Thrift

The late Joseph Baxendale was the constant friend of the working people who co-operated with him in the labours of his life. He was a man of strong…

He posted up Texts along his warehouses, so that those who ran might read. "Never despair," "Nothing without labour," "He who spends all he gets,…

"Method is the hinge of business; and there is no method without Punctuality. Punctuality is important, because it subserves the Peace and Good…

Some may inquire, "Who was Joseph Baxendale?" He was, in fact, Pickford and Co., the name of a firm known all over England, as well as throughout the…

The carrying on of such an important and extensive business required much capital, great energy, and first-rate business management. The horses…

The carrying business required a great deal of personal supervision. Only a man of determined spirit and indomitable energy could have done it. He…

Besides overtaking the vans, he would sometimes travel by a by-road--for he knew nearly every road in the country--push on, and then double back upon…

Had Mr. Baxendale resisted the new means of conveyance, he would, before long, have been driven off the road. But he clearly foresaw the ultimate…

He also became a large shareholder in railways. His status in the South-Eastern line was so great, that he was invited to become chairman of the…

His arduous labours in connection with his own business, as well as with railway extension, having thrown him into ill-health, he went abroad for…

"An old servant of the concern observed, a short time ago, that he began life in the employ of Pickford, upon low wages, and that by frugality and…

"Suppose a young man to pursue this system: Let him obtain the first twenty pounds, add each year ten pounds, he will at the end of six years be…

"The concern in which we are engaged has been defrauded by those who have for thirty years received salaries, the savings from which, had they…

"Upon industry and frugality our well-doing depends. It is not great talents, but steady application, that is required. There are none of us that may…

"If business is more pressing than usual, give additional time, that your own accounts may not fall into confusion, and that you may not be the means…

"Late occurrences lead me to draw your attention to this subject: it is important in every sense, both as regards your public and private stations.…

"It seldom happens that we can do any important services, but small services are always in use. Take, therefore, every opportunity of assisting…

"Care preserves what Industry gains. He who attends to his business diligently but _not_ carefully, throws away with one hand what he gathers with…

"The acquisition of property, the accumulation of capital, is already in the power of the better-paid working class; and legislation has but few…

Employers can do a great deal towards promoting habits of thrift, prudence, and sobriety amongst their workpeople. Though the working man does not…

If masters fully understood the immense amount of influence which they possess, they would extend their sympathy and confidence to their…

But masters can do more than this. They can actively aid their workmen in the formation of prudent habits, by establishing savings banks for men…

At the same time there is much want of sympathy between masters and men. In fact, want of sympathy pervades all classes--the poorer, the working, the…

Charity cannot remedy the evil. Giving money, blankets, coals, and such-like, to the poor--where the spirit of sympathy is wanting,--does not…

On the other hand, the operative class consider their interests to be quite distinct from those of the master class. They want to get as much for…

The great end of both is gain, worldly gain, which sometimes involves a terrible final loss. A general suspicion of each other spreads, and society…

Some allege that this want of sympathy arises, for the most part, from the evils of Competition. It is "heartless," "selfish," "mischievous,"…

And yet there is something to be said for competition, as well as against it. It is a struggle,--that must be admitted. All life is a struggle.…

Put a stop to competition, and you merely check the progress of individuals and of classes. You preserve a dead uniform level. You stereotype society…

Under competition, the lazy man is put under the necessity of exerting himself; and if he will not exert himself, he must fall behind. If he do not…

Success grows out of struggles to overcome difficulties. If there were no difficulties, there would be no success. If there were nothing to…

Of course, man is much more than a competing being. That is only one of his characteristics, and not the highest or noblest. He has sensibilities,…

One of the results of industry and thrift is the accumulation of Capital. Capital represents the self-denial, the providence, and the enterprise of…

There is not a mechanic but has the use of the money of the master who employs him. When the unskilled labourer lays down his spade, he leaves idle a…

The workman in good employment is not liable to losses by bad debts; he has no obsolete machinery from time to time left useless on his hands; and he…

This account of the manufacturing buccaneer is a picture drawn by a man of genius from his imagination. There are probably many readers who believe…

Let us first take a large manufacturing firm, or rather series of firms, well known in South Lancashire. We mean the cotton-spinning mills of the…

Then, as to what the Ashworths have done for the benefit of their workpeople. Schooling, by means of mutual instruction classes, was in operation…

Misgivings were not unfrequently expressed that the zeal and expenditure incurred by the Messrs. Ashworth might one day be turned against them, to…

The New Eagley Mills being situated in a narrow valley, several miles from Bolton, and the property being in the possession of the owners, they…

The masters have added to their other obligations to the workpeople, the erection of comfortable cottages for their accommodation. They are built…

The regularity of their employment, accompanied with the payment of wages on Friday night, doubtless promoted their local attachment to the place.…

Manufacturers such as these do not, like Plugson of St. Dolly Undershot, gather up their fortunes and run away, leaving a groat each to their…

Where would England have been now, but for the energy, enterprise, and public spirit of our manufacturers? Could agriculture have supported the…

It is true, the great manufacturers have become wealthy. But it would certainly have been singular if, with their industry, energy, and powers of…

Great men are wise savers and wise spenders. Montesquieu has said of Alexander: "He found the first means of his prosperity and power in the…

It may seem out of keeping to compare great producers with great commanders. Yet the manufacturer often requires as much courage, as much genius,…

Titus Salt is a son of a Yorkshire wool-stapler. In the early part of his life he was a farmer near Bradford, and his inclination for agricultural…

At length, after about twenty years' labour as a manufacturer, Mr. Salt thought of retiring from business, and again betaking himself to his…

It is not necessary to describe Saltaire. The buildings connected with the new works cover six and a half acres. The principal room is five hundred…

On the opening day, Mr. Salt dined three thousand five hundred persons in the combing shed. At the dinner, he said: "I cannot look around me, and see…

This promise has been amply fulfilled. Mr. Salt has been influenced throughout by his sense of duty and responsibility. When he was applied to by the…

We prefer to speak of the immense improvement which Mr. Salt, or rather Sir Titus Salt, has effected in the physical and moral condition of his…

About three thousand persons are employed in the works; and seven hundred and fifty-six houses have been erected for their accommodation. The rents…

The comfortable houses provided for the workpeople have awakened in them that home feeling which has led them to decorate their dwellings neatly…

Great attention is paid in Saltaire to education, even of the higher sort. There are day schools, night schools, mutual improvement classes, lectures…

Besides taking part in the musical performances, a large number of the skilled workmen devote their leisure hours to various scientific amusements,--…

There is no drinking-house in Saltaire, so that the vices and diseases associated with drunkenness are excluded from the locality. The diseases…

The workpeople are also thrifty. They invest their savings in the Penny Bank and Saving's Bank; whilst others invest in various building societies,…

There are large numbers of employers who treat their workpeople quite as generously, though not in such a princely manner, as Sir Titus Salt. They…