St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1902-06-14
Ceyin8ten Enterprise:

~O
Correspondence Times-D Democrat,
Covington, June Z, 1902
The Southern Industrial Institute,
Ltd, or more properly, the shoe factory
and printing plant Of the institute are
now in operation and turning out va
riety of grades of shoes and all kinds
Of job printing. This institution is, in
measure, the successor OF the Chin
chuba Institute, inasmuch as the
shoe factory and printing plant OF the
latter were transferred to and are now
operated by the former. The shoe fac
tory and printing Office were originally
established by the institute for the deaf
and dumb. This institute is entirely
dependent upon charity, and as those
in charge found it very difficult to ob-
tain sufficient means. the factory and
printing plant were established with q
view Of providing revenues for the bet
ter support and maintenance of the in
stitution. Both Of the plants were
started on small scale. but success
crowned the efforts OF the promoters
from the very start, and the business
| increased 20 fast that In the course of
one year it attained such proportions
that the institute was no longer able to
handle it without the aid of outside
capital. The location. moreover, was
very undesirable, being completely iso-
)nted and affording no Shipping facilities.
Accommodations for the workmen In
the factory were also wanting, and
these men were obliged to hoard in
Vaudeville. two miles away. It was
then that the Rev. Father Gabriel, who
had been in charge OF the Chinchuba
Institute for years and who is still in
charge, conceived the idea OF organ
izing stock company and transferring
the entire plant to the more desirably
situated, larger and more progressive
town Ut Covlngton. Accordingly. he
organized stock company under the
name Of the Southern Industrial Insti-
tute, Ltd, capitalized at $4,000. The
business men of this town we're not
SLOW to appreciate the great benefit
which the establishment OF such Il fac
tory in their midst would mean to them
selves and to the town generally, and
they responded most heartily to the
invitation o. Father 0abrel to join him
in the contamination OF his project. It
was not long before Father Ga briel had
enough stock subscribed to enable him
to organize his company. A meeting Of
the Subscribers was held, the charter
signed, board of directors elected and
the institute was ready for business. |
CT 70 81
the Chinchuba Institute were then pur-
chased. A large two-story galvanized
iroa factory building, containing about
10000 square feet OF floor space was
erected on square OF ground purchased
for that purpose on the Principle bust
ness street of Covington, about four
squares from the center OF the town.
The building was completed in the lat
ter part of March. The removal Of the
machinery and material from Chinchuba
and their installation In tho new bnild- !
ing occupied over one months time, and
when everything had been placed in
order. steam was raised, the machiner:7
set in motion and factor,v which is
destined to contribute materially to the
development Of Covington began opera
tiOns.
The shoe factory is thoroughly com
p'eto and modern in all OF its appoint
ments. 1t Is equipped with the latest
styles and best machinery and app!i-
ances Of their kind, and has a capacity
of 200 pairs Of finished shoes of tho best
grade per day. The factory is not run
ming to its fullest capacity at the pres
ent time, but it is expected to run at
full blast in short time.
The new institute acquired the good
will of the old; this includes a most de-
siracle and substantial clientle through
out the States of Alabama. Mississippi
and Louisiana, which has already ma
terially increased since the change.
Among the specialties manufactured
by the factory are the McDonogh shoe
for men and boys and very superior
turn shoe for sisters. These shoes have
been very we'll and kindly received
wherever they have gone.
The printing Office is running full time
and turning out all grades Of work. 1t
among its patrons some OF the
leading commercial firms OF New Or
leans, who were patrons Of this depart
ment when it was operated solely by the
Chinchuba Institute, because they real
lied that they were supporting u worthy,
charitable cause, and for that same
reason they accord their patronage to
that department under its new owner
ship today.
The Rev. Father Gabriel, former
manager of the factory and printing
plant ut Chinchuba, Is manager of the
factory and plant under it's new OWNER
ship. and although these have been in
operation but short while here, they
have already produced a most healthy
effect upon the business community, as
the many dollars paid out in salaries at
the end Of each week by the institute
fnd their way t" the stores, to- the
and butcher stands aud help !.
to increase the revenues Of all and Gre
ate most wholesome sentiment in I
favor OF more factories.
READ IT IN HIS NEWSPAPER.
George Schaub, a well.known