Enterprise Manufacturing Company, 1450 Greene Street, Augusta Canal, Augusta

Source document Quoted word for word from HAER GA,123-AUG,44-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

The Granite Mill, built shortly after the com- pletion of the original canal, is the oldest industrial building in Augusta. The later Enterprise Manufacturing Company was the first large-scale mill to use water power from the enlarged Augusta Canal. Its success signalled the emergence of Augusta as a manufacturing center. The mill still operates, showing the adaptability of 19th-century mills to modern machinery, and still uses canal water to power its hydroelectric plant.

Source document Quoted word for word from HAER GA,123-AUG,44-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Robert L. Spude It is understood that access to this material rests on the condition that should any of it be used'in any form or by any means, the author of such material and the Historic American Engineering Record of the Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service at all times be given proper credit. Enterprise Co, HAER GA-13 (Page 2)

Enterprise Manufacturing. Company

The Enterprise Mill is an anomaly in an age of glistening metal one-story textile mills.. A division of Graniteville.Company, the mill keeps pace with. Graniteyille's Swint Division, though, nearly a century separates their construction dates. The Enterprise Mill does well. Its blue denim cloth production equals the Swint's, while its energy costs remain lower because of an in-plant hydroelectric generator that supplies the mill with approximately 50% of its electrical needs. [1] This generator runs by water power furnished by the Augusta Canal, and water power has been used to turn the mill machinery for 100 years.

In order to attract new industry to Augusta, the City Council funded the construction of a power canal in and its enlargement in [2] Of the factories built in response to the construction of the canal, the Enterprise Mill contains not one, but two structures representative of the local campaign to industrialize. A warehouse at the Enterprise Mill, built in as the Granite Mill, supplied Augusta with "Coleman's Granite Mills Flour" through the Civil War and Reconstruction Era. After the- completion of the canal enlargement in Augusta businessmen guided by New England indus- trialists formed the Enterprise Manufacturing Company and built adjacent to the Granite Mill the first large-scale textile mill to use the increased water power.

In addition, the success of Enterprise Mill sig- nalled the emergence of Augusta as a manufacturing center worthy of its nickname, "the Lowell of the South." The City of Augusta applied the nickname "Lowell of the South" to itself as early as the but .the four industries located along the Augusta Canal by the end of the decade belied any real industrial complex. [3] Yet these industries were symbolic of what was possible. Of the four manufactories standing in only the Granite Mill remains standing along the canal bank today [4] James L. Coleman, an Augusta planter, was captivated by the cam- paign to-industrialize and built the flour mill, as well as contracting for digging part of the canal.

He had planned to build a mill upon his plantation as early as With the initiation of the canal project, he asked that its route he slightly changed in order to supply his land with water power. On May 22, the canal commissioners resolved that "the engineer be instructed to run the line of the canal through Coleman's lands as to give him the desired space for his Mill House..." I5J On June 14, Goleman received the second canal water right. Through the next year, boatmen barged stone quarried on Stailings Island, above the canal headgates in the Savannah River, to the con- struction site. Slaves from Coleman's plantation constructed the Enterprise Co. HAER GA-13 (Page 3) four-story granite mill, completing it by In the front half of the building's,.basement, carpenters positioned two.

overshot water wheels, which, drove burrstones, a sawmill in an .adjacent wood frame building, and other machinery. The mill cost approximately 16] Coleman placed his brother-in-law, Benjamin H. Warren, in charge of the mill; an unfortunate choice, for Warren, Coleman believed, had through nefarious deeds put him in debt, then purchased the mill himself at a sheriff's foreclosure sale in January In a pamphlet titled To B. H. Warren, Esq., and To the Curious Generally, Who Hay Wish to take a Glance at the Depravity of Human Nature, Coleman piled accusations .against the evil "Shylock," Warren, but to no avail. Warren, probably a better businessman he was a successful merchant, banker, and cotton speculator operated the mill until and then sold out to Augusta merchants George T.

Jackson, John T. Miller, and Edward F. Kinchley for [7] Little is known about the mill's operations during the remainder of the and up to when it was integrated into the Enterprise cotton mill's processes. An letterhead of George T. Jackson & Co. lists them as "dealers in Granite Mills Flour, Meal Grits, Middling Fine Feed, Bran, Pea Meal, etc." [8] The company built a brick addition to the mill in but its function is unknown both mills' interiors have been altered for ware- house space, making it difficult to discover the original mill operation. [9] The front basement, however, still floods, covering the sites of the water wheels. After integration into the Enterprise Mill, the Granite mills' flour milling machinery was removed, and in its place went cotton picker machinery.

