Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1910-08-10
Is9E HETRICK HOSIERY MILLS.
. Tho Plant Has Been Greatly I'm.
proved and Enlarged.

tE On Tuesday morning we visited
the Hetrck Hosiery Mills and spent
an hour viewing this plant, which
is up-to-date in every detail. Chas.
f. l1etrick took us in charge and
explained the work In the various
departments and processes. Enter
ing the boiler and engine room we
found al ideal power plant. An So
horsepower boiler and G5-horse-
power engine are installed, furnish
ing steam for the dye house and
power for the machines. Modern
appliances for economiZing in fuel,
SSESsSn and power are utilized The
j{RS house is equipped with modern
nfstchines for dyeing, drying, singe-
ing and washing goods in the most
efficient manner
In the knitting room a novel and
interesting sight Is presented 1t is
busy room, with nearly 200 ma
chimes in operation, knitting differ
ent kinds and styles OF hosiery, from
misses ribbed TO ladies' lace goods.
Here about 100 boys and girls
(mostly girls) are knitting, looping,
weitlng, sewing and inspecting goods
in the white. The absence OF noise
ana dust and dirt Is particularly
noticeable. The girls in their white
shirt waists present a beautiful pic
ture. There is no class OF work, it
seems to us, that could be cleaner
and nicer for girls and women. The
sanitary conditions are perfect;
good light, thorough ventilation and
light work. The knitting room may
be aptly compared to a lady's sew
ing room-with the advantage, how
ever, that the power is supplied.
When the whistle blows for noon,
* evening, and the employees leave
"tft, building, it looks like a school
turned out, the boys and girls are
so fresh and clean.
The finishing department is in
charge Of Mr.. and Mrs. William
Straub, who came to Walhalla over
a year aGo with the Iletrick brothers
when they removed their plant from
philadelphia, and united it with the
plant OF the Oconee Knitting Mill,
with VIM. A. Hetrick as pr. Mt
and Chas. +. Hetrick, secretary d
treasurer. The Hetrick brothers
have been in charge of the mill now
about one year. and the whole plant
has been renovated and remodeled
from start to finish 1t has been a
dlIicult task, and has required time,
patience and perseverance to estab-
lish the ideal conditions which OBJ
tain Today. Yet they are looii ing to
the future for greater growth and
development. 1t is remarkable that,
coming from a great Mort hcrn city
into small Southern country town,
how hnSn cn IL, al
selves to their new surroundings rs
they have done in the short space Of
one year. The whole mill has prac-
tically been built anew and changed
on to the finest grade Of hosiery for
:. men, women and children that can
Ybe made Of cotton thread. All the
employees, too, had to be trained
Anew.
ave believe ii is the only mill in
tls South that is manufacturing eX-
tchsively the finest grade Of ladies'
laEa and mcrceriZed goods. The ca
pacity IS now about 700 dozen per
day, although about one-half Of tha;
production has been obtained during
the last 'hrcc months, owing to the
depressed condition Of business in
cotton goods, whether cloth, hosiery
or underwear. But goods are begin
ming to move again, and the future
prospect for business is good Hay-
ing their plant in fine condition they
are prepared for "A large increase in
the volume Of their business. And
looking forward to this end. the
managers Of the mill want twice the
number OF girls now employed in he
knitting, looping. wclting, inspecting
anu finishing rooms. 1t is a mystery
TO MS why there should ever be lack
= OF help in these departments, he
worl. being nice and the pay far
above the average. 1t requires a lit
tie time and patience to learn how
TO do the work right and to get off
the full production from the ma
chimes, but when the ART is once
learned 1t Is easy. The girls now in
the mill arc pleased with their work
and they are making good wages,
too. Several girls on the pay roll
as knitters and loopers earn from
$1.25 to 50 per day.
During the next two months the
mill can give employment to about
100 more girls and boys. This is a
splendid opportunity for girls who
lSAfTn their livelihood to obtain nice
VsiY stions and make themselves in
dependent. The mill owns fourteen
nice houses for families Of opera
tivcs, each house containing from
four TO six rooms, in the village, and
over half Of them are now occupied.
There IS room yet for about half
dozen moro families There are
many in the country who can i'm
prove their condition very materi-
ally, we believe, by moving to this
village, and at the same time AFFORD
the girls and boys the opportunity
Of regular work at good wages
We were agrccably surprised at