USA > Kentucky > Jefferson County > Louisville > Haldeman's picture of Louisville, directory and business advertiser, for 1844-1845 > Part 8
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TOBACCO.
Louisville has become one of the best and most extensive tobacco markets in the West. The quantity that is annually brought here from the Kentucky River country ; from the Green River District ; from Henderson, Shelby, &c., attracts hither a large number of dealers and speculators, from all quarters, at the season when the planters send for- ward their crops, who freely take all that is offered at fair prices.
Sales are effected, in most cases, as soon as it has undergone in. spection.
Daily, at the warehouse, where it is under inspection, speculators and dealers assemble. The Inspector exhibits the samples, and, during the sale, the entire article may be viewed, the cask having been removed, so that a few hands may be taken from each " break," as it is techni- cally termed, to make up a fair sample of the entire cask, when the sale, by auction, commences ; and, one at a time, the entire lot is struck off to the 'highest bidder-always with this reservation-the planter being present, but not a bidder, may decline to take the price offered, if below his expectation. In that case, the hogshead is marked and laid by ; the planter receiving from the inspector a certificate of its weight and quality, may dispose of it by his note and sample, in any way to suit his views; or, it may remain one year in the tobacco store.
The amount inspected at the present time, is not much less than six thousand hogsheads. " This amount is the receipts of both houses, and in consequence of the practice of constituting the Inspector the sales- man and factor of the planter, not only to sell, but to collect and pay over the proceeds of sales, the commercial interests are not greatly pro- moted or benefitted by this large amount of produce passing through our port. The Inspector charges no commission, above his fee, for selling.
It will be seen, that the office of Tobacco Inspector, is one of some consideration; yielding, as it does, to the inspectors and proprietors of the warehouse, fees, but little short of $10,000, per annum-75 cents for inspection ; 50 cents for cooperage, and 50 cents to owner of the warehouse.
The fees were established, when not a tithe of the quantity was brought under inspection. If this were an inspection that would pass the article through other domestic markets, it might not be deemed onerous ; but each State has its inspection laws, and each charges a fee on the tobacco. At Philadelphia, the fee is 50 cents on the hogshead.
The city owns the warehouse, and pays the inspector $1,200 salary: Here, the warehouse is private property.
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Mr. Campbell, in 1800, had a tobacco warehouse at the Falls, in that section of the town, opposite Corn Island, which, it was supposed, would, in process of time, become the most valuable, as the early purchasers of lots, made their selections in that quarter. The As- sembly, by act, 1815, suppressed Campbell's warehouse, and directed the establishment of one "at the mouth of Beargrass." It is remem- bered by one of our present inspectors, that this warehouse, "at the mouth of Beargrass," was located on Pearl, about 100 feet from Main. At that day, the salary of the Inspector, was established by law, at £25 currency, per annum. The Inspector resided some miles in the coun- try ; and when a sufficient quantity of tobacco had been collected, to make it an object to call in the Inspector, a messenger was despatched for the purpose of bringing him to town. The entire crop did not ex- ceed 500 hogsheads. See statistics.
For the seven years preceding this, there was a steady increase. For example :
1837, 2133 hogsheads, average price, $3 50 for firsts. 1838, 2783 66
firsts, $11 00 to $12 50, average, $8 90
* 1839, 1295 1840, 3113 5 50 to 6 00, 4 02
1841, 4031
1842, 5131
3 25 to 2 01
1843, 5424
3 50,
66 2 05
1844, crop very inferior, average price $2 00 all round.
From present appearances, and judging from the amount already passed inspection, there will not so much pass the warehouses this year, by 800 to 1000 hogsheads, as during the last year. Of the total inspection, it is estimated, that about 1000 hogsheads come in from In- diana. Some choice specimens from the neighborhood of White Water River, have commanded the highest price in our market. One hogs- head, raised by an old Virginia planter, brought $13 75 per hundred.
