USA > Kentucky > Jefferson County > Louisville > Haldeman's picture of Louisville, directory and business advertiser, for 1844-1845 > Part 7
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At both establishments, about sixty hands are employed. Consumes 2 tons metal daily, besides a large quantity of copper, sheet iron and tin.
MEADOWS, LONG, & CO.'S FOUNDRY.
At this establishment, on Water, between Seventh and Eighth, though not long established, we have been gratified with a view of the capital articles they turn out. No establishment in the country, can produce goods of superior quality. The sad irons and the tea kettles are most especially worthy of notice ; as, also, the neat style of grate fronts and fire dogs. All descriptions of stoves, plain and cooking; wagon boxes ; cellar grates ; mantel grates ; &c., are cast with great neatness. The articles manufactured at this foundry, are sold whole- sale and retail by Thomas McGrain, on Fourth, between Main and Market.
At the foundry, about 15 hands are employed-and 3 tons of iron consumed daily.
J. WALTER & SON'S FOUNDRY.
On Sixth, between Main and Water.
Here are made all kinds of small machinery, for mills; mill castings; grates; hollow ware; fire dogs; blacksmiths' work, and finishing; and brass founding and finishing.
KENTUCKY BRASS FOUNDRY.
J. Collinridge ; on Main, between Eighth and Ninth.
Manufactures all kinds of brass castings; bells, for churches and steamboats; bell-metal kettles, etc.
Employs from 8 to 10 hands.
THE IRON TRADE.
There are six houses extensively engaged in the iron business. It is estimated, that more than $250,000 worth of this article, is sold an- nually.
The works described in the following article, are the only ones of any importance in the State, whose entire product is disposed of in this market.
THE SALT RIVER IRON WORKS,
The property of Messrs. Quirey & Tyler, and Nathaniel Hardy, Esq., located on Salt River, in Bullitt County, Ky., may be considered as belonging to the manufacturing interests of Louisville, as the capital employed belongs to our own citizens, and the production is almost ex- clusively sold in this market.
This establishment is quite extensive, employing not less than two hundred hands, and embraces two blast furnaces, one forge, two rolling mills, (one propelled by water and the other by steam power,) a nail factory, and some 17,000 acres of land, principally covered with tim- ber, and containing inexhaustible beds of ore. The quality of the metal manufactured at these works, is pronounced upon the testimony of our best mechanics, to be equal to any other brought to this market. To show the importance to Louisville of this establishment, it is only necessary to state, that not only is the whole production disposed of at that point, but the entire supply of dry goods, groceries, etc., for two stores, is purchased entirely of Louisville houses-thereby rendering the business of the establishment as important to this city, as if it were lo- cated within her own limits.
Sales of the product of this establishment, exceed, probably, $50,- 000 per annum.
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THE BAGGING AND ROPE TRADE.
This branch of the manufactures of our city and State, begins to excite considerable attention, from the successful improvements in the mode of manufacturing, and the increasing quantity produced.
By reference to the following tables, it will be seen, that this trade has increased more than one hundred per cent. in the short space of five years.
From competition amongst the manufacturers, and the want of suffi- cient capital to enable them to affix a fair and remunerating price to their fabrics, and adhere to it, the manufacturers have been compelled to ship, in some cases, their bagging and rope to a distant market, and submit to the mismanagement and neglect of persons, whose interests were diametrically opposed to their own. Efforts have been made very lately, but with what success has not yet been developed, by a conven- tion of bagging manufacturers, to mature some plan to establish a Home Market, for the sale of the entire product of their looms. The accom- plishment of so desirable an object, would greatly promote their best interests. With the exception of the years 1841-2-3, Louisville had been the principal mart for the sale of these staple products.
During the period excepted, New Orleans has been the more impor- tant market ; and the interests of those engaged in the trade, in conse- quence of this division, have very materially suffered.
The tendency of the trade, however, at this time, is to become more and more concentrated at Louisville ; and it is not at all problematical, that were there but one market for the sale, from first hands, of these articles, the trade would become much more uniform, and more general satisfaction would be given, both to the producer and consumer.
