The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-06-17
Montgomery Outlines His Plans for
Future.

Spartanburg, :. G., June 9--At least one OF
the Pacolet mills will be rebuilt. This an
'rouncement was made 10 ME by President
Victor Montgomery, who also outlined in full
nIs plan OF relief and future operations. Mr..
Montgomery will meet with his directors and
prominent stockholders In Spartanburg this
afternoon. His plan will IT, III be approved
and put into operation at once This MORN
ing he gave me the following statement:
"You may say that Pacoiet mil! No. will
be rebuilt at once. We have already EN-
ployed large lumber OF men and are giving
All cble bodied people employment who can
use pick and clear debris. 1t will probably
ue three mouths until the mill is running
again. Contracts will be signed at once for
the completion anu restoration or the MILL
Pacolet is not near In such deplorable stua-
uon az & iiton. We lost mills No. | and 2
totally. Mill No. 3 was terribly damaged
But We lost no mill houses and none OF our
people suffered loss except that their op.
portunity to earn money has been destroyed
uutl we get No. running again.
My plan is this: Instead OF asking for
cash contributions, which are really not now
needed. we have asked all neighboriDg mills
to take our employees. pay their travelling eX-
pepseS To their mills and give them employ
nent for three months. The mills which
have agreed To this Will charge the employees
nothing for The railroad expenses provided
they remain with them for the three months
full time and afterwards return 10 US to
operate our No. : mill, OicOurse we will
charge no house rent TO any operative now In
our employ who wishes to remain at Pacolet
and wait for The mi TO begin running again.
There will be some who Will take advantage
of this latter proposition. as many OF our mill
hands have quite II lot of money saved up and
on deposit with US, which will pay their eX
penses, as they have no rent to pay.
Il have asked all mills to consent to this
scheme of aid rather Than to make cash con
| tributionS. COR you will at once zee that it il
| better to get employ for idle people than
| to make them pauperS by giving them mon
| ey. There il absolutely no suffering at
Pac0let at present.
"Of course tkere will be cases of deStitutlon
| II no reIei IL distributed, but these are lsola.
charge 0I all contributions which will he
| made | have selected one man to be my
| representative. He Is our credit man at the
mill store and Knows every emplOye per
sOnally. All money and provisions and other
supplies VIII be placed solely in his hands
| and he will use his own juddment, v Which
| cannot he questioned on account OF his eX'
| pprience aud k owledge OF the situation.
| I'VE are deeply grateful to all who have
aided. In n moment of this character, | can
not fail to express my appreciation and
gratitude to the Atlanta journal for It's mag
nifcient work, especially at Gainesville
| Your paper responded quickly and nObly and
| it's good work cannot be estimated by myself
! but must lind It's reward In the full conscious
ness OF having feu many Il hungry mouth and
easpd many an aching body.
| believe employment is the keynote t.
! the whole situation at PacOet. ldleness !!
| the working mans worst enemy. AS soon a!
| he is given work and realizes he is max inL
| money, he is happy and satisfied. While 0u
loss Ia great in n financial way, ! thank Coo
! that The los of life is nothing like IL WAS -
gainesville or at Clifton. We are face 10 fac,
with - stern reality hut we Will meet IL with
out delay or bitter complaint.