during q
rush of work. The mill makes IL rule not
10 advance car fare for help. An operative
who has not money enough to pay his own
way is not desired. The probability is, that
those who have no money with which to pay
moving expenses, are either Inefficient work
men or are rolling stones, who do not stay
anywhere very long. The best interests OF
mill require steady force, which is content
ed TO stay in good place.
Mr.. Campbell SAYS that the mill pays sl4
for pine wood that a person appointed 70
that purpose directs the piling OF the wood
and that, in that way, chances Of dissatisfac
faction In the Measurement are prevented
They do not receive wood that is piled 80 tina
rabbit might run through it. CONSIDERABLE
pine wood Is received in box cars. In sucl
cases the mill unloads 1t. making proper al
lowance for the trouble OF unloading.