The shipments from Louisville, from 1839 to 1843, inclusive, were 375,338 pieces of bagging, and 273,580 coils of rope, which are divi- ded as follows :
1839, 58,839 ps. bag., averaging 60 yds. each, and 45,858 cls. rope
1840, 71,500 "
66
66
60 € = 42,360 =
1841, 64,884 66
65 « 66 52,112
1842, 78,865
70 €
56,588
1843, 101,251 66
80 76,662
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An estimate of the quantity of bagging manufactured in the year 1844, throughout the Western country :
In Kentucky, there are 500 hand looms in operation, which manu- facture an average of 400 yards each per week, or 20,000 yards per annum. Total, 10,000,000 yards. *
Five power-loom factories, at Louisville, New Albany, Cincinnati, and Maysville, produce per annum, total, 3,800,000 yards.
Eighty hand-looms, in Tennessee and North Alabama, produce an average of 15,000 yards, each, per annum; making total, 1,200,000 yards.
Fifty hand-looms in Missouri, produce 750,000 yards.
Total amount of bagging manufactured in the West, during the year 1844, 15,750,000 yards.
The average quantity of bagging used in baling cotton, is 6 yards to the bale-thus sufficient baling is manufactured this year, to cover 2,625,000 bales of cotton ; which, when added to the bagging lying over, unused, from the work of previous years, is from twenty-five to thirty-three per cent. more than will be required for the coming cotton crop of '44-'45, presuming it will reach the enormous amount of 2,500,000 bales !
The quantity of hemp used in the manufacture of bagging, is 1} lbs. to the yard-which will make in 15,750,000 yards, 23,625,000 lbs. hemp; and as the quantity of bale rope manufactured, bears an average proportion of 1} lbs. to the yard of bagging, the quantity of hemp consumed in that article, will also amount to 23,625,000 lbs., making a total consumption of Hemp, in 1844, in the articles of bag- ging and rope, of upwards of 21,000 tons. +
The production of hemp, during the years of 1842-3-4, both in Kentucky, Missouri and Tennessee, has greatly exceeded the demand for consumption and export ; and the consequence is, that from 5,000 to 8,000 tons of surplus hemp will remain in the farmers' hands, un- sold, until next year; and this heavy surplus will greatly injure the price of the crop that will then be ready for market, unless the farmer, by water-rotting his crop, opens a new outlet for it, at an improved price. Russia raises, it is said, 120,000 tons of hemp, annually, which, owing to the mode of preparation, can be used in all naval and other purposes, where the Kentucky dew-rotted hemp cannot. Russia is al- most exclusively an agricultural nation, and it is with fifty millions of serfs, that she is able to produce such an immense quantity of hemp and grain.
. The above estimate of the amount of bagging manufactured in Kentucky, is much below the calculations made by many well informed persons. Some looms in Kentucky average from 600 to 800 yards per week.
The estimate for Tennessee and North Alabama, however, is double of what it should be, both in the number of looms and the quantity manufactured.
1 The 21,000 tons of hemp, is the nett weight of that material consumed in bagging and bale rope, and is exclusive of the waste and loss sustained in the pro- cess of manufacture, which will amount to 6 or 8 per cent., or 6 or 8 pounds in every cwt.
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In Kentucky, there is land enough, that can, or could, be made to produce 100,000 tons of hemp; but the difficulties with which the farmer has to contend, are first, the want of a proper knowledge of the most expeditious and economical mode of water-rotting-and second, the insufficiency of labor, which must be overcome by the invention of a machine, that will break and prepare the hemp ready for market, at a much less cost, and with more expedition, than the mode now in ope- ration by the common hand-brake.
