LETTERS OF ENDORSEMENT FURNISHED ON REQUEST

WILLIAM FIRTH, INC. Joseph J. Smith, Treas.

200 Devonshire St. Boston, Mass.

FOUNDED 1899 BY GEO. S. ESCOTT.

Published Weekly by MILL NEWS PRINTING COMPANY

206 East Fifth Street CHARLOTTE, N. C.

Phone 1847

Member Audit Bureau of Circulations

Geo. S. Escott, President. Albert Escott, Editor and Manager Edward G. Rotter, Assistant Editor.

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Preparations for Textile Exposition at Greenville Are Well Under Way.

Greenville, S. C., Oct. 11.—Exhibits to be shown here during the Fourth Southern Textile Exposition, October 18-23, are being put in place and the big hall is a scene of the greatest activity.

Several thousand rooms in private homes have been listed to date for reservations made by manufacturers and exhibitors from all parts of the country, the hotel facilities being insufficient to accommodate the crowd.

J. W. Kirkpatrick, president of the retail merchants' bureau of the Chamber of Commerce, announces that the executive committee will urge the merchant members to decorate their stores for the week of the Exposition. “This work,” said Mr. Kirkpatrick, “can be done by each merchant for a very small sum”

The pageant “Harvest Moon,” which is to be given at the United States Public Health Service Hospital on October 21 in connection with the Exposition, will be a strictly Greenville production, as all of the properties used will be made by students in the reconstruction department at the hospital.

Miss Margaret Shaw of New York, who is directing the pageant, is enthusiastic not only over the prospects for a successful affair, but the manner in which the student-patients have gone about making the costumes and other properties.

The cloth for the various costumes was woven at Judson Mill and donated by the mill management.

Other properties, including the huge telescope, were also made in the work shop. This is not a real telescope but is fashioned out of pasteboard and then varnished. Every other article which is to be used in the pageant will be made in the workshop at the hospital.

More than 150 persons, all of them from the hospital, will take part in the pageant. The glee club which has recently been organized will be a feature of the event. Daily rehearsals are being held.

In connection with the pageant a minstrel show will be given, many of the leading moving picture stars being impersonated. Motion pictures of the entire affair will be made by the Pathe Company.

The Johnston Manufacturing Company is one of the several cotton mill industries located in the Queen City and was built a few years ago by C. W. Johnston, president of the Highland Park Mills R. H. Johnston, the son of C. W. Johnston, has the general management of the mill and during the past few years he has made it a successful institution. The mill makes hosiery yarns from 8's to 20's, combed and carded, and these are sold through the Johnston Mills Company.

While the mill is comparatively small, having 11,800 ring spindles and 1,400 twister spindles, it employs a thrifty people. Some of them own their homes or have earned a part of the money which has gone through building and loan and other channels to

The Johnston Mfg. Co. employes will be included in the wonderful development at the old Electric Park for the employes of the Johnston and Highland Park Mills. No mill in the country has a more beautiful location for a community work and the work being done in the way of buildings, swimming pool, lake and play grounds is a thing of marvel. No community house has been erected in the State that is as pretty as the one being completed at this park for mill employes alone. A high fence has been erected around the park and only workers of the mills and their friends will be admitted. The building is brick to the second floor and then it is covered with green shingles. Stone pillars constitute the porch columns and paved walks lead to it from the street. The walls of the building are being finished in beautiful sepia and buff tint and will be like those in the Manufacturers Club in Charlotte. It is fitted up with a lobby or lounging room, reading room, dining room, kitchen, bowling alley, shower baths with hot and cold water, furnace heat, assembly room and motion picture equipment. Between the Community building and bath house is a cement pool. A valley at the back of the building has been turned into a lake and boats have been ordered for the use of the employes.

A welfare worker has a cottage adjoining the park and will have complete charge of the work. The kitchen and dining room will be utilized in teaching domestic science and other household arts.

Robert Chapman, Pres. and Treas.; G. W. Duvall, Vice Prest; C. C. Stokes, Sec'y.

8s to 16s Fine Quality Hosiery Yarns—Foster Cones—7,000 Spindles.

