USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Fall River > Centennial history of Fall River, Mass. : comprising a record of its corporate progress from 1656 to 1876, with sketches of its manufacturing industries, local and general characteristics, valuable statistical tables, etc. > Part 15
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28
Owing to some delay in receiving the machinery, and the enormous price to which cotton advanced, the mill did not commence running until January, 1865, and the first lot of cotton manufactured into print cloths netted the company a loss of $60,000. But better times soon dawned, the mill be- gan to run at a profit, paid up its indebtedness, remunerated its stockholders handsomely, and in 1871 it was determined to build a new structure on land bought on the north side of Bedford street, and quite contiguous to their first purchase.
This mill, also of granite, is 378 feet long, 74 feet wide, and five stories high, and when finished was considered one of the most perfect in the city,
124
FALL RIVER AND ITS INDUSTRIES.
harmonious in proportions, stately in appearance, and complete in detail. Every provision for the comfort and safety of the operatives, and the manu- facture of the raw cotton into the finished cloth, that industrial science could suggest, was adopted, and experts regarded the two mills as models and standards of excellence. But experience, "that dear school for learners," taught that perfection had not yet been attained. On the morning of Sep- tember 19th, 1874, a fire started in the mule-room of the No. 1 Mill, which soon got beyond control, and the dense blaek masses of smoke, terrifying the operatives in the upper stories, created a panie, which prevented their using the means of eseape at hand, and numbers threw themselves from the upper story to the ground. Twenty-three persons were killed and thirty-three wounded in this dreadful calamity. The upper stories of the mill were burned before the fire was subdued.
As soon as the débris could be cleared away, the mill was rebuilt with a flat roof, however, instead of the barn roof, which through its inaccessibility had proved itself a very fire-fiend, and every additional safeguard furnished that experience or wisdom could suggest. Five distinct means of escape are now provided on every story of the mill. Tanks of water are placed over- head, and sprinkler pipes liberally distributed to every part of the structure. There are five stand-pipes to each mill, and hydrants connected with the city water-works, besides two powerful force-pumps, one in each building, con- nected by a pipe underground, so that both can be used on one mill should necessity require. The recurrenee of another such calamity thus seems to have been put beyond the possibility of a contingeney.
The company owns about eleven aeres of land, and has built nearly one hundred tenements for the accommodation of its operatives. The machinery of the No. 1 Mill, mostly of American manufacture, is propelled by a double Corliss engine of 650 horse-power, fed by twenty-four cylinder boilers. Water for steam purposes is drawn through a eanal from the upper Fall River stream. The engine of the No. 2 Mill is also a double Corliss engine of 750 horse-power, with twenty-four eylinder boilers for the genera- tion of steam. The machinery, spinning-mules, and fly-frames are English, the remainder American. The No. 1 Mill contains 33,856 spindles and 860 looms ; the No. 2 Mill, 44,664 spindles and 1008 looms Nine thousand bales of cotton are used in the annual production of about 21,500,000 yards of print eloths, 64 by 64. The company employs 900 operatives, with a monthly pay- roll of $22,000. The mills are lighted by gas from the Fall River Gas Works. The present number of stockholders is sixty. In July, 1875, Charles O. Shove, the originator of the enterprise, who had managed the manufacturing and
125
SKETCHES OF CORPORATIONS.
financial departments of the company from the beginning, died after a short illness, and his son, Charles M. Shove, was elected his successor.
THE ROBESON MILLS.
For some years previous to the death of Andrew Robeson, Sr., in 1862, the subject of a cotton-mill to be erected at some future time was frequently discussed by himself, William R. Robeson, Samuel Hathaway, and Linden Cook. The idea did not assume tangible form, however, until some years after the death of Mr. Andrew Robeson, Senior. In 1865, it was determined to realize the project, and to erect a mill upon land belonging to the Rodman estate on Hartwell street, a short distance above the upper or Troy dam. A meeting for organization was held December Ist, 1865, at which a board of directors was chosen, consisting of Andrew Robeson Jr., Charles P. Stickney, Samuel Hathaway, William C. Davol, Jr., Linden Cook, Samuel Castner, and Josiah Brown. Samuel Hathaway was elected president, and Linden Cook treasurer. The new corporation took the name Robeson Mills, from Andrew Robeson, Sr., and was duly incorporated February 20, 1866. A brick mill, three stories high, with a French roof, 222 feet long and 76 feet wide, was erected during the year 1866, after plans furnished by Josiah Brown, architect. It was filled with American machinery, and commenced running in March, 1867. In 1875 the mill was considerably enlarged, by taking off the French roof, carrying up the walls two stories higher, and finishing with a flat roof. The mill now runs 21,632 spindles and 552 looms, and manufactures annually 6,500,000 yards of print cloths 64 by 64, from 2500 bales of cotton. The motive power is furnished by two Corliss engines, a high-pressure of 160 horse-power and a low-pressure of 217 horse- power. The steam is generated by eighteen cylinder boilers. Water is con- veyed directly to the mill by a canal dug from the stream. The mill is lighted by gas from the Manufacturers' Gas Company. The fire apparatus consists of two force-pumps, stand-pipes, hydrants connected with the city water- works, and sprinklers distributed through the three upper stories and picker- house. The company owns about seven acres of land, and has provided thirty- three tenements for its operatives. The present number of stockholders is twenty-five.