There are several large Stemmeries, as they are termed, where the leaf is stripped from the stem, and re-packed in hogsheads, generally for the English Market ; which operation is performed, for the purpose of avoiding the payment of a heavy duty, the stems being of little or no. value. A large capital is employed in this branch of the tobacco busi- ness. There are, likewise, several extensive cigar and tobacco manu- factories.
It is estimated that 13,000 hogsheads of stemmed tobaceo, are annu- ally shipped from the West and South, to England. The duty in England, on tobacco, is 3s. a pound. See table of British and Ame- rican Tariff.
. This year, a line of 46 hhds., brought $3,391,84, averaging $73 73 a hhd. The crop was short, and speculation ran high. Dealers in the article, were heavy Ioeers.
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PORK AND BACON BUSINESS.
The number of hogs slaughtered the last season, at the principal city houses, is ascertained to have exceeded 60,000.
It is said, by the dealers in this article, that the farmers leave off feed. ing too early in the season. It was the result of too great haste to get their pork into the lower markets last season, that more unsound meat both in the barrel and smoked, might be seen in the New Orleans mar. ket last fall, than in any previous season,
The amount of bacon, we have found it quite impracticable to arrive at any thing like accuracy.
The receipts, at New Orleans, from the first of October to the first of July, were as follows, viz. ;
Pork, 412,035 bbls .; 7,890,000 lbs in bulk.
Lard, 212 hhds .; 119,000 bbls .; 368,364 kegs.
Bacon, 19,324 hhds. ; 556 boxes; 18,918 tierces; 1,203,821 lbs. in bulk,
LARD OIL.
This article is extensively made in this city, and an establishment is nearly finished for the manufacture of stearine candles, of a fine quality.
In 1832, Patrick Maxcy commenced making lard oil, by passing the lard through bags of leather ; but, after a few months' effort, aban- doned the business.
In 1842, Charles C. P. Crosby commenced the business of making lard oil, on principles recently discovered, of chemical decomposition of the lard, and then separating the oil from the stearine, by gentle pres- sure, or natural percolation.
Two or three other establishments have since been started.
During the two years of the operations by Mr. Crosby, he has used about 300,000 lbs. of lard, and sold about 800 bbls. of oil.
STAR OR STEARINE CANDLE FACTORY, (Steam Power,) Near the Louisville Gas Works.
Cornwall & Brother have just erected works for the manufacture of Star Candles. We were not allowed to look into this establishment, and, therefore, can only announce the existence of such a manufactory, without giving it a more extended notice. This is to be regretted, as it was our purpose to be more precise in our notice of all new, as well as old manufacturing establishments.
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P. Hussar, on Market, between Second and Third, has four presses, which average a run of 100 gallons per day.
L. Seiter, on Fifth, between Main and Water, has one press, which runs off 6 bbls. a week.
The best quality commands 60 cents per gallon. Second 50 Stearine sells at 6 cents per lb.
CANDLE FACTORIES.
L. Seiter, on Fifth, between Main and Water, has commenced the business of a tallow chandler, and manufactures ten boxes of mould candles per day.
P. Hussar, on Market, between Second and Third, manufactures fifteen boxes of mould candles per day. Wholesale price, 74 cents,
SOAP FACTORIES.
Fabel & Franck and Kohlhand & Sneider, whose factories are on Main, east of the Woodland Gardens, are pretty extensive manufactu- rers of brown and yellow soap, principally for city trade,
GAS WORKS.
These works were erected by a chartered company, and furnish an abundant supply of the very best gas. The streets from the river to Walnut, and from Preston to Eighth, are brilliantly lighted. All the public houses, hotels, stores, shops, and many of the private dwellings within the lay of the pipes, are lighted with gas. Each street light is of the power of four spermaceti candles, and of great brilliancy. No
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city in the Union, is better lighted. This Company has the privilege of erecting water works for supplying the city with pure water, but has not yet commenced such works. Charter granted in 1839, for 30 years. Capital, $1,200,000, with banking privileges, excepting only the issue of bills for circulation.
