USA > New Jersey > Essex County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I > Part 140
USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I > Part 140
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567
INDUSTRIES OF NEWARK.
of hides and skins-has a history similar to jewelry, and is now the largest single interest that is carried on in Newark. In 1830 there were thirteen tannerie- in Newark, having a capital of $78,000, employing 103 men, manufacturing leather to the amount of $503,000. In 1880 there were 39 establishments engaged in tan- ning and currying hides and skins, with a capital of $3,518,583, employing 2661 hands, paying annually in wages $1,413,712, and yielding a yearly product of 88,682,392. The prices of leather are taken from the Ist of May, 1879, to the Ist of May, Isso, when prices ranged lower than for years before; but if the sales were taken from the prices of the fall of 1880, the total products would foot up $1,700,000 more, making the value of leather $10,382,392, which would be a correct and accurate estimate of the leather industry of Newark for the year just closed. We are con- vinced that the United States census return for leather, taken in 1870, was incorrect in all its features. The number of establishments are given at 66, while ten years later, there are only 39, and at no period have there been a larger number. The capital is given at $2,266,187, employing only 1100 men, and yet the product of sales is recorded at $8,604,181. From this it will be seen that in 1870, with 1,252,396 less capital, employing less than half the number of men, the prod- uets are given at only $78,211 less than the returns of 1880-or rather of 1879. We have submitted these figures to some of our best leather manufacturers, and they assure us that the returns of 1870 would not be classed as good guessing.
The manufacturing of hats is one of the industries started at an early period in Newark, and one that has maintained its position in the foremost ranks of our profitable industries. In 1830 there were nine lint factories, with a capital of $106,000, employing 457 hands and yielding an annual product of $551,700. There are now in Newark proper 35 hat factories, with a capital of $691,300, employing 2955 hands, paying in wages $867,025, and giving a product in manu- factured goods of $2,262,894, including Orange, and this amount will be more than doubled in all its parts.
The manufacturing of boots and shoes, that was the first and leading industry in Newark, at which two- thirds of the inhabitants of the town were employed in the beginning of the present century, has not kopt pace with, nor hus it held its position with, some of the branches started later in our history. In 1830 there were eighteen shoe factories, with a capital of $300,- 000, employing one thousand and seventy-five hands, and giving an annual product of 8607,450. In 1880, fifty years later, there were only sixteen wholesale manufacturers of bouts and shoes, with a capital of $411,075, employing fifteen hundred and thirty-five hands, paying in wagos $575,981, and yielding in manufactured goods $1,886,501.
The manufacturing of trunks was begun hure rarly in the procent century, but made alow progress until
18.30. It is now among the leading industries of New- ark, and was made so by the men who are now actively engaged in the business. There were in 1580 thirteen trunk and bag factories, with a working capital of $811,500, employing one thousand five hundred and sixty seven hands, paying $570,532 in wages, and giving a yearly product of $2,155,923.
Saddlery hardware is another itiportant and large interest in this city. In the early statistical return- which were taken of the industries of the city, sad- dlery hardware and harness were classed together, so that there is no means now of getting the exact figures for either. In 1880 there were thirty-four saddlery hardware establishments in Newark, with a total capital of $700,200, employing one thousand two hun- dred and seventeen hands, paying in wages $410,636, producing annually $1,496,00% of manufactured goods. There were thirty-six harness manufacturers, with a capital of $194,875, giving work to eight hundred and thirty-three handa, paying in wages 8272,793, and making goods to the amount of $1, 197,204 each year.
The manufacture of malt liquors is a large and grow- ing interest in Newark. In 1830 there were only two breweries in the town, elther of which would be con- sidered very small concerns when compared with the mammoth establishments now in successful operation in Newark. There were in 1880 twenty -six breweries and one malt-house in this city, with a capital of over $2,592,300, employing five hundred and thirty-six meu, paying them in wages $329,800, and manufacturing 601.101 barrels of beer and ale, and those, with other saleable products, making a gross annual total of $4,508,707. In 1870 the total produet of malt liquors is given at $2,587,705, showing by theme figures that with the increase in population, the consumption of malt liquors has kept far In advance of the popu- lation. In 1880 there was more than double the quantity manufactured in Newark than there was ten years before, and many of the larger establishments are increasing their facilities, and during the next ten years the increase will be much larger than during the past tøn.
