USA > Minnesota > Hennepin County > Minneapolis > History of Hennepin county and the city of Minneapolis, including the Explorers and pioneers of Minnesota > Part 68
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C. A. Pillsbury & Company operate four mills on the west side, besides the A mill located on the east side. The "Pillsbury." built in 1865. is 60x50 feet. and six stories in height, including the basement. It is furnished with thirteen run of stone and four water-wheels, one twenty-five and one thirty-inch eclipse, and two turbines of twenty-five and thirty-six inches diameter, pro- ducing two hundred and fifty horse-power. The capacity of the mill is 500 barrels daily, requiring a working force of twenty-six men.
The "Empire" mill, erected in 1872, is in size seventy feet square, and four stories high above the basement. It has twelve run of stone, and two turbine wheels, which furnish three hundred horse-power. Twenty-five men are required in its operation. The capacity is 500 barrels per day.
The " Anchor" mill was built in 1874. destroyed by fire, and rebuilt in 1879. It has a capacity of 500 barrels per day, and is furnished with twenty sets of smooth and fifteen pairs of corrugated rolls, three run of stone, and twenty-six purifiers. The machinery is driven by a turbine wheel of forty-four inches diameter. This mill furnishes employment to twenty-six men.
The "Excelsior" mill, built in 1877. is a stone structure with brick front. 45x106 feet, with a height of four stories in front and six in the rear. It has about fifty sets of smooth and corrugated rolls, and a capacity of 500 barrels per day. The number of men employed is thirty. An eclipse wheel, of thirty-six inches diameter, furnishes 360 horse-power. This mill was originally equip- ped with thirteen run of stone, and during the winter of 1878 '9 was changed to the roller sys- tem.
The Washburn Mills. The massive "A" mill has been described by the press as " the largest mill in America, and the most complete mill of its size in the world." It is operated by Wash- burn, Crosby and Company. It is twice the size of the old A mill. and covers a ground space of 100x210 feet. Its height is eight stories above the canal. which the east end of the building fronts. From the platform over the canal. to the top of the cupola, is 158 feet. The walls are of stone, five feet thick at the base. tapering to three feet. which thickness is maintained to the third story. From this they taper to twenty inches at the top.
395
FLOURING MILLS.
The walls and wheel-pits contain 371,250 cubic feet of masonry, and the timber used, exceeds 2,750.000 feet. One-half the mill is on the ground occu- pied by the old Washburn A. The building was begun immediately after the destruction of the old mill, rising phoenix-like from the ashes of its predecessor, but to greater dimensions and grander achievements. During the completion of the C mill, work on the A mill was suspended until the spring of 1879, and about the last of June, 1880, it was finished, and one-half of it in operation. It is built on the dual plan, and it required five months, with a large working force, to adjust the machinery in the part first put in operation. Some idea of its magnitude may be gained from the fact that nearly one thousand bushels of wheat were required to fill it up he- fore the flour reached the packers.
The completed part started with a capacity of 1,500 barrels per day, employing seventy-five men, at a weekly expense of $1,000. The full capacity of the mill is 3,000 barrels. It is fur- nished with all the modern improvements in the milling art, and its product is eagerly sought by foreign purchasers. The lessons taught by the terrible disaster of May 2d, 1878, have not been lost in the construction and management of this mill. The scrupulons cleanliness of the rooms, and the ingenious appliances for straining the air from the purifiers, thus preventing the haz- ardons accumulations of dust, effectually ban- islies the fear of such a catasthrophe as visited the mills in 1878.
Adjoining the mill on the north-east corner, is a two-story addition 24x45 feet, on the upper floor of which are the business offices of the mill, and on the ground floor, the elegant rooms used by C. C. Washburn, as his private office.