'Up to this period, the Gas Company has laid 70,510 feet of pipes. From the first of January to the 18th of July of the present year, there was manufactured 5,151,000 feet of gas. To individual consumers. the Company charges $3 50 per cubic foot, for gas.
PAPER MILL.
This mill, situated on the margin of the. Canal, below Tenth, is suc- cessfully carried on by Messrs. Kellogg & Co. Its machinery was manufactured by Inman &f. Servor, and is capable of turning out 24 reams double medium, and 100 reams medium wrapping per day. Works up a large quantity of hemp-tow, which costs $1 per hundred pounds. Can consume 1600 lbs. per day. Employs six men and two women.
FRENCH BURR MILL STONE MANUFACTORY.
This branch of business is carried on very extensively, by Messrs. Herbert & Co., on Water, between Second and Third. They con- struct them of all sizes, from the largest size flouring stones, down to 18 inches diameter, for plantation use.
HAT MANUFACTORIES.
The facility with which this market is supplied with the finest furs, and the enterprise of our mechanics, have contributed, mainly, to the building up of several large manufacturing establishments; so that, at the present time, we feel authorised in saying, that Louisville is the most extensive manufacturing city of this article, in the West-as does her sales of Hats, wholesale and retail, exceed those of any city on this side of the Alleghenies.
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P. S. BARBER & CO.,
Corner of Fourth and Main,
Are extensively engaged in manufacturing HATS of every style and quality-but chiefly of the finest quality. They also import largely from Eastern cities. They sell, of their own manufacture, at whole- · sale and retail, about $50,000 worth per annum; and of imported hats and caps, from 25 to $30,000 worth.
J. G. PRAIGG & CO.'S STEAM HAT FACTORY, On Seventh, near Main.
This is the only manufactory of Hats, by steam process, in the city. About 12,000 hats are made at their establishment annually. The style and finish of these hats, cannot be excelled.
They employ about 35 hands, and consume 2000 bushels of coal, annually.
WROUGHT NAILS AND BELLOWS FACTORY.
Messrs. A. B. Semple f. Co. manufacture from 35 to 40 tons of wrought nails, spikes and rivets, annually. They also manufacture, in very superior style, from 250 to 300 blacksmiths' bellows; and as the demand increases, so have they the means to extend their business, in proportion.
Their warehouse, which is well filled with all kinds of heavy hard- ware goods, is on Main, corner of Fifth.
PLANING MACHINE,
On Washington, between Hancock & Clay, J. & W. Irvine, Proprietors.
This very superior planing, tonguing and grooving machine, will, if put up to full work, turn out from 7,500 to 8,000 feet of flooring boards a day. The average amount of each day's performance, is 6,500 feet.
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The Machine is of Fowler & McGregor's patent, and differs from the others in use in this city. The planing iron lies nearly in a hori- zontal position, whilst the others have revolving cutters. In this, the tonguing and grooving is performed with saws; whereas, in the others, it is done by revolving planes.
This machine is less liable to accident, from its plane being securely enclosed in a box, which, should it fly off, would arrest it at once. But if the revolving cutters work out, and the engine be not instantly stopped, they may do serious damage.
Messrs. Irvine do all kinds of carpentering and joining; and em. ploy, on an average, 40 hands,
WILSON'S STEAM POWER PLANING FACTORY,
Fulton, corner of Brook.
Mr. James H. Wilson's planing machinery appears to be of the first order, and produces as much finished stuff in a given time, as any simi- lar machine in use.
Mr. Wilson has a second planing machine under the same roof, but is enjoined not to use it until a pending suit, as to the patent right, shall have been decided. This is represented as a very superior piece of ma- chinery, and capable of performing more than any now in use.
From 5000 to 6000 feet is planed in a day, at this factory.
BUNN'S STEAM POWER PLANING FACTORY AND MACHINE SHOP,
On Brook, corner of Washington.
At Mr. Bunn's planing factory and machine shop, the best of work is turned out. The machinery is in good order, and is kept constantly running.