In 1870 beer sul for an average of ten dollars per barrel, while now the same quality of article is sold for $7.50 per barrel, which accounts for the apparent discrepancy in the total products then and now.
The manufacture of mon's clothing is an important interest In Newark, and while it has not increased in the same ratio that some other branches have, still it makes u eroditable showing. There was In laso In- vested in the manufacturing of clothing a capital of **** ,619, employing 1438 hands, to whom is paid in wages $479,917, and producing annually $2,055,108, twice and a half as much as the products were fifty years ago, when the South was the principal market for clothing manufactured in Newark up to the time of the breaking out of the civil war. Cotton, thread, woolen and wilk goods come well to the front among our prominent industries. There is a capital of
565
HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
$1,460,000 invested in these branches, employing 1861 hands, paying wages amounting to $565,940, and giv- ing an annual product of $2,212,250. Among the new industries which have been started here during the last few years, and which are prosperous, may be named five establishments, manufacturing various forms of celluloid ; also sewing-machines, manufacture of fine grades of steel, clocks and corsets. Each of these industries employ a large number of hands, pro- dueing annually millions of dollars.
This brief sketch and summary of a few of the more prominent industries of Newark naturally suggests the question, have Newark industries gone backward or forward during the last decade? We are glad to say that, notwithstanding the six dull years, the advance- ment bears marks of a steady and healthy growth that has been characteristic of Newark since the beginning of the present century.
The number of hands employed, according to the census returns of 1870, are given as twenty thousand four hundred and two, and now the maximum returns show that there are employed in all branches forty-one thousand five hundred and ten, an increase of one hundred per cent. in the busy season, and the mini- mum number in slack times is twenty-eight thousand eight hundred and seventy-one. The total sum paid in wages in 1870 was estimated at $10,638,352, and in 1880 this is increased to $14,748,388. The total amount of manufactured products returned in 1870, at the close of six or eight years of prosperons trade with every branch of industry active, is estimated for the city at $48,133,302, and for the county, includ- ing all the township industries, is $52,108,958. The total products of manufactured goods for the city of Newark in 1880 reached the enormous sum of $66,- 985,766, a net increase in ten years of $18,852,464. This is a ereditable showing for Newark as a manu- facturing city, one that every citizen may with good reason feel proud of, not only in the immense total of manufactured products, but it indicates a healthy, vigorous growth, that is destined to reach before the close of the present century an aggregate of products in round numbers of $100,000,000.
The following tabulated statement, with the indus- tries classified, gives accurately the number of estab- lishments of each industry, the capital invested, the hands employed, the amount of wages paid, and total products of each branch. These will be useful as a matter of future reference,-
LIST OF MANUFACTURERS IN NEWARK, 18SI.
Awnings and tents .
3
Clothing, wumen's
5
Axes and hatchets .
2
Cigars and tobacco
Bakers
84 Coopers .
3
Builder
63
Curled hair.
1
Buttona
Carriages and wagons
15
Clive, bent and stained
33,000
-17
16,890
14,693
Gold, silver and metal re- fining .
212,000
342
170,100
8,794,600
Hair-cloth .
12,500
19,600
Hata
691,300
2.000
861,115
2,410,580
Ianean .
494,375
833
272.793
1,167,204
Button-hatniku
2 Carpet-weavers
Hubs, sjukes and shafts
123,475
114
63,969
203,006
Button toola
1
Hardware .
179,950)
13
72,364
318,886
Butchers and meat packers .
10
3
Hat-blorkn
7
10,500
25,030
Clothing, men's
47 Dyeing and rienning .
Iron and steel
950,126
629
185,933
1,014,023
7
Engravers
12
Pianos . . .
Edge-tools
17 Piano cuses.
Furs, "te.
Photographers
11
Flour and gristmills.
Painters .
29 5
Files and raspe
6 Ornamental plasterers,
2
Furniture.
