The civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the county of Kings and the city of Brooklyn, N. Y., from 1683 to 1884 Volume I, Part 179

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909, ed. cn; Brockett, L. P. (Linus Pierpont), 1820-1893; Proctor, L. B. (Lucien Brock), 1830-1900. 1n
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York : W. W. Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1114

USA > New York > Kings County > Brooklyn > The civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the county of Kings and the city of Brooklyn, N. Y., from 1683 to 1884 Volume I > Part 179

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Mr. Wall was a public-spirited man, and identified with many local institutions. He was one of the original eighteen who started the Williamsburgh Savings Bank, serving for many years as its President. He was also one of the origin- ators of the Williamsburgh City, now the First National Bank, and of the Williamsburgh Dispensary. He served seven years as one of the Water Commissioners of Brooklyn, dur- ing which time the whole system of water supply was con- structed, economically and to the satisfaction of the citi- zens.

Mr. Wall, though in later years a resident of New York, was thoroughly identified with Brooklyn by reason of his large business establishment, his extensive ownership of real estate, and the erection of the Wall House, while his name will ever be remembered with gratitude for his faithful pub- lic services through many years.

Mr. Wall was dignified and somewhat reserved in manner, though genial in his social hours; he had a kind heart, that was easily reached by the call of suffering; his private char- ities were many, but unostentatious. While in Congress, it was his habit to visit the hospitals at Washington every day, where his presence gladdened both the loyal wounded and the Confederate prisoners as well, on account of his cheering words and the comforts which his open purse procured. Though a strong Union man, his tender heart felt for the suffering of the enemy's wounded, and his benefactions were given to both sides even-handed. He was a true friend to his employees, and almost the last act of his life was the signing of a check to help a deserving but unfortunate man.

He died April 22d, 1872, leaving to his family an honored name, and the record of a useful, well-spent and busy life.

CHARLES WALL, the eldest son of Hon. William Wall, was born in Brooklyn, in 1828. He received his education in his native city and at Swinburne's Academy, White Plains, New York, and spent two years abroad, chiefly in France, adding to the knowledge he had already gained. At the age of twenty-two he became a partner in the house of William Wall & Son, importers of hemp and manufacturers of and wholesale dealers in cordage. This business was established by Hon. William Wall, and its history is fully set forth in a biographical sketch of that well-remembered gentleman, which appears above. Mr. Charles Wall was a member of this firm, later called William Wall & Sons and William

Wall's Sons, until his death, in 1879, acting as manager of the business after the retirement of Hon. William Wall, and inventing much machinery, now used in the manufacture of cordage.

Mr. Wall married Miss Eliza Berry, daughter of Evander Berry, an extensive landowner in Brooklyn, E. D. He was one of the most prominent manufacturers of his time, and his advice was sought by manufacturers in all parts of the country upon matters of importance. In deliberative con- ventions of manufacturers he was esteemed as an able ex- ponent of the principles governing successful operation in the field they occupied. Politically, he was a republican: but his inclinations did not lead him to engage actively in political strife or controversy. He was known to all as the exemplification of personal honor and business probity, and enjoyed, in the highest degree, the confidence and esteem of all with whom he was brought in contact. In all the rela- tions of life he was upright and plain-spoken, and his position upon any question with which he interested himself was never questioned or doubted by any who knew him. He died in the prime of life, mourned sincerely by many, and by all pronounced an honest man, "the noblest work of God." The places which knew him once will know him no more forever; but, in the memory of relative and friend and business acquaintance, the name of Charles Wall will ever be held dear.

MICHAEL W. WALL .- After the retirement of their father from business, his sons, Charles, Michael W. and Frank T., carried on the establishment, under the firm name of William Wall's Sons. At the death of Charles, the eldest, the third son, Michael W., on account of the previous death of his brother, William Wall, Jr., assumed the management, which he still retains. Born in 1839, he came into the business as clerk in 1856, remaining until the breaking out of the war, when he joined the 8th Militia, in which he was lieutenant, and went with his regiment to the front. He saw some ser- vice, was wounded, and came home a captain, with an hon- orable military record. Upon his return, he continued his connection with the house as a partner, after a time becom- ing the head of the establishment. The capacity of the works has been increased one-third within the last four years; 500 men are employed, and the manufactured products find a ready market in foreign countries as well as in the United States.

