History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. II, Part 25

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898,
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co.
Number of Pages: 1286

USA > New York > Westchester County > History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. II > Part 25

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been born near Trenton, N. J., on the 14th of Octo- ber, 1818. He died on the evening of an election day, having just been elected to Congress by the willing votes of his fellow-citizens, to which his own grateful employes lent all possible sympathy, from their sense of obligation to him as their employer and friend. We shall speak more fully of this in a later part of our work.

After the death of Alexander Smith the business was continued by his heirs under the firm-name of Alexander Smith & Sons' Carpet Co., of which the president is Mr. Warren B. Smith, and the secretary and treasurer is Mr. William F. Cochran. When Mr. Smith died, the number of operatives employed in his mills was about sixteen hundred. The present number is abont three thousand. The machine-shops of the company are connected with the mill on Pali- sade Avenue and nearly all the machines used in their factories are constructed here. This carpet mill is used principally for weaving tapestry Brussels and velvet earpets. The mills all together contain six hundred and sixty-five looms, of which three hundred and sixty-five are for tapestry and velvet, and three hundred are for Moquette, Axminster and Chenille carpets.

The history of these great works has been from the beginning one of nearly uninterrupted progress. It is necessary, however, to make this history complete, to say that in 1885 a serious and disastrous strike broke out among the operatives. It began about the middle of March and continued till the beginning of the following July. Of course it very much crip- pled the mills, and it caused the loss of very many thousands of dollars to the operatives who partici- pated, or were unwillingly involved, in it. It also brought great injury to all the general business of Yonkers, which very much depends on the continued progress of its industries, among which this is the greatest. All Yonkers has reason to hope that no such oceurrence, from all its future experience, may have to be put on record again. ·

Among the names of the famous inventors whose skill and ingenuity have advaneed our manufactures, and inereased the wealth of our country, an honorable place is due to the name of Halcyon Skinner, who was born at Mantua, Ohio, March 6, 1824, and who has long been identified with the Smith & Louis Carpet Company. His father, Joseph Skinner, mar- ried Susan Eggleston, and lived at Springfield, Mass. He was a man of great mechanical ability and almost always followed mechanical occupations, being a good workman at several trades.

Among other work he engaged in the manufacture of violins and constructed a set of machines for forming the various parts of those instruments with speed and accuraey.

Among these machines was one for cutting wood into thin strips for the sides of violins. And this was so suc- cessful, that he was led to eonstruet another for

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eutting vencers for general use. He was the first who invented a practical machine for that purpose. While his father was thus employed, the son was at- tending school in the winter and working during the summer, sometimes at mechanical work and some- times for the neighboring farmers. In 1838 his father moved to West Farms in Westchester County, and for a while his machine was operated at that place. But as it did not prove to be a financial snecess he went back to the business of making violins and seemed on the road to success, when on the 6th of March, 1845, the mill took fire and all his machines and stoek were destroyed. Young Skiuner then went to work as a carpenter, and was engaged in that busi- ness till the fall of 1849. About that time he met Alexander Smith, who owned a small carpet-factory and was engaged with John T. McNair, in making some experiments in parti-coloring yaru to be used in the manufacture of ingrain carpets. The object was to dye different parts of a skein of yarn of different colors, so that when woven, each eolor should coure in its proper place and thus avoid a striped appear- ance, which is so great a defect in ingrain earpet. This required reels of peculiar construction, with au apparatus for holding the skeins and lowering them into the dye vats accurately to any depth required. As Haleyon had become known as a skillful workman, Mr. Smith applied to him to make the necessary machinery and he was engaged for a considerable time in planning and constructing. In the spring of 1850, matters were so far advanced that Mr. Smith resolved to begin the manufacture of a new style of carpet, and as Mr. Skinner had succeeded in over- coming the difficulties incident to the work, and the new fabric met with favor from the trade, a new build- ing was erected, and in the course of two years, about one hundred hand-looms were put in operation and the business was carried on very prosperously.