THE TECUMSEH MILLS.
The demand which arose at the close of the war for cotton fabrics of all kinds gave an immense stimulus to the business, and led to the enlarging of the mills already in existence and to the building of still others. The "Te- cumseh Mills" was a direct outgrowth of this demand and the improved prospect for all business enterprises. Some steps looking to the formation of
126
FALL RIVER AND ITS INDUSTRIES.
the company were taken in the latter part of 1865, but the first regular meeting for organization was not held until February 17, 1866. An act of incorporation, under date of February 8th, 1866, had been secured, by which Augustus Chace, James W. Hartley, John P. Slade, and their associates were incorporated as the "Tecumseh Mills Company," with a capital of $350,000 in shares of $1000 cach. This stock was taken by eighty-nine subscribers. Land was purchased on Hartwell street, bordering also on the Quequechan River, a short distance above the upper or Troy dam, and immediate steps taken for the erection of a mill of about 20,000 spindles. Augustus Chace was elected president, Isaac B. Chace treasurer, and the following board of direction, namely : Augustus Chace, James W. Hartley, Louis L. Barnard, Lazarus Borden, Jonathan T. Lincoln, Cook Borden, and Danforth Horton. The necessary contracts were made, and in the course of the year the mill was erected, filled with machinery, and put in operation.
In 1872 it was determined by the corporation to build another mill of about the same capacity as the first, on land bought for the purpose on Eight Rod Way. This project was also consummated, and the mill started up in 1873. The company now owns two mills, built of granite, for the manufac- ture of print eloths 64 by 64. The No. 1 Mill contains 20,480 spindles and 480 looms, and~is 196 feet long, 72 feet wide, and five stories high, with a pitch roof. The machinery is mostly of foreign make, and is driven by a Corliss engine, built at Taunton, of 400 horse-power. Steam is supplied by four tubular boilers.
The No. 2 Mill contains 21,686 spindles and 534 looms, and is 200 feet long, 74 feet wide, and five stories high on the south, six on the north, with a pitch roof. The machinery is also mostly of foreign manufacture, and is driven by a Corliss horizontal engine of 400 horse-power. Steam is generated in fifteen cylinder boilers.
The production of both mills is about 12,000,000 yards of print cloths per annum. The consumption of cotton is 4500 bales. Four hundred opera- tives are employed, with a monthly pay-roll of $12,000. The company has all the best and most recent improvements for the prevention of fire, includ- ing force-pumps, stand-pipes, hydrants, sprinklers, and connection with the city water-works. The mills are lighted by gas from the Manufacturers' Gas Company. The company owns nine acres of land and fifty-three tenements. The present number of stockholders is ninety-nine.
THE DURFEE MILLS
probably present the finest view to the eye that seeks something like artistic effect in this great congregation of factories. They consist of two very large
Marchants. Manufacturing Doc.
C
Astatic Publishing & Engraving / Var Iet
32
127
SKETCHES OF CORPORATIONS.
five-story structures at right angles with Pleasant street, occupying a large square beautifully grassed, and fronted by a handsome iron fence. The buildings, including a spacious office structure which stands between them, are of granite. The company was organized in 1866, with a capital of $500,000, and named after Major Bradford Durfee, whose son, since deceased, was the principal stockholder and original president. Mill No. I was erected the same year, and its companion in 1871. The company runs 87,424 spindles and 2064 looms, being the largest capacity of any corporation in Fall River. Its production is print cloth, of which 23,000,000 yards are annually made, consuming 9500 bales of cotton, and employing 950 opera- tives. The number of stockholders is seven.