H. B. Heath, President

C. W. Walton, Treasurer

Manufacturers of Fine Cotton Blankets and Wide Sheetings.

The Jackson Mills Company, incorporated in 1913, has the distinction of having never stood idle since that time except on regular holidays. The mills have ten thousand spindles and two hundred looms.

The community building shown below is provided by the company for entertainments and social features, in co-operation with the Sunday Schools and day schools.

The Jackson Mills library is a collection of books contributed by the people of the community, and once or twice a week magazines are furnished free of charge to all who apply for them.

Jackson Mills village is located in the corporate limits of Monroe, which is a prosperous and progressive city with fine graded schools and handsome churches.

The employes are a fine class of citizens, most of

It is hoped that classes in arithmetic, letter-writing, and other useful things may be organized in the mill village this winter. These classes will use the Community Building which has recently been newly furnished for this purpose. A Reading Club and Debating Society may also be organized later.

The mills have baseball and basket ball equipment for their employes, and splendid grounds on their own property. The boys and girls take interest in these sports, and gain much pleasure and helpful exercise from them.

O. H. Farr, the efficient superintendent of the Jackson Mills, is not only an excellent superintendent, but he is a good friend of the people,—working right with them in their Sunday Schools and social life,—and, when there is sickness, he and his good wife are almost as good as doctors and never tiring in their services.

Five years ago Col. C. B. Armstrong was managing only four cotton mills. Today he is president of fifteen. All of these are built and in operation except three, the Mildred and Champion, which are to be built, and the Helen, which is practically finished.

The capital for the construction of these mills was furnished by Col. Armstrong and the host of men who have faith in his business integrity. There is no foreign capital. And neither was any of it “willed” to Col. Armstrong. He made it himself by keeping everlastingly at it and using his head as well as his hands.

Nor has Col. Armstrong forgotten how to sympathize with the struggling man. He is like thousands of cotton mill managers today. He wants to see his help do better. And he has helped them,—helped them by assisting them to help themselves. A good many of his employees are stockholders in his mills. The Mutual Mill was built through a building and loan association in order that the employees might take stock and pay for it in small installments. The mill has been running successfully for four years, and there are a number of prosperous employes who struck it lucky during the high war prices.

Robert Chapman, Pres.; J. H. Lee, Vice Pres.; C. C. Stokes, Sec'y & Treas.

Spinners of High Grade Yarns 10s to 24s Carded and Combed.

The view presented by the Icemorlee Mills and their pretty village is one of the most attractive in the State. Thousands of dollars has been spent in beautifying the village. The houses are painted in different colors which harmonize with the foliage of the trees and present a pretty contrast with the pure white of the mill and office buildings. All houses in the village are provided with sanitary closets and lighted by electricity, the current of which is continuous for electric irons and other purposes as desired. The water which comes from deep wells and is piped to the houses was recently analyzed by the State laboratory and pronounced perfectly pure.

The Vivian Cotton Mill is owned and directed by John J. George. It manufactures coarse yarns, usually 10s to 14s and prides itself on the excellent quality it produces. The production of the mill averages from 35,000 to 40,000 pounds of yarn weekly and sometimes as high as 45,000 pounds. The most of this yarn is exported to South America. The mill is equipped with 5,380 spindles, and will soon install 2,000 more. The mill has been running steadily day and night for

The workers at the Vivian Mill make good wages. All employes are satisfied. There is a system of prizes given in the mill, which brings out the very best efficiency, and so well is the spinning run under this system that often when a round is made in the mill there will not be a single broken back end, no cotton on the floor, all frames clean, and only one end down.

Only the best of help is employed in this mill, and people who drink whiskey and are guilty of any immorality either have to reform or leave the mill village. During the vacation of the graded school here in town most of the boys and girls work in this mill, and their parents are satisfied that everything goes all right.

Since Mr. George has taken charge of this mill a lot of nice, new, roomy, modern bungalows have been built, and ample garden space is provided for all employes. All gardens are ploughed free of charge and all the employes have to do is to plant and hoe their garden truck. Some of the nicest gardens seen in this section are around the Vivian Mill. All the mill houses are furnished with water and lights free, and as soon as the new sewerage system is completed in the town all these houses will be furnished with sewerage connections.

