The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1907-04-25


Spartanburg is busy town, and has
evidences on every side of being pros
porous. The pos5office is located in q
somewhat unusual place, amongst resi-
dences, close to but not in the heart OF
the business district. as is customary.
The court house is handsome building
and compares very favorably with Hen
derson county's public building. The
streets are well-paved, there are many
beautiful residences, most of them with
fine grounds surrounding them. The
Presbyterian church, costing s75, 900, is
beautiful edifice, as is the Methodist
building OF smooth white stone.
Capt. Wofford was known to 'most
everybody there, and it was ''he1lo,
Captain John," all day. Wofford Col
lege, built by great uncle of the Cap
tain's, and Converse College, both in
the city, are amongst the noted educa-
tional institutions of the South. Spar
tanburg is q business town, not.a resort,
and the difference was easily noted on
the streets and In the banks and Office
buildings.
The committee called on A. B. Cal
vert at his Office in the Bank of Spartan
burg, where the mill project was discus
sed. A drive to the big Drayton Mills,
Of which Mr. Calvert is president, fol-
lowed. The committee was escorted
thro' the great MILL by that gentleman,
starting at the engine room, and he ex-
planned the different processes to the
party. The DraYton Mills represents an
expenditure of $3.50, 200, and it is easily
seen where the money went. Some of
the machinery seems to possess already
more than human intelligence, yet is
being constantly improved.
The mill company controls large
tract of land surrounding the big build
ing, which is laid off in handsome
streets. The cottages of the employees
are pretty structures, costing $500 each
we'll painted and attractive in every
way. Each house has large yard, and
different prizes are offered each year
for the best kept and most attractive
flower and vegetable garden, the
awerds being made by committee of
the employees.
Mr.. A. B. Calvert has made the Dray-
ton Mill very profitable to It's stock
holders. He is tail, heavy, smooth
shaven man, gray eyes which seem to
bore hole thro' you, quick and active,
and is the personification of business.
He does not waste word and his inter-
esting explanation of the different pro-
cesses of cotton manufacturing was
brief and easily understood. He was
Mayor of Spartauburg for sixteen years,
during which time he transformed the
place from struggling village into the
modern, well-paved and well-kept city
it is today. He is very successful man,
and every enterprise he touches seems
to turn golden stream into the laps of
his hackers. He says there is no
more attractive investment today than
cotton mill stock.
Mr.. Calvert remained at the mill, and
after further discussion of his plans
for the Hendersonville mill, the balance
of the party drove back to town. In
crossing bridge tbs horses attached to
one of the carriages became frightened
and started to go over the Ombank-
ment. Messrs. Station, Wofford and
Brock jumped and walked across the
bridge.
Mr.. Calvert pointed out some beauti-
fully situated land near the mill which
he said had been purchased by himself
some years ago for low figure and was
now worth from $50 to $3.50 an acre.
Land twice the distance from the court
house in Hendersonville is being held
at over twice that amount. This land,
very desirable in every way, was inside
the corporate limits of Spartanburg and
situated on the electric car line.
Mr.. Calvert, when introduced to the
associate editor of this paper, laughing
ly said that he now knew to whom he
was indepted for his heavy correspon-
dence. He said he had received oyer q
hundred letters from New York to New
Orleans, stating the writer's had seen
the announcement of his new mill in
this paper. Mr.. Calvert said he had
answered forty but had not yet found
time to attend to them all. Some of
the letters were in reference to machin-
cry and supplies, some from men want
ing situations, and others from towns
wanting the mill. The board of trade
of Texas city offered strong induce
ments for Mr.. Calvert to come there in
stead of Hendersonville. The labor
question is undoubtedly one of the main
factors in locating the mill here. The
people from the mountains will not stay
| in the mills during the summer. Part