The whole structure. as well as its furnishing. shows the most accomplished workmanship, and a lavish expenditure of wealth. "The North- western Miller " of July 2d. 1880. says of it: "The mill as it stands, is a momment of Mr. Washburn's indomitable energy and perseverance, and a great eredit to the city, for which its citi- zens should feel very thankful to the public spir- ited builder." .
The "B" mill, built in 1866, is of stone, 60x90 feet on the ground, three stories high in front
and five in the rear. It is operated by a sixty- inch turbine wheel of 700 horse-power. Above the original mill is a story of wood, the front. end of which is used for a dust-room. and the back end for machinery. It has thirty run of stone, and its daily capacity is 500 barrels. Twenty-five men are employed in this mill.
In size and capacity the "(" mill ranks next to the "A," covering ground room of 95x145 feet, besides a storehouse adjoining, 10x83 feet, and five stories high, with a capacity of 80,000 bush- els, exclusive of a large reserve space for storing bran, and the necessary room for cleaning and handling grain. It was first built in 1878, and suffered considerable damage from the mill dis- aster. In Jammary, 1879, it was materially im- proved and enlarged. The first building had eleven run of stone, to which thirty run were added with the addition referred to. The mill is six stories high, only four of which are visible in front. It is operated by a sixty-inch American turbine wheel, and uses 600 horse-power. Sev- enty-five men are employed in and about the mill. Its capacity is 1,250 barrels per day.
Adjoining the A mill, on the site of the old Dia- mond mill, is an elevator 35×94 feet, with a ca- pacity of 80,000 bushels. besides necessary room for cleaning. and storing bran.
The "Cataraet" mill was built by Eastman and Gibson, in 1859, and was the first stone mill built at the falls. it has since been owned by Judd and Brackett, from whose hands it went to Commodore Davidson, and from him was pur- chased, in 1872, by D. R. Barber and Son, by whom it is owned and operated at present. The building then ocenpied ground room 15x60 feet, and was three stories high above the basement. In 1875 another story was added, and in the fall of 1879, an addition on the river side, of 20x45 feet, besides dust rooms, 16 feet high, built of wood, and iron clad. The basement story is 18 feet high and the others from 15 to 18 feet. It has six run of stone, ten sets of corrugated and sixteen sets of smooth rollers. Its capacity is 500 barrels per day, using from 90 to 100 horse-power with a reserve of 125 horse-power, furnished by a 48 inch turbine wheel. The mill is run night and day, furnishing employment to twenty-tive workmen at an average weekly expense of $300. The mill is valued at $80,000, and like all the
396
HISTORY OF HENNEPIN COUNTY.
large mills at this point, sends its product to eastern cities and to Europe.
The "Aretic" mill, Hobart and Shuler proprie- tors. located on the east side of First street. is of stone, and was built by Perkins and Crocker in 1561. It is quadrilateral in form. fifty-five feet front. fifty-five feet on the east and thirty feet on the west end. It is six stories in height, incluid- ing the basement. It has right run of stone and six sets of rolls. A forty-eight inch turbine wheel of two hundred and fifty horse-power drives the machinery. This mill has a capacity of two hun- dred and fifty barrels per day, and requires a working force of ten men.
The "Crown Roller" mill. Christian. Brother and Company, was built in 1879-80, and is one of the largest mills at the falls. It is 124x145 feet in size and seven stories in height. The struc- ture is of brick. with heavy stone foundation. The machinery of this mill consists of one han- dred and twenty-four sets of rolls. fifty-four of which are corrugated. one hundred and eighty purifiers and eleven run of stone. lis wheel is a turbine of forty-eight inches diameter. The total daily capacity of the mill is 2,100 barrels. 1 working force of seventy men is employed, at a weekly expense of one thousand dollars. This mill has also storage capacity for 111.000 bushels grain, and is valued at $300.000.
The "Dakota" mill was built in 1867. and is a frame structure, Bix100 feet. four stories high above basement. It is owned and operated by I1. F. Brown and Company. The equipment con- sists of six run of stone, four sets of smooth and one pair of corrugated rollers: the motive power is furnished by a turbine wheel of two hundred horse-power. one-half of which is used. Its daily capacity is two hundred and fifty barrels, and len men are required in its operation.