Though Mr. Wall's residence is in New York, his business identifies him with Brooklyn. where he has large real estate interests also. He is prominently connected with the New York & Brooklyn Ferry Company, and other corporations. Though he is still a young man, the prosperity of the firm, under his management, and the prompt, efficient discharge of his various duties, indicate that he has inherited his father's business abilities. He is a member of several clubs in New York city, and there, as well as in general society, his genial manners, pleasant address, high social position, and cordial, kindly disposition, have won for him the hearty esteem of all with whom he is brought into contact.

Though not an active politician in the sense of being an aspirant for office, he has always taken a deep interest in all municipal, state and national questions, and maintains, with great vigor, the principles of the republican party. In per- sonal and mental characteristics he resembles his father, and is well known in business circles as one of that class of ener- getic, capable and honorable men, whose enterprise, public spirit and ability liave made New York and Brooklyn the metropolis of the western world.

Eng by A H Futt'

Charles Walls

Michael MoHall

721

THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES.

The third of these manufactories in the order of time, though the first in the extent and perfeetion of its plant, and the amount and variety of its products, is the house of L. Waterbury & Co., which is elaimed to be unrivalled in its capacity and varied production by any rope and eordage manufactory in the world. The present firm, of which Lawrence Waterbury, a son of Noah Waterbury, and William Marshall, a practical ropemaker sinee 1830, were the first partners, was not organized till 1846 .* Their ropewalk was first estab- lished on the south side of Ten Eyek street, but owing to a destruetive fire in 1849 they leased the building of the Thursby ropewalk adjoining, on the north side of that street, the proprietor having given up business. After the death of Mr. Thursby, the property eame into market, and Messrs. Waterbury & Co. purchased and added it to their property. Their traet, which now ex- tends from Meadow street to Grand street, and from Waterbury street to the eanal, comprises about 27 aeres -405 eity lots. Soon after their purehase they eom- meneed the erection of additional buildings, and a large part of their extensive traet is covered with their build- ings for various purposes. Among them are: a rope- walk proper, 1,600x40 feet; jenny houses, aggregating 525x40 ft., and three stories high, for preparing and spinning Manila, Sisal, Russian, American and Italian hemp; buildings aggregating 225x44 feet, three stories high, for the fine spinning of jute; paper-mill buildings aggregating 400x60, a part of them three stories high, and part one story; bagging mills for the eoarse spin- ning of jute butts yarn, aggregating over 200x60 feet, three stories high; a large laying shed, 150x100, where all the small rope is made; storage buildings and large eellars, capable of holding several months' products of manufactured goods, and storage sheds having a eapa- eity for many thousand bales of raw material. These last alone eover several aeres.

There are also large engine and boiler houses, stables for fifty horses, ete., ete.

Beside these there is a large machine shop, and ear- penter shops adjoining, where mueh of the machinery in use is either made or repaired. Every part of the production which ean be facilitated by machinery has its machines busily at work.

The bales of hemp are opened, the fibre "drawn" over and over again into a "sliver," the "sliver" into a "yarn," the yarn is "formed " into a " strand," and the " strand " is "laid " into a firm fine eord, or into a mass- ive rope, as may be required.

Other machines piek the hard bales of jute butts to pieces, then "eard " them and spin them into a coarse yarn, and they are woven into bagging ; or, for paper, they go through a eutter, and then into enormous re- volving eylinders ealled "rotaries;" then into " wash-

ing" and " beating " engines, where they become a fine light-brown pulp, and this is pumped into “stuff ehests " at the end of machines 60 to 80 feet long, in which it is transformed into paper, dried, ealendered, eut, folded and counted ready for delivery.

The processes for making the Harvester twine, jute rope, wool twine, ete., are similar, being only modifiea- tions of the other systems.

All the processes which ean be executed by ma- ehinery are turned over to the machines, yet 1,400 hands are required in the busiest seasons to superintend the machines, and to do what they eannot.

For driving all this machinery, and heating the numerous buildings, the following steam engines are required: One pair compound engines of 1,000 horse power, one pair compound engines of 500 horse power, one beam engine of 500 horse power, one pair of eom- pound engines of 100 horse power, one pair of eom- pound engines of 150 horse power, one beam engine of 350 horse power; in all, 2,600 horse power; and these engines are all driven up to their full eapaeity of work. The steam is furnished by 17 boilers. All the engines, except one small pair, are of Wright's eonstruetion. The small pair, as well as the numerous steam pumps, are of Knowles' manufacture.