Mr. George came to Cherryville twenty-seven years ago. At that time Gaston county was called a prohibition county; that is, there were no bar rooms allowed in the county, though whiskey could be sold at government distilleries. At that time there were forty government distilleries in the county, and possibly one hundred or more moonshine distilleries. He organized temperance societies while he was teaching school in Cherryville, and began the fight on whiskey business. He is now mayor of the town and still continuing this fight on blockading and drunkenness. During July, August and September the fines in his court amounted to over $1,100.00. Four blockade distilleries near the town have been broken up, and the mayor is determined to break up blind-tigers.

Mr. George has many business connections besides being president of the Cherryville Building and Loan Association, and owner and director of the Vivian Cotton Mill. He is president of the Cherryville Real Estate and Improvement Association, treasurer of the N. C. and the U. S. Tin Mining Companies in Lincoln county, second vice-president of the Mauney-Steel Yarn Company, a large cotton yarn selling agency with offices in Philadelphia, Providence, R. I., and Cherryville. This company has made a great success and paid large dividends. He is also financially interested in the Henry River Mill, at Henry River, N. C, and director in several banks. He was chairman of the Lenoir College Endowment Committee last fall and in a few weeks raised over $300,000.00 for the endowment of that college. He owns about forty houses in Bessemer City, has several farms, and is now building a large new residence in Cherryville at a cost of $50,000 or $60,000.

H. D. George, brother of J. J. George, is superintendent of the Vivian Mills. C. A. Farris and George S Fall are in charge of the office and Miss Vada Beam is stenographer.

Henderson, North Carolina, is the home of the Henderson and Harriet Mills, four in number. These mills have trained many an expert mill man and sent them out to become managers and superintendents and overseers of other industrial plants. These are “Little Mother Mills” in Eastern Carolina, to whom several promising mill men point with pride as the place where they learned the business.

The mills were built by D. Y. Cooper and are under his management, with the aid of his sons and other well known

The amount of capital invested and the number of spindles mark these as among the State's largest manufacturing plants. The Harriet Mills are capitalized at $1,264,700, with 57,792 spindles. The amount of capital stock of the Henderson Cotton Mills is $1,010,150, with 43,392 spindles.

There are more than 500 employes of the mills, and they are a steady, thrifty people, some of whom have been with the mills since they started years ago. They are experts in their line, and co-operate fully with the management,—a co-operation that has insured the success of these thriving plants.

Comfortable homes are furnished for the people, and

Several years ago, D. Y. Cooper started a community work among his people by employing a capable woman, Miss Rose Cheatham who has full charge of the work in all of the villages. She is thoroughly interested in the advancement of the people, physically, morally and educationally, and has established herself in the hearts of the people as a necessary fixture for their happiness and welfare. Under her are various clubs for girls, mothers and boys, looking towards making them better citizens of to-morrow, and the people are taking an active interest in the work she has been doing.

The Thatcher Spinning Company and The Standard Processing Company of Chattanooga are among the newest and most progressive manufacturing plants of Tennessee, with an intelligent class of operatives under the direction of men who manifest a keen interest in their welfare. Excellent school facilities are afforded by the city graded school, high school and night classes.

The Standard Processing Co. has capital stock of $400,000. W. Lane Verlenden is

The Thatcher Spinning Company, with $800,000 capital, has 30,464 spindles for the manufacture of combed yarns for mercerizing. The officers are A. G. Thatcher, president; G. H. Miller, vice president; Herbert S. Thatcher, secretary treasurer; and R. P. Clark, superintendent.

The Lola Manufacturing Company of Stanley, N. C., has completed the new 10,000-spindle mill, which, in addition to the old mill, makes a total of 14,000 spindles now in this chain. The new mill is modern in every particular. The mills make yarns, cones, tubes, skeins and warps, which are among the best on the market.

Lola No. 1 was taken over in 1918 by Col. John C. Rankin, J. M. Springs and R. F. Craig, these gentlemen occupying the positions of president, vice-president and secretary-treasurer,

After taking the mill over two years ago, the mill and village were given a general renovation. New homes have been built for the employes. These are bungalow in type of construction and are modernly equipped.