1 1
The "Galaxy" mill. Cahill, Fletcher and Com- pany, proprietors, was built in 1871 In W. P. Ankeny, burned in 1571 and rebuilt the following year. In 1877 it was purchased by Mr. Cahill. and was destroyed in the mill "disaster" of May. ISTA. In 1879. it was rebuilt hy Cahill, Fletcher and Company. the present owners and operators. It is of stone and covers a space 65x100 feel: six stories high in front. and eight in the rear. The mill has six run of stone, thirty sets of Stevens rollers, sixteen sets of smooth rollers, and twenty-
two Kirk purifiers. A 36-inch victor wheel of two hundred horse-power drives the machinery. The capacity of the Galaxy mill is two hundred barrels per day. Twenty-five men are employed, whose wages amount in the aggregate to $350 per week.
The "Holly" mill was built of stone, in 1872, and in 1878 was bought by Hinkle Bros., who are the present owners. Its size is 50x65 feet, five stories high above basement. It has six run of stone and twelve sets of rollers, which are pro- pelled by a forty-eight inch four hundred horse- power turbine wheel. At present one hundred and twenty-five horse-power is all that is required to produce daily two hundred barrels of flour. The working force is fifteen men, who receive $175 per week.
The "Humboldt" mill was erected on the east side of Second street, between Seventh and Eighth Avenues south, by Bull and Newton. It is constructed of brick, 65x95 feet and four stories high above the basement. The average height of the stories is fourteen feet. The power is fur- nished by a Victor turbine wheel of one hundred and fifty horse-power. Originally it was furnished with fourteen run of buhrs, but in the fall of 1880 it was refitted by Hinkle, Greenleaf and Co., its present operators, with forty sets of rollers and ten run of stone, making its capacity seven hund- red barrels per day. The mill is valued at $85,000.
The "Minneapolis" mill. owned by Crocker. Fisk and Co., was built in 1865, by Frazee, Mur- phy and Mellerron. At the time it was furnished with five run of stone and produced three hundred barrels per day. Destroyed by fire in 1871. it was immediately rebuilt by its present owners, who increased its capacity to four hund- red barrels per day. 11 is 55x60 feet, four stories high, and requires the labor of sixteen men. In 1850 the roller system was adopted, using twenty sets of smooth and corrugated rollers.
The "Model" mill, owned by Russell, Hineline and Company, is of stone, and was built in 1877, by Russell, Roots and Crosen. It is five stories high inelnding basement, is 42x62 feet, and is valued at $60,000, 1 25-inch victor turbine wheel of 100 horse-power propels seven run of slone, five sets of smooth and five of corrugated rollers, which daily produce 250 barrels of flour requir- ing eight men at a weekly expense of $120.
397
FLOURING MILLS.
The "North Star" mill, valued at $40,000, built in 1870. by MeMullen and MeHerron, was purchased of them in 1871, by HI. J. G. Croswell. its present owner. It is 45x100 feet. three stories above basement, and has six run of stone and three sets of rollers, for which power is furnished by a 42-inch Dayton wheel. The establishment daily prodnees 250 barrels of flour, requiring a working force of ten men whose wages aggregate $150 per week.
"Northwestern Roller" mill is owned by Sidle, Fletcher, Holmes and Company. It was com- pleted in January, 1880, and is 50x107 feet, eight stories high ineluding basement and sub-base- ment, and is capable of prodneing 1,000 barrels per day. using a 44-inch turbine wheel of 600 horse-power. The mill is thoroughly equipped with latest improvements in machinery, and re- quires a working force of fifty-six men whose aggregate wages average $1,200 per week.