Before it was altered.for its present use as a warehouse, the mill, in' became the Enterprise Mill Village School. The canal enlargment of offered new possibilities to industrialists eager to enter the profitable field of textile manufacturing. Down, the canal from the Granite Mill, for example, the Augusta Factory paid annual dividends worth from July to July Why could not other would-be manufacturers do the same? The City of Augusta offered water power at the inexpensive rate of per horsepower, and the state of Georgia in passed a 10-year tax exemp- tion hill for all new textile, mills. In addition, Augusta's city fathers took the unusual step of offering a bounty to anyone who would bring new factories to Augusta.

The promoter would receive an amount equal to 3% of the new mill's capital stock; i.e., for a mill he would receive of city monies. 11] In order to take advantage of the tax exemption, four Augusta law- yers and bankers prepared incorporation papers for the Enterprise Manu- facturing Company and sent them off to the Georgia Legislature. On Enterprise Co. HAER GA-13 (Page 4) February 14, the legislature granted the company a charter, allowing them to commence operations once 1QZ of their capital stock, was paid. The national financial panic of 1873-put an end.to their plans.

When the Enterprise.was finally, organized, only two of the original incorporators could afford to be stockholders, and they bought only four shares-of stock, Talk and editorials in the press continued to try to attract new industry. George T. Jackson, owner of the Granite Mill and brother of William E. Jackson, president of the prosperous Augusta Factory, had enlarged his mill once and considered enlarging it again. In the fall of he and his brother met Jones S. Davis. Davis was a mover and a shaper from from Holyoke, Massachusetts.

He had built and been super- intendent in mills in the North and, according to himself, "had built up four towns in Massachusetts." And, the Yankee continued, "he intended to do a good deal for Augusta if they just gave him money enough." Davis had just completed a textile mill in Atlanta when he met the Jacksons.' Out of a job (the mill had gone bankrupt), Davis offered them his services as architect and mill superintendent, as well as some sec- ond-hand British mill machinery once used by a mill near Boston. The Jacksons called for- a public meeting at the Augusta Factory in order to canvass for support. Cotton factors, bankers, merchants, and other businessmen agreed to invest in Davis and the Jacksons'- mill proposition.

On March 10, the Enterprise Manufacturing Company was for- mally organized with a capital of shares costing each. The charter served as an easy vehicle for the local businessmen to launch their mill project. George T. Jackson's mill and water rights passed to the new company, and the now "Major" Jackson became its largest stockholder and president. Although he was the company's second largest stockholder, William E.. Jackson kept out. of its affairs. The "prominent Massachusetts manufacturer," Davis, was hired as superinten- dent and ordered the used machinery from Holyoke, along with necessary mechanics to supervise its installation. First, however, Davis had to design and build the mill.

He planned a simple three-story brick mill building, 236 feet by 74 feet wide, with a central .stairwell tower adorned by an ornamental domed roof and octa- gonal cupola. Two vertical turbines placed in wheelpits behind the mill's northern end would, supply the necessary power to turn the mill machinery. Davis designed the power plant for double.its needed capa- city in anticipation of expansion a fortunate plan3 since three years after completion the stockholders voted to expand the mill. Masons laid the first brick on March 22, and the first machinery arrived from Holyoke Machine Company in July. Receiving a Enterprise Co, HAER GA-13 (Page 5) salary of per month,.Davis .supervised the'construction and had the mill building ready by fall.

Th_e two turbines and their shafting arrived from Rolyoke and were.lowered into their respective. pits, while shafting and pulleys from the Lowell Machine Works, went into the mill. The 14 British, carding machines, reported'by the local press to be ."covered with mahogany and the metal is clean and bright...," went into the second floor.. The 242 looms went into the first floor, and the 10 mule spinning frames of 13,892.spindles went into the third. After spending and a year's time, Davis had the mill ready for operation. The mill became the boast of Augusta.