Since the introduction of these planing, tonguing and grooving ma- chines, much of the drudgery of the house carpenters' trade is super- seded; and young men now setting out to acquire a knowledge of this profession, have not to pass the first year of their apprenticeship at the fore-plane, as formerly. It is a valuable invention, but is still destined, -we think, to be greatly improved. The present system is liable to ob- -jection, on account of the cutters, or planing-irons, occasionally flying off.
BRICK MAKING.
There are eight brick yards within the city, doing an extensive busi- ness. Collectively, they will produce this season, 15,200,000 bricks ; and this large quantity will have been laid in the various improvements made, and in progress to completion, during the present year. General average price $4 25 per M.
John Maloney, between Seventh and Eighth, above Broadway. Six tables and 30 hands, will make 2,700,000. The usual con- sumption of wood, is reckoned at half a cord to a thousand brick. Mr. Maloney tempers his mortar with oxen. Some of his cattle have been treading in the ring nine years. He employs two sets of oxen, and gives this method the preference over all others,
John C. Cochran, Tenth and Broadway, makes 2,500,000. Six tables, and employs from 30 to 35 hands.
Underwood & Lightburn, Flat-lick Road, S. S. York, make 2,000,000 ; 4 tables, and employs from 25 to 30 hands.
R. S. E. Crutchfield, East end of Jefferson, near Beargrass, make 2,500,000 ; 6 tables, and employ about 30 hands.
- Hann, on W. S. Beargrass, east end of Broadway, makes 1,500,- 000 ; 4 tables, and employs about 20 hands.
Gibson & Hoffman, and E. Gibson, 2 yards, near Bremaker's, make, each, 1,500,000, and employ from 35 to 40 hands.
Churchill's Brickyard, on Broadway, near Twelfth, makes about 1,000,000, and employs from 10 to 15 hands. Besides this quantity made within the city, there is received from Jeffersonville, probably, from one to two millions, which enter into the amount of buildings an- nually erected.
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HIDES AND TALLOW.
Messrs. Maxcy &f. Son, at their establishment, on Main, west of the Woodland Garden, are extensively engaged in the hide and tallow busi. ness. They purchase from the butchers from six to seven thousand hides, and from five to six hundred thousand pounds of rough tallow. annually. The hides and tallow are generally taken at 4 a 4} cents per lb.
S. q. S. S. Clark have a tallow-rendering establishment on the corner of Shelby and Water streets, where they take in from 250 to 300 hides per month, and from 20 to 25,000 lbs. of rough tallow in the same period.
TANNERIES.
There are six of these : 2 for hides, and 4 for sheep and calf-skins.
John Watson and H. Shone & Co., are principally tanners of hides, and carry on the business extensively.
Browning, Barnes, Bowers & Stafford, are extensively engaged in tanning calf and sheep skins, and manufacturing morocco. They aver- age 200 skins each, per week.
Mr. Barnes manufactures a beautiful article of white kid, for ladies' slippers. These skins command $12 per doz. Morocco, from $6 to $ 8 per doz.
IVORY BLACK MANUFACTORY.
Benjamin Hill, on the corner of Shelby and Water, manufactures the article of ivory, or bone black. Can make from ten to 12 barrels per week. Price, at the manufactory, 83 por hundred.
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MANUFACTORY OF SURGICAL AND DEN. TAL INSTRUMENTS.
J. R. Erringer & Co., on 3rd street, below the Post Office, manu- facture surgical and dental instruments, elastic trusses and saddler's knives of the first quality, and which are pronounced by competent judg- es, equal to any foreign production. To such manufactures it should be the pride of every one, requiring their use, to give encouragement .- Were this the case, many years would not elapse, ere the Profession and the Medical Students, who graduate at our Institute, would be enabled to find, at this place, every surgical and dental instrument used in practice, and thereby be saved the delay and expense of sending to Europe or some Eastern city.
GLASS CUTTING, ENGRAVING AND LETTERING.
H. & T. Hunter, at their establishment, on Water street, between 7th and Sth streets, turn out some beautiful specimens of the art of en- graving and lettering on glass. It is from this house that most of the door and berth plates, so ornamental in the long halls of the Water Palaces of the West, are obtained.