In 1855 Mr. Smith applied to him for the assistance of his skill to invent some method by which a power- loom could be made to weave Axminster or tufted carpet. To this invention Mr. Skinner devoted his time and attention and planned some devices by which the various operations required might be uc- complished. Upon exhibiting these to Mr. Smith, he was convineed of the practieability of the design, and directed him to continue his efforts and see what could be done. In 1856 he obtained u patent with Mr. Smith, and made an experimental loom, which although necessarily imperfect, demonstrated the practicability of his ideas. He continued to make changes and improvements, and in 1860, had a very complete and satisfactory loom in operation. The next year he made astill more perfect loom, which Mr. Smith intended to exhibit at the International Exhibi- tion in London, in 1862, but in January of that year, his factory was entirely destroyed by fire, except an outbuilding which contained the new loom. MIr. Skinner took the loom to the exhibition and remained

with it till the elose, and on his returu he obtained a new patent. In the meantime, a ucw factory had been ereeted and for a year or two he was engaged in experimenting with a power-loom for weaving ingrain carpet. In the spring of 1864 the factory was again destroyed, the building in which the new looms were being again saved. In the fall Mr. Smith removed his business to Youkers aud purchased the premises now owned by the tapestry weaving-mill. The tapestry ingrain manufacture was again started and a number of looms which had been purchased from a concern in Massachusetts, were set up, but they proved so defective that they narrowly escaped being sold for old iron. Mr. Skinner then took them in hand and sueeceded in getting them in working condition. Ile also invented and had built a number of looms ou an improved plan, which were very successfully operated for several years, or until Mr. Smith discontinued the business. Several Axminster looms were added and a new factory erected. At this time Mr. Smith resolved to engage in the manufacture of tapestry carpets and procured looms and machinery from England. The business was successful, but the looms were clumsy and inconvenient. Mr. Skinner was again called upon to make improvements, and he succeeded to such an extent, that the old looms were sold for a small price to make room for the new ones. Shortly afterward, Mr. Smith again applied to him to invent a power-loom for weaving Moquette car- pets and thus produce a fabric nearly equal to Ax- minster and costing considerably less. Mr. Skinner's efforts were successful and he soon had a loom which gave very promising results. A large building was creeted at the corner of Elm Street aud Palisade Avenue, which was soon filled with the new looms and the machinery connected with them. In 1878 his loomis were introduced into England and France, and Mr. Skinner spent some time in those countries putting them in operation. On his return he ob- tained new patents, and at the end of 1882, there were two hundred tapestry, one hundred and six Moquette and about thirty Axminster looms in opera- tion. As the demand increased, a new company was started, and new buildings erected for the purpose of manufacturing Moquettes exclusively, and one hundred looms were started at the new works. After running awhile in this way, arrangements were made to transfer all the Moquette business to the new establishment, and the room in the old works was filled with looms and other machinery for weaving tapestry carpets. One hundred and fifty new looms were built, and ut the same time additions were made to the first mill, nearly doubling its capacity. In 1884 the business was still further extended, and another building was erected capable of accommodating one hundred and fifty looms, und fifty new ones were added. At the beginning of 1885, there were in operation three hundred and fifty tapestry looms, about two hun-

H. Skinner

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dred and twenty Moquette looms and eight Axnin- ster, and arrangements made for still greater extension of the business. The out-put per day was over twen- ty-six thousand yards of earpet, making about eight million yards per year, and the works furnish occu- pation for thirty-five hundred operatives and cm- ployes of various grades.

This business, which is now the most extensive estab- ment in the city of Yonkers, owes its existence to the wonderful mechanical ingenuity of Mr. Skinner, and his inventions and improvements have justly placed him in a high rank among American inven- tors.

Mr. Skinner married Eliza Pierce, who died in 1869, He subsequently married Adelaide, daughter of Henry P. Cropsey, of Brooklyn. His children are Charles E., Albert L., Herbert Y., Uretta B. and Aurelia L., all by his first marriage.

SMITH'S SODA WATER FACTORY .- The establish- ment of D. H. Smith, at first situated on the corner of Main Street and Warburton Avenue, was moved to a new building on Engine Place, James and John Streets. The premises are eighty feet square, and accommodate a large business in the manufacture of soda water, supplying druggists and dealers with charged fountains and bottling soda and other bever- ages. The average bottling done here is about one thousand dozen daily, but the facilities are such that fifteen hundred dozen could be turned out with ease. Mr. Smith started before 1870, and has been over six- teen years in the business in Yonkers.