THE DAVOL MILLS COMPANY
was organized December 1st, 1866-nineteen persons contributing the entire capital of $270,000-and named after one of the conspicuous promoters of cotton manufacturing, William C. Davol. A site was selected above the dam and on the west side of the pond, in such proximity to the latter as to assure a convenient supply of pure water for steam purposes. Ground was broken for the foundation, April Ist, 1867, and on the 11th of March, 1868, the first yard of cloth was woven. The mill structure is essentially different in design and material from the Fall River type of long, straight granite factories. The mill proper forms two sides of a quadrangle, the picker, engine, and boiler houses constituting the remainder. The mill and out-buildings are of brick, the former four stories high, flat roof, and with its two sections 457 long and 73 feet broad. The machinery is entirely of American manufacture.
The production of the Davol Mills is shirtings, sheetings, silesias, and fancy fabrics. The shirtings stand very high in the retail market, and at the Centennial Exhibition elicited not only the highly commendatory award of the Commissioners, but the admiration of the visitors and particularly of the European experts. The company now numbers thirty-five stockholders.
THE MERCHANTS MANUFACTURING COMPANY,
organized October 24th, 1866, operates the largest distinct mill in Fall River, and few larger are known to us in New England. The promotion of this conspicuous enterprise was due to the great business energy and tact of Mr. William H. Jennings, who, after digesting carefully his scheme, secured all the capital ($800,000) in the brief period of two days. The site selected for the factory was the lot now bounded by Bedford and Pleasant, and Thirteenth and Fourteenth streets, then owned by the heirs of N. B. Borden and other parties. This property was purchased in preference to the Wardrope estate, at first decided upon, but finally considered to be too limited in area.
128
FALL RIVER AND ITS INDUSTRIES.
On the 2d November, a permanent organization of the company was arranged, W. H. Jennings being chosen treasurer and corporation clerk, . and James Henry, W. H. Jennings, Augustus Chase, L. L. Barnard, Robert S. Gibbs, Charles H. Dean, Crawford E. Lindsey, Robert K. Remington, and Lafayette Nichols, directors. At a subscqucnt meeting Jamcs Henry was made president, and Mr. Jennings, clerk.
Ground was at once broken for the erection of a factory, Lazarus Borden superintending the design as building architect, Tillinghast Records bcing master mason, and James B. Luther, master carpenter. Thc design contemplated a structure of Fall River granite, 397 feet long by 9218 broad, six storics in height, including a Mansard roof, with a capacity for 54,324 spindles and 1242 looms. The work of building pushing on rapidly, in Jan- uary, 1867, Mr. Jennings, accompanied by Lazarus Borden, embarked for England, for the purpose of purchasing the picking, speeding, and spinning machincry in Manchester. The mill was completely finished during the last days of 1867-the English machinery arriving coincidently-turned out its first cloth in February, 1868, and in the early fall was in full operation. Its production has been print cloth, 64 by 64.
In connection with building matters, the company purchased twelve additional acres of land on Pine, Davis, Plane, Cherry, and Locust streets, and on a part of it erected one hundred tenement houses for its operatives.
The business proving successful, at a special meeting, January 2, 1871, the stockholders authorized their directors to proceed at once to the erection of an addition to the mill structure, it being considered better to enlarge the original building than to build a distinct mill. The new erection was com- menced early in the spring, Samuel Luther supervising the masonry, and David G. Baker the wood work. Early in 1872, the addition was completed and filled with English machinery in full operation. The Merchants Mill, thus extended, contains, under one roof, 85,570 spindles and 1942 looms.
The Merchants, in all features of perfection, the structure of the mill, the excellence and amplitude of its machinery, the simplicity for so immense an establishment of its labor organization, and the admirably devised and sustained economy of its successive stages of production, is a superb ex- ample of the industrial triumphs of Fall River. The number of its stock- holders is two hundred and fifty.
THE MECHANICS MILLS
claims attention as the enterprise next following the Merchants, in the print- cloth production, and particularly by its location in the extreme northern district of the city, founding a new colony and setting the first example of erecting a mill at any distance from the stream.
I Merhamas . With Full "hiver .. ( .. .
0
م
0
C
129
SKETCHES OF CORPORATIONS.
By a special charter granted by the Legislature of Massachusetts, May 25th, 1868, Thomas J. Borden, Stephen Davol, Lazarus Borden, and their associates were incorporated as the Mechanics Mills.