Personal pride is evidenced by such newspaper headlines as, "What We Have Wrought." The editor con- tinued to boast that the Enterprise Mill "was the first enterprise to spring into life after the business paralysis of it was the first factory to utilize the heavy increment of canal power; it was the first institution to typify the prosperity which was to settle upon the New South and to enliven the New Augusta..." The article continued with praise for George Jackson, superlatives predominating. The attrac- tion gave Davis notoriety, and in he left the Enterprise and became architect for the larger and more ornate Sibley Mill. The operations at the mill, according to.

one old-timer, were simple: "Cotton carried into the mill emerged as cloth," In more detail, cotton bales arrived at the old .Granite Mill, where pickers or picking machines loosened the cotton into small tufts and removed as much dirt as possible. . From the Granite Mill, the cotton tufts were carted through a hall connecting the old mill with the Enterprise and into the card room, where the tufts were separated until only the individual cot- ton fibers remained. The fibers were then rolled until parallel to one another forming strands which went to the third floor and to the spindles. The spindles spun the strands into fine threads before they were sent to the looms to be woven into cloth.

During the first half year of the operation, March 2, to August 31, the com- pany produced yards of sheeting worth Besides producing cloth, the Enterprise caused a minor business boom. On upper Greene Street near the mill, in an area once vacant, new stores and houses were built to serve the millworkers. The continued success of the.Enterprise operation prompted other investors to form manufacturing companies. Five years after the completion of the mill, four new cotton mills, were built or under construction along the canal's first level. On February 23, the Enterprise Mill stockholders voted to declare a 10% dividend, increase the capital stock to and double the size of the mill.

President Jackson voiced the hope that stockholders would re-invest, their dividend checks by buying additional stock. But their purchase was unnecessary as local stockbroker M. J. Verdery sold the entire worth of new stock .to New York and Enterprise Co. HAER GA-13 (Page 6) Boston investors April. Xt seemed Northerners, were ready to buy anything, be it cloth or stock. The architectural firm, Thompson & Nagle of Rhode Island, designed the addition as a nearly exact duplicate of Davis's original mill. The windowsills and slight ornamental details differed. To the rear of the building the architects added a water tower with a 10,000-gallon capa- city tank, all ready to pour through a sprinkler system into the mill if the need arose.

Ornamental brickwork above tall, narrow archways added variety to an essentially plain tower, which also housed the com- pany bell. The architects transferred the picker operation from the Granite mill to a new building behind the mill and directly above the turbines. The old mill became a machine shop. During the first fiscal year after completion of the addition,'the mill produced yards of cloth and employed 466 operatives. The addition brought in more praise and profits. A visitor from Charleston wrote the News Courier and described the mill as a true "Cotton Factory Bonanza." It continued declaring dividends, but more interesting were its modern attachments. Two 10-light Edison Electric Light systems illuminated part of the building.

An automatic patented sprinkler system protected the operatives and the mill from fire. The mill had large windows directly facing the sun during early morning and late afternoon; double-hinged doors that swung both ways, thus easing the ingress and egress of cotton-filled carts; and centrally located shafting, which afforded a better distribution of power. The prosperous and happy first years stand in sharp contrast to the mid-lSSO's, Much to the shock of all, President George T. Jackson was caught embezzling company funds. Excited by his new prosperity, he had "borrowed" to speculate on the cotton market. When the panic of caused the national market to collapse, he was caught short of funds at the same time the Enterprise mill bookkeeper noticed an awe- some shortage.

The mill shut down in September while the city gossiped about the scandal. The next year, after a surprisingly brief trial, Jackson.went to jail; he was pardoned in a ruined man. Francis Cogin, ex-superintendent of the Augusta Factory, became the interim president. Instead of declaring bankruptcy, the directors decided to issue worth of preferred stock in order to pay off old debts and leave worth of working capital. The mill found a friend in William H. Howard, who, with Augusta investors. Alfred Baker and Boykin Wright, purchased a majority of the preferred stock. Local foundry owner George R. Lombard exchanged Enterprise Mill debts to his firm for stock in the company. He, like the others, became a director. James P.

