USA > New York > Albany County > Cohoes > The history of Cohoes, New York, from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 20
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At present the prospects are by no means gloomy. Nearly all the manufacturing establishments are in operation, and there are no indications as yet that a general stoppage is intended.
The state of affairs on the whole, since 1873, has thus shown the truth of the prediction made at that time, that " Cohoes is in as good, if not better, condition to stand the hard times, than any manufacturing town in the United
237
1876.
HISTORY OF COHOES.
States." Its growth has been steady, though less rapid, than heretofore. Although the number of new buildings is small, and little additional capital has been invested in busi- ness enterprises, other signs of advancement are apparent. The population has evidently increased, needed public works have been completed, and various important institutions established, all attesting the fact that the business depres- sion of the past three years, though of course retarding, has not seriously interrupted the progress of that substantial development, which became especially noticeable soon after the incorporation of Cohoes as a city ; and which marks the succeeding period as one of the most important in the history of the place.
238
HISTORY OF COHOES.
1876.
XII.
MANUFACTURES AND VARIOUS INSTITUTIONS.
As a conclusion to the history of Cohoes, now brought down to the close of the present year, a brief account is appended of the manufacturing establishments and various public institutions of the city, showing their condition at present, and stating such facts of importance concerning them as have not been elsewhere mentioned.
THE COHOES COMPANY .- This company has necessarily the most prominent connection with the history of Cohoes. By developing the water power and offering inducements for the settlement here of capitalists, it has been the founda- tion of all the varied industries of the place ; and has, moreover, by the construction of creditable works and im- provements, by liberal donations of land for public purposes, and in many other ways, contributed constantly to its growth and prosperity.
The early operations of the company, and the more in- portant improvements made from time to time, have been previously described. No expense or labor has been spared in the development of the material resources of the place, and the facilities now offered for manufacturing are second to none in the state.
The mill privilege which was originally reserved by Mr. I. D. F. Lansing in the sale of his land, was purchased from him in 1859 for $20,000, thus affording the company com- plete control of the water power of the river from half a mile above, to a mile below the Falls. The supply is always ample, and during the past few years, while other water powers have failed at times, the Cohoes mills have suffered no stoppage. By the construction in 1865 of the present dam and gate house, and the extension, at different times, of
239
1876. HISTORY OF COHOES.
other canals besides those already mentioned, the facilities of the company have been greatly increased, and they now have a complete system, in which the same water can be -el six different times, and which, when entirely perfected, will be one of the finest in the country. The following is the present arrangement of the canals, as classified by the company.
No. 1. The upper level (canal of 1834), extending from the dam to rear of the Harmony Mills.
No. 2. Mohawk street in front of Harmony Mills.
" 3. From Strong Mill to Clifton Mill.
" 4. Remsen street, formerly known as Basin B.
" 5. Ontario street.
" 6. Courtland street.
" 7. Van Rensselaer street.
" 8. Saratoga street.
" 9. Grove street.
" 10. Remsen street continued.
Nos. 7, 8 and 10 of the above are unfinished.
The total fall is 120 feet, and the available power is estab- lished at 10,000 horse power, but little more than half of which is now utilized. The water, together with the neces- sary quantity of land, is leased to manufacturing firms at much lower rates than prevail elsewhere - the expense of some of the largest mills for water and ground rent scarcely exceeding $1,000 yearly. The company charges $200 for a "mill power," which is 6 cubic feet of water per second, with a 20 feet head and fall-or its equivalent - making an annual rental of about $20 per horse power. The exact quantity of power used by each manufacturer is determined by an accurate system of measurement, the details of which were perfected by officers of the company. Among the most important of the recent improvements of the company, is a tunnel, completed in December, 1876, which adds greatly to the availability of the water power. It extends from the
240
HISTORY OF COHOES. 1876.
end of Canal No. 1, to a point on the bank of the river, about twenty feet from its bed, opposite the south tower of Harmony Mill, No. 2. Its opening is 6 by 7 feet, its length 360 feet, and the fall from the surface of the canal to the outlet is about 70 feet, affording a pressure capable of moving the entire body of water at least 7 feet per second. By means of this tunnel the necessity of stopping the mills to remove the accumulations of ice and debris in the upper canal was entirely obviated. The ice would frequently form to such an extent that the flow of water in the canal was materially obstructed, and the company were compelled to cut it out and remove it by hand, a tedious and expensive process. Under the new arrangement the ice can be floated down to the tunnel gates and then discharged, without in- terrupting the running of the mills. The work was designed and superintended by D. H. Van Auken, engineer of the company, and was done by Houlihan & Stanton, about six months being required for its excavation.