There are several gentlemen, men of science, intelligence and en- terprise, who are devoting their talents and genius to these subjects ; and whenever their labors are crowned with success, and these obstacles, which now form so great a drawback to the agricultural and manufac. turing wealth of Kentucky, are removed, we can, with a perfect pru. dence, anticipate an increase in the hempen interest of this State, of more than twenty-fold in less than five years ! This can be proved by a short statement of the facts, viz. :
The hemp crop of Kentucky, say is 15,000 tons, and worth $60 per ton-this is all dew-rotted. Now, had it been water-rotted, it would have brought $180 per ton, or just three times as much ! The value, then, of the crop, is increased, by water-rotting, three-fold ; and by the substitution of machine labor in the stead of hand labor, in all the modes of preparation, at least seven or eight times as great a quantity of an article three times as valuable, could be produced with the same force, and in a shorter period of time, than can now be done. The American hemp, in point of strength of fibre, durability and firmness of quality, ean advantageously compare with the very best Russia hemp. But it is neither prepared in the process of rotting in a proper manner, nor is it ever cleaned as well in the brake as it should be. These facts, to- gether with an examination of the dark colored, badly rotted and slov- enly cleaned article that is often sold to the manufacturer as hemp, prove most conclusively, that the culture of hemp in Kentucky is yet in its youngest infancy, and that this great staple product can be made to yield, instead of two millions of dollars a year, at least twenty millions, without the outlay of a single dollar of additional expense. When this improvement in the culture and preparation of hemp shall be effected. there will be brought about with it a revolution in the manufacturers of our State, that will tend even more to add to the general wealth and prosperity. Instead of consuming the best hemp in the manufacture of bagging and bale rope, fabrics so coarse and unsightly and illy pre- pared as scarcely to deserve the name, and in the manufacture of which we bring our best material in competition with the tow and refuse hemp of Europe-instead of this, our worst tow, by the adaptation of machi- nery to its manufacture, might be used for making a much superior ar- ticle of bagging than is now made, and our good hemp could be used in making canvass, or sail duck, ship cables, cordage, and even fine linens. What a field is here open , for industry and enterprise ! How many millions of dollars might be added yearly to the wealth of our State, by the mere application and employment of the means and re- sources nature has given us ! Out of hemp, not a particle better or finer than ours, the finest fabrics are now manufactured in France, Germany
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and Great Britain. Machinery of the most perfect kind has been in successful operation for years in those countries, and every kind of fab- ric, from the finest linen cambric to the coarse Dundee bagging, is there manufactured, and bought by us at high prices-when we have, growing at our very doors, spontaneously, as it were, the very material, with which we could make the same articles, and furnish them to the whole of Europe, at half the price we are now paying !
Some may think that this subject belongs more properly to State, than city statistics. Not so, however-as Louisville is the natural, the great and the only commercial depot of Kentucky ; and that which tends to increase the wealth and prosperity of the State at large, has a corresponding influence upon her great mart, where the produce of her soil, and of her mills, and of her factories, are brought for sale, and from whence are taken the produce of other climes, to add to the com- fort, the convenience, or the luxury of her citizens. Louisville, too, is proud of Kentucky-and takes as much interest in every thing that ben- efits the State and adds to its wealth, as though every inch of ground within the confines of the State, was under her own municipal govern- ment and regulation.
We cannot close this article, without an extract from a letter written by a member of one of the first commercial houses in this city, upon the subject of the bagging and rope trade, and the importance of estab- lishing a home market for the sale of those articles. The letter was written from New Orleans, and republished in the Courier on the 27th April last, from the Louisville Journal. And whilst we acknowledge our indebtedness to the writer of that letter, for much assistance in the foregoing statistics, we think his noble efforts in behalf of Kentucky in- terests, richly entitle him to the gratitude of every cultivator and man- ufacturer of hemp in the State. He says :-
" By creating a home market for the sale of these articles, and con- fining the whole business to that market, the influence would soon' be felt all over the State. The price of hemp would become fixed and regular ; supplies would come in freely to the manufacturer; harmony between him and the farmer would be awakened by a common interest ; speculation in bagging and rope would cease, because prices would no longer fluctuate ; and, finally, the business would not only become prof. itable, safe and regular, but all Kentucky-the farmer, the manufactu- rer, and the merchant-would enjoy the profits of this, their largest, and it ought to be their best trade, "
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BAGGING AND ROPE MANUFACTORIES.
THE LOUISVILLE MANUFACTURING COMPANY.
This company was chartered by the General Assembly in 1837, with a capital of #100,000. W. W. Worsley, President; Thomas S. Forman, Agent. It is now in full operation, and produces annually, 900,000 yards of cotton bagging and 1,000,000 lbs. bale rope-prin- cipally from Kentucky hemp. Employs 165 persons, men, women, boys and girls.
This establishment consumes 1200 tons hemp and 30,000 bushels of coal annually. Steam power. Disburses $45,000 for labor and con- tingent expenses, all of which is distributed amongst our own popula- tion.
THE GOLDING MANUFACTORY.
This Bagging Factory is under the management of Mr. Golding, and can turn out, when full handed and all its looms in motion, 4000 yards cotton bagging daily. It employs on an average 125 hands-men, women, boys and girls, and consumes about 15,000 bushels coal .- Steam power.
The proprietor of this establishment carries on the manufactory of machinery, also.
There exists, to a considerable extent, a difficulty in obtaining hands. We are assured by the proprietor of the Golding Manufactory, that he would give employ to 500, instead of his present number of hands, could they be obtained. The laws of the State prohibit the introduc- tion of slaves from Virginia, (whence they might be obtained,) and it has hitherto been found somewhat difficult to reconcile white opera- tives to a service where any considerable portion are slaves.
