History of Androscoggin County, Maine, Part 77

Author: Merrill, Georgia Drew, ed
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Boston, W.A. Fergusson & co.
Number of Pages: 1050

USA > Maine > Androscoggin County > History of Androscoggin County, Maine > Part 77

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HISTORY OF ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY.

MANUFACTURERS TWENTY YEARS AGO. In 1871 the shoe manufact- urers were Ara Cushman & Co. (Court street), employing 650 hands, producing 500 cases a week : B. F. Packard & Co. (Phoenix Block), 300 hands, 100 cases a week; James Munroe & Co. (West Auburn), 300 hands, 100 cases weekly ; Moses Crafts & Co. (Railroad square), 100 hands, 60 cases weekly ; Little, Smith &. Co. (Phoenix Block), 78 hands, 30 cases weekly; J. H. Roak §. Co. (Phoenix Block), 64 hands, 1,200 cases yearly ; John F. Cobb & Co. (Pickard Block), 82 hands, 1,400 cases annually; Pulsifer, Roak & Co. (Roak Block), 72 hands, 30 cases weekly ; Miller & Randall (Main street), 47 hands, 1,235 cases yearly ; I. C. Lombard & Co. (Court street), 100 hands, 900 cases boots, and 800 cases shoes and slippers in the year; Pray, Shaw §. Co. (Phoenix Block ), 76 hands, 1,868 cases of boots; L. B. Kinsley & Co. (Railroad street), 51 operatives, 30 cases weekly ; Keith &. Berry (West Auburn), 50 hands, 25 cases weekly ; D. Harwood & Co. (North Auburn), 40 hands, 24 cases weekly ; H. G. Garcelon (Railroad street), 24 hands, 250 cases yearly ; George Hill (School street), 13 hands, 5 cases weekly ; G. H. Cook ( Main street) 18 hands, 400 cases in the year; G. A. Trufant, 20 hands, 9 cases weekly. The other manufacturers were Miller &. Randall, tannery, employing 20 hands, annually producing from 15,000 to 20,000 sides of harness, belt, and upper leather, and 3,000 to 5,000 calf-skins, valued at $150,000; B. B. Fuller, employing 30 hands in the manufacture of inner soles, and furnishing steam-power to the shoe factories in Roak and Phoenix Blocks; The Auburn Iron Foundry and Manufacturing Co. was formed with a capital of $50,000; Dingley, Foss & Co. employed 7 hands in the City Mills on Royalls river, Danville Junction, where they made 80,000 bushels of meal and 4,000 barrels of flour annually; Willis, Parsons &. Co., at their mill on Taylor brook, manufactured annually 3,000 barrels of flour and 50,000 bushels of meal, and employed 5 men, and, with their wool-carding machine, made 10,000 rolls yearly; J. E. Tibbetts, in his mill east of Turner street, manufactured 25,000 bushels of meal; Bradford, Conant &. Co. employed 25 men at East Auburn, produced 300 sets of chamber furniture annually, and cut 300,000 feet of lumber; Packard & Conant employed 10 men, and, at their mill on Little Androscoggin river, cut 400,000 feet of hemlock lumber and made from 40,000 to 50,000 boxes; Huston §. Boynton employed 11 hands in their bakery, where they consumed 1,800 barrels of flour annually in making crackers and bread; Whitmore & Bennett, carriage manufacturers, employed 7 men and made 50 carriages annually ; Stephens, Kimball §. Son employed 5 men and made 30 carriages annually; H. R. Smith employed 7 men in his marble works; E. W. Gross made 55,000 pounds of sausage yearly, and 1,500 pounds of lard weekly, and packed 1,000 hogs a year; G. H. Field, with three hands, made 10,000 feet of cement drain pipe annually. The Little Androscoggin Water-Power Co. had just completed a dam and commenced a canal and bulk-heads.

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CITY OF AUBURN.

