New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-05-03

for them Our employees now from 81 to
$50 week That is far better average than plan
tation wages A. s-
The black cotton milr' of the Coleman Manu-
featuring Company the outcome of negro
conference held at the Atlanta Exposition some
years ago for the purpose OF devising means TO
educate the negro race. There great deal
said about educational influences. and numerous
glittering generalities about enlightenment.
moral sympathy" truth" and faith and then
finally one speaker. coming down from the clouds.
made this practical proposition:
The solution Of the colored problem lies with the
young. Factories should be eSta blished in the
South whore negro boys ard girls viii learn TO
make finished products. Thus they will not only
better their mental condition. but viii add TO
the financial resources of these States. The cotton
rs now growing at doors. yet ship it to FIR
away Northern mills II be made INTO cloth and be
sent back to Us. We send our coal north for the
furnaces of these factories Let us build
factories. Let our and coal.
Let employ negroes. thus enrich
as well enlighten them
These words took root in the mind of Mr.. Cole
man, and in 1897 the Coleman Manufacturing Com
pany organized under~the laws Of North Caro-
lima with the following directors: The Rev.
; 6 Thompson, pastor of the Presbyterian Church
at Camden. s. C.: /. P Berry. attorney at law.
Statesville; John c. Dancey. formerly Editor oe
The Zion Quarterly Salisbury; Professor s. B.
Mcbride. of Biddle University Charlotte; Z. A
Johnson dean of the department of law at Shaw
University. Raleigh: r. B Fitzgerald, brick mason
and contractor, Of Durham: Robert McRae and w.
& Coleman, brickmaker and merchant respectively,
Of Concord. and DR.. C. r Meserve president OF
SHAW University. MIR. Meserye is the only white
man among the number. Mr.. Fitzgerald elect
ed president and Mr.. Coleman secretary and treas
urer H. Z. Smith. white who was trained
in Lowell. Mass, is the superintendent.
At the outset s50Go0 was subscribed. chiefly by
colored bishops, doctors and lawyers scattered
throughout the Southern States. No sooner was
the splendid building erected however, than it was
discovered. that not one-half the subscribers were
paying in their cash. The project came 10 a stand
still. and might have failed had 1t been for
The persevering efforts of Mr. Coleman and the
added financial backing of B. y. Duke Washing
ton Duke. OF Durham, also subscribed S1,oor Two
years ago 5000 spindles and $50 looms were installed
and last year actual work was begun. Things still
looked dark until NJ. H. Caldwell. the attorney for
certain Northern stockholders, came to this city
with sample OF the mills warn and secured an
order for $3.50 pounds. The product Of the mill
with satisfaction in the market and after that
the factory not able to keep UP with its orders
Warren Coleman began life after the war with
out money, and has accumulated about 100000. He
little, cramped store in the main street Of
Concord If one goes in talk with him he may
stop the converse ton dozen times TO sell a
pennys worth of candy. potatoes or apples He Is
always in hurry. The white people OF Concord
like Coleman. They trade with him and rent his
houses. Hts mother bright mulatto with
the pronounced features Of the white type. His
father white of distinguished family
The father was a general IN the Confederate army
and among the wealthy of the State when he
died. The son inherited his ability to make ana
accumulate money. AT close Of the war he
began peddIing in a small way, and later opehed
He prospered and invested in land near
the town. As Concord increased in size and the
population grew Coemans property became more
valuable. 1t is said that he owns and rents over
a hundred houses. He has just recently torn down
the log cabin which he born.
An example of black cotton mill which
TO,yy ii IN Tho NeGfa
mill. which built in Charleston S c. 1t failed
after two trials with white labor. The plant was
then sold to Captain J. H. Montgomery, of Spar
tanburg. who manned the Nesta with negro opera
tives. The mill failed again. The building was
then abandoned. IN explaining his failure Captain
Montgomery once said It had resulted from lack OF
tenement houses. We purchased the mill, ne
said auction sale at a price 50 low that VS.
thought we could it with colored labor We
were willing make the trial, at any rate The
mill COMPANY. did not the tenement houses, ana
the operatives scattered all over the CITY,
when they not in the mill we had no control
over them. That is the chief reason we did not
succeed The public say that the negro is d
failure as u mill operative. but do not believe H.
] am firmly Of the opinion that cotton mill cor
poration. located in the country, as most OF our
mills are. with tenements owned and controlled ny
the company. operate successfully a mill with
colored labor | came to this conclusion because
We had number of negroes in every department
Of the mill that just as ethcient as any
help. When you start new mill with green people
about half Of them stick. That has been my ex-
perience. The green negro is about like the green
white man The negroes who took the proper train
ing at the Nesta mill were faithful TO their WORK
and made good appers. good spinners. good speeder
attenders and capable weavers Our superintend-
ent taught two negroes to grind and set cards tie
said they were as good workTnen as he ever knew
The career Of a black silk mill at Fayetteville,
y G has for several year vindlcated the claim
that the negro can succeed under proper condlt1ons
eI,elo1 2 all
factllrers of Paterson. y. j. several years ago
built 500 600 dollar plant at Fayetteville, and put
II in charge OF T. W. Thurston. negro preacher.
The mill has been in successful operation ever
since with negro operatives. 1t Is now SAID mat
the owners will build three similar plants IN
other parts of the State
Thurston discipnes his help. like The olotine
school teacher did his pupils, by the use OF lne
switch He uses IL sparingly and Guardedly. now
ever and at time without the consefr OF .ie
nsrenfs of the child. One case against nun ~
tor whipping an unruly boy went 10 court. Inc
MAYER Of the town sustained him. and there hd9
been no more trouble The mill has beer instru55
mental in taking four hundred or more bots auH
Iris off the streets and giving them STEADY EN-