The long existing prejudice against employment in manufactories is fast subsiding-and under the strict moral discipline now everywhere practiced, will be the means of enabling many destitute persons and
families, by the employment of their children, to obtain a comfortable and reputable support. The enterprising and intelligent proprietor of this establishment, in connexion with a citizen of this place, has at great pains and expense, matured a plan for breaking hemp, which is pronounced by those acquainted with the subject, a machine of great value for labor-saving-a desideratum, with the planters and hemp growers of Kentucky. For a description of this brake, see page 91.
DAY MANUFACTURING COMPANY.
(Day's Patent Machinery.)
This is a new establishment, just commencing operations, for the manufacture of cordage and rope, and from the well known energy of the proprietor, (Mr. George Anderson,) and superior order of the ma- chinery, which will be employed, it will take a high rank amongst the manufacturing establishments of the city. It is located at the west end of Broadway, out of the city limits, where it is contemplated to put up a sufficient number of comfortable houses to accommodate all the op- peratives employed at the Factory.
The spinning house is 40 by 60 feet, 2 stories, and a basement for a machine shop. Engine house, 20 by 38 feet ; laying ground, 808 feet long by 20 wide. Engine, 10 inch cylinder, 3} feet stroke ; boiler, 28 feet long, 42 inches diameter.
Twenty jennies, 2 lappers, 2 drawing frames ; producing a ton and a half of cordage per day, and employing 15 hands.
THE GLOBE ROPE AND CORDAGE FACTORY,
On Twelfth, extending from Chesnut to Broadway.
W. Allen Richardson, merchant, Wall street, is agent for the sale of the goods of this Factory,
This new and extensive factory has just commenced operations, un- der very favorable auspices,
It has a laying ground 950 feet, and machinery for the manufacture of bale rope, tarred cordage, and tarred rope and yarn ; manilla, dew and water rotted hemp cordage ; packing yarn, baling twine, and every description of rope and twine for rigging of ships or steam boats.
About 30 hands are required, as the complement of the factory. Will consume 500 tons of hemp annually.
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E. G. MCGINNIS' ROPE WALK, On Seventh, South of Broadway.
Laying ground, 65 fathoms in length. Manufactures cordage, bale rope, twine, sash cord, tiller rope and bookbinders twine.
Consumes from 12,000 to 15,000 lbs. hemp weekly, and employs from 12 to 15 hands.
ROBERT TILL'S ROPE WALK, On Main, between 11th and 12th.
At this walk is manufactured all kinds of small cordage, bale rope, lines and twine.
Consumes 100 tons of hemp annually ; employs from eight to ten hands.
WASHINGTON ROPE MANUFACTORY:
This establishment, owned by Mr. John B. Bland, in the Western precincts of the city, has been temporarily managed by a Wall street Commercial House. We are not advised as to the amount it can pro- duce, or is producing. Under Mr. B's. management, a large quantity of bale rope was annually manufactured there. We understand it is Mr. Bland's intention to repair, thoroughly, this walk, and prosecute the business with a greater force than hitherto.
McCARTHEY'S ROPE WALK, On 6th, near Centre.
Laying ground, 65 fathoms in length. Manufactures small cordage, twine, bale rope and sash cord. Employs from 10 to 12 hands, and consumes from 6,000 to 8,000 lbs. hemp per week.
FORD & HAWES' ROPE WALK,
On Jefferson, between Shelby and Wenzel. Laying ground, 600 feet. Manufactures bale rope and twine. Con- sumes from 250 to 300 tons hemp annually. Employs from 20 to 25 hands.
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HEMP.BRAKE:
This new invention, by a citizen of Louisville, (extensively engaged in the hemp manufacture,) though still under the lock of the inventor, for obvious reasons, is believed to possess all the qualities, so long de- sired, for producing hemp in a state, fit for the loom, without the pro- cess of dew or water rotting.
The specimens of hemp exhibited, are more beautiful than any we have seen, and of greater strength than the finest Riga.
This machine, with three hands, it is estimated, will render one ton per day. The hemp is taken in a dry state, and undergoing a very simple chemical process, without the slightest injury to the fibre, is subjected, in that state, to the operation of the brake.
The proprietor and inventor feels that he has contributed his full quota to the public, by having been deprived of other valuable inven- tions, through the cupidity of those to whom a knowledge of his labors had been imparted, and before he had secured an equivalent.
It is his firm resolve to remain, in the present instance, the keeper of his own secret-and if not met by that encouragement, which its worth deserves, he will take it to Russia, in the ensuing spring. The effect would be to deprive our own country of it for fourteen years.
