History of Cayuga County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 30

Author: Storke, Elliot G., 1811-1879. cn
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 762

USA > New York > Cayuga County > History of Cayuga County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 30

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The present standard of the institution, as a hospital for the criminal insane, not only proves its utility, but has demonstrated the complete success of the experiment.

The present number of inmates is one hun- dred and twenty-one, one hundred and nine men and twelve women, of whom ninety-three are con- victs and twenty-eight unconvicted.

The buildings used for the confinement of in- sane convicts are in the same general inclosure as the prison proper, to the west of which they are located, being separated therefrom by a high wall. The grounds surrounding them are beau- tifully laid out and adorned with trees and shrubbery.

The following table shows the annual per capita cost of maintaining patients since the opening of the Asylum :

Average No. Present Dur- ing the Year.

Total Current

Total Cost Per Capita.

1859

27 1-73

$16,387.07

$606.615

1 860

48 1 -2

17,491.50

360.649

1861

14,173.85

228.610

1862

78 2-3

12,674.01

161.1IO

1863

80 I-IO

12,035.80

150.259

1864

79 1-12

13,942.07

176.296

1865

72 2-3

16,699. 18

229.542

1866

70 1-5

15,937.15

227.024

1867

74 6-17

16,933 94

227.974

1868

75 5-8

17,876.61

230.146

1869

79 1-2

13,954 92

17.5.546

1870

19,879.39

254.864

1871

67 6-100

19,332.66

288.288

1872

22,174.37

263.976

1873

90 5-100

22,354 08

248.240

1874

95 1-2

23,200.73

242.938

1875

105

25, 163.60

239.653

1876

100 1-2

29,511.23

293.644

1877

98 1-2

23,979-37

243.445

1878

II3 3-4

23,027.30

202 437

The present officers of the Asylum are : Louis D. Pilsbury, Superintendent of Prisons, Manager ; Carlos F. MacDonald, M. D., Superintendent ; W. A. Gorton, M. D. Assistant Physician ; John Grant, Supervisor ; Rev. William Searls, Chap- lain.

CHAPTER XXV.

AUBURN MANUFACTURES.

THEIR EXTENT AND IMPORTANCE-DESCRIPTION OF THE PRINCIPAL MANUFACTORIES.

T HE manufacturing interests of Auburn are varied and important as to value and mag- nitude. They furnish the staple of its commerce, and give life and activity to its other industries. They give direct employment to nearly one-sev- enth of its entire population, besides requiring the services of about nine hundred convicts in the State Prison; thus demanding the labor of a num- ber equal to nearly one-fifth of the population, or, taking the statistical average as a basis of

Year.

Expenditures.

163

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS.

calculation, of one from each family. With these facts before us it is not difficult to understand how vitally is the prosperity of Auburn affected by the activity or depression of its manufactures, which, from its position with respect to the great highway of travel and commerce, must continue to be its great dependence.

The Owasco Outlet, which flows centrally through the city and has a total descent within its limits by a succession of falls and rapids of about 180 feet, furnishes a splendid hydraulic power, which has been very largely utilized, there being no less than ten dams within the limits of the city, each furnishing power to one or more es- tablishments. The New York Central and the Southern Central railroads open up accessible markets, and furnish avenues of transportation not only for the products of the manufac- tories, but also for the raw material consumed in them, and coal from the Pennsylvania mines, which is used in some of the larger establish- ments to generate steam, as an additional motor to the water from the Outlet, which, in some instances, is found to be inadequate.

Auburn, besides furnishing the capital for these enterprises, also furnishes a very large proportion of that employed in conducting the operations of the OSWEGO STARCH FACTORY, which is by far the largest establishment of its kind in the world, and which may very properly take the lead in this chapter on the manufactures of Auburn, which is and' has been from the inception of that enter- prise the headquarters of the concern ; the finan- cial office and a majority of the directors being located here.

