The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1910-07-14
THE HEv ERWIN MILL
Description Of The largest Of the
Claim of FastOries.

broad, the new Erwin cotton mill No.
is now ready for work. depending
upon less capricious disparity be-
tween raw cotton and finised yarn.
The above picture is good cut OF
this monster min OF $4,000 spindles,
The first suggestion of its construc-
ton came in March, of 1909, when
announcement was made that the
Erwinc otton hcsmfb cu-emxtiivvcfti
Erwin cotton mills company would
erect new and the largest mill eth
er at West Durham or at Duke with
the advantages decidedly with the
young Harnett COUNTY town. The
word had not been given out until
President w. A. Erwin was being be-
sieged by scores of Durham people
and frequent committees waited upon
him making appeals for West Durham
The merchants association. the may
or, the bankers and the citizens gen.
orally, Joined in and the pull unques-
tionably brought the structure here.
1t was the pull that is the counter
part of push, however. not the wire
working OF polltlclanS.
In May definite decision was reach
ed locating the mill in West Durham
and without delay the Fiske Carter
company, of Worcester, Massachu-
sets. began the constructive work
1t was known thsn that year would
be required in which to complete the
mill. The builders did not miscal-
culate and in May they made a tul Il
key job of their urn end. This in
cluded the accessory buildings, en-
CINE house. detached spinning and
picker rooms, slasher and bleachery,
warehouse and tower.
As the building went on, the Piper
Roofing company put the roof on,
adopting the saw teeth style giving
it special lighting that makes the
easier than had been otherwise. For
that reason, the symmetry of the
fiat top mill may be lacking. but the
inside OF the mill is so many times
more comfortable and attractive that
nobody would think of returning to
the old style.
Just now there are parts of ma
chinery being installed but the $50
spinning frames with their $4,000
spindles are ready and the last in
stallment of the machinery is being
received preparatory to being put
down. The electric lighting is going
on now and as electrical transmits
sion IS the motive power of this mill,
that must be done before ii starts.
That work is in the hands OF Messrs.
A. P. Rogers, R. t. Williams and A..
w. Sleigh. of ATLANTA, representing
the Westinghouse people.
The mill itself is the largest single
roof cotton mill in North Carolina
and being the latest, Is from the
architectural and mechanical points
OF excellence, the best one. It is one
of group of four and the largest by
few thousand spindles II has "a
brother In West Durham, No /, which
has $4,000 spindles. Another in
.cooleemee. No. 2. with $4,000 spi1dles
the third, No. 3, in Duke with $4,000
spindles, while in East Durham, the
Durham Cotton Manufacturing com.
pany has $4,000 spindle mill OF which
Mr.. Erwin is president. though these
mills are in nowise related to each
other.
Mr.. Erwin gives a complete de-
scription of the latest mill in few
words: This mill is constituted" he
says, "of main building SIG feet long.
carding and spinning room of 200
and weaving room 300 feet wide with
detached spinning and picker room,
detached slasher and bleachery and
finishing room with power house
and warehouse. Its construction is OF
steel beams, the cardiag. spinning
and weaving rooms are all on one
floor. and the equipment II as well
as the construction, is Of the most
modern and improved OF the various
kinds.
Among other things. the mil Is
equipped with humidifiers and auto
matte air condltioners. which not only
afford proper humidity and yentila-
ton. but air cleansing arrangements |
which make for comfort as well as
for health. Our cottages for the op
eratives are each and all. modern
construction and viii prove conven.
lent and comfortable for every fam.
fly living in them. The tngine room
is composed Of battery Of ten Man
ming improved upright boilers. with
steam turbine and generator capable
o. $500 horsepower This power will
operate the entire new plant and also
portion Of the present plan"
The cottages, described modestly
by the president, are more than he
says for them. They are all painted
throughout and plastered with gyp-
sum. and are not only comfortable
but pretty More than 200 Of these
have been built, but few OF which are
now occupied, though they are expect
ed to bring here upwards Of 1,500
people. Twice that number will come
by reason Of the big mill.
The Erwin company last year took
option upon water power six miles
from town and coatemplates early
ercting rs own plant TO run it's
bleacery and TO supply te town with
water. lts normal capacity will be a L