Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-05-28

nuu pdnlC-bDTlckeU DOaruB OF ulTtCtOTh
will be securing in every direction
looking for men OF training and energy
ana intellect to take up these great
business responsibilities and go for
ward with the work OF the modern
world. II could get the ear Of the
young men of the United States l
would say to them that there was
never a minute in the history of the
human race when a man taken by
himself stood as much and when a
dollar taken by itself stood for as
little as It does today.
call your attention to this state
ment think It describes an authen.
tic case OF the evolution of business.
This firm was established in 1852,
and still exists with its original part
ners. Moreover, It has now under its
control and its ownership more cotton
manufacturing machinery than was
ever owned by any business house or
corporation in the world, Robert
knight, the younger brother, was the
first to become interested in manu-
featuring He was born in 1925 He
began work at the age of years in
the Cranston Print Works, and from
the age of 10 to II was employed
in cotton mill in Coventry. Then
followed period OF study at an acad-
emy, short session as a teacher, and
time of employment as a clerk.
In 1850 he purchased, with. Zach
ariah Parker, mill in Warwick, which
they had been operating on lease for
four years so successfully that they
had, during that time, earned the
purchase money, $40, 900; in 1861 he
bought out his partner, and in 1852
sold one-half to his elder brother,
Benjamin B. Knight. The partnership
then formed has remained unchanged.
Benjamin Knight, was born in 1918,
like his brother, was employed for
time in the Cranston Print Works,
but then became a clerk, and began
business on his own account soon af-
ter coming Of age. He was a success
ful merchant at Providence when he
frst engaged in manufacturing. The
brothers brought great skill and good
Judgment to their enterprise, and have
steadily enlarged the field of their
operations.
Their first purchase was a mill at |
Hebronville, in Attleboro, Mass, and
their next one was one at Dodgeville, |
in the same town. Since then they |
have come into possession of the
Grant Mill. at Providence; the Man
chang, in Sutton. Mass: the White
rock, at Westerly, r. L.; the Clinton.
at Woonsocket; the Jackson and Fisk
vile at Scituate, and the Readville. at
Hyde Park Mass; and they own al
most 100000 spindles in the town Of
Warwick, in six large mills. These
last-named mills were a part of the
sprague estate, and we're purchased
from the trustee OF the estate in 1883.
AZ present the Knights own in all
more than 100000 spindles, of which
about 100000 are in Rhode Island and
the rest in Massachusetts,.
Actual industrial Growth We. Fiction.
II two boys beginning life as COM
mon hands in cotton mill can ac-
quire and build up their own names
such business as that. without harm
TO any public interest, who shall say
that corporation, with shareholders
scattered all over the country, could
not do the same thing? The wagon
works at South Bend. Ind, date back
TO a little blacksmith shop on the
edge of the woods at Ashland, Ohio,
where my colleague, the senior sen
ator from Iowa, as boy used to
watch the old father Of the Stude-
baker Brothers working at his forge
shoeing horses and setting tires on
the tumble-down vehicles OF that from
tier village OF so years ago
To-day his children and grandchild-
rem control corporation with mil
lions OF capital, occupying 80 acres of
land, with thirty substantial buildings,
in which thousands Of well-paid
American workmen are turning out
carriages NJ for the luxury of kings.
and wagons which are helping to do
the work OF the whole armies In war.
That looks to me like an evolution
cf business, and have sought in vain
for somebody to fix the exact point
between that little blacksmith shop
yonder on the edge OF the woods, at
Ashland, and these palaces OF modern
American industry at which the safety
OF society requires the intervention OF
the politicians.
The union Of two or more establish
ments in one, whether effected by one