26 Gold and silver refuera
4
3 Refrigerator.
1 3
Glues, bent . stained .
1
Ilarness
36
School supplies
2
llat-blocks
2 Stoel-workers
1
Hardware ..
= SHINIgeS .
g
lata, capis, etc
35
Sewing-machines .
1
Hair-cloth
2
Sewing-machine repaire
5
Hubs, NJwkes, etc
2
Springs .
3
Ivory-worker.
2 Subllery hardware
34
Inks .
3 SawA.
Iron founders.
Saw-handles
2
Jewelry. .
72
Scales
2
Kindling-woud
13
2
Lasts.
1 Saw nulls.
Lamps and lanterns
4
Small castings
Locks
12
Spices
Lapidarios
Shirts and underwear
3 2
Lime and cement .
6
Trunks und Ings
13
Leather, tanned and curric
39
Trunk hardware
2
Marble and stone entting .
16
Tin-ware, etc.
8
Mineral waters
I'mbrellas and canes
3
Machinery
Varnishes . .
16
Malt .
1 Wood-turners
7
Malt Liquor
Woolen and cotton goods
·2
Plumbers ..
42
Silk mille
Miscellaneous
:36
Paper and wooden boxe
9
Printing, bonk and job
16
Total .
. 1291
The following is a list of the different branches of manufacturing industries of Newark for 1880, with the amount of capital and number of persons em- ployed, wages paid, and total annual value of pro- duets :
NAME OF BUSINESS.
Amount of Capital Emplayed,
No. of Hands.
Total Amount of Wages Pand.
Total Value of Products.
Awnings, tents and suila .
$2,100
33
$5,980
$23,600
Agricultural implements .
2,200
1,452
Bakery' products .
175,200
301
127,211
981,393
Blacksmithing und horse- shoring
20,025
94
36,330
106,358
Customs Innata und alves
30,385
1)1
32,024
131,194
Brass f'n'd' s and brassware
135,000
257
94,630'
273,110
Brushes .
11,875
307
24,658
78,092
Buttons
203,700
1,326
271,110
630,880
Buillery
223,050
464,510
1,410,874
Bouts and shoes, wholesale
411,075
1,535
575,908-4
1,886,504
1
Carriages alul wagons
231,200
490
127,701
432,673
Carpet-wravery
2,185
1,472
7,700
Confectionery
97,000
2:23
1;3,(2)
530,350
Clothing, niech's
+39,619
3,438
472,947
2,077,608
('lothing, wumel
21,650
10,525
60,300
Coffee and spices
52,0000
178
89,190
169,920
Ontlery
1,600
3,113
11,415
Chemicals
1,570,000
193,150
1,364,819
Celluloid
1.209,000
750
212, 108
1,251,540
Curvets
103,800
638
113.69X
374,343
Cigar and tobacco
175,770
367
83,207
612,242
Cuttins, "tr
Cotton, s'I'mand silk gouda
16,650
25
8.216
31,10000
Dyring and cleaning .
1,300
y.
6,600
Edge-tools, hat reand axes
237,811
1+5,442
518,775
Engraving
70,300
134
43,855
90,145
Fertilizer4.
475,18 KJ
245,000
272,1KMH
5X2,749
Furniture
2010 .
76,4-11
259,103
Files and ram
23,2011
10,279
49,410
Flour and grain
61,500
10,288
195,080
1,690, IN kl
62,742
4111,497
Bram foundry
6
C'elluloid manufacturing
Blacksmiths.
Cellulaid-workers .
Bouta and shoes (custom)
33
('utlery.
(wholesair)
('hrmicale
Brushen. .
x =
(lucky
1 -
1 144= 4 5
6 Potteries
6
Rubber, vil and enameled goods .. 6
Picture-frames
1
Faury metuis
Patterns and models
3
Sash and blinds
12
Family soaps
Has compani
Rules.
1
Smelting and refining
453
25
3
supplies
5
newspapers
8
Furriers
Brass-ware
5
Confertioners .
38
39,880
93,500
1.80;1
2.212,250
Drugs and extracts
Fancy metal guode
74,150
160,145
19
11,301
77,784
Drugs and extracts .