THE OSWEGO STARCH COMPANY was the first company organized under the law of February 17th, 1848. Their organization and incorporation date from March 29th of that year. The incor- porators were Erastus Case, Sylvester Willard, M. D., Roswell Curtis, Nelson Beardsley, A. H. Goss, Alonzo G. Beardsley, Theodore P. Case and Augustus Pettibone of Auburn, and Thomas Kingsford of Oswego, of whom Dr. Willard, Nel- son and Alonzo G. Beardsley and Theodore P. Case are living and connected with the company. The capital, which at the organization was $50,- 000, has been increased from time to time to $500,000. Dr. Willard was elected president at the organization of the company and has per- formed the duties of that office with singular ac- 28

ceptance ever since. At the twenty-fifth annual meeting of the Board of Directors, he was unex- pectedly presented with an elegant and costly epergne, as an evidence of the esteem in which he was held by his associates and in recognition of his services in that capacity for a quarter of a century. He also acted as treasurer from the organization till January, 1858, when the duties of that office devolved upon Alonzo G. Beardsley. who succeeded Albert H. Goss in the secretary- ship, January 20, 1849, and who is still the in- cumbent of both offices. Nelson Beardsley has held the office of vice-president from the date of organization to the present time. In 1874, Wm. P. Bcardsley of Auburn, was appointed assistant treasurer of the company, which office he now holds. The present directors are Sylvester Willard, Nelson Beardsley, Alonzo G. Beardsley, Wm. Allen, Theodore M. Pomeroy and Wm. H. Seward of Auburn, Thomson Kingsford of Os- wego, Edwin B. Morgan of Aurora, and Edward C. Chapin of New York city.

The manufactory was established in Oswego in the spring of 1848, and went into operation in the fall of the same year. The works were placed under the supervision of Thomas Kingsford and his son Thomson, to whose energy, perseverance and business capacity the great success which has attended the enterprise is mainly due. Since the death of his father, the supervision of the works has devolved entirely upon Mr. Thomson Kingsford, who possesses in an eminent degree those qualities which distinguished his father's management. At the Centennial exhibition this company made an elaborate display of its pro- ducts, which, for the elegance and expensiveness of the cases inclosing their exhibit attracted more attention than any other thing of that character.

D. M. OSBORNE & COMPANY'S MOWER AND REAPER WORKS. - This is decidedly the most im- portant industry in the city of Auburn as respects the number of hands employed, the amount of local material used, and the amount regularly dis- tributed to the labor and commerce of the city. Its eight hundred and fifty employés, many of them heads of families, would with those depen- dent upon them, form a village of respectable size, and constitute a very important factor in the progress and prosperity of the city.

The funds disbursed by this company are drawn mainly from distant States, or from for-

164

CITY OF AUBURN.

eign countries, and are, therefore, so much added to the wealth of the locality. Unlike the com- mercial exchanges of one citizen with another, which is mere change of possession without any "increase of the local aggregate, this establish- ment brings in and locally distributes funds, which otherwise would never reach us. The future growth and prosperity of the city are mainly dependent upon the continued success of this and its other industrial establishments, whose products are sold in distant markets. When, therefore, as in this case, the history of an enterprise, running through twenty years, shows a constant, and, for the last decade especial- ly, a marvelous progress, it should be to us a source of gratification.

This company was started in 1858, with the manufacture of the Kirby reaper and mower, by David M. Osborne and O. I. Holbrook, and but twelve men were employed and one hundred and fifty machines made in that year. During the year the firm of D. M. Osborne & Co. was formed, which comprised D. M. Osborne, C. C. Dennis and Charles P. Wood. The latter re- tired in 1862, and Mr. Dennis died in 1866. After Mr. Dennis' death, John H. Osborne and Orrin Burdick were admitted to the firm. Mean- while its business had rapidly increased. The single building at first used had been supple- mented by several others ; the twelve men with which the enterprise started had been increased to several hundred ; the machines annually made had arisen from hundreds to thousands, and every needful manufacturing facility had been correspondingly increased. This was then but one of three establishments engaged here in the same business, each with large capital and each producing several thousand machines per year. The Cayuga Chief and the Dodge & Stevenson manufacturing companies were rivals for the trade. The latter company went into liquida- tion, and there was a consolidation of the Cayuga Chief with D. M. Osborne & Co., under the latter name.

This was a very judicious movement and brought under one general organization abundant capital, and superior business and mechanical talent. William M. Kirby, C. Wheeler, Jr., and Orrin Burdick were each distinguished for supe- rior inventive and mechanical skill and each had given many years attention to the improvement

of mowers and reapers. It was therefore a very strong company, financially, mechanically and commercially. There was no lack of vigor or energy in the development of their business. They extended it over the United States and Canada, and into the following countries : South America, Great Britain, France, Germany, Aus- tria, Italy, Russia, Norway, Sweden, Australia and New Zealand. They sell to foreign nations annually two thousand five hundred machines.