WESTCHESTER GAS-LIGIIT CO .- Under this head we may condense the history of a succession of efforts to establish an Illuminating and Fuel Gas Company in Yonkers, which has as yet neither succeeded nor wholly failed. On the 20th of September, 1870, the village authorities granted to a corporation organized under the name of " The People's Gas Co.," the right to manufacture illuminating gas, and lay pipes through the streets for its distribution. This company went so far as to build a holder on the west side of Nepperhan Avenue north of Ashburton, but without going any further, sold out, November 23, 1872, to another organization called "The City Gas Company." This company, without doing anything at all, sold out to the Westchester Gas-Light Company, which was incorporated in 1875. This new company really ear- ried forward operations, piped the city to a certain cx- tent, and manufactured and sold gas for several years. In 1879 another company was incorporated under the name of the Yonkers Fucl Gas Company. This com- pany leased the already existing property of the West- chester Gas Company, and also itself built new works near the river-front, on Nepperhan Street. Its object in doing the latter was to supply a strong, erude gas for fuel, but the experiment did not command popular support. The affairs of both these companies went in- to the hands of a receiver in October, 1883, and in this condition they still remain. But in May, 1884, still

another company was incorporated, called "The Yonkers Fucl, Light, and Power Company." This company leased from the receiver just mentioned the works of both the last two companies named. It is solvent and is manufacturing gas now. But mean- while, holders of mortgages on the property it leases have foreclosed, and the property is now advertised for sale. It is understood that some arrangement, cither under those who are now carrying on the opera- tions or under wholly new hands, is likely to be made, by which work will be continued, and these develop- ments will not after all be practically thrown away.

FLEMING'S WOOL EXTRACT FACTORY .- This was started by John K. Fleming in 1876. The business is that of extracting the wool from rags, so that it can be used again. It was begun on Nepperhan Street, but in 1877 it was moved to Chickeu Island in a building leased of Edward Underhill. This was burned in 1881, causing a loss of four thousand dol- lars. The present factory, on Bridge Street, near Ludlow Station, was then built and occupied. It employs from twelve to fifteen hands. There is in the State but one other establishment of this kind, and that is located at Little Falls.

THE NEW YORK PLOW COMPANY .- The business from which this has grown was started at Peekskill by Messrs. Minor & Horton as far back as the year 1826. In 1863 that business fell into the hands of the Peekskill Plow Company. This afterwards con- solidated with the New York Plow Company, which had thien been recently started at Newark, N. J., and the business was transferred thither. The works there having been burned, the business was removed to Yonkers in 1878, where the large building on Vark Street, between Riverdale and Hawthorne Ave- nues, previously used by the Clipper Mowing-Machine Company, was secured and occupied till 1882. Then the business was removed to its present location at the foot of Vark Strect. The foundry here is eighty by one hundred and fifty feet, the forge-shop forty- two by two hundred and ten feet and the pattern- shop, which is fireproof, forty by forty feet. There are also a brick machine-shop, containing the offices, and a two-story store-liouse. The average number of hands employed the year through is about one hun- dred and thirty. Plows, harrows, cultivators, ensilage and fodder-cutters and other agricultural implements are manufactured, and many of their goods are sent to foreigu countries. The officers of the company are James B. Brown, president; J. W. Douglass, secre- tary ; and John Pentreath, superintendent. The New York office is at No. 55 Beekman Street.

ROSE, MCALPIN & Co. (Nepperhan Leather- Works) .- This firm, composed of G. L. Rose, G. L. McAlpin and W. W. McAlpin, began business in 1879 at the place formerly occupied by James Kitter- ingham. They admitted Mr. Kitteringham to part- nership with them, but he soon withdrew. In 1882 they creeted the works on Elm Street, known as the

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HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

Nepperhan Leather-Works, for the purpose of mann- facturing moroeco of all deseriptions, in addition to fancy leathers, in which they had previously been en- gaged. The works employ from one hundred and fifty to two hundred men.

THE MUNICIPAL GAS COMPANY .- This company was organized June 2, 1879. Its original trustees were W. C. Fargo, G. W. King, B. F. Sherman, F. W. Allen and E. J. Jerzmanowski. The capital stoek was limited to one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars. Works were erccted at Ludlow and gas was manufactured from water, under the pro- cess patented by C. Tessie de Montay. The works at Ludlow are well built, and are in their arrangement and seenrity so nearly perfect that the insurance companies take risks on them at twenty to thirty- three and one-third per cent. less preminm than on any other gas-works in the city. The company has mains in nearly every street in Yonkers, but its opera- tions are not extended beyond the city limits. They have a capacity for manufacturing one hundred and fifty thousand feet a day, the gas being twenty-twoto twenty-four eandle-power. The company had the contraet for lighting the city till July, 1885. Lamps were kept burning all night for fifteen dollars a lamp per year. There are in the city six hundred and six public lamps. The price of gas in 1885 was $1.25 per thonsand feet. The officers of the company are Dr. Samuel Swift, president ; Peter U. Fowler, vice-presi- dent ; J. Foster Jenkins, secretary and treasurer ; and T. B. Crowell, superintendent. G. W. King was president from the organization for abont six months, when he was succeeded by B. F. Sherman, and he, in turn, was followed by Dr. Swift May 4, 1884.