Verdery, lawyer, cotton broker, and one of the first directors, became president. . Under Verdery's presidency, the Enterprise Mill withstood the lean Enterprise Co. HAER GA-13 (Page 7) years of and the first major strike.by operatives in and by the late 188Q's.began another-era of prosperity. In the last major addition was built.onto the mill. A JS. weaving room, costing made room for more looms and spindles, increasing the total to spindles and 904.looms. Superintendent Otis G. found the mill's, old carding machines antiquated and at this time ordered some 45-"new improved Foss and Pevey Cards" from the Lowell Machine Shop. Enterprise Mill adapted to new technology,- improving the quality of its product and-the size of its mill. In historian Charles C.

Jones called the mill's product "the finest cloth made in the South." Instead of customary 12 to 14 size yarn, the spinners refined it to 18 to 20, while the cloth itself was a lighter four yards to the pound instead of the usual three yards per pound found in other Southern mills. The 520 male and female operatives annually turned bales of cotton into 14 million yards of Brown Sheetings, Shirting, and Drills. Because the records of the Enterprise Mill have disappeared, the story of its later years can no longer be reconstructed. Fire insurance maps published in and show warehouses on the site of. a once-vacant lot. A few letters and interviews with mill employees suggest that during the the power plant was completely changed.

In the company purchased a new hydroelectric plant, the first mill in Augusta to do so. S. Morgan Smith & Co. sold them two Type "N" turbines, draft tubes, and wheel shaft extensions, while General Electric sold two kW A.C. generators. The two vertical turbines drove the two "umbrella" type generators, each of which had small DC generators at the top of the shaft. To drive the new unit, the company had slowly increased its water power contract to hp, or four times its first contract. In the mill, large group drive electric motors were attached to the overhead shafts and ran groups of machines. These slowly were replaced, with individual motors attached to each loom or spindle frame.

In the weave room finally went to individual motor drive, The hydroelectric generators still supply the Enterprise Mill with power, at times supplying 60% of the need. Georgia Power Company serves as backup. ' At the same time the hydroelectric plant went into the mill, the Enterprise Mill became a pawn in the large Graniteville Company's expan- sion designs. Graniteville, controlled by three New Yorkers and led by Leavelle McCampbell, had just acquired control of the Sihley Mill in Augusta when, in they purchased 465 shares of Enterprise. This Enterprise Co. HAER GA-13 (Page 8) gave them a controlling interest. Samuel A. Fortson became president and officiated Over the. company until when the Graniteyille Com- pany decided to comhine the Enterprise Hill with, the Sihley1 operation.

In the Sibley Enterprise Manufacturing Company too ended its existence, the two mills becoming divisions, of the Graniteyille operation. - Since the Graniteville Company has continued the operation and improvement of the mill. The mill has about the same number of spindles and looms as in (presently some spindles and 634 looms), but the amount of cloth produced exceeds 20 million yards per year. After 100 years, the Enterprise Mill continues to produce cloth. Though the company was not a leader in technological innovations, it did lead in other respects. Its success in convinced Augus- tans to build more cotton mills and thus signalled the emergence of Augusta as a textile center. It has further significance in that it still uses canal water to power its hydroelectric system.

Enterprise Co. HAER GA-13 (Page 9) Footnotes 1. Interviews, Jimmy Jordans maintenance supervisor, and Daye. Parrin, superintendent, Enterprise Division, Graniteyille Company, June 22, to August 23, See HAER, Augusta Canal Project, Report #1, Augusta Canal. 3. Daily Chronicle & Sentinel (Augusta), March 8, p. 2, vol. 2 . 4. The other factories were the Augusta Manufacturing Company the Cunningham Flour Mill and the Augusta Machine Works See HAER, Augusta Canal Project, Reports 12, 14, and 17. 5. Augusta Canal Record Book I, p. 31, report for May 22, Vault, Municipal Building, Augusta, Georgia.- 6. Ibid., p. 83, report for June 30, 'Daily Chronicle & Sentinel, August 3, p. 3. In the mill had two overshot water wheels and three Hotchki'ss'"American turbines.