The charter was accepted, and the corporation organized July Ist, 1868, and the following officers were chosen, namely : President and agent, Thomas J. Borden ; clerk and treasurer, D. H. Dyer ; directors, Thomas J. Borden, Stephen Davol, Lazarus Borden, Job B. French, Southard H. Miller, B. M. C. Durfee, Tillinghast Records, James M. Morton, Jr., and A. D. Easton.
The original scheme was to build a mill 375 feet long, 92 feet wide, and three stories high. At a meeting of the stockholders, held July 9th, 1868, it was determined to increase the size of the mill by the addition of two stories in height, and a wing on the rear for opening and picker rooms, engine-room, and boiler-house, the mill to contain 53,712 spindles and 1248 looms. The capital stock was fixed at $750,000, divided into 7500 shares of $100 each. The stock was largely distributed among parties of small means, there being in all 328 stockholders, 188 of whom owned from one to ten shares each, and 73 owned from eleven to twenty-five shares each, making 261 stockholders, no one of whom owncd over $2500 of the stock, and averaging less than $1000 cach. The organization of the Merchants Manufacturing Company in 1867, with a capital of $800,000, and about 250 stockholders, and of the Mechanics Mills in 1868, with a capital of $750,000, and 328 stockholders, were the development of a new feature in the ownership of manufacturing property in Fall River, all previous enterprises of the kind having been asso- ciations of parties of considerable wealth, while these two were the result of bringing together in large amounts the funds of parties of very moderate capital, and enabling them to receive all the advantages in the conduct of the business that persons of ample means, associated together in small numbers, derived. The Mechanics Mills scheme was in other aspects somewhat of an innovation upon the previous practice in Fall River. All of the cotton-mills of any magnitude previously built had been located near, and took their supply of water, either for power or for making steam, from the outlet of Watuppa Lake to tide-water. The location selected for the Mechanics Mills was in the northerly section of the city, bordering upon the Taunton River, at its junction with Mount Hope Bay, about one and a half miles north of the outlet of the Quequechan River.
This section had previously been occupied solely by private residences there having been no mechanical or manufacturing establishments in the vicinity. A wharf, about 400 feet long and 100 feet wide, was built at the westerly side of the mill site, where all coal for the use of the mill is landed within a few rods of the boilers.
130
FALL RIVER AND ITS INDUSTRIES.
Water for the boilers was obtained by digging a well 18 fect diameter, inside, and of sufficient depth to secure a permanent supply.
For two or three years this mill was entirely isolated from the other manufacturing establishments of the city, and was regarded by the operatives as being quite out of town, but the rapid extension of the cotton industry has resulted in the crection of five other mills still farther north, making six factorics in that neighborhood, aggregating 225,528 spindles and 5448 looms. This colony of mills is about two miles north of those lying along the stream, and constituting the central group. As a third group of five mills is located in the vicinity of Laurel Lake, about the same remove south of the centre of the city, the cxtremc distance from the most northerly to the most southerly mills of the city is over four miles. "
The location of this northerly group of mills being two and a half to three miles from the granite quarries in the easterly part of the city, and very accessible cither by rail or tide-water to the brick-yards of Taunton, all of these six mills have been built of brick.
The Mechanics Mills was the first new mill in the country provided with slashers for dressing warps-a system which has since almost entirely superseded the old method of dressing, as it can be operated for about one quarter the expense, a larger percentage of reduction in cost of production than has been made in any other department of cotton manufacturing since the invention of the self-operating mule.
The following changes have occurred in the officers of the corporation since its original organization :
February 3d, 1870, James M. Morton, Jr., was chosen clerk; February 2, 1871, Thomas J. Borden was chosen treasurer, and resigning the office of president, Stephen Davol was chosen to that position; February, 1876, Thomas J. Borden resigned the office of treasurer, and George B. Durfee was elected to fill the vacancy.
Two of the original directors, Lazarus Borden and B. M. C. Durfee, have died, and Mr. A. D. Easton resigned. These vacancies have been filled by the election of John B. Hathaway, George B. Durfee, and Frank S. Stevens.
The erection of the mill commenced in the summer of 1868, and was completed and the machinery set up by June, 1869, the establishment being in full operation in December. The company has about twelve acres of land, exclusive of mill site and wharf, and has built one hundred and twenty-six tenements. The fire-prevention of the mill is ample, comprising Parmelee's automatic sprinklers in the upper three stories and the opener and picker rooms, connected with the city water-works, as well as stand-pipes, front and
131
SKETCHES OF CORPORATIONS.
rear, one each side of the tower and one in the tower, extending to the roof, all operated by a powerful force-pump. In addition to this extraordinary provision, the mill yard has its hydrants, always in working order, and a large supply of hose and apparatus is in easy recourse.