In 1872 the manufacturing capital was $3,063,000, $2,400,000 in shoe business. The total value of manufactures was $3,787,500, of which the shoe product claims $3,415,000. The number of factories was 20, which used 4,658,700 pounds of leather, and produced 2,500,000 pairs of shoes and boots. 2,196 hands were employed, and the annual pay-roll was $836,400. The product of the other manufacturing was $372,500. There was an increase of about 25 per cent. in manufacturing in 1873, without Barker Mill, which "started up" December 8. The total manufacturing capital this year is $3,863,000 ; of this $3,000,000 belongs to the shoe industry. The leather used is estimated at 7,000,000 pounds. There were 3,851,520 pairs of boots and shoes made, valued at $4,000,000. The total value of manufactured products was $4,744,600, with $936,500 paid to 3,478 operatives; 834 females, 2,243 males, in the shoe factories, who received $850,000 wages. Nearly all the factories had steam-power. The capital for 1874 is given as $2,250,000, $1,250,000 in shoe business. The leather used in the 19 factories was 7,000,000 pounds ; over 3,850,000 pairs of boots and shoes were made, and their value was $3,250,000. The total value of manufactures was $3,994,000. In 1875 there were 15 shoe factories, producing 3,967,626 pairs of boots and shoes, valued at $3,000,000. . The other manufacturing produced goods valued at $744,000. The manufacturing capital is rated as $2,000,000, one-half credited to the shoe industry. Considering the wide-spread depression of business, losses by Western failures, and the universal shrinkage of values, Auburn makes a creditable showing.

Various causes operated unfavorably on business in 1876. The output of the factories was not as large as in 1875, only 3,665,700 pairs. Business was more lively than for several years, but it was the poorest year for profit since 1857. Workmen were, however, more steadily employed than in 1875. Wages ranged about 50 cents a day less than the highest figures of the war, prices being: Lasters $1.75 per case, heelers $1.60 per case, trimmers $1.50 per half- case, peggers 30 to 40 cents per case; the average pay of first-class workmen $2 per day, and girls' wages from $1 to $1.25 a day. The total value of manu- facturing is given as $3,500,000. 1877 was the closest year for Auburn shoe men since 1858. The production was but 69,300 pairs less than in 1876, but from the unseasonable weather in the West and South the demand largely fell off, inducing unscrupulous competition by manufacturers in other states, so that the year closed with no profits. Labor agitation and strikes occurred

to some extent. The total value for the year was $3,425,100, of which $3,000,000 was that of the shoe factories. 3,596,400 pairs were made. The annual pay-roll of the manufacturing industries was $800,000, the shoe factories paying $650,000. The number of employés was 3,500, 3,077 in the shoe business. In 1878 there was a decreased production, the number of pairs made being 3,256,740. There was a large falling off in the number of opera-

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HISTORY OF ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY.

tives as improvements in machinery enabled manufacturers to produce goods with less help, while the capital employed remained unchanged. In 1879 the value of manufactured goods is $4,100,000, a flattering increase over that of 1878 ($3,400,000). The shoe industry is in better shape, its product of 67,334 cases from its fourteen factories amounting to $3,750,000. The business of 1880 was slightly in excess of 1879, the number of cases made being 76,824. The annual shoe pay-roll is $943,000, the value of the product about that of 1879. 2,300 operatives are given work in manufacturing; 1,789 in the making of shoes. The heavy pegged shoes of earlier days are being replaced by finer sewed work.