569
INDUSTRIES OF NEWARK.
NAME OF BUSINESS
Amount of ('apital Employed.
Total Amount of Wages Pund,
Total Vulne of Products.
Inks and murilage .
12,700
27
.1-wetry
2.501,899
2,535
1,021,01€
4,032, 127
Kindling-woud
11,450
77
17,716
41,1421
Lampe and lanterns
10,000
33,1 3
134,75
3,541, 73
2,661
1,41 ,232
100, 1 1:2.00.02
1, 1.0, 801
1,167
329.800
1,5018 ,707
Marble and stone cutting .
1:1,535
4.1
22,669
9:3,147
Jame, coment atul bricks
216 .. MM1
1.34 1
30,057
Ornamental plasterer
210,950
111.215
30> 156
Photographing
11,6540
*3:0
13,289
41,251
Printing, book, job and bookbinding
127 450
251
69,213
: 10,500
Printing, newspapers
.2.997
117,600
256 (MW)
Newing-machines.
213,300
1.01.2
4.351
12.077
Painting . .
20,0025
191
52,652
196.200
Picture-framnes
45.601
Pottery-ware ..
74
21.13>
339,450
Rubber, vil and ru'l'd cloth
Rules .
Bush, blinds and downs
231,375
136.82*
152.500
Soap and follow
38,774
1. AMI
14.0005
Springs and axlex
66,103
41.050
School supplies
166,1MMD
6,2mm
Sausagee
78.500
51
27.11*1
17,406
Slaugh'tr'g and meat p'k'K Small castinga .
23X,IMMI
1:20
77,412
271,500
Sudtillery hardware
7000.200
1.217
110,6336
2,138,123
Tin aml tin-ware .
210,7181
393
118.416;
119, 9:340
I'mbrellas and cuflex
Variation .
6,350
110,200
50, 100
140,000
Miscellaneous
216,550
70,1452
346,641
Taking the maximum number of hands employed in manufacturing in Newark as #1,510, classed as follows :
Average number of men employed
.33,956
Average nuniber of women emplyyrd
3.280
Average number of children employed
2,274
There are some interesting and instructive facts, which it may be well to mention here, bearing upon Jabor and wages. One of these is the large percent- age of time lost during the working days of each year. A close and thorough investigation of the sub- ject shows that, including the six legal holidays, mechanies are absent from work on an average from twenty-four to twenty-six days in each year-a loss to each mechanic of about fifty dollars in round num- bers. The nearest that can be figured on the compen- sation for skilled labor averages about $2.13 for ten hours' work, and $1.37 for unskilled Inbor, one dollar per day for women and girls, and fifty cents for youths and children. In some of the branches of in- dustries the average for skilled labor is much higher ; but these figures are based on the whole. In 1830 the population of Newark, including Clinton Town- ship, was ten thousand nine hundred and fifty-three. The population in 1880, not including Clinton, was one hundred and thirty-six thousand four hundred.
The tonnage of the Passaic River, with her 19,027 vessels of all descriptions sailing to and from Newark, reached in 1880, 900,000 tons, and that of the rail-'
reads and what is wagoned over the plank-road will reach 650,000, making a total of 1,550,000 tons a year. There are now in active use in the different manu- facturing establishments in Newark 376 steam- engines and 489 boilers, representing a horse-power of 12,449.
In 1880 there were 343,549 hides tanned and cur- ried and 1,618, 608 skins dressed and prepared for use. In doing this there is 10,083 tons of onk-bark, 10,922 tons of hemlock-bark and 945 tons of sumac used in the process of tanning.
During the year 1880 there were manufactured in Newark 32,452 pairs of fine boots and 1,164,080 pairs of shoes, principally of the finer grades, for which Newark manufacturers have attained a good reputation.
