Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1921-04-14
FORT MILL COTTON MILLS
RUN DESPITE STRINGENCY
Machinery at Local Plants Kept
Going in Face of Acute Con-
dition of Cloth Market.

oAsAOA Va SkOtn xUoI hCts
Considering the financial strin-
gency that has been upon the
eountry for several months and
the consequent depressed condi-
tion of the cloth market, which
has become almost acute, the
management Of the two cotton
mills of the Fort Mill Manufact-
uring company is to be congratu-
lated upon the fact that the mills
here are still running. Progress
and success, OH the contrary. are
indicated by the fact that the
management now has under way
the construction of a new and
modern dye house, l04 by "a feet.
OF one story, and a waste house
and cotton opening house of two
stories 100 by 80 feet. the erection
of which will involve important
and improving changes in the
plant of mill No. l..
In 1914 the two mills were
making standard gingham. with a
combined equipment of about 90
600 spindles and $50 looms. Plans
for enlarging and improving the
mills were put OH foot in 1916
when additional building was
done apd the old plants entirely
remodeled. The equipment of
mill No. is now 10000 spindles
and sO6 giRgbam looms, while
mill No. 2 has $4,000 spindles and
400 Draper looms of widths run
ming from 60 to 80 inches, In
cluded in the general improve
ments were number of modern
and comfortable homes for the
operatives.
Yesterday George Fish. general
manager, told of the geneul
progress of the mills since he as
sumed charge Of them in Janu-
ary, 1918, at the time when the
plans for the enlargement and
improvements were assuming def
mite consideration. Mr.. Fish
came to Fort Mill from Pawtuck-
ct, X. |. He has been in the cot
ton manufacturing business most
OF his life. Labor problems have
come up here as elsewhere, but
during the trying days of the past
few years little. of the machinery
OF these mills has remained idle.
lie has studied the needs of the
operatives and has supplied them
as far as possible. The result is
that there are now good streets
IN the mill villages, well lighted
at the mills expense, the opera
tlves houses have been improved
and made more comfortable and
desirable to look upon, and are
supplied with running water and
ilghts at no cost to the operatives,
A gratifying condition to the man
agement is that each family, at
least at mill No. l, now has
thriving garden, the seeds and
plants for which were supplied at
the expense of the mill,
49, Bi"i CApltSStS himself aS
greatly pleased that the poneral
character of the employees is
much improved and that they are
disposed to cooperate with the
management for the success of
the mills. There have been wage
reductions here as at other mills.
but IS is believed that the reduc-
tlons at the local mills have been
less than the average for this sec
tion. 1t is said that the opera
tives have accepted the reductions
almost without dissent, knowing
thc stringency Of the times and
the condition of the cloth market.
MIR. Fish is optimistic of the
future and hopes that both the
mills under his management may
De able to continue operations.
lie has plenty of help. "When
we get through with the work
now under way" said Mr.. Fish,
II do not know whether we will
build another mill here or not. :"
Entertainment Pleases Many.
Tho -