MANUFACTURERS TEN YEARS AGO. In 1881 Ara Cushman & Co. (Court street) employed 675 hands, produced 31,000 cases. Pay-roll $13,250 per month. Packard, Briggs & Co. (Railroad street), 205 hands, 150 cases, or 9,000 pairs of shoes weekly. Pay-roll monthly $8,000. M. Crafts & Co. (Rail- road square), 130 hands, 120 cases weekly. Pay-roll $4,000 monthly. L. B. Kinsley & Co. (Railroad street), 50 hands. Pay-roll $1,600 monthly. John F. Cobb & Co. (Main street), 118 hands, and did a business of $150,000. Miller &. Randall (Main street), 103 hands in shoe factory, and 25 hands in tannery, where they made 12,000 sides of harness, belt, and upper leather, 4,000 kip, and from 4,000 to 5,000 calf-skins. They also made 20,000 pairs of lasts. Smith, Pray &. Co. (Roak Block), 65 hands, made 50 cases of ladies' and misses' boots, and had an annual production of $150,000. (This firm suc- ceeded Smith, Little & Co., in 1874.) Gay, Foss & Co. (Roak Block), 200 hands, and made 250 cases. Monroe Manufacturing Company (West Auburn), 150 hands, produced women's and children's heavy-pegged shoes, and are add- ing men's fine calf and buff. John B. Wise (Roak Block), 4 men, product $4,000. Dingley, Strout &. Co. (Railroad square), 90 hands, fine calf and buff shoes and serge and beaver boots, etc. Weekly pay-roll $1,000. North Auburn Boot and Shoe Manufacturing Co. This cooperative shop had a capacity of 100,000 cases annually, employed 68 hands, but did little work during the year. OTHER MANUFACTURES. Auburn Last Co., 5 men, made 100 pairs of lasts daily. A. W. Cor & Co., 3 men, made 300 pairs of lasts monthly. M. B. Pulsifer, 48 hands, made yearly 20,000 cases inner soles, 5,000 cases leather counters, and 30,000 cases leather board counters ; value $35,000. Knowles §. Spooner, 25 hands, made 15,000 shoe heels a day. J. B. Hunton, employed 6 hands on shoe trimmings and suspenders. Eaton §. Stront made 50 dozen suspenders daily with 4 men. Barker Mill, 200 females and 65 males, used 2,700 bales of cotton in making 4,000,000 yards of fine 40-inch sheeting. Auburn Foundry Co. employed 14 men ; annual product $40,000. Woodman, Foss §. Co., 100 hands, made overalls, shirts, and pantaloons. Benjamin Conant employed 10 men in sawing lumber and making wooden boxes. J. E. Moore employed 9 men in making 226,00 pasteboard boxes. C. T. Nevens had 8 men

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CITY OF AUBURN.

in his carriage shop. Bradford, Conant &. Co. employed 8 men at East Auburn ; annual product $40,000. Willis, Parsons & Co. manufactured 3,000 barrels flour and 75,000 bushels meal on Taylor brook, and carded 10,000 rolls of wool. J. E. Tibbetts ground 60,000 bushels of meal at the head of Mill street. O. C. Cobb & Co. (Danville Junction ) ground 30,000 bushels of grain. T. A. Hus- ton & Co., with 11 men, made 12 barrels of crackers daily. There were three marble and granite shops, one picture-frame factory, one pork-packing estab- lishment, one wool-pulling firm, one large brick-yard, and other minor manu- factories. The manufacturing capital employed was $2,000,000; $1,000,000 in shoe business. 800 females and 1,600 males were at work; 1,900 in shoe factories. The aggregate pay-roll was $800,000; $600,000 that of the 14 shoe factories. The shoe product was $3,000,000; other manufactories $1,000,000.

In 1882 several large factories closed, yet others were increased in capacity, and more shoes were made than in 1881. The shipments were 79,588 cases. A better quality of goods was made, and the value was more than in any previous year. In other industries Auburn produced 4,000,000 yards of bleached cottons, 300 sets of chamber furniture, 1,000,000 bricks, 30,000 crackers, and other articles. 1883. There were but eight shoe firms this year after the removal, in July, of Gay, Woodman & Co. to Lewiston. Ara Cush- man & Co., Moses Crafts Shoe Co., Dingley, Strout & Co., Smith, Pray & Co., J. F. Cobb & Co., Foss, Packard & Co., Wise & Cooper, Monroe Manufactur- ing Co., yet the capital employed was $1,000,000, out of a total of $1,500,000, and the number of cases made was 96,347, valued at $3,500,000. The value of the products of other manufacturing was $1,000,000. 1884. This year was fraught with commotion in shoe and leather circles, and the factories every- where were impeded by the dullness of the times. Notwithstanding this, the seven Auburn factories produced 89,665 cases, valued at $3,000,000. The amount of leather used is not much over one-half as much as when brogans and coarse boots were made; the receipts this year being 3,912,967 pounds. 1885. The shoe business of 1885 did not quite equal 1883 or 1884. But it was noticeable for the very great activity in the last three months of the year. There were few vacations in the factories, and in both men's and women's work the trade was brisk. The shipments were 86,274 cases, receipts of leather 3,745,527 pounds, value of product about $3,000,000. In 1886 everything was in full tide of success and activity. 130,878 cases were made in the nine factories, and all business received a forward impetus. 1887 produced a still larger amount of work, 144,971 cases, valued at $2,500,000, which gave employment in the eight shoe factories to 550 females and 1,150 males. The value of the products of all manufacturing establishments was $5,000,000, and the capital employed was $2,200,000.