The "Palisade" mill was built in 1872-3, at a cost of about $100,000, by L. Day and Company. It is 60x80 feet, four stories high in front and six in the rear. The stories average twelve feet in height. The machinery consists of twelve run of stone, sixteen sets of smooth and four sets of corrugated rollers. It manufactures 500 barrels per day. The motive power is furnished by two turbine wheels, one 36-inch of 295 horse- power, and one 30-inch. of 194 horse-power. This firm pays fourteen men about $200 per week.
The "Pettit" mill was first built in 1875 by Pettit, Robinson & Company, and after the great disaster of May 2d, 1878, was rebuilt. It is 60x 100 feet, six full stories ineluding basement. Twenty run of stone, twenty-three sets of smooth and four sets of corrugated rollers, propelled by a forty-eight-inch, 450 horse-power turbine wheel, produce 800 barrels of flour per diem. The mill, which is valued at $100,000, gives employment to forty-five men whose salaries aggregate $500 per week.
The "Phoenix" mill, a stone structure, 50x66 feet, four stories high with basement, is located at the corner of Main Street and Sixth Avenue, S. E., and is valued at $60,000. It is owned by Stamwitz & Schober. A thirty-five-inch turbine wheel of fifty horse-power drives three run of stone, five sets of smooth and six sets of corru-
gated rollers, which are capable of producing 200 barrels per day.
In 1879 the "Standard" mill was built by E. V. White & Company, the present owners. It is of brick with a heavy stone foundation, is 50x155 feet, and six stories high, valued at $200,000. A forty-four-inch vietor turbine furnishes 600 horse-power to produce 1,200 barrels of flour daily. It requires the labor of thirty-five men.
The "Trades " mill, a brick structure 40x59 feet, two-stories above basement, is owned by Hawthorne Bros. It has three run of stone and one pair of corrugated rollers for flour, and one run of stone for feed. Its capacity is 100 barrels of flour per day. A 50-horse power engine op- erates the machinery.
The " Union " mill built by Henry Gibson, in 1861. was the second stone mill on the west side. It stands on the river side of the canal. foot of First street, is 472×60 feet, and four full stories high above the basement story. Its wheel is a 48-inch turbine, its capacity 200 barrels per day. using 75 to 100 horse-power, with a reserve of 200. It has six run of stone, and employs ten workmen, running night and day. at an average yearly expense for wages, of $7,800. It is owned and operated by G. W. Goodrich and T. II. Per kins-firm name G. W. Goodrich and Company. Their principal sales are in Philadelphia, New York, Boston and European cities, making heavy shipments on orders from Liverpool, London and Glasgow, abont one-third of their business being with the last named points.
The " Zenith " mill owned by Day and Rollins, valued at $70,000, is a stone structure 40x102 feet, five stories high. It was first built in 1870-1, but was destroyed by the explosion of May 2d, 1878, and was rebuilt in November of the same year. It has ten run of stone, eleven sets of smooth, and four sets of corrugated rollers. A 48-inch turbine wheel of 200 horse power propels the machinery. The capacity of the mill is 500 barrels per day.
The "North Star" feed mill, owned and operat- ed by F. C. Rideodt & Co .. is located on Second street and Fourteenth Avenue north. It is 30x40 feet, one and one-half stories high; has two run of stone and a seven-foot reel for bolting prodnee, and is driven by a twenty-five horse-power engine. This mill manufactures fifteen tons of feed daily.
399
.
HISTORY OF HENNEPIN COUNTY.
This firm has another feed mill in connection with their store. at 101. Sixth Avenue south. It has one run of stone. driven by a ten horse-power engine. The capacity is five tonsof feed per day.
J. E. Osborne's feed mill is located in the East- man manufacturing building. on Nicollet Island. It has one run of stone, which has a capacity of one ton per hour.
I'mton's grist mill, also located in the Eastman manufacturing building, has two run of stone, and produces feed at the rate of one and one-half tons per hour. The power is furnished by the East Side Water Power Company. from a shaft running throughout the entire building. In con- nection with this mill. Mr. U'pton has a furnace and two revolving cylinders, each holding two barrels, for roasting coffee, peanuts, etc.