There was consumed in Newark and the imme- diate suburbs during the year 1850, 369,208 tons of anthracite and 28,236 tons of bituminons coal for manufacturing and domestic purposes. The former costs, delivered here, $3.77 per ton, and the latter $5.23, making the total sum expended for coal in one year $1,542,588. In 1863 there were 163 establish- ments, factories and work-shops, embracing all the manufacturing industries of Newark, and in 1880 there were 1291. In 1836 there were $3,170,658 of capital invested; in 1×80 $31,055,565. Then there were 5587 hands employed, and everything was made by hand, and in 1880, there were 41,510 hands employed, and the average price for skilled labor was one hun- dred per cent. more than it was then. In 1836 the aggregate product of all descriptions of manufactured goods amounted to $7,924,760; and in 1880 the total products reached the immense sum of $66,958,766 annually.
In this brief sketch of the rise and progress of manufacturing industries of Newark, it has been the endeavor to make it concise, accurate and compre- hensive.
The location and geographical position of this city for manufacturing purposes, as well as for a place of residence either for the rich or poor, is unequaled. The undulating surface affords means for thorough drainage. The wide extent of territory within the corporate limits, and comparatively low prices of builling lots, give ample facilities for building small houses for occupany by mechanics and those of mod- erate means. The ease, frequency and low rates of fare on the five steam railroads between Newark and New York, afford superior accommodations for the thousands who travel daily either for business or pleasure.
These advantages, coupled with those resulting from the broad streets, with numerous roomy parks in the heart of the city,-three parks handsomely decorated with majestic and graceful trees,-which make the city picturesque, healthy and attractive. These are features that Newark may justly feel prond of and be thankful, and that ere long Newark will have the Orange Mountains for her western boundary.
Lapidary
.1MM1
29,446
AM, UNA
lænther, patent and enam- eled, tauned and curried Machinery .
Mult und malt liquors. . .
2,502,31MI
Mineral waters .
35.200
1.051
1, IMIZ. TAMI
Patterns and models
5,250
13
11.,227
1,0339,140
19
5,812
13.8001
Shirts and underwear
171,1MM+
114.04%
1,653,016
Trunks, bags and frames
~11.200
1,56%
52.202
Wood, turned nil carved .
13,000
One of each no followa :
last», clocks curled hair anel pianos.
174
60. 250
1 131.777
Lumber and saw willa
Pimbing .
11,156
Parking and paper bixen
570
HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
Pioneer Application of Steam-Power in New- ark Manufactories.'-The earlier manufactories which made use of power in driving machinery used either animals or water as a motor. Some of the older inhabitants of Newark remember the blower in the iron foundry of Mr. Jacob Alyea, on Market Street, which was propelled by ox-power. The first blower in Newark for iron-smelting purposes was in- troduced by Alexander C'onnison. It was set up either in " Mecker's" foundry, on Clay Street, or in the shop of A. W. Kinney. It was soon broken, and C'onnison believed that it was the result of malice on the part of persons who had previously denied its practicability. Connison afterward successfully used a blower driven by power in his foundry on New Street.
In Mecker's foundry, subsequently, two large eylin- der bellows were driven by water-power.
For the introduction of steam-power in Newark we are obliged to rely upon tradition and the memory of individuals. Mr. Richard L. Hedenburg says : " I served an apprenticeship with my brother, John C. Hedenburg. When I came of age I went to Troy, N. Y., and remained there about two years, and re- turned to Newark in 1829, and learned that my brother had been using a small rotary ~team-engine in turning axles. From some cause he had abandoned the use of the rotary engine, and had substituted, at the time above mentioned, a horizontal engine. The engine was set up and operated by Levi Bissel. Ilis shop and wareroom was on the northerly side of Me- chanie Street, and corner of Broad Street. Hle was afterward (1835) at the ' Hedenburg Works,' adjoin- ing the inclined plane of the Morris Canal."
Isaac B. Lee put the machinery in the works at the inclined plane in 1835.
A. W. Kinney built the works at the inclined plane, and employed John Clark to build carriages therein.
The Franklin Factory was built under the direction of Mr. A. W. Kinney, and Lee was the millwright. This mill was afterward rebuilt by Mr. Amos II. Searfoss.
The Washington Factory was at one time in pos- session of J. C. Hedenburg, who exchanged it with A. W. Kinney for the "works" at the inelined plane.