The cutters and gravers are propelled by steam power. The propri- etors of this establishment have constant employment, in filling orders from a distance, as well as supplying all the boats constructed here.
PIANO FORTE MANUFACTORY.
Potter and Ritchie, on Pearl street, between Main and Water, are extensively engaged in the manufacture of this article, and if we may judge from those we have seen in use, and those in their ware-room, few establishments produce better instruments. They construct them of all grades, and prices, from $250 to $600 each. When such Pi- ano's can be manufactured in this city, it were quite unnecessary to in- cur the risk and expense of importing them from abroad. They em- ploy constantly, ten hands.
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PIANO FORTE MANUFACTORY.
Messrs Cragg, on the East side of 4th, between Market and Jefferson manufacture a superior description of Piano Fortes. They give a guar antee for instruments made by them. The price is regulated by the style and tone of the piano forte, and ranges from $250 to $500.
COPPER, TIN AND SHEET IRON FACTORY.
Wallace & Lithgow, on Main street, between 3rd and 4th, manufac ture every description of copper, tin and sheet iron ware in domestic use-and deal in cooking and plain stoves, castings, etc. Their fac- tory is extensive, and employs from 12 to 15 hands.
SHEET IRON WORKER.
D. Lane, on Main, between 9th and 10th, executes all kinds of steam boat sheet iron work for several foundries, and manufactures washers.
Consumes from 75 to 100,000 lbs. sheet iron annually.
PLOUGH, WAGON AND FAN MANUFACTORY AND FOUNDRY.
H. Hays & Co., Main, corner of Hancock ; an old and well known house, manufacture all kinds of ploughs, wagons, of the heaviest bur- then, as well as light wagons. At this Foundry, they manufacture grates. plough-irons, and generally all kinds of small castings.
They also carry on the blacksmithing business. Employ from 19 to 20 hands.
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WHITE AND RED LEAD & LITHARGE MANUFACTORY.
Jacob Keller, proprietor. This establishment is on Market, between Clay and Hancock, and manufactures from 5000 to 7000 kegs of white and red lead, per annum.
Employs from 10 to 15 hands. Consumes 100 barrels linseed oil and 80 tons pig lead annually.
WIRE WORKS.
George Wilkes' Wire Works and Sieve Factory, is on Main street, opposite the Louisville Hotel.
At this establishment, every description of Sieves, Weavers' Reeds and Machine Cards, are made ; as also, factory findings, shuttles, bag- ging harness, &c.
MANUFACTORY OF RIFLES, GUNS AND PISTOLS.
Dickson & Gilmore, on 3rd, between Main and Market, are large fabricators of guns, rifles and pistols of all dimensions, and of a very superior quality. Their stock of manufactured articles is quite exten- sive, and from which it would be no difficult matter to suit a customer. They employ in their establishment from 6 to 10 hands.
PLATFORM SCALES AND SCALE BEAM MANUFACTORY.
This branch of business is carried on largely by Wilson, Short & Da- vis, on 6th, near Jefferson street. Their work will stand a comparison with that of any similar work from any quarter, and their tariff of pri- co. is even below that of the Eastern cities. No one, coming out West, need be at the trouble and expense of procuring these articles in the East, even on the score of economy, and in point of excellence, this manufactory cannot be surpassed.
George Martin, Platform Scale and Scale Beam Manufacturer, on Main street, between Floyd and Preston. At this establishment, also, a superior article of the same kind is turned out, and for neatness and strength, cannot be rivalled. The prices at this establishment are be- low Eastern prices for the same grade.
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JOHN CUNNINGHAM'S SHIPYARD Fulton, on the River, near Ferguson's Mill.
Since the establishment of this yard, Mr. Cunningham has construct. ed the following boats, viz :-
Brian Boroihme,
Nick of the Woods,
Bois D'Arc,
Easy,
Belle of Arkansas, Star,
James Pitcher,
Logansport,
Kate Aubrey,
Hannibal,
Mill Boy,
Swallow,
Rappahannock,
Belmont,
Judge McLean,
Paris,
Fashion,
Ione,
Nautilus,
Bourbon,
Pocahontas,
Crescent City,
Decatur.