The " Tower " mill, operated by Richards & Cooley. owned by Phillip Herzog. is situated on Main street corner Third Avenue south-east. It is run as a grist and feed mill. and contains one run of stone and a bolter for graham flour, etc.
MILLER'S ASSOCIATION.
The Mineapolis Millers' Association was or- ganized in 1867. with the following members: Judd and Brackett, Eastman and Cahill. Taylor Brothers. Frazee and Murphy, Darrow Brothers and Tomlinson. Perkins and Company. Officers: president. George Brackett ; vice-president. W. 1. Cahill; secretary and agent. Dwight Putnam; purchasing agent. O. Mays. In 1869 this asso- riation, to which the present organization owes its existence, was dissolved. In 1575 the associa- tion was revived. though again as an experi- mental institution. with representatives of seven- tren large milling establishments as members. The officers of the experimental association were: president. D. R. Barber: secretary, F. B. Mills; general agent, W. 11. Dunwoody: The object of the organization was to provide against dangerous competition among purchasers, and the purchase of wheat was put into the hands of one general agent, with sole charge of local Imyers at all in- terior points as well as proper distribution upon its arrival at Minneapolis, pro rata among the members of the association, according to the ca- parity of their respective mills. Money was for- nished by the members for purchases when called for by the general agent
The temporary organization took a permanent form in 1876, as a corporate body in accordance with the laws of the state. with the following incorporators : John A. Christian. C. Il. Pettit, W. P. Ankeny. Leonard Day. J. S. Pillsbury, C. G. Hazard. D. R. Barber, George W. Crocker, Carroll T. Hobart. M. W. Getchell, II. J. G. Croswell, M. B. Rollins, William F. Cabin, F. B. Mills, G. Schober. Henry Darrow, and B. S. Bull.
The first president of the reorganized association was W. P. Ankeny ; secretary, C. G. Hazard, and general agent. C. S. Bunker. The stock of the company was increased from $35,000 to $75,- 000. distributed in shares of $50 each. The mem- bership is open to any co-partnership, corporation or individual operating a flouring-mill in Henne- pin county. on subscribing and paying for at least twelve shares of the stock. Of the total 359 run of stone in Minneapolis in 1880, 340 are represented.
The total amount of wheat purchased by the association, of the crop of 1879-80, up to Decem- ber 30th, was 12.826,899 bushels. The grand total of the purchases of the association from June Ist, 1875, to December 30th, 1880, was 29.044.113 bushels. The prices maintained by the associa- tion during its existence prove it far from antag- onistic to the interest of producers, for prices have ruled higher relatively, for wheat of equal quality in Minneapolis than in Chicago or Mil- waukee. By their position as consumers, one profit is saved, which enables the association to pay higher prices than middle men can afford.
The present officers of the association are : president. W. 11. Dunwoody : vice president, W. F. Cahill ; secretary. F. Il. Greenleaf; treas- urer, D. R. Barber; general agent, E. B. An- drews; board of directors, C. C. Washburn, John Crosby, W. 11. Dunwoody, C. J. Martin, L. Christian, C. M. Hardenbergh, J. A. Christian, E. V. White, D. Morrison, H. E. Fletcher, J. K. Sidle, C. A. Pillsbury, W. F. Cahill, L. Day, Geo. W. Crocker. M. B. Rollins, D. R. Barber, F. L. Greenleaf. F. S. Hinkle. W. 1. Hinkle, and G. Schober.
ELEVATORS.
The Minneapolis Elevator Company was or- ganized as a stock company under the general laws of the state, in 1879, with a capital stock of $500,000. Elevator A, located on Chestnut
399
ELEVATORS.