The sawmill required 7 hp and the flour mill 32. Water rent equaled per year. Augusta Canal Record Book II, p. 45 rpt for March 13, p. 72 rpt for July 17, and p. 92 rpt for December 23, Vault, Municipal Building, Augusta, Georgia. ' 7. James L. Coleman, To B. H. Warren, Esq., and to the Curious Gener- ally, Who May Wish to Take a Glance at the Depravity of Human Nature (Augusta, October , passim. Copy in the Georgians Room, Uni- versity of Georgia, Athens. Deed, June 3, Benjamin H. Warren to George T. Jackson, John T. Miller, and Edward F. Kinchley, Book of Deeds, p. 81, Richmond County Recorder's Office, Municipal Building, Augusta, Georgia. 8. George T. Jackson & Co. Letterhead, Businesses Folder, vertical file, attic of Augusta-Richmond County Museum, Augusta, Georgia. 9.

Daily Chronicle & Sentinel, November 15, 10. Marge Sanders, "Enterprise A Hundred.Years of Progress," Granit e- ville Bulletin, undated clipping, Graniteville Bulletin office, Graniteville Company, Graniteville, South Carolina. 11. Richard W. Griffin, "The Augusta Manufacturing Company in Peace, War, and Reconstruction, Business History Keyiew-32 (Spring Charles C. Jones and Salem Dutcher, Memorial History of Augusta, Georgia (Syracuse, New York: D. Mason & Co., pp. Byron Holly, The Enlarged Augusta Canal, Enterprise Co. HAER GA-13 (Page 10) Augusta,^ Georgia,; -Its--Capacity and Advantages for the Manufacture o Cotton Goods, With. Map of Location (New York; Corlies., Macy & Co., pp. 12. "Enterprise Manufacturing Company," Georgia Xavrs The incorporaters. were James G. Gregg, William C.

Jessup, Eenry E. Steiner, and banker William K. Goodrich.; Goodrich, held one share and Steiner three. Enterprise Manufacturing Company, Statement Book #1, stockholders list- March p. 36, Vaults Enterprise Mill office, Augusta, Georgia. In Goodrich built the small Shamrock Spin- ning Mill. See HAER, Augusta Canal Project, Report 13. Daily Chronicle & Sentinel, March 11, September 28, 14. Ibid. 15 Ibid > Deed, March 29, George T. Jackson & Co, to Enterprise Manufacturing Company, Book of Deeds p.. 81, Richmond County Recorder's Office, Municipal Building, Augusta, Georgia. The other organizers of the company were ex-mayor Charles Estes, Augusta Fac- tory superintendent Francis Cogin, cotton factor James A. Gray, and flour miller H. M. Clark. 16. John L. Maxwell, Pleasant A. Stovall, T. R.

Gibson, Handbook of Augusta (Augusta: Chronicle & Constitutionalist, pp, 17. Ibid.; Enterprise Manufacturing Company, Journal #1, p. 4; Statement Book #1, p. 40. 18. Daily Chronicle & Sentinel, September 28, 19. Enterprise Manufacturing Company, Statement Book #1, p. 39. 20. Chronicle & Constitutionalist, "Trade Issue," September 21. See HAER, Augusta Canal Project, Report #3, Sibley Mill. 22. Reminiscence of Yancey Powell, employee in Sanders, "Enterprise A Hundred Years of Progress." 23. A more detailed description of cotton manufacturing is in Gilbert R. Merrill, Alfred R. Macormac, Herbert R. Mauersberger, American Cattori Handbook (New York: Textile Book Publishers, Enterprise Manufacturing Company, Statement Book #1, p. 56. 25.

Chrb-tiicle & Constitutionalist, "Trade Issue," September Enterprise Co. HAER GA-13 (Page 11) 26. These were the Shamrock, King, Sibley, and Summeryille (old Russell & Simmons) mills. See HAER, Augusta Canal Project* Reports #3, 4, and. 15. 27. Daily Chronicle & Constitutionalist, February 23, 4: ; February 27, 1; ; March 25, 4;- . ; April 14, 1: 28. Chronicle _& Constitutionalist, T,Trade-Issuei"-September Jones, History of Augusta, p. The Industrial Advantages of Augusta, Georgia (Augusta, p. 87; Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps for Augusta, Georgia, -copy in Map Room, University of Georgia Science Library, Athens. 29. News & Courier (Charleston), January 13, p. 1. 30. News -& Courier, September 12, p. 4; October 30, p. 1; November 9, p. 2; January 16, p. 6; May 14, pp. 1, 5; May 15, p.