This company now .make annually about fifteen thousand machines, averaging while at work over five completed machines an hour, or one in twelve minutes ; they consume annually five thousand tons of coal, or over sixteen tons per diem ; an equal amount of pig iron and two thousand tons of bar iron and steel ; of lumber they consume two and one-half million feet, and disburse an- nually about one million dollars. They employ eight hundred and fifty men, to whom thirty-five thousand dollars are paid monthly.

These expressive figures so emphasize the magnitude and importance of this enterprise as to render further comment superfluous. The officers of the present consolidated company are : President, D. M. Osborne; Treasurer, A. G. Beardsley ; Secretary, John H. Osborne. The Trustees are : D. M. Osborne, A. G. Beardsley, John H. Osborne, C. Wheeler, Jr., William A. Kirby, H. Morgan and O. H. Burdick.

AUBURN MANUFACTURING COMPANY .- This important enterprise was organized as the E. C. Tuttle Manufacturing Company in 1867, with the following officers : Charles P. Wood, Presi- dent ; Israel F. Terrill, Vice-President ; Delos M. Keeler, Secretary and Treasurer ; James Henderson, Agent ; and E. C. Tuttle, Superin- tendent of the manufacturing department.

The capital of the company was $300,000, which was promptly subscribed, chiefly by the citizens of Auburn. The buildings were erected on the west side of Division street, corner of Clark, and cost at first $120,000, to which large additions have since been made to meet the de- mands of the continually increasing business.

In 1871 the title of the company was changed as above, with E. C. Denio, as Superintendent, and Charles M. Howlet, Treasurer. Under the management of these gentlemen the manufac- turing and commercial departments of the com- pany were vigorously prosecuted in the face of

[Photo by Squyer & Wright. ]

FREDERICK VAN PATTEN.

FREDERICK VAN PATTEN, of Auburn, was born in the town of Victory, Cayuga County, N. Y., September 22d, 1836. At an early age he at- tended district school, and later was sent to Syra- cuse, where he made rapid progress for the limi- ted time there. At the age of sixteen he became an apprentice with Mr. Joel G. Northrup, of Syra- cuse, to learn the machinist's trade, remaining three years. He then went to Hartford, Conn., where he found employment in Colt's Armory. Soon his ability was recognized and he was placed in charge of one of the most important depart- ments of that establishment. Here he remained until 1861, when he was induced to accept a po- sition with the Remingtons,' the celebrated man- ufacturers of fire-arms, of Ilion, N. Y. He re- mained with them until 1864, when he went to

Auburn, and was made Superintendent of the celebrated E. D. Clapp manufactory, or the Fifth Wheel Works, of Auburn. In 1867 he be- came a partner in that establishment, but still continues the superintendency. He has aided in the development of the works, and the quality of their productions is now unequalled by any other similar establishment in the world. In 1857, Mr. Van Patten married Miss Caroline Hass, of Bridgeport, Conn., who died in 1871. The fruit of this union was two daughters. In Septem- ber, 1876, Mr. Van Patten married Miss Libbie Steel, of Ilion, N. Y.

Mr. Van Patten's life has been sedulously de- voted to his · business and he has consequently gained a thorough knowledge of it in all its branches.

165

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS.

strong competition ; the business annually in- creased, and the mechanical neatness and per- fection of their goods gave them precedence over their rivals. Markets were sought for their pro- ducts throughout this country, and their home trade largely increased. At the same time suc- cessful efforts were made to sell abroad, and a large and profitable trade was established.

The goods which they manufacture embrace nearly every variety of agricultural hand imple- ments, extending to several hundred varieties, and including hay and manure forks, and straw and spading forks, grain, grass and bush scythes, socket, shank, planters, cotton, mortar and street hoes, cast-steel and malleable iron garden rakes, hay, straw and corn knives, grain cradles, scythe snaths and hand rakes. All the implements made by this company are of the latest and neat- est designs, combining beauty of appearance and convenience and durability in use. The stock used and the mechanics employed are the best of their class, and the goods produced deservedly rank with the best anywhere made.

The company have ample facilities for the rapid, cheap and perfect production of stock. Their buildings have been from time to time ex- tended and now cover several acres. They con- trol two water-wheels equaling four hundred horse-power: and the most complete machinery is employed, adapted to each special class of work.

The goods of this company are very widely distributed throughout the United States and Canada, the principal nations of Europe, in South America, New Zealand and Australia.

It is an interesting fact that the forks, hoes, &c., made by this company, are sold to the old and mechanically famous nations of England, France and Germany, and are preferred by their farmers to the clumsy and heavier tools of their own production.