Avenue, near the city limits, was built in 1879 and the first wheat taken in January 20th, 1880. The building occupies a space of 86x182 feet on the ground and rises to a height of 147 feet from the foundations. The latter are twelve feet in depth and the superstructure is of the heaviest timber. covered with corrugated sheet iron, which makes it practically fire-proof. This elevator, which was built at a cost of $150.000, is the largest and most complete in its appointments of any in the west, the total capacity being 780.000 bushels. The arrangement of bins, and the ma- chinery for unloading and elevating grain are of the latest improved patterns. the unloading ap- paratus being especially ingenious. Two men, with the aid of shovels operated by steam power, being enabled to unload a car containing four hundred bushels of wheat, in four minutes.
An engine room of briek, 30x40 feet. in which a Corliss engine of two hundred and twenty-five horse power is placed, is located west of the ele- vator. This engine is the only one of the kind in nse west of Milwaukee and is a fine piece of workmanship. Its fly-wheel is seventeen feet in in diameter, and the main shaft fly-wheel of six- teen feet diameter. The tracks of the St. Paul. Minneapolis and Manitoba, and the Minneapolis and St. Louis railways, pass the elevator, the greater part of the grain handled coming over these roads from the great wheat fields of the Northwest and from Southern Minnesota and Northern Towa. The officers of the company are, L. Fletcher, president; C. II. Petitt, treasurer; F. S. Hinkle, secretary; and C. W. Tracy, superin- tendent.
The Union Elevator was erected in 1867 by a stock company, the members of which were W. W. Eastman, A. II. Wilder, Col. Merriam and D. C. Shepherd, known as the Union Elevator Company. It is located on Washington Avenue, corner of Ninth Avenue south. and is now known as Union Elevator Station, on the Chicago. Mil- wauke and St. Paul Railway. For ten years it was operated by the elevator company, the rail- way company paying one and one-half cents per bushel for handling grain. In 1877, the railway company, purchased the elevator and has since continued its management, using it exclusively for grain carried over that line. The capacity of the elevator is 130,000 bushels. Mr. E. E.
Holt, the present agent, has been in charge for the past twelve years.
The Pacific Elevator is located on Washing- ton, corner of Fourth Avenue north, at the cross- ing of the St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway. It was erected in 1868, by W. F. David- son, and has since been under his control. The building is 50x80 feet, and 120 feet in height, the capacity being 85,000 bushels. The number of bushels handled amounting annually to from five to seven hundred thousand. The receipts are from the St. Paul. Minneapolis and Manitoba, and the Minneapolis and St. Louis railways. The elevator is furnished with a thirty horse power engine of the Ames pattern. Six men find em- ployment at this elevator. under the supervision of Mr. J. F. Low, who has been in charge since September, 1870. In 1874, Mr. Low, by working a force day and night passed one million bushels of grain through this elevator.
The Pillsbury Elevator is located on Como Avenue, on the east side, on the St. Paul, Minne- apolis and Manitoba and Northern Pacifie rait- ways. It was built in 1880-81, for the purpose of storing grain for the use of the A mill. and has a capacity of 250,000 Imshels. The cost of the building, including the seventy-five horse-power engine, was $25,000.
The Central Elevator was built in 1881. by a company known as the Central Elevator Company, composed of Huntington, Potter and Ermen- trout. This elevator has a capacity for 150,- 000 bushels. In its construction 700.000 feet of lumber were used. Cost of the structure was about $25,000. A sixty-five horse-power engine suppties motive power for the machinery. It is located on the line of the St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway, at the crossing of Hol- den Street, and is intended for the storage of coarse grains only.
The necessity for large store-houses for wheat was one long felt in this city. and ted to the eree- tion of the elevators just described. At times. some of the mills have been obliged to elose, on account of short supplies of wheat. but the con- struction of these elevators, with a total capacity for storing 1,500,000 bushels of grain, afford the millers reservoirs from which they can draw at all times. and have no fear of creating a shortage.
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