Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-09-05

than Is usually paid by the savings
banks. One mill reports having as
much as $4,000 or $4,000 Of their oper-
atives' savings on hand at one time
| The real estate offices Of the south
will show many acres of farming land
purchased by the savings Of the oper-
atives and many prosperous farms
with grassy lawns and vine-embow-
cred houses can be seen, all purchas-
ed by their savings.
To give a few specific instances of
saving: / know Of a little girl who
at a very tender age was left an Or
phan without any visible means of
support. >oon as she was old
enough she began work in a cotton
mill. She has, within the very few
years since that time, not only earn
ed her own living, but has saved
about $500. A lady was left widow
with two little girls, both under seven
years of age to support. In addition
to this, she found herself in debt.
Beginning mill work. she. has pro-
vided good support for herself and
children, has paid Off her indebted
ness, and has accumulated a con-
siderable amount Of money. In ad-
dition to this opportunity for saving,
the steady and comparatively easy
work Of the mills offers a good way
through which the employees are able
to prepare themselves for other voca-
tions, or for positions Of greater trust
and emolument in the mills. / know
Of a young girl, who. by working In
a mill at night, was able to provide
a way by which she could attend
school In the daylight, and to save
enough to pay her expenses at q
business college. She is now the
trusted private secretary Of a man
who conducts a large business. Two
brothers left their fathers farm q
few years ago and began as unskilled
operatives; today both Of them are
superintendent. and are prospering
In other ways. Another man after
trying without profit, farming teach
ing and merchandising, began as a
fioor-sweeper. He rose by successive
steps until today he Is president Of
and large owner In a mill the total
cost Of which Is close to half a
million dollars. Eight years ago a
photograph was taken Of forty loom
fixers in a certain mill. or this
forty. two are now superintendents,
eighteen are overseers, and four are
second hands in the weave rooms.
Thus half Of these young men have
quickly won promotion, and l know
southern states that offers the same
opportunities for advancement, pro-
motion and good pay as does the cot
ton mill industry.
OF course all do not save. neither
are all promoted. Some are lacking
in energy and ambition. and many
are chronic movers. They are here
today and gone tomorrow. Hope Is
ever beckoning to a better field, and
they always obey the call. Their
furniture Is broken and abused, their
clothing Is torn and destroyed by
constant moving. Some Of them live
from hand to mouth; those who en-
pioy them pay the expenses Of NOV
ing, and credit them with food until
the first pay day. They will never
have anything, because they are by
nature and practice rolling stones
Some would never be promoted even
II they should spend their lives at
one mill. They are either Wasters
Of time and money. or else simply
have not the ability ever to occupy
any but the lowest positions. But
do we not find merchants. lawyers,
doctors and preachers Of the same
class? And the stagnation OF none
Of these people Is due to their vo-
cation or TO any system or manage
ment of the same, but Is inherent
in themselves.