The officers of the company since its incorporation have been as follows:
President. Canvass White, 1826-1834. Stephen Van Rensselaer Jr., 1834-1841. Win. N. Chadwick, 1841-1847. Stephen Van Rensselaer Jr., 1847-1849. Teunis Van Vechten, 1849-1853.
Robert Christie Jr., 1853-1854. Chas. M. Jenkins, 1854-1859. Alfred Wild, 1859-1868. Wm. T. Garner, 1868 ---.
Secretary. Henry J. Wyckoff, 1827-1828. Francis Olmsted, 1828-1829. Henry J. Wyckoff, 1829-1834.1 Agent. Hugh White, 1833-1834. Chas. A. Olmsted, 1834-1835. Joab Houghton, 1835-1840. Clarkson F. Crosby, 1840-1841.
1 After this year the agent acted as secretary.
241
1876.
HISTORY OF COHOES.
Hugh White, 1841-1847. Francis S. Claxton, 1847-1850. T. G. Younglove, 1850-1875. Wm. E. Thorn, 1875.
The officers elected for the present year were: Win. T. Garner, president; Wm. E. Thorn, sec'y and treas .; Wm. T. Garner, Wm. W. Niles, Samuel W. Johnson, Jno. Crosby Brown, David J. Johnston, Wm. E. Thorn, Chas. C. Birds- eye, directors.
THE HARMONY MILLS. --- Proprietors: Garner & Co., New York, D. J. Johnston, Cohoes, Wm. E. Thorn, Cohoes. Chief in importance among the manufacturing concerns of Cohoes is the above, devoted to the production of cotton cloth. The mill erected by the Harmony M'f'g Co., in 1837, was for some years among the most prominent in the place, and after the building of the Ogden and Strong Mills in 1846, this branch of manufacture assumed the leading position here which it has since retained.
The change of proprietorship in the Harmony Mill in 1850 was the beginning of a course of steady prosperity, and its owners, besides erecting several large factories at different times have come into possession of the other two mills, thus founding a mammoth establishment, the most important of the kind in the United States. The existence of a manufacturing concern of such magnitude has of course been of the utmost benefit to Cohoes in a business point of view, and contributed largely to its prosperity. Through its means large accessions have been made to the population, and the constant expenditures made by the corporation in wages, in the erection of buildings and in various improve- ments have been of marked advantage to the commercial interests of the place. But aside from this Cohoes is under great obligations to the proprietors of the Harmony Mills for the work they have done towards its material improve- ment. Their factory buildings are all handsomely con- structed, and the grounds connected with them tastefully laid out; the streets and sidewalks adjacent to their pro-
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242
HISTORY OF COHOES.
1876.
perty are kept in the best condition, and the well built blocks of tenements which have been erected in different localities - more particularly on the West Harmony - are creditable additions to the buildings of the city. Of these tenements, which are nearly 1000 in number, over half have been erected since 1860. Those more recently constructed, at the northwest of Prospect Hill, occupy ground which ten years ago was used as farm land, but is now regularly laid out in well graded and macadamized streets provided with asphalt sidewalks. The tenements are let to the operatives at a merely nominal price, and in this, as in all other respects, the company has manifested a laudable regard for the com- fort of those in its employ.
The depression of the past three years has of course severely affected the market for cotton cloths and in this establishment, as in all others of the kind, a general reduction of wages has been found necessary, though it has not been so great as those made in other manufacturing towns. There has, however, been but a trifling reduction in the num- ber of operatives employed, and the mills have almost con- stantly since the panic been running at their full capacity.
The following statistics show the number of operatives employed, and the amount of machinery in operation at present:
Operatives.
Spindles.