The cost of this immense plant has been very heavy, probably amounting to more than $1,500,000; but the real estate has more than quadrupled in value.

Ropewalks are generally, though unjustly, supposed to be very liable to destruction by fire, so much so, that all the insurance companies rate them as hazardous or extra-hazardous; yet so perfeet and complete are the precautions against fire in this great establishment, that the New England Manufacturers' Mutual Insurance Companies' Association takes the risk at one per eent. and pays baek every year a dividend of from 60 to 80 per eent. of the premium. What are these precautions ? Through every room of all the buildings rows of pipes are run along the eeilings, and at a distance of from eight to ten feet apart taps are inserted with a large sprinkling apparatus. These taps have stoppers, eom- posed of soft metal, which melts at a temperature of not above 150° F., and as the pipes are connected with the street water-main's tanks, the moment the plug melts they each throw a heavy spray over a space of 100 square feet, and as they are only eight or ten feet apart, they will at onee deluge the room and extinguish any fire originating there. But lest the supply from the mains should give out, huge tanks of water, eon- taining many thousands of gallons, are constructed upon the roofs of the largest building, and kept eon- stantly filled and in order, to be supplied to pipes and hose throughout, while driven wells in the vieinity of the buildings furnish an abundance of water, which the steam fire-pumps eonld rapidly distribute over each of the rooms. This abundant supply is supplemented by a sufficient number of watehmen, whose vigilanee is

* Lawrence Waterbury received the rope factory originaliy as a gift from his father, Noah Waterbury, in 1844; but Mr. Marshaii did not come in as a partner untii 1846.

722

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

secured by the automatic action of an electric tell-tale watchman's clock, and the system is guarded by the frequent visits of the inspectors of the insurance com- pany, whose monthly reports are printed and distributed to all the insuring corporations. This system is also introduced into the Tucker & Carter Cordage Com- pany's works, and more recently into those of Messrs. William Wall's Sons.

The average out-put of this establishment is as fol- lows: Ropes and cordage (Manila and Sisal hemp, with some Russian and a little American), in all 9,000 tons, at an average price of $240 per ton, $2,160,000; Har- vester twine (Manila hemp), 4,000 tons, at $300 per ton, $1,200,000; bagging (mostly from jute butts), 6,240,000 yards, at 10 cents, $624,000; " Manila " paper (from jute butts stock), 3,000 tons, at $140 per ton, $420,000; jute rope and twine (wool twine from jute, not jute butts), $120,000; total out-put, $4,524,000.

It is worthy of notice in our history that this house was the first manufactory in this country, or any other, to utilize jute butts. Gunny bagging, which was made from jute raised in India and manufactured there, was for many years largely imported into the United States,; but the East Indian manufacturers had great difficulty in ridding themselves of the jute butts, or lower por- tion of the stalks of the jute (the plant was brought to them pulled up from the roots), and the butts were not only supposed to be worthless for manufacturing, but were a positive nuisance, and were only disposed of by compelling their employees to burn them in small quantities every day. A shipmaster, leaving Calcutta without a full cargo, was induced, in default of any- thing better, to take ncarly a hundred tons of these jute butts on board as ballast. Arrived in New York, he found in Mr. Marshall, of L. Waterbury & Co., a customer who consented to take it off his hands. By some adaptation of their machinery, Messrs. Water- bury & Co. were able to use this despised fibre for bagging, and have gone on using it ever since, and their example has been followed by other manufacturers, till now somewhat more than 40,000 tons of imported jute butts are imported annually. Of this amount Messrs. Waterbury & Co. use about 9,000 tons. The Govern- ment collected a duty of $6 per ton on it for several years. Last year the duty was reduced to $5.

After these houses come Lawrence & Cooper, of Maspeth avenue; Messrs. D. Allen's Sons, in South Brooklyn, and Samuel Ludlow, of Rockaway avenue, whose business, though on a smaller scale, is still large enough to be profitable. Only the second of these houses makes ropes to any extent. Mr. Ludlow makes a specialty of sash and hammock cords and clothes lines. There are eight or nine other small houses which manufacture no ropes, but make clothes lines, baling cord, lath yarns and twine of all descriptions, for all sorts of customers, for which there is a large and increasing demand. With an inexpensive plant,

and the work so light that much of it may be done by women and children, these houses are able to make a comfortable living, though not to acquire large fortunes.

