Newspapers / The Gaston Progress (Gastonia, … / July 4, 1912, edition 1 / Page 14
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Fourteen HISTORICAL AND INDUSTRIAL EDITION OF THE GASTON PROGRESS H. M. McADEN, President THE ROBERT R, RAY, Secretary and Treasurer McADEN MILLS--COTTON GOODS ONE OF GASTON COUNTY’S LARGEST ENTERPRISES Although it is now by far the great est industry of Gaston county, the his tory of cotton manufacturing here can still be told from personal experience by men who are little past middle age. The growth of the business has been simply phenominal, and the future is full of promise of better things yet to THE GREAT DAM, McADEN MILLS come for those who have invested their i' funds in the mills.' The pioneer cotton manufacturer of this county was the late Hon. R. Y. McAden, a native of Alexander county, and at one time speaker of the House of Representa tives of this State. Mr. McAden found ed the pretty and thriving little town on the South Fork of the Catawba river, which bears his name, and in 1882, the first cotton mill in this sec tion began operations. It was and is run by water power and ^fro^ the first was a distinct success. The pro duct of this mill v/hich had an equip ment of 10,000 spindles was fine yarns. When it was found by Mr. McAden, who was a man of keen initiative and much energy that this was an ideal place for the manufacture of cotton goods he_ almost immediately began to enlarge his plant, and in the course, of time mill Nos. 2 and 3 were added, making a fine group of buildings equip ped with the latest improved machin ery, and having an immense output of yarns, and also of plaids and outings. Most of the former goods are made for export and are sold through the Cone Export & Commission Company of Greensboro, and New York. The yarns are handled by Muller, Riddle & Com pany, of Philadelphia. The three mills now have an aggregate of 28,000 spindles and 360 looms and between 500 and 600 men, women and children are employed. Mills Nos. 1 and 2 are run exclusively by water power, while No. 3, the latest built, is also equipped with electricity supplied by the South ern Power Company. The little town of McAdenville is, for a mill town, a most attractive place, and 1,200 peo ple seem to be' contented and happy. There are several churches and a library, the latter the gift of the late Dr. Giles M. McAden, son of the found er of the town. The officers of the - ONE OF THE THREE McADEN MILLS mills are: Mr. H. M. McAden, presi dent, and Robert R. Ray, secretary and treasurer and general manager. Mr. McAden who is a son of the founder lives in Charlotte, but is a frequent visitor to the property and keeps in close touch with the affairs of the little town which bears the family name. He is president of the First National Bank of Charlotte, and also of the Piedmont Insurance Company, of the same place. Mr. Ray has been in timately connected with the mills for the past 25 years, and having been as sociated with the founder until his death in 1889, at the age of 56. Mr. Ray during his few leisure hours is inter ested in public affairs and is a mem ber of the State Democratic Executive Committee, Director in some of several other mills in the county and vice- president of First National Bank of Gastonia. L. L. JENKINS, President. THOS. L. CRAIG, Vice-Preident J. H. SEPARK, Sec’y and Treas. J. L. GRAY, Supt. The Gray Manufacturing Company A Progressive Concern that Stands in the Front Rank for the Quality of Its Goods. Cotton is, as everyone is aware, the backbone of the prosperity and phe nominal growth of Gastonia. Other industries will, of course, come in time, but doubtless the mills will al ways remain as the solid foundation upon which the structure of the city’s commercial greatness will rest. Among the mills, that of the Gray Manufacturing Company stands in the front rank as a producer of i^^ns in regular and reverse . up in warp. Established by George Alexander Gray in 1906, the Premier of the Cotton industry in this Section. Misfand thread twists. The of'the product is ball or chained , arps, skeenes, combs and tubes, open or close wind. The equipment ot the mills is of the best, and any luality of yarn can be produced from both Peeler and Egyptian cottons. The mills are located a little more than a mile to the west of the city limits, and the buildings are modern, well lighted and ventilated structures, built m 1906, when the enterprise was estab lished by the late George Alexander Gray, a man with a remarkable career, and the pioneer ot the cotton industiy —jiioav>i and ’lai-|fe’st housefurnishiug store in a oO-caixs, ^ocK.er> quisites, where he was born in 1871. He is a graduate of Trinity College and began life as head master of