Mill No. 1,
912
Looms. 712
35,800
"
2,
703
1,038
47,328
"
3,
1,639
2,654
125,936
¥
4 (Ogden),
403
632
30,276
" 5 (Strong),
220
330
14,424
Jute Mill,
97
22
850
Bag Mill,
147
62
3,440
4.121
5,650
258,054
During the past year 29,250 bales of cotton were con- sumed, equal to 13,700,000 lbs., and 5,600 bales of jute, equal to 2,240,000 lbs.
永山
243
HISTORY OF COHOES.
1876.
The production for 1876 was as follows : 79,500,000 yards printing cloths, percales, wigans, and jaconets. 600,000 seamless bags, 2,130,000 pounds jute goods, 3,000 bales cotton batting. The value of the annual production is estimated at $3,000,000, and the monthly pay roll will average $70,000.
The present officers are : Wm. E. Thorn, agent ; Robert Johnston, general manager ; D. J. Johnston, superintendent; Wm. S. Smith, paymaster.
KNITTING MILLS .-- The manufacture of knit goods has always been a distinguishing branch of Cohoes industry. The first machinery for the purpose was here put in opera- tion, and a factory established, which for many years was the only one of the kind in the country ; the most important improvements which have since been made in the process of manufacture are the inventions of Cohoes mechanics, and many of the machines in general use among knitting mills are now constructed here. Though of late years it has been extensively prosecuted in other towns, Cohoes still occupies the foremost position in this branch of manufacture. The factory buildings in this city for substantial construction and perfection of detail are second to none in the country, and the goods produced have a wide reputation and com- mand the best markets. It is impossible at present to give accurately the statistics of production of the seventeen knitting mills which are now in operation. Since the panic many of them have been shut down for greater or less periods, and the number of operatives employed, and amount of wages paid, have varied; the grade and style of the goods manufactured have been changed from time to time to suit the market, so that the amount of annual production cannot be exactly named ; this of course, in connection with the fact that prices have been steadily falling, makes it im- possible to fix a definite value on the sales of any one year. The figures given below represent, in the case of almost every establishment, an average year's business.
244
HISTORY OF COHOES.
1876.
Sets in Operation.
Hands Employed.
Monthly Pay Roll.
No. of doz. goods
Produced Annually.
Average Value.
The Troy M'f'g Co. David Cowee, prest. ; Jno. V. S. Lansing, treas .; Jas. L. Thompson, sec'y. The Root MM'f'g Co. Josiah G. Root, prest. ; Samuel G. Root, supt .; Andrew J. Root, treas. and gen. manager; Geo. Wa- terman, Jr., sec'y. J. H. Parsons & Co.
10
229
$5,500
40,000
$275,000
12
300
8,000
45,000
500,000
J. H. Parsons, Mrs. L. S. Par- sons, and W. S. Gilbert. The Atlantic Mill.
13
300
9,000
45,000
400,000
Geo. E. Thompson and John Horrocks.
6
105
2,700
22,000
145,000
L
The Ranken Knitting Co. Geo. Campbell, prest. ; Henry ~J. Ranken, sec'y. and treas. American Hosiery Mill. Wm. M. Gregory and Jon- athan Hiller.
7
145
3,500
22,000
200,000
The Victor Mill. - Henry Brockway.
6
105
3,000
20,000
150,000
The Empire Mill .- Wm. & Jno. A. Nuttall.
6
90
2,500
20,000
140,000
The Star Knitting Co.
Thos. Coleman, prest. ; R. H. Thurman, treas. ; O. G. Clark, ag't.
8
140
5,000
27,000
300,000
The Adams Mill. - John Wakeman.
6
125
4,000
25,000
175,000
The Ontario Mill .- Wm. N. Chadwick, Jos. Chad- wick, P. R. Chadwick.
6
100
2,000
25,000
150,000
The Mohawk Mill. - Samuel Bilbrough.
5
120
3,000
24,000
150,000
The Erie Mill .- Wm. Moore.
4
75
2,200
17,000
136,000
The Enterprise Mill .- John Scott.
5
110
2,500
20,000
160,000
The Diamond Mill .- J. W. Himes, A. C. Vail.
6
200
3,000
25.000
150,000
The Globe Mill .- Alfred Le Roy. Jas, Lamb.