It may be said, in conclusion, that the production of ropes and cordage from Manila and Sisal, Russian, New Zealand and American hemp, in Brooklyn, constitutes more than 40 per cent. of the entire production of the United States; and that though embarrassed by the heavy duty of $25 per ton of Manila, $15 on Sisal hemp, and $5 on jute butts-all unjustifiable imposi- tions on raw material which cannot be produced here- the American rope manufacturers can command the market of the world for their cordage, underselling Great Britain in her own colonies. Of course, their goods exported to foreign countries command a rebate, but this rebate is materially less than the duty.

SUBSECTION I .- Jute and Jute Butts.

Of over 84,000 tons of jute and jute butts imported into the United States in 1882, more than one-half-53,- 000 tons-were jute butts. The ropewalks of Brooklyn consumed of this somewhat more than 16,000 tons, or a little less than one-third of the whole importation, and of jute nearly 6,000 tons. These were all con- sumed in the manufacture of jute rope and twine, bag- ging and paper.

But the ropewalks were not the only consumers of jute and jute butts. Jute is used in the manufacture of the best qualities of burlaps; in carpets of the cheaper class, jute butts forming the filling in these; for imitation of coarse silk goods; for imitation hair switches; and for wrapping paper of all grades. The census of 1880 reports three manufacturers of jute and jute goods in Brooklyn, but omits several small establishments. The three establishments specified were engaged in the manufacture of carpets prin- cipally. The Planet Mill, the largest of the three, however, made, and still makes, other jute goods, be- side carpets; burlaps, and other goods, being on its list.

The number of jute manufacturers has increased since 1880, there being now four carpet manufacturers who use this fibre either for warp or filling, or both, and four or five small houses, which produce other jute goods. The amount of raw material used in 1880 was reported by the census as equivalent to about 7,500 tons, if jute and jute butts were used in equal quan- tities, but if there was an excess of the latter, as is probable, there were at least 10,000 tons in all. Add- ing this to the consumption of the ropewalks, with an allowance for the increased consumption since 1880, and the entire consumption of jute and jute butts in Brooklyn will be 31,000 tons, or three-eighths of the entire importation. The consumption of Manila and Sisal hemp in this city, bcars just about the same pro- portion to the entire importation of these fibres.

The jute manufacture employs over 500 hands, and the annual product is now more than $800,000.

John Good

723

THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES.

SUBSECTION II .- Ropemaking Machinery.

The existence of ropewalks in these days implies, as it did not fifty years ago, the production of numer- ous machines for the manufacture of the ropes, cord- age and twine. Nearly all the processes which at that time were performed by hand at a great expenditure of time and severe labor, are now performed better, with fifty-fold rapidity, and with a great saving of labor, by machines; while many descriptions of cord- age and twines, then unknown, are now wholly pro- duced by machinery. Twenty, or even fifteen years ago, there were very few machines in the ropewalks; the spinning jenny was in very general use, and there were some twisting and laying machines; but the efficiency of the manufacture of rope, cordage and twine, has been almost indefinitely inereased by the machines invented and introduced by Mr. John Good,

tion of the Harvester twine was ready for use, when the demand for that article came, and it has required no changes since.

Mr. Good licensed, some years since, an English house, Samuel Lawson & Sons, of Leeds, to make the ropemaking machines under his patents, paying him a royalty, and that house are now manufacturing nearly as large an amount as his Brooklyn establish- ment.

Most of his business now consists in the building and furnishing of ropewalks, in all parts of the world, with his maebines in complete running order; and so great is the confidenee of his patrons in his integrity and capacity to execute these contracts satisfactorily, that he has all the business he can do, and at such rates as he demands. The manufacture of Harvester twinc is becoming a flarge" industry at the west, and

1878

1818

JOHN GOOD'S ROPEMAKING MACHINERY ESTABLISHMENT.

sinee the issuing of his first patent, October 5, 1869. Mr. Good is now not only the leading, but the only considerable manufacturer of ropemaking machinery in the United States, and all of his machines are of his own invention. In about thirteen years he has built up a business which occupies the finest buildings for machinists' work in this city or eounty, eovering an aere of ground, all his own property, and his busi- ness is very rapidly increasing.