1887 was the first year of the corn-packing industry of Auburn. The New Gloucester Canning Company built a fine factory, and Burnham & Morrill

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HISTORY OF ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY.

purchased the horse-railroad stables and converted them into one of the finest corn factories in Maine. About 500 acres of sweet corn were grown in both 1887 and 1888, and from $20,000 to $22,000 were paid for corn and help.

In 1888 the shoe business was in excellent condition. Two of the finest factories in Maine were built, and created, in a narrow limit, one of the strongest aggregations of shoe-producing activity in New England. The shoe capital this year was $2,500,000, employing, in the ten factories, 550 females and 1.150 males, with a pay-roll of $800,000, and a product of 176,319 cases, using 5,234,238 pounds of leather, and was valued at $3,500,000. In 1890 a very fine modern factory was built and others enlarged. The shipments of shoes were much larger than those of any previous year - 219,048 cases. (These were larger than those formerly used.) 550 female and 1,150 male operatives were employed, the annual pay-roll was $800,000, and 8,999,143 pounds of leather were used. When the prosperity of a place depends upon any one industry, other business fluctuates with it, and when it is dull men are ofttimes in enforced idleness, which would not occur with diversified industries. It adds to the wealth and prosperity when aggregations of capital make careful investment in different lines. Auburn is rapidly advancing in these varied sources of material wealth, and the magnificent output of $6,000,000 in manufactured goods in 1890 gives promise of a still more brilliant future.

SHOE AND OTHER MANUFACTORIES, JANUARY, 1891. - Ara Cushman Company. - This corporation, doing the largest business in shoe manufacturing in the state and probably in New England, was organized in 1888, with a capital of $400,000. Its officers are Ara Cushman, president; Charles L. Cushman, vice-president; Samuel F. Merrill, treasurer; Murray B. Watson, clerk. The company is the development of the business instituted by Mr Ara Cushman in Minot 37 years ago. (See biography of Ara Cushman.) The company has three factories, with an aggregate floor surface of 118,500 square feet, and employs nearly 1,000 operatives, to whom $9,300 is paid weekly. The value of the daily production is $8,000. A part of the brick factory on Court street, 41 by 84 feet in size, and of four stories, was built in 1868, and occupied in February, 1869. Increasing business caused an addition of 33 by 131 feet, with boiler and engine house to be put up in 1871, and the brick box-factory was built. In 1873 a building 40 by 100 feet was added to the main building on the west. These buildings contain 60,000 square feet of floor surface. (See engraving.) The integrity, thoroughness, and honesty put into the goods manufactured, the business skill dominating the establishment, and the satis- faction given caused annually a greater and still greater demand, so that even these immense factories were insufficient. In 1888 the brick factory on Railroad square, formerly occupied by Packard & Briggs, 41 by 122 feet, five stories high, was purchased, and soon after the adjoining brick factory of 46

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COURT STREET FACTORY OF ARA CUSHMAN CO., AUBURN, ME.

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CITY OF AUBURN.

by 64 feet. These two buildings have been connected and contain 40,000 square feet of floor surface. The Moses Crafts factory 1 on Railroad street, 35 by 105 feet, with 18,500 feet of floor surface, is also owned and occupied.