Mr. Cunningham also has two boats on the stocks.
JOHN MURRAY'S SHIPYARD. Fulton, on the River, above Ferguson's Mill.
Since the commencement of business, about eight years since, Mr. Murray has constructed, at this yard, the following boats, viz :-
Alice Grey,
U. S. Snag Boat, Gopher,
Champlain, Hempstead,
Mazeppa, Edna,
Frolic,
General Warren,
Uncle Sam,
Louisville,
Two barges, Talma,
James Hewett,
Dallas,
New boat at the wharf, not named,
Marengo, on the stocks-175 feet keel, 30 feet beam, 7 hold.
WILLIAM MURRAY'S SHIP YARD. Fulton, on the River, above Ferguson's Mill.
At this yard, since its establishment, about eight years since, several boats have been built; but a list of them has not been furnished in sea- son for this publication.
STEAM SAW-MILLS.
Matthew Ferguson's Mill, on Fulton street, above Wenzel, runs two cross-cut saws, and occasonally one circular saw, by steam power, and cuts plank, joists and timber of any size.
John P. Young & Co's. Saw Mill, is on Fulton street, near Fergu- son's. This mill has two cross-cut saws, and cuts plank, joists and lumber of any size. Steam power,
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CABINET MAKERS AND CABINET WARE.
There is not, perhaps, in the West, more accomplished workmen, or finer specimens of this branch of the mechanic arts, than in this city. In most other cities of the West, every variety of style, and a con- glomeration of all styles and fancies, is apparent. Each manufacturer, exercising, to the utmost, his inventive powers, to produce something new, however outre or unscientific-if it be only unlike any thing else, and which may be worshipped without a violation of a single article of the decalogue.
In this city, it is not so. Our manufacturers of cabinet ware, man- ifest good taste, and produce articles not surpassed by any of the most noted of the Eastern Cities.
John M. Stokes' extensive Ware Room, on Main, between 2nd and 3rd, is well deserving notice for the elegance, richness and variety it displays. Mr. Stokes also manufactures mahogany and American rose-wood, (black-walnut) chairs. Of the latter material he has some wardrobes which are superb. His centre and pier tables, with Egyp- tian marble tops, are fine specimens of his style, and would do him credit in any exhibition room,
CABINET, CHAIR & VENETIAN BLIND WARE ROOMS.
John B. Holmes, on 3rd, between Main and Market, manufactures, in a very neat and rich style, cabinet ware, mahogany and common chairs and Venetian blinds, and carries on the upholstering business, in all its branches.
LOOKING GLASS AND GENERAL FURNISHING WAREHOUSE.
J. B. Howe, on 3rd, under Peters' Apoilo Rooms. This is the most extensive furnishing warehouse in the city. Mr. Howe's stock is vari- ous, extensive and attractive. One branch of his business, is gilding frames, of any size, for looking-glasses or pictures, all of which is exe- cuted in the most perfect manner. Cabinet ware, chairs and useful and ornamental parlor and drawing-room furniture, of superior finish and style may, at all times, be found at this establishment. Proprietors of steam boats can, at all times procure, at this warehouse, the most splen- did looking glasses to decorate their halls and cabins,
Frontier,
John Perry,
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COACH MANUFACTORIES.
The coach making business is prosecuted with great activity and suc. cess, by several persons. The superior style and finish of some of these, demand a notice ; from the fact, that to this branch of the manufactures of Louisville, many have been disposed to turn away, and obtain worse work in the Eastern cities, at higher prices, under the vague notion that good and fashionable carriages, only come from a distance. Let all those who desire these articles, in first-rate style, try Hall, Shepherd, or Robinson, and if neither of these establishments can gratify their taste or judgment, or both-then, of course some other city must reap the benefit of their liberality.
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