When put in competition with similar produc- tions of the world, as the goods of this company have been on two notable occasions-at our own Centennial and the Paris Exposition-they re- ceived on both occasions medals of the highest merit. At all the fairs where an exhibit of their goods has been made they have been awarded first premiums ; but a more significant proof of their superiority is found in the continually in- creasing orders from the same locality, where,

after having been thoroughly tested by practical use, they have been approved and " more of the same sort" called for. "The annual product of this company of hand tools is believed to be the greatest in variety and quantity of any factory in the world."*

The present officers of the company are T. M. Pomeroy, Vice-President ; C. M. Howlet, Treasurer ; E. C. Denio, Superintendent.

THE E. D. CLAPP MFG. Co .- This business was commenced in a small way in 1865, by E. D. Clapp & Co., in a part of the City Mills, on Me- chanic street. The mechanical supervision of the work was in charge of Mr. F. Van Patten, a mechanic of rare ability and large experience in the armories at Springfield, Hartford, and Ilion. Mr. Clapp had been a carriage maker, and was familiar with the wants of that trade.

The first articles made were thill couplings, and to these were soon added fifth wheels. Mr. Van Patten and M. S. Fitch werc admitted to the firm, and the business, within the first four years, had outgrown the limited quarters on Mechanic street. The firm, in 1869 erected a large three- story factory on Water street, ample, it was be- lieved, to meet the demands of their business for many years to come.

Here new lines of goods were added, including stump-joints, kingbolts, and the Miner, Stevens' and Saunders' patent coupling, the latter being the only patent thill coupling of the hundreds invented, that has ever become a standard arti- cle in the trade. Their business so increased as to demand the work of two sets of hands, the factory running, for the most part, night and day.

Mr. Fitch retired from the firm in 1873 and the business was continued by Messrs. Clapp and Van Patten.

The factory, ample as it had been considered, was found inadequate to meet the demands of their augmenting business, and they erected, in 1874, a much larger factory, on extensive grounds, on the corner of Genesee and Division streets, directly on the line of the Southern Central R. R., affording facilities for the convenient receipt and distribution of their large amount of freight.

The rapid growth of the business now necessi- tated a further enlargement and, in 1875, an addition was erected 40 by 100 feet. A growth so rapid and continuous, for so long a period, and

* Great Industries of the United States, page 698.

166

CITY OF AUBURN.

during such severe and general commercial and manufacturing depression, resulted from potent and peculiar causes. The manufacture of forged carriage irons by machinery is of comparatively recent origin. Before 1860, the forging of small pieces of iron in dies, by drop-hammers had been done in New England to a limited extent only. The war gave a great impetus to the science of drop forging for gun-work, and at its close, the experience thus gained, was directed largely to improvements in the manufacture of carriage hardware. Mr. Van Patten was entirely familiar with that form of forging and die-sinking and prepared to successfully adapt it to the new in- dustry ; while the practical experience of Mr. Clapp in carriage-building, enabled him wisely to direct the kind and style of work to be done.

Hitherto this work had been done by hand, with less perfection and at much greater cost. A blacksmith shop and carriage shop had been necessary complements of each other. Now, very little hand forging for carriages is done, and only in remote localities.

This radical change in the methods of ironing carriages, is largely due to the persevering and intelligent efforts of Messrs. Clapp and Van Pat- ten, who have made and generally introduced a more varied and practical assortment of carriage forgings than any other manufacturers in this country. They have introduced and are continu- ally introducing new lines of goods ; have invent- ed and patented new articles and processes of manufacture, and secured the control of patented articles, which have acquired great popularity in the trade. Their Centennial exhibit embraced nearly four hundred pieces, which were the most complete and perfect of their kind exhibited, and were models of practical utility and mechanical perfection. Fifth wheels have been a specialty of their business, of which they can produce over 100,000 per year, without diminishing the pro- duction of their other goods.

A stock company was organized August Ist, 1876, comprising some of the most conservative and substantial citizens of Auburn. The paid up capital was $150,000, and the management of the business remained with the old firm, who were the largest stock-holders. The following named gentlemen comprised the first board of trustees : E. D. Clapp, F. Van Patten, Charles Standart, Byron C. Smith, James G. Knapp,

William B. Woodin, C. C. Dwight, J. N. Knapp, L. E. Carpenter, D. E. Clapp, P. S. Hadger, and W. H. Meaker. The officers were, Presi- dent and Treasurer, E. D. Clapp ; Vice-Presi- dent, L. E. Carpenter ; Secretary, D. E. Clapp ; Superintendent, F. Van Patten. The same trus- tees and officers have since been continued.