The success is phenomenal which causes such a rapid increase of manufact- uring facilities, and the Ara Cushman Company is one of the main arteries through which pulsates the business enterprise and activity of Auburn. This was the first shoe company in the state to adopt "profit sharing" with its employés. This will, when fully understood and generally adopted, beyond doubt put an end to the contentions and strife between labor and capital, and its success in this mammoth firm will be the signal for its adoption in many other manufactories. The Court street building is now formed of three brick factories connected, each of four stories and basement, with one-story boiler- house attached. The power is furnished by a 100-horse-power engine, two tubular boilers, 180-horse-power, and the building is heated by steam. The factory is lighted by incandescent electric lights, furnished by a 70-horse-power engine and dynamos on the premises. A box factory is in operation, with planer, circular saw, and box machinery. The brick factory on Railroad square is four stories with basement. Two factories have a frontage of 142 feet on Court street and 210 feet on the railroad; the factories on Railroad square have a frontage of 165 feet on Railroad street and 40 feet on Court street. The Moses Crafts factory has four stories and basement. A 100- horse-power steam engine and large boilers furnish power and heat for both the factories of Ara Cushman Company on Railroad street, Morse's paper box factory, and Fitz Bros.'s last factory.

John F. Cobb Shoe Company. - John F. Cobb was one of the pioneers of shoe manufacturing in Maine, and is nearly the only one now engaged in the business. He began at North Auburn May 19, 1848, in company with Moses Harris, the firm being Harris & Cobb. This firm was succeeded in two years' time by Cobb & Wills. Two years later Mr Cobb became sole proprietor. In 1855 he became cashier of Auburn Bank, but the confinement so injured his health that he soon resigned. December, 1856, with David B. Robinson and Charles W. Kyle, he formed the firm of Cobb, Robinson & Co. The firm of Cobb, Robinson, Hill & Co. succeeded this, and bought the lot and building on Main and Court streets now occupied by Ingersoll, Whitman & Co., and manufactured there until 1866, when Mr Cobb started alone in the Bailey Building, on the site of the John F. Cobb Shoe Company's Block. John Pickard became a partner in 1869, the firm becoming J. F. Cobb & Co. November 22, 1889, the John F. Cobb Shoe Company was incorporated with a capital of $100,000 and these officers: Charles E. Cobb (son of John F.),

1 This originated in 1868 with Moses Crafts and A. B. Crafts, and D. W. Kinsley soon became partner of the firm Moses Crafts & Co., which built the Railroad street factory. In 1884 the Moses Crafts Shoe Company was organized by Moses Crafts, Ara Cushman, and M. C. Percival.

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HISTORY OF ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY.

president; John F. Cobb, treasurer; Charles E. Morse, clerk. The factory is in a most central location on Main street, is 150 x 40 feet with four stories and basement. Two large stores occupy the front of the ground floor. Nearly 200 hands are employed with a monthly pay-roll of $7,000 and an annual business of $300,000 is done.

Dingley, Foss & Co. - This firm commenced business at No. 5 Roak Block in June, 1876, as Dingley, Strout & Co., the members being J. Dingley, Jr, G. E. Strout, and H. G. Foss. They employed from 75 to 80 hands the first year, and manufactured opera boots and slippers. In 1881 they removed to Railroad square. The members of the present firm are J. Dingley, Jr, H. G. Foss, E. G. Sprague, and E. M. Stevens. The firm employs over 200 opera- tives and makes daily 900 pairs of shoes for men. The product includes a fine line of sporting goods. It sells to jobbers, does a yearly business of $300,000, and has a weekly pay-roll of $1,800. In October, 1888, the large factory, No. 34 Troy street, was completed and occupied. It is 150x40 feet in size, four stories and basement, and is provided with modern improve- ments and best machinery run by steam-power. It is lighted by gas and has electric bells.

Munroes, Packard &. Linscott .- This firm was established in 1886, with factory at No. 6 Roak Block. The members were J. B. Munroe, Willard N. Munroe, Heman A. Packard, and Willard Linscott. The production the first year was 40 cases of men's and base-ball shoes; 125 hands. In 1889 the factory on Munroe street was occupied. It is 40 x 200 feet in size, with four floors. Between 300 and 400 hands are employed, and in the busy season it produces 225 dozen daily of men's and boys' shoes, etc. The factory is fitted with all advances in machinery. The weekly production is 1,000 cases, the annual production $500,000, the monthly pay-roll $18,000. The factory has a capacity for producing 200 cases a day, and for 600 workmen. A tower on the east side contains an elevator and stair case, and in the basement a large engine, 117 horse-power boiler furnishes power and heat. July 1, 1891, J. B. Munroe retired from the firm.