6
100
3,500
25,000
175,000
The Pine Grove Mill .- H. D. Fuller, Chas. Hay.
6
50
1,500
18,000
100,000
-
118 2,379 $63,700
444,000 $3,426,000
6
85
2,600
24,000
120,000
-
245
HISTORY OF COHOES.
1876.
IRON MANUFACTURE .- A large amount of capital is here invested in different branches of iron manufacture. The most important interest is the production of axes and edge tools, which from the foundation of the first factory in 1835, by Simmons & Silliman, has always been one of the special- ties of Cohoes. The goods turned out are of the first quality and have a world wide reputation.
The figures given below in regard to this, and other branches of manufacture, represent in nearly all cases, an average business. It is difficult to obtain exact statistics, for as a general thing, the works are run according to the orders received, and the production consequently varies greatly. For the past three years, none of the establishments have been run at their full capacity.
The Weed & Becker M'f'g Co .- Officers : Wm. H. Weed, president ; S. A. Becker, vice president ; Jas. E. Place treasurer ; C. Riley, secretary. The producing capacity of the company's works is 100 dozen axes and 75 dozen tools daily. The value of the annual production is from 8200,000 to 8400,000, and the average pay roll is $9,000.'
Empire Edge Tool Works .- M. H. Jones & Co., proprie- tors. The firm consists of M. H. Jones and A. G. Peck. From 60 to 75 men are employed at a pay roll of $2,000 to 82,500. The annual production is from 10,000 to 15,000 dozen axes and tools valued at from $75,000 to $100,000.
The Ten Eyck Are M'f'g Co .- Jonas S. Ten Eyck, trea- surer. The company employs from 40 to 50 men at an average pay roll of $1,200. The daily production is 500 pieces, including both axes and edge tools.
The Cohoes Rolling Mill .- Morrison, Colwell & Page, proprietors. The firm manufactures bar and band iron. About 200 men are employed at a pay roll of $6,000. The annual production is 6,000 tons of iron at an average value of $60 per ton.
1 Per month. This is to be understood in the case of each concern mentioned.
246
HISTORY OF COHOES.
1876.
Empire Tube Works .- Albert Smith & Co. proprietors. The firm manufactures gas and steam pipe. About 30 men are employed at a pay roll of $1,250. Five tons of iron are used daily. The annual production of the works is 3,000,000 feet of pipe at an average value of $180,000.
Campbell and Clute .- The firm manufactures chiefly knitting machinery. On an average 40 hands are employed at a pay roll of $2,000. The annual production is valued at $100,000.
William T. Horrobin .- Mr. Horrobin is proprietor of the Cohoes Iron Foundery and Machine shop. He manu- factures chiefly cotton, woolen and flouring mill machinery, and architectural iron work. When running full 150 work- men are employed at a pay roll of $6,000, and the annual production is valued at $200,000. The capacity of the furnace is 8 to 10 tons per day.
Tubbs & Severson .- The firm manufactures knitting machinery. On an average 15 hands are employed at a pay roll of $800. The annual production is worth $15,000.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Cohoes Knitting Needle Factory .- Henry Dawson and Chas. Knott, proprietors. The firm employs 15 hands. The annual production is 2,500,000 needles valued at $15,000.
Sash and Blind Factory .- A. J. Griffin, proprietor. On an average 12 men are employed at a pay roll of $600. The annual production is valued at $30,000.
Cohoes Bedstead Factory .- P. S. Holsapple, proprietor. The articles manufactured are bedsteads, cribs and cradles. About 25 men are employed at a pay roll of $1,200. The average annual production is valued at 850,000.
Cohoes Straw Board Co .- Officers: T. G. Younglove, pres't; M. S. Younglove, vice pres't; J. W. Moore, sec'y; Henry W. Edwards, treas. Employment is given to 25 men at a pay roll of 81,350. The daily production is 5 to 6 tons of straw board, the value of which amounts annually
-
247
HISTORY OF COHOES.
1876.
to between $75,000 and $125,000. During the year 2,500 tons of straw are consumed.
Flouring Mill .- Jas. McMartin proprietor. Nine hands are employed at a pay roll of $450. The annual production is 40,000 bbls. valued at $280,000.