The business of the company soon demanded further accommodations and, in 1878, a large store-house was erected over the trestle-work at the north end of the company's grounds, and the foundations laid for new buildings, both on Gene- see and Division streets, and brick offices were erected. Work is in progress on a three story brick building, 40 by 80 feet, fronting on Genesee street. When the buildings now in process of erection are completed, the factory will be of the following dimensions : Main building used for forge room and iron house, 281 by 40 feet; machine shop 40 by 80, three stories high and basement ; office and warehouse, 70 feet on Gencsee street, and extending back on Division street, 236 feet, to the track of the Southern Central Railroad, store-house and pattern-rooms on the north side of lot, 50 by 40 feet. The quadrilateral will be thus enclosed by buildings, the exterior frontage of which will exceed 800 feet.

The company have a large wholesale and retail coal trade and a trestle about 250 feet long, a part of which is covered and used as a freight depot. Huge drop hammers, which vary in weight from 500 to 1,500 pounds, and rise and fall by means of friction rollers, from seventy to ninety times a minute, executes their work with great perfec- tion and dispatch. These drops and the dies which form the pieces, are all made in the fac- tory. The red-hot iron is pressed by the blows of the drops into steel dies or moulds, which give the shape intended. Of some kinds from 3,000 to 4,000 pieces can be thus forged in a day. They are afterwards finished and fitted ready for use.

The company employ about 150 men and finish fully double the product which was possible but a few years ago. Hayden and Smith are the sole agents for the sale of their goods, which are sold in all parts of the United States, in Canada and Australia, and which include every piece of forged iron used in ironing a carriage, in a form and finish ready for application to the wood-work. Among the principal pieces are thill couplings,

167

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS.

fifth wheels, king-bolts, axle clips, perch plates, stump-joints, joint-ends, steps, shifting-rails, body-loop ends, slat-irons, king-bolts, and axle- clip ties, fancy-bolts, top-props, etc. These are supplied in complete sets, or in detached parts as desired. No other manufacturers supply, as do this firm, complete sets of forged iron work for carriages. The sets for top buggies contain over one hundred pieces of hardware.

EMPIRE WRINGER COMPANY .- In April, 1872, a cöpartnership firm was organized to manufac- ture and sell clothes-wringers, under the above title. The copartners were: C. M. Howlet, H. N. Lockwood, John S. Fowler, Jacob Brink- erhoff, J. N. Starin, H. V. Quick and L. G. Barger. C. M. Howlet was appointed manager and the firm commenced the business of manu- facturing clothes wringers under the patents obtained by J. Brinkerhoff.

Subsequently Messrs. Starin and Quick sold their respective interests in the business to C. M. Howlet, N. B. S. Eldred and A. S. Lee. In 1874, Mr. Eldred sold his interest to L. W. Ney and Mr. Lee to C. M. Howlet. On Sep- tember Ist, 1876, C. M. Howlet and E C. Denio purchased the entire business pursuant to the conditions of the original cöpartnership.

In December, 1876, a company was incorpo- rated under the laws of this State, with a capital of $64,000. The president and manager was C. M. Howlet and the secretary, E. C. Denio ; Jacob Brinkerhoff, general sales agent and Henry J. White superintendent of the manufactory.

During the year, 1876, 24,000 wringers were made and sold. During the same period, patented folding cots and washing benches were added to the product, and in 1877 the manufacture of the Empire steel-band, barbed fencing was intro- duced. Of the features which have given de- served popularity both to the wringers and steel band fencing of this company, they have the monopoly, under exclusive and definite patents.

The special merits of the Empire Wringer and the enterprise of the company in making them known have led to their rapid and wide introduc- tion, not only in this country, but also in many foreign countries, in South and Central America, New Zealand, Australia, Sweden, Norway, Rus- sia, France and Austria and to England and · Germany. Large shipments are made monthly, upon regular standing orders.

The development of this business to its present magnitude has, it will be noticed, taken place during a period of general commercial depression, indicating at once unusual merit in the goods produced and skill in their commercial manage- ment.

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History of Cayuga County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 30

Author: Storke, Elliot G., 1811-1879. cn Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason Number of Pages: 762

Author: Storke, Elliot G., 1811-1879. cn
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 762