Foss, Packard &. Co. - This firm, originally composed of J. O. Foss, H. M. Packard, W. II. Foss, and R. M. Mason, began business in its present location on Main street. The factory occupied five floors and was 50 x 70 feet in size, fitted with all improved machinery run by steam. 135 hands were employed in 1883, with a monthly pay-roll of $4,800, in the manufacture of men's fine calf shoes, etc. In November, 1885, J. O. Foss retired, and his son, W. O. Foss, became a member of the firm. This house has done a flourishing business, and in 1890 erected an addition to the factory and introduced a 35-horse-power steam engine and two 45-horse-power boilers to enable the firm to increase its production to 10,000 pairs a week. R. M. Mason is superin- tendent. The monthly pay-roll is about $6,000.

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CITY OF AUBURN.

Pray, Small Company. - This firm, composed of Leonard A. Pray, president, and L. Linn Small, was organized in March, 1889, as a copartnership, and, in 1891, was incorporated with $100,000 capital. They began business at Nos. 8 and 9 Roak Block. In 1890 the factory on North Spring street was built and occupied. This is 80 x 90 feet in size, of three stories and basement. In the center is a light-well, 18x40. The building is lighted by 340 windows, of which 237 are on the outside, making it one of the best-lighted manufactories in the state. The machinery, run by steam-power, is of the best, including 2 Mckay sewing machines, 50 stitching machines, 2 edge machines, 3 trimming machines, 2 heel-shaving machines, 2 Tapley heel-burnishing machines, 2 beating-out machines, etc. This firm manufactures ladies' and misses' fine boots, employs 75 females and 60 males, with a monthly pay-roll of $7,000, has a weekly production of 400 cases, and an annual production of $300,000. The power and heat is furnished from Munroes, Packard & Linscott's factory.

American Shoe Manufacturing Co. - This firm commenced business in May, 1889, with a capital stock of $50,000. It now occupies eight floors in Nos. 8 and 9 Roak Block (138 Main street), manufactures men's and boys' shoes of all grades, has a full line of machinery of latest designs run by power fur- nished by E. W. Gross, employs about 50 hands, with a pay-roll of about $600 a week, and produces 50 cases a day. The officers are A. A. Hutchins, presi- dent ; P. M. Bickford, treasurer; George Bumpus, secretary.

Wise & Cooper (John B. Wise, Arthur H. Cooper) began business in 1883, at their present location, No. 5 Roak Block, and employed about 15 hands, with a monthly pay-roll of $800, and had a weekly production of 20 cases. They now employ 25 males and 30 females, have a weekly production of 125 cases of women's, misses' and children's boots and shoes, and a monthly pay- roll of $2,000.

Damren & Field (S. G. Damren, George D. Field) began business in July, 1889, in manufacturing fine shoes, employed 30 hands, and had machinery and capacity for making 60 cases a week. They closed business in 1890 and the machinery was sold to go to Ellsworth.

Charles E. Kershaw, Jr, & Co. began manufacturing in Roak Block, in February, 1889, and employed from 30 to 40 hands, but went out of business in 1890.

Smith & Miller (T. H. Smith, John Miller) went out of business in December, 1890. They employed 40 hands. Mr Smith is a veteran manu- facturer. He gives his connection with the business thus: "I came from Gardiner, first going into the shoe business in Lewiston, in company with H. G. Garcelon. Mr Garcelon retired, and Mr J. O. Foss became a partner, and the plant was moved to Main street, Auburn. Mr Foss soon sold to Charles Gay, and the business was continued as Smith & Gay. They helped build Roak Block, and when it was done moved into it. Here Edward Little

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HISTORY OF ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY.

became a partner. Later Mr Gay sold to L. A. Pray and went into business with J. O. Foss. Mr Little continued in the firm till his death, after which the style was Smith, Pray & Co. When this firm closed business I formed a partnership with John Miller as Smith & Miller."

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History of Androscoggin County, Maine, Part 77

Author: Merrill, Georgia Drew, ed Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Boston, W.A. Fergusson & co. Number of Pages: 1050

Author: Merrill, Georgia Drew, ed
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Boston, W.A. Fergusson & co.
Number of Pages: 1050