5; May 16, p. 1; May 17, p. 2; Daily Chronicle & Constitutionalist, December 5, p. 4. 31. News & Courier, December 25, p. 2; Augusta Chronicle, "Trade Issue," October 9, p. 9. 32. Merl E. Reed, "The Augusta Textile Mills and the Strike of Labor History: 33. Daily Chronicle & Constitutionalist, March 13, p. 4; Textile Record, April p. December p. 34. Jones, History of Augusta, p. 35. The Enterprise company records may be in the Graniteville Company Vault, Graniteville, South Carolina, because the Sibley Mill and Augusta Factory minute books were found there. Because of time limitations, the search for the Enterprise records was cut short. 36. Sanborn Fire Insurance maps for Augusta, Georgia, Copies in Map Room, University of Georgia Science Library, Athens. 37.

Information from Jimmy Jordan, maintenance supervisor, Enterprise Mill, his office files, and personal observation. 38. Interview, Al Steiner, HAER, with. Jimmy Jordan and Benny Moss (28 years at Enterprise), June 22, 39. Ibid. 40. Information supplied by W. C. Lott, Vice-President, Graniteville Company, Graniteville, South Carolina. Enterprise Co. HAER GA-13 (Page 12) 41. Interview.with. Dave Perrin, Superintendent,.Enterprise Mill, August 23, -19 Enterprise Co. HAER GA-13 (Page 13) Bibliography Books. Coleman, James, L. To B, Warren, Esq., and to the..Curious.Generally, Who Kay ;Wis.h to Take a Glance at th.e Depravity of "Human Nature. Augusta, October, Copy in the Georgiana Room, University of Georgia, Athens.

Though a venomous attack on Warren, the pamphlet is the primary source for the Granite Mill. Holly, Byron. The Enlarged Augusta Canal, Augusta, Georgia: Its Capa- city and Advantages for the Manufacture of Cotton^Goods, With Map of Location. New York: Corlies, Macy & Co., Promotional pamphlet describing the advantages of locating along the Augusta Canal. The Industrial Advantages of Augusta, Georgia. Augusta, Promotional booklet with a description of each Augusta mill. Jones, Charles C., and Dutcher, Salem. Memorial History of Augusta, Georgia. Syracuse., New York: D. Mason & Co., Dated history with two paragraphs on the Enterprise Mill. Maxwell, John L.; Stovall, Pleasant; and Gibson, T. R. Handbook of Augusta.

Augusta: Chronicle & Constitutionalist, Promotional booklet with two pages on Enterprise. Articles Griffin, Richard W. "The Augusta Manufacturing Company in Peace, War, and Reconstruction, Business History Review 32 (Spring Excellent business history of Augusta's oldest cotton mill. Reed, Merl-E. "The Augusta Textile Mills and the Strike of Labor History : Somewhat pro-labor account of inconsequential strike of Enterprise Co. HAEK GA-13 (Page 14 ) Sanders, Marge, "Enterprise A .Hundred Years-of Progress,.," Graniteville Bulletin, undated clipping,.Graniteville Bulletin Office, Granite- ville Company, Graniteville, South Carolina.

Garbled history based on the reminiscence of millworker Yancey Powell, who worked St ttve Enterprise Mill Newspapers Daily Chronicle & Constitutionalist (Augusta), Daily Chronicle &-Sentinel (Augusta), November 15, May 11, September 28, News & Courier (Charleston), Unpublished Materials Augusta Canal Record Books, Vault, Municipal Building, Augusta, Georgia. Enterprise Manufacturing Company, Ledgers Statement Books Journals Cash Books and Miscel- laneous Records, Vault, Enterprise Mill Office, Augusta, Georgia. A mass of statistical information, unfortunately too massive to analyze for this brief study. The Enterprise Company Minute Books may be in the vault of the Graniteville Company, Graniteville, South Carolina.

Sanborn and Perris Fire Insurance Maps for Augusta, Georgia, in Map Room, University of Georgia Science Library, Athens. Invaluable in tracing enlargments and additions to the Enterprise Mill. Interviews Alan Steiner, HAER, with. Jimmy Jordan, maintenance supervisor, and Benny Moss, 28 years service, Enterprise Mill,.Augusta, Georgia, June 22, Unrecorded interview with men in charge of maintaining the mills. Robert Spude, HAER, with Dave Perrin, superintendent, Enterprise Mill, Augusta, Georgia, August 24, Supplied information on present mill operations.