THE WESTCHESTER TELEPHONE COMPANY .- A telephone exchange was started in Yonkers under the management of the Western Union Telegraph Company January 6, 1880. It had forty-five sub- seribers. It was sold by the Western Union to the Metropolitan Telegraph and Telephone Company of New York City about Jnly Ist of the same year, and became the property of the Westchester Telephone Company about October 1, 1881. At that time the company was not fully organized with a complete system of officers. The organization was completed abont a month later. George L. Philips then became general manager in place of L. B. Harris, who had acted as such up to that time. General C. H. Bar- ney was general superintendent for awhile, beginning in December, 1881. These managers operated from their office in New York City, the local exchange and the general oversight of the business in this locality being conducted by Miss A. H. Adgate. About January 1, 1882, W. R. Cabot was appointed assistant general manager, with his office in Yonkers. He continued in that position till December of the same year, after which there was no general superin- tendent on the field till the appointment of R. E. Alexander, the present nesistant manager, about

October 1, 1883. Miss Adgate was the first manager of the Yonkers Exchange, serving from the time it was opened till April 30, 1884, when she resigned, and the dutics of that position were assumed by the assistant manager.

The company is incorporated under the general State law, and operates under licenses from the Ameri- can Bell Telephone Company. Nearly all the stock is held by parties outside of Yonkers, and the central offices of the company are in New York City. Its officers are Dexter A. Smith, president ; H. L. Storke, vice-president and general manager ; and C. F. Cutler, secretary and treasurer. The district of its opera- tions comprises the territory north of New York City to a line thirty-three and one-third miles from the City Hall, und including Haverstraw and Nyack on the west side of the river. The exchanges are at Peekskill, Sing Sing, Tarrytown, White Plains, Mount Vernon, Hartsdale, Port Chester. Rye, New Rochelle Westchester, Haverstraw and Nyack. These ex- changes have connections with smaller towns and villages near them. The distriet is connected with New York, and by this means connections may be made with any city or locality in this section of the country. The Yonkers Exchange has two hundred and sixty-four subscribers and in the whole district there are about six hundred subscribers more. There are in the district about one thousand miles of wire, and the work of maintaining and operating is done by thirty-nine employes.

MEDICINAL MANUFACTURES .- On the 12th of January, 1885, a fire occurred which destroyed an im- mense building standing between Doek Street and Nepperhan Street, and facing the bend of the Nep- perhan River. This building was construeted by the late C. H. Lilienthal, and was long used by him as a tobacco-factory. At the time of the fire it had been occupied since 1881 by Reed & Carnsick, mannfactur- ers of beef peptonoids, and by the Maltine Mannfae- turing Co. for the manufacture of maltine. In the spring of 1884 it became also the headquarters of the New York Pharmaceutical Association for the manu- facture of Laetopeptine. The fire destroyed maelii- nery and stock belonging to these companies to the amount of ninety thousand dollars in value. The Mal- tine Manufacturing Company since the fire live car- ried on their operations in the building on Palisade Ave- nue, formerly occupied by Flagg's factory. They are in that building now.

THE FERN BROOK CARPET CO -This company, located near Ludlow Station, began business in the spring of 1881, having been in operation before, under the name of the Hamilton Wooloid Co. The pro- duct sought was "wooloid," which was obtained by subjecting hair to n chemical process that gave it a erimp and spring, in effect closely resembling wool, at the same time subdning its glossy and wiry appear- unce. The process was the invention of Mr. Gideon Hamilton, who was secretary and treasurer of the

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S. S. HEPWORTH & CO.,

GENERAL SUGAR MACHINERY AND MACHINE TOOLS, YONKERS. N Y.

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YONKERS.

original corporation, while Charles R. Flint was its president. In the summer of 1882 the works began to produce from this material yarns for ingrain car- pets, using the wooloid as a basis in combination with wool and camels' hair.