Isaac B. Lee, from 1832 to 1836, erected a number of mills or factories, -- notably for the mill of A. W. Kinney, at Newark ; for Durand, at Irvington ; John- son's mill, now Oake's mill, at Bloomfield ; Belcher's mill, at Irvington : the cement and plaster mills of Tompkins & Hedden, now Newark Lime and Cement Company.
In 1836 Mr. Lee sent his foreman, Amos II. Sear- foss to construct the inclined plane extending from the docks of Tompkins & Hedden to the crest of the hill, where their kilns were placed. This work was
completed, and the first car was, on July 3, 1836. drawn up. It contained Mr. Searfoss, Mr. Tompkins and his daughter. The limestone and coal used by Tompkins & Hedden had previously been carted by eams, under the charge of John Bunyan, from the docks to the kilns.
In the same year Mr. Searfoss set up their mill for the manufacture of caleined plaster. Ile also urged upon the firm the importance and advantages to be derived from the manufacture of hydraulic cement. They (J. E. Tompkins & Hedden) did not know any part of the process of manufacturing cement, nor did they know where the rock could be procured. They learned, however, from Mr. Searfoss, that a quarry of it was on the farm of Amos Ilixon, in Warren County, N. J .; that Mr. Bangs, an engineer in the construction of the Morris Canal, had satisfactorily tested it, and used large quantities of it upon the canal-locks. At this juneture a quarry of cement rock was discovered at Whitesport, in Ulster County, N. Y. Tompkins & ledden bought a quarry there, and placed a man in charge. They alleged, however, that the best quality of their rock was sold in Rhinebeck, while they re- ceived the refuse. Mr. Searfoss erected the mills for grinding the cement, and Messrs. Tompkins & Hed- den seeured a contract for the cement used on the Croton aqueduct of New York.
CHAPTER XLV.
INDUSTRIES OF NEWARK. (Continued.)
Pioneer Tanners, Etc .- A few years subsequent to the settlement of Newark there appears to have been some trade here in timber and "pipe staves." The town records of 1670 show that the town prohib- ited "the making use of or selling any timber for pipe staves or headings, except for the town," under the penalty of the transgressors losing all their labor. At the outset nearly all trades and callings necessary to the convenience and comfort of the community were represented. There was a millwright,-our an- cient friend, Samuel Swaine, the father of pretty Elizabeth. Ile built the first corn mill, or rather superintended its erection, for the whole town had a hand in putting it up. It stood on Mill Brook, a short distance from what is now known as the Stone Bridge. Samuel Whitehead was the first shoemaker in New- ark. Ilither he came from Elizabeth. Weaving was followed by Benjamin Baldwin. There was a turner in the person of John Ward, nephew of the venerable Deacon Lawrence Ward ; a pair of tanuers, Hans Al- bers and Hugh Roberts; a "merchant " (also a preacher), Patrick Falconer; a builder, Humphrey Nichols, who, in 173%, was paid by the town ten shil-
1 By Daniel T. ('lark, En.
INDUSTRIES OF NEWARK.
lings and six pence " for making the gallows and set- ols & Son, Moves Smith ELphalet Johns n, John ting it up," and who was also miployed in erecting the first structure of Trinity Church and in repairing the county court-house out-building; "a stone church builder," David Ogden; and a combined school-master, lawyer and town attorney, John C'at- lin. In 169s'the first tannery was established "at the swamp or watering-place." It is recorded, also, that Newark won some fame for its excellent quality of freestone, a quarry of which was first worked in 1721. It long continued to be an article of export. But it was nearly half a century later tha 1 1759 before the renl foundation of Newark's industrial greatness was laid.
As early as 1676 leather was made in Newark, as is I became a trade of some importance. The mannfar- shown by the following extract from the town records, | ture of leather was quickly followed by the manu- meeting of June 5, 1676:
"ITEM-IMAMOJU Lawrence is chown to le the Scaler of Leather fon this Town, according to the order of the Gen | .Assesul ly.
The following September two " Sealers" werechosen, John Curtis and John Baldwin, "sen'r." Twenty- two years later a tannery was regularly established "at the Watering-Place." The proceedings of the meeting held April 19, 1695, containing the following :
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