Burlington Academy. For a year he was assist ant superintendent of the Charlotte Military Institute and in 1898 came to Gastonia in the grow'th and progress of which he has since taken an active nart. From 1899 to 1902 he was prin- _ _ ' greaF" intfer- Tst^in public affairs and is now mayor pro tem, a member of the board of aldermen. He has also served as a member of the school board and re tains the great interest he has always bad in education. He is secretary and treasurer of the Gaston County Textile Manufacturers Association., and of the Torrence Drug Company. Mr. J. L. Gray, the efficient superin tendent of the mills is the oldest son of the founder and one of the most prominent business men of the city. mills of the gray manufacturing company 4^^ in this section. The dimensions of the main plant are 80x310 feet, par tially two story, and the com pany owns about 35 acres of land, on which are erected a number of com fortable houses for the accommodation of the employees, numbering about 200. The equipment consists of 10 240 producing spindles and 6,000 twister spindles. Whitin combers, and also English Nathsmith combers. These are sufficient to comb the entire product of the mill, both Peeler and Egyptian. The officers of the Gray Manufacturing Company are. L. Jenkins, president; Thomas L. Craig, vice-president; J. H. Separk, secre tary and treasurer; and J. L. Gray, superintendent. Mr. Jenkins is a native ot Gaston county, and made his home in Gastonia for a number o years, but several years ago removed to Asheville, where he is president of the American National Bank. He L. L. JENKINS GEO. gray has, however, retained his conftdenco in the future of Gastonia, in which he is deeply interested and in forwarding the growth and prosperity of which he has always taken a leading part. Mr. Jenkins is president ot the First National Bank of Gastonia, and of the Flint Manufacturing Company, and the Arlington Cotton Mills. He is also interested in a number of other enterprises, and is one of the leading men who are taking part in the devel opment of this section. Thomas L. Craig, the vice-president, is the popular and progressive mayor of Gastonia, and is also vice-president of the Mo dena Company, and has other large in terests. J. H. Separk, who is secretary and treasurer, has held the former position since the organization of the company, and was elected treasurer after the death of Mr. George Gray, one of the founders of the mills. Mr. Separk is a native of Raleigh, JOSEPH H. SEPARK THE FLINT MANUFACTURING CO. THE FLINT MANUFACTURING COMPANY’S WORKS For the making of fine yarns the Gastonia mills long ago established a reputation, one which is due in large measure to the excellence ot the mills of the Flint Manufacturing Company, which are located in the eastern su burbs of the city. These mills make a specialty of fine yarns, and so great is the demand tor their product that most of the year they are operated day and night, the employees working in shifts. The company was organized in 1906, and the buildings are splendidly adapted for the purposes for which they were erected and used. Well lighted, ventilated and sanitary, they are equipped with all the latest improved machinery and nothing has been forgotten or left undone that would place them in the front rank among the model mills of the country. Between 10,000 and 11,00,0 spindles are in operation, and the employees num ber between 200 and 300. Near the mills is a model little village of 50 houses belonging to the Company. The officers of the Flint Manufactur ing Company are: L. L. Jenkins, presi dent; S. N. Boyce, vice-president; and L. F. Groves, secretary and treasurei. Mr Jenkins, the president, is one ot the pioneers of the cotton manufactur ing industry in this section of the Carolinas, and has done as much as any other one man to develop the advantages of Gastonia. He is a native of Gaston county but is now a resident of Asheville, where he is president of the American National Bank. He has large interests in Gastonia, however, is president ot the First National Bank, of the Arlington Cotton Mills, and is connected with other large enterprises. Mr. Boyce, the vice-president, is treasurei of Gaston county, cashier ot the Fn-st National Bank, and one of Gastonia’s most progressive citizens. Mr. Groves, the secretary and treasurer, has for years been connected with the cotton manufacturing industry, and is also treasurer of the Arlington Cotton Mills. He also was the organizer and builder of the Flint Manufacturing Company. II RESIDENCE OF LATE GEO. A. GRAY
The Gaston Progress (Gastonia, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
July 4, 1912, edition 1
14
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