Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-03-24
PROJECT TO START UP
PROVO WOODEN MILLS
salt Lake aud Garden CITY Financicrs
Ia Deal 10 Hcsumc Big
Industry.

iNDNp MdItu a. mere are now
good prospects for the realization Of a
long deferred hope that the Provo
wooden mills. which have been idle for
over eight years. may be started In the
near future. The mills win be sold at
auction here on April lj and the pur-
chasers, whoever they may be. will
undoubtedly resume the manufacture
Of cloth. blankets and yarns as soon as
material can bo procured
There has been some talk Of Jesse
knight being one Of the bidders. az il
is well known that he has been anxious
to see the mills started for several
years IN order that employment might
ba given 20 the people. and that the
output Of the mills might be added 10
the manufactured products Of the state
Mr. knight stated Yesterday that he
would probably bid on the mills at tho
sale. and 60 he secured them would start
them up as soon as possible He stated
that his attempt to bug the mills win
depend ou conference he intends TO
have with Solt Lake parties Heber
Grant stated here, at meeting Of the
stockholders some time ago. that Prcsi-
dent Joseph p Smith. a. trustee-in-
stock. and that he (AIr Grant, also
controlled large block Of the stock.
and that they and others had been con
sidering ways and means for starting
the mills. II they have a plan maturod
or under consideration. Mr.. knight
viii not be- competitor and may CO.
operate with them II that is desired,
his object being 10 see the mills re-
sumo n the salt Lake people do not
care Co take the matter up, Nh. knight
win; so in either event IL is almost
certain the steam whistle will again be
heard every morning by the citizens OF
Provo calling the operatives to work.
The wooden mills were built i'm the
early seventies uudcr the direction Of
President Brigham Young who had
associated with him In the undertaking
the leading men of the time In this
section and other parts Of the terri
tory. The people responded willingly
to calls to contribute labor, produce
and cash for the erection Of the mills,
taking stock On the company. Many
Of these stockholders were poor and
their investment has not proved iinau-
cially profitable. for dividends have
never been large nor regular. But tn
factory was "a great benefit To the peo-
pie in supplying a home market for
their wool and furnishing them cloth,
and in addition supplying labor for
many people in this city as operators.
I'm this way the builders Of the mills
were public benefactors. The mills
g.. 0 -
For many years they were the largest
west OF the Missouri river, and their
products were "a credit To any manu-
featuring concern. Later the people
ceased to patrouize them. This Is paw
TALLY accounted for by the growing
habit OF buying ready-made clothing;
but does not explain the failure to give
preference TO the home produced blan-
kets dannels. etc, 10 being admlttei
that the home product always COM
pared favorably with the important
goods.
This condition made il necessary t1
secure an outside market. and Tor
many years the products Of the mills
We're marketed principally In the large
eastern cities. and some Of them found
their way back in ready made cloth
ing
Finally through combination ~
causes the directors decided 10 close
the mills. The machinery has been
kent in splendid condition, and is
ready to start up at any time as soon
as the material FOR manufacturing can
be brought together. II Is believed that
now the spirit Of supporting home I'M
dustry has been revived 20 something
near its early-day strength-stroug ef-
forts are az least being made 10 this
end-and with the great Increase n
population I'm this and adjoining states
il seems a favorable time to start the
mills.
The company is capitalized for $780,
600. but the property viii not bring
anything near this amount, and there
are some debts against the company
The stockholders will. therefore. not
receive a very great per cent Of the
face OF their Investment. But this viii
not detract from the benefits the nllls
were 10 the state In an early day nor
from the benefit II Is hoped and be-
Iieved they may again become
VALUABLE INVENTION.