One unusual feature of the Lola Mill is the jitney service operated for the benefit of some employes who live in the country. There are a number of girls and boys living on the farms as far as seven miles from the mill, and a jitney goes for them each morning, and takes them home when work is over.

Stanley has an excellent school that goes to the 11th grade. It is the only graded school in the county where a business course is taught.

Mr. Craig is assisted in the office of the mill by his son, Eugene Craig, who is learning one of the South's biggest manufacturing interests.

General Manager Craig is a man who has worked his way through the mill, and he has a fellow feeling for the boy or girl who works for him. He did his first work in the old mill at Mountain Island, starting in 1895 under W. T. Jordan, who gave him his first start. Leaving there, he went to the Iceman Mill in McColl, S. C., where he remained six months, and then came back with the Nims Mfg. Co. of Mount Holly.

Maiden, North Carolina, may not be mentioned in the tourist's guide book, but it is on the textile map. And one of the reasons for such distinction is the Carolina Cotton Mills. The drafter of the map was kind enough to locate the particular dot of Maiden near the foothills of the Blue Ridge, and in the splendid farming county of Catawba—and right in the midst of the famous “Catawba Yam” district. Catawba County produces a bumper crop of potatoes, but not enough for world consumption. Therefore, there are many of the MILL NEWS readers who have not been fortunate enough to have tasted these delicious yams. Such unfortunates will have to content thmselves with the knowledge that some of their co-workers have been so blessed.

The Carolina Cotton Mills plant consists of two mills. The first was built about four years ago and the other is just starting. Both are progressive mills. They represent home

The Wymojo and Lockmore Mills are two of the South Carolina cotton mills owned by the Armstrong interests. They were purchased in 1917 and 1918, respectively. W. R. Armstrong was immediately placed in charge, with offices in Rock Hill, and he has been running them successfully ever since.

With the change of management have come many improvements in the working conditions in the mills, street improvement, remodeling and repainting of homes, and the adding of more spinning machinery.

The Wymojo Mill has been increased by 2,500 spindles, making the total now 9,000, and changing from carded to combed yarns. The product is 20's to 30's yarn. The Lockmore Mill will be changed next fall to combed yarns also.

High Shoals, N. C.

High Shoals is the prettiest place in Gaston County. It is endowed with natural beauty far beyond the average. The mill was built when Gaston County was better known as a whiskey distilling county than as the banner cotton mill section of the South—a reputation which it now enjoys. It is more than an industrial center; it is a quiet resort. High Shoals has the things that tired business men travel miles and spend millions every summer to enjoy. There are hills, wonderful trees, wild flowers, birds, the quiet of nature, and a river running full of fish.

The keynote in the welfare work in the Dunean Mills in Greenville, S. C., is the BABIES. Just at present the company is laying special stress on the health of the chiildren, and they are looked after at the expense of the mill, from the time they are born, when a trained nurse is always present, up to the time when they are school children.

At the Vance Cotton Mills of Salisbury, North Carolina, many changes have been made within the past year in the way of better homes for the employes, a more attractive village, and in general appearance of property and people.

The new addition to the mill has been completed, and by the first of the year 5,000 additional spindles will be installed, making the total 15,000.

The officers of the company are W. F. Snider, president; W. M. Crump general manager; E. B. Neave, secretary and treasurer; and J. G. McCachern, superintendent.

Several new homes have been erected for the employes. These are of the bungalow type, are supplied with water and lights, double flooring, and are comfortable and attractive. One new home especially is a beauty. It has six rooms, bath, and is equipped with water, lights and gas. The old homes are to be improved and repainted, and are supplied with water and lights.

W. M. Crump, the general manager of the mill, is taking quite an interest in the general improvement of the mill and the village. To this end he has offered prizes to the families of the village who make the most improvement of their premises.

Educational advantages are of the best. The Vance Mill is located inside the city, and one of the splendid graded schools is within a couple of blocks of the mill. There is no separation of mill children and city children. Nor is there any distinction between mill and city people in the churches. Domestic science is taught in the school, and the cotton mill girls have the advantage of this splendid training. Lunches are served by the girls at cost and this not only gives them actual training but is also a wonderful convenience to the mothers and children.