THE "STAFFORD MILLS"
was organized under the General Statutes of Massachusetts, December 12th, 1870, with a capital of $500,000, in shares of $100 each. Foster H. Stafford was elected president and agent, and Shubael P. Lovell clerk and treasurer, with the following board of directors : F. H. Stafford, Samucl Hathaway, Charles P. Stickney, Robert T. Davis, William C. Davol, William L. Slade, Danforth Horton, Edmund Chase, and Weaver Osborn.
On the 18th of March, 1871, this corporation was dissolved, and the sub- scribers, twenty-two in number, reorganized under a special charter granted by the commonwealth to Charles P. Stickney, Samuel Hathaway, Foster H. Stafford, and their associates, as the "Stafford Mills," with a capital of $550,000. The persons chosen officers in the first organization were elected to the same positions under the special charter.
The company assumed the name of " Stafford Mills," in honor of their president, who was the projector of the enterprise, and whose long experience, untiring devotion to the business, and proved skill and success had justly earned him the confidence and esteem of his associates.
Mr. Stafford is one of the few practical manufacturers of to-day, whose life has compassed almost the whole range of cotton manufacture from its beginning in this country.
Having entered the mill when a boy, scarcely more than seven or eight years of age, he has been connected with it in various capacities for more than fifty years. Coming to Fall River in 1842, he was for ten years the superintendent of the old Fall River and Annawan manufactories. When Mr. Lazarus Borden resigned the superintendency of the Metacomet Mill, that, too, was joined to these, and he continued in the charge of all three until 1859. Desiring then to enter into business for himself, he removed to Paw- tucket, and with his brother commenced the manufacture of thread. In 1859 the new enterprise of the Union Mill was projected, and the managers, in casting about for some one to superintend the operations, speedily placed themselves in communication with Mr. Stafford, and the success of that experiment was due in no small degree to the practical knowledge and skill of Mr. Stafford. After ten years' service at the Union Mills, during which a second mill was built, of twice the capacity of the first, without any increase of capital or assessment on the stockholders, dividends paid amounting to
132
FALL RIVER AND ITS INDUSTRIES.
several times the original subscription, and the stock increased more than five-fold in value, leading the way for many enterprises of a similar character which have followed-Mr. Stafford resigned his position, and with Mr. Samuel Hathaway and others organized and put into successful operation the new enterprise of the " Stafford Mills."
Land was purchased at a spot known as White Brook, at the junetion of the old Bedford road and Pleasant street, not far distant from the upper part of the Quequeehan River. Work on the foundation was begun in April, 1871, and some portions of the machinery were started the next January. The mill is built of granite, 374 feet long, 70 feet wide, and five stories high, with an L for engine-house, boilers, picker-house, ete. Stairways are placed at each end, and thus the whole space is rendered available, while safe means of ingress and egress are afforded. As Mr. Stafford quaintly says, "Towers don't pay dividends"-the tower was omitted. The machinery is partly foreign, and occasioned considerable delay in starting up the mill on account of its non- arrival. The engine is a double Corliss of 600 horse-power, and is supplied with steam by twenty-four eylinder boilers. Water is drawn from the Que- queehan River, the Brook water not proving quite elear enough generally for manufacturing purposes, though it could be used if a better supply were not near at hand.
The mill contains 34,928 spindles and 860 looms, and manufactures 10,000,000 yards of print eloth, 64 by 64, per annum. It is lighted by gas from the Manufacturers' Gas Company, and has all the modern appliances for protection against fire.
The company, instead of buying land and building tenements for their operatives, adopted the plan of loaning the necessary capital to those owning land in the neighborhood and taking leases of the houses ereeted by them ; thus seeuring the accommodations required, helping the land-owners near by, and saving so much of an investment in unproductive real estate and deprecia- tion in buildings. One hundred and twenty-four tenements were built and leased on these terms, and within a few years the money loaned was repaid, and the ownership fully vested in the original proprietors of the land-a specimen of co-operative ownership which might perhaps be profitably fol- lowed in other communities and in other departments of trade. The com- pany now owns about fifteen acres of land, including its mill site. The present number of stockholders is forty.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.