CANVASS FROM HEMP.
The same person has constructed machines for spinning hemp and weaving canvass, which, it is confidently asserted, answers fully, the anticipations of the inventor. The experiments made, were entirely satisfactory, and it may not be long, before a factory for the manufac- ture of this article, will be put in operation.
The invention will not be made public, before a company of suffi- cient capital, is formed to insure an extensive business, and at the same time offer a sufficient inducement to the inventor to impart a knowledge of his discoveries in this branch of the mechanic arts.
LOUISVILLE COTTON FACTORY,
On Main, between Floyd and Preston.
This establishment is carried on by Messrs Alexander Harbison, Samuel Schwing & John C. Evans, and does a pretty extensive busi- ness, principally in cotton yarns. They card, for the country, all the wool that is brought in. The Factory is capable of running 2000 spin- dles. At present, it runs 720, and employs 20 hands. Steam power.
SNEAD & ANDERSON'S WOOLLEN FACTORY, Corner of 8th and Jefferson.
Manufactures Jeans and Negro Cloth, (linseys) for the Southern market. Seven looms are employed. This manufactory is under the same roof with the Flouring Mill, but has a separate power. These . two branches of business consume 130 bushels coal daily, and employ from 25 to 30 hands.
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GEIGER'S FLOURING MILL,
On Beargrass.
This long established mill is now carried on by John G. Schwing. and is propelled by water power the greater part of the year-when the creek is too low, steam power is applied. In seasons of abundance, 8,000 barrels of flour are annually made at this mill, with two pair burr-stones, and employing 6 to 8 hands.
Locking the Beargrass :-
In reference to our suggestion, in another place, that it would emi. nently conduce to the prosperity and convenience of the numerous manufacturing and other establishments on either branch of the Bear- grass, to construct a lock at its outlet into the Ohio, at Third Cross street, we enquired of the proprietor of this mill, if, by constructing a lock of 6 feet lift, it would affect him by back-water. The reply to our interrogatory, was at once in the negative. This gentleman assured us, that the water must be quite up to the flooring of the bridge in ques- tion, before in the least affecting him at the mill. It was also said. that by a survey, made some years ago, there was found to be from 18 to 20 feet fall, in the distance from Geiger's Mill to the mouth of the creek. If this be true, is it not apparent that the waters of this creek, may be rendered of immense value for manufacturing purposes, the greater part of the season.
SNEAD AND ANDERSON'S FLOURING MILL, Corner of Eighth and Jefferson.
This mill runs four pair stones, and manufactures from 100 to 125 bbls. superfine and fine flour per day.
The average price of wheat at this mill, for the four last years, is as follows :
1841, commenced at 62 cents, and rose gradually to $1 05 per bushel.
1842, 40 and closed at 0 50
1843, 75 fluctuated, closed at . 0 62 "
1844, 70 66 declining to 0 62
It is allowed, that five bushels of wheat will make one bbl. of flour. The established custom at the mills of Louisville, is to purchase all wheat by weight. - The wheat raised in this region, is light. 58 1bs. to the bushel, is deemed merchantable. If it weigh but 57 lbs., 63 lbs. to the bushel is the standard; and so on, as it decreases in weight by the measured bushel, more is added to the bushel by weight.
The following mills of this city and vicinity, produce from 350 to 400 bbls. flour daily, when a supply of wheat can be procured.
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It is estimated, that from 80 to 85,000 bbls. flour are brought to sale in this city, annually ; and that the average price for the last four years, may be set down at $4 per bbl., unless the low price of wheat in the year 1842, when the crop was very abundant, should rule it a shade under this quotation.
M. FOUNTAIN & CO'S. FLOURING MILL, On Main, between Jackson and Hancock.
This mill runs four pair burrs, and manufactures, on an average, 80 bbls. flour per day.
J. HULME'S FLOURING MILL, At Shippingport.
OIL CLOTH AND CARPET MANUFACTORY,
Timberlake & Bryant, Proprietors, on Bullitt, near Main.
This establishment, but a short time established, is doing a very ex- tensive business ; indeed, as much as can be done on the premises. They occupy one of the large three story warehouses on the west side of the street, and find themselves much in want of room, so liberally have they been supported. The style and finish is neat ; and the table, unter, and curtain cloths are of superior texture. They are just commencing the manufacture of carpets. Their patterns are of the most beautiful style. They manufacture about 3000 yards a month.
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