The complete adaptation of these maehincs to their work, and the perfection of their manufacture, are really wonderful, and demonstrate the practical char- acter of the inventor's genius. While they are simple in construction, they require no improvement, and the shrewd and skillful meehanies who have made and used them, find no opportunity for patenting any modification of them. The machinc for the produc-

Mr. Good is shipping more and more machines each year to western manufacturers.

These machine works now have a capital of $300,000 or more, and give employment in a busy season to 300 hands, paying out about $100,000 in wages, and pro- dueing about $300,000 of machinery. With his present facilities, and his high reputation as an inventor and machinist, there is no reason why his business should not be doubled within the next five years.

JOHN GOOD .- The lives of successful inventors are always pleasant and profitable reading, and it is a source of gratifi- cation to us when we have the opportunity of recording such a life in our pages. The subject of this sketch, Mr. John Good, has been the architect of his own fortune, and it is well that the young should know that one who, like many of them, spent his early years in severe and scantily re- quited toil, in the very prime of a vigorous and stalwart

724

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

manhood, has attained, by his inventive genius, his industry and sterling integrity, to a prominent and commanding posi- tion among the manufacturers of a great city.

Mr. Good was born in Ireland in 1840. His mother came to America, when he was but seven years of age, and settled in Brooklyn, and here he and his elder brother, Michael, acquired a moderate education in the public schools. Both were quick to learn, and keen observers. When John was about thirteen years old, he was employed, for a time in the extensive ropewalk of the late William Wall (now con- ducted by William Wall's Sons). After some further atten- dance at school, John was apprenticed to Messrs. James Bulger & Co., machinists, and served his time with them, becoming an accomplished machinist. But his fondness for the ropemaking business still clung to him, and he pres- ently procured a situation as superintendent of the rope- walk of Henry Lawrence & Sons, which has since been suc- ceeded by that of Lawrence & Cooper. Here he was led to study the possibility of contriving some method of lessening the great labor of hand-combing and lapping the Manila, Sisal, Russian and American hemp, and straightening the fibres so as to fit the fibre for spinning more rapidly. It was the time of the war, and there was a great demand for ropes and cordage, yet all the combing was done by the old- fashioned lapper. The problem occupied his thoughts night and day, and at length he succeeded in producing a machine which would do the work automatically and well. Other machines followed for drawing the hemp into slivers and for spinning it into a fine cord. He tested these machines very thoroughly, and, having secured patents for them, both here and in Europe (his first patent bears date October 5, 1869), he and his brother, Michael, established a machine shop and factory for manufacturing these machines, for the use of ropemakers, at 588 and 590 Grand street, E. D., about 1871. His machines had received the first premium-a medal-at the Fair of the American Institute, in 1870, and subsequently were twice honored with a medal at the Paris Expositions of 1874 and 1878. In the latter year, Mr. Good, having purchased an acre of land (somewhat more than half a block), bounded by Washington and Park avenues, and Hall street, proceeded to erect on it his present extensive and beautiful machine works. The buildings, a part of them three stories in height, extend along the whole Park avenue front, of 200 feet, and from 50 to 100 feet on Washington avenue and Hall street. They are the most convenient, per- fect, and admirably arranged machine shops in Kings county, and we doubt if they are surpassed anywhere else in this country.

When the demand came for " Harvester Twine," Mr. Good had a machine ready to make it, and one so perfect in its character that all the ropewalks which engage in that branch of manufacture have been perfectly satisfied with it. At every new emergency in the business of ropemaking, Mr. Good has been ready at once with a machine to meet it. He has now machines adapted to the jute manufac- ture, the fibre of which requires a different method of handling from that employed in the manufacture of the various kinds of hemp. It is a characteristic of his ma- chines that, while very simple in construction, they cover the whole field, and leave no room for improvement by others.

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The civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the county of Kings and the city of Brooklyn, N. Y., from 1683 to 1884 Volume I, Part 179

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909, ed. cn; Brockett, L. P. (Linus Pierpont), 1820-1893; Proctor, L. B. (Lucien Brock), 1830-1900. 1n Publication date: 1884 Publisher: New York : W. W. Munsell & Co. Number of Pages: 1114

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909, ed. cn; Brockett, L. P. (Linus Pierpont), 1820-1893; Proctor, L. B. (Lucien Brock), 1830-1900. 1n
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York : W. W. Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1114