The connection of Mr. Hamilton with the company was dissolved in April, 1883, and a reorganization took placc. Mr. Flint remained its president, William N. Ivins became vice-president and treasurer, and H. T. Bragg secretary and superintendent of the works. The stock capital was made $50,000, and in thic fall of that year the plant for spinning was doubled at an expense of about $15,000. The company was again reorgan zed October 1, 1885, under the name of " The Fern Brook Carpet Co.," Messrs. W. & J. Sloane, of New York, taking an interest in the new departure, Mr. Walter W. Law becoming president, and Mr. Ivins and Mr. Bragg remaining treasurer and super- intendent as before. The new company now have six scts of woolen cards, nine hundred and fifty-four spindles, forty-five two-ply and five three-ply ingrain looms, dye-houses, etc., complete for the manufacture of two and three-ply ingrain carpets of the very best quality. The first installment for the manufacture of Wilton and Body Brussels carpets is now in the mills and in operation. The indications are that in the future themanufacture of this line of goods will super- sede other work in these mills.

THE WASHBURN & MOORE MANUFACTURING CO. -This company was organized for the manufacture of sanitary plumbing apparatus. It began business at its present location, corner of Dock and River Streets, in March, 1882. The manufactures of the company include a number of patented fixtures, of which Mr. C. H. Moore, one of the company, and a practical plumber, is the inventor. The company make the "Star" and "Eclipse" water-closets, which they claim arc so constructed as absolutely to prevent the escape of sewer gas into a dwelling. Their " no overflow basin and bath valve " obviates the necessity for an overflow pipe for basins and baths. They also manufacture improved hydrants and strect washers. The business extends throughout the country. They have fitted up with their apparatus the mansions of Wm. H. Vanderbilt, Samuel J. Tilden, Prof. J. Ogden Doremus, the buildings of the Mutual Life Insurance Co., in New York, the building of the Chicago Board of Trade and many others.

HEPWORTH & Co.'s SUGAR MACHINERY .- S. S. Hepworth & Co., who had, since 1875, been established in New York City, removed to Yonkers and estab- lished here the manufacture of machinery for sugar plantations and refineries in May, 1883. This firm is said to be the only one engaged in this branch of manufacture in the United States. Other lincs of machinery, such as engines, lathes and machinists' tools, are also made here. The grounds covered by the buildings of the company lie on the river and between it and the railroad track, and arc in extent

one hundred and thirty-five by three hundred feet. The capacity of the works is equal to the employment of three hundred hands.

THE YONKERS DISTRICT TELEGRAPH CO .- This company was incorporated in January, 1884, and fully organized about the 1st of February. Its capital stock was fixed at fifteen thousand dollars, nearly all of which was takeu. The original board of directors were Dr. Samuel Swift, Theodore Fitch, Stepheu D. Field, George W. Blanchard, George II. Warren, E. L. Le Moyne and S. E. Simonds. The company has had very good success in its business, evidently sup- plying a nced which is strongly felt. One year and a half from its organization it declared a semi-annual dividend of three per cent. on the stock which had been taken and it is supposed that its carnings will enable it to continue similar dividends. The officers are Dr. Samuel Swift, president; George W. Blanch- ard, secretary and general manager; and George H. Warren, treasurer. The working force consists of Miss A. H. Adgate, manager, with an assistant manager, a sergeant and seven messenger boys, who are ready to go at any call to any part of the city or to any other city or town to which they may be sent.

THE AMERICAN GEAR COMPANY. - This is Yon- kers' most recent industrial organization. It was formed within 1885. It is incorporated under the manufacturing laws of the State of New York, with one hundred thousand dollars capital stock. It has its business office in the city of New York, and its new factory in Yonkers, between the Hudson River and the railroad, a few rods south of the Glen- wood Station. The company gives special attention to fine gear-cutting of every description, under a new system exclusively its own, by which all gears are cut gcometrically corrcet to any regular or fractional pitch, conforming to either the English or Metric measurements. A noted feature of their business is bevel gcaring, which, previous to the introduction of their system and improved machinery, could not be cut accurately and economically. They also build uni- versal milling-machines, steam, gas and electric mo- tors, power hoisting and safety clutches for elevators, wire book stitching and calendar eyeleting machines, geometric, rosette and jewelers' lathes, engineers' ruling and routing-machines, and a variety of ticket, label and fancy color printing-presses. In maintaiu- ing a high standard of work so great difficulties are met in securing intelligent, good mechanics, that this company has decided to connect with its practical work a mechanical school or department of physical science, lectures, mechanical drawing, etc., for the in- struction of select apprentices to supply thic com- pany's own needs, and to meet a great public want for a higher grade of mechanics. The president of the American Gear Company is Benjamin W. Cole, the vice president and treasurer is Henry Y. Chubb, and the superintendent is William Heckert.

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History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. II, Part 25

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898, Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co. Number of Pages: 1286

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898,
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co.
Number of Pages: 1286