There are six garages in the Vance village, with the same number of cars belonging to the employes. One thing of interest now in these days of impossible city rents when people are paying fabulous sums for just a few rooms and in many cases dingy ones at that, is the fact that the homes furnished the Vance Mill employes rent for 12½ cents a week, and this includes electric light in each room and on the porch, and city water. Some of the people keep cows and chickens, make their own garden produce, and a few raise meat.

This paragraph is about Ralph Campbell, a thirteen-year-old boy. Ralph is one of four children and has only a mother for support. When he was seven years old he went to school one term. Then he had to stop perhaps to take care of the children while his mother worked. Last year he started to school again and made four grades in one year. Next year he will be in the fifth grade. His teachers say he is one of the brightest boys they have ever taught.

The county health nurse has done some good work among the employes of the mill. During the past summer she conducted classes in home hygiene and first aid work.

Watts Mills at Laurens, South Carolina, established long ago a high reputation for fancy shirtings, satins and silk striped voiles, poplins and dimity checks. The company has built up a strong organization of expert weavers, training them from the best native labor of upper South Carolina. These native South Carolinans have acquired the skill of the French weavers of New Bedford. The work in Watts Mills is varied, intricate and interesting for everybody who has a liking for textile art and a desire to become skilled in the production of beautiful fabrics.

Watts Mills have 984 looms and 43,200 spindles. It is a big modern plant, as can be seen in the picture on this page, and it has been further improved recently with a new opening room and a new humidifier system. The mill was repainted last year inside. Supt. E. G. Jessee has been in charge for many years and keeps the plant in first class condition. His department heads are C. R. Roberts in carding, Floyd Tidwell in spinning, E. A. Franks in weaving, J. C. Clark in cloth room, R. H. Donaldson in patterns and supplies, F. K. Taylor in the power house.

The Watts Mill village is a suburb of Laurens, and Laurens is the prosperous county-seat of one of the upper South Carolina counties. The employes thus have country life and city life and they have in their own village many modern advantages including electrically lighted homes. The company

The workers have a twenty-one piece band, a savings bank, and a splendid graded school, and a number of community societies that help to make life pleasant.

George M. Wright is president of Watts Mills. He makes his home at Watts Mills and takes a keen interest in the development of the community for the best interests of the employes as well as the stockholders.

This mill has been overhauled, more looms and other machinery added, and generally improved as to working conditions. A. B. Kuhn, who has been with the mill for a number of years, is secretary and treasurer, and Superintendent W. E. Bacon, a well known fixture in the business, is still on the job.

From $3,000 a month to $9,000 a week is quite an increase in pay roll, but that is the record of the mill for the past ten or twelve years. Prior to the war the pay roll each week was $3,000. It is three times that now with no increase in capacity.

The town of Newton is planning a $75,000 High School to be built within the next year or so. The mill children attend the same schools and the people the same churches.

If one wants to find good gardens and good gardeners, go to Newton. Catawba county was settled by the Dutch, and it is from their ancestors that the people have learned the art of living on small patches. And they live.

About 50 per cent of the employes of the Newton Mill own their homes, and here one finds them living—actually living—on from two to eight acres of land. Some of them produce practically all their foodstuffs on their acreage. Several of them grow even their own wheat.

The employes of the mills own more automobiles than all of the other citizens of Newton put together.

The Mecklenburg Mill is one of Charlotte's progressive industrial plants. It is a mill of several years standing and has always been run on a high plane. The working conditions of the mill are good, and the village one of the neatest little sections in any of the cotton mill centers.

The Mecklenburg Mill changed hands some time ago when J. D. Norwood, C. I. Jones and M. L. Jackson, of Salisbury, took it over. M. L. Jackson is president; C. I. Jones, vice president; J. D. Norwood is secretary and treasurer. J. T. Jordan is superintendent. The company makes print cloths, operating 14,048 spindles and 350 looms. Under the new management the company has started up night work, thus doubling the output of the mill.