American Soap Co .- Mrs. H. R. Grant, proprietor. Six hands are employed at a pay roll of $212. The annual pro- duction is 395,000 lbs. of soap of different kinds, valued at $21,750.
Cohoes Lime and Cement Co .- Officers: D. T. Lamb, pres't; T. G. Younglove, sec'y; D. H. Van Auken, treas. The company employs 45 hands at a pay roll of $2.000. Annual production is valued at $100,000.
The Trost and Bezner M'fg Co .- John T. Saxe, pro- prietor. This establishment manufactures furniture and fancy articles in wood of various kinds. 50 hands are em- ployed at an average pay roll of $2,100. The estimated value of the annual production is $75,000.
The Cohoes Warp and Thread Co .- Collins Arnold, treas. About 60 operatives are employed at a pay roll of $1,400. The annual production is 416,000 lbs. of hosiery yarns, valued at $110,000.
Brick Yard .- Patrick Rogers, proprietor. Annual pro- duction at present 1,000,000 brick valued at $8,000, but in a good building season from 5,000,000 to 8,000,000 brick are manufactured. ,
Paper Box Factories .- Of these there are five, the proprietors being as follows : Isaac Clute, established Aug. 1, 1864 ; David Morris, established 1865 ; F. E. Pennock, established June, 1868; J. C. Sanford, established March 18, 1872 ; J. S. and E. Hughes, Jan. 1, 1876. The specialty of all these establishments is boxes for knit goods for the home trade, though some of them have at times turned out boxes for collars and other purposes. The busi- ness, though commenced not long since, has become quite
248
HISTORY OF COHOES. 1876.
an important feature of Cohoes manufactures. Before the panic, employment was given to from 100 to 125 hands, and nearly 1,000,000 boxes were annually produced. Exact figures of the production at present cannot be ascertained. The above establishments do not vary greatly in capacity, and each employs from 10 to 20 hands, according to the condition of business - at a monthly pay roll of from $400 to $600, producing from 500 to 800 boxes daily at an annual value of from $15,000 to $20,000.
NEWSPAPERS, ETC.
The Cohoes Cataract .- William Bean, proprietor. Size 26 by 38 inches, 8 columns to the page. It is published every Saturday morning, and is republican in politics. The pro- prietors of the Cataract since its foundation have been as follows : Stow & Co., Jan. Ist, to March 1st, 1849 ; Silli- man & Miller: to Aug., 1851; James H. Masten: to Aug. 1856; A. F. Onderdonk: to Dec., 1856: Jas. H. Masten: to Dec., 1867 ; A. S. Baker & Co .: to Dec., 1869 ; Jas. H. Masten & Co .: to Dec., 1870; Jas. H. Masten : to July 15, 1871; William Bean. The publication office was removed by Silliman and Miller, in Nov., 1850, to the old Presbyterian church, corner Factory and Remsen streets, where it remained for eight years, and was then established by Jas. H. Masten in the third story of Caw and Quacken- bush's (now Silliman's) building, the entrance being on Oneida street. In this building it has since remained (though it is now on the ground floor), with the exception of an in- terval from Jan., 1870, to April, 1875, when it was located in the second story of Adams' block, Remsen street.
The Cohoes Democrat .- Jas. F. Kelly, proprietor. Size 26 by 40 inches, 8 columns to the page. Published every Satur- day morning. Mr. Cady's interest in the paper was bought by Jas. F. Kelly, in Nov., 1870, and the partnership of Atkinson and Kelly formed, which was dissolved Aug. 29. 1873, by the retirement of Mr. Atkinson. The publication
.
-
1876.
HISTORY OF COHOES. 249
office of the paper has remained since its establishment in the second story of North's block, Mohawk street.
The Cohoes Daily News .- Edward Monk and Samuel Sault, proprietors. Size 22 by 30 inches 6 columns to the page. Published at noon every day except Sundays. Independent in politics. The name of Mr. Sault first appeared as a partner, June 3d, 1874. The office of the paper was moved from Granite Hall, to the third story of North's block, Dec. 20, 1873, and was established in its present location, Camp- bell and Clute's block, Mohawk street, April 25, 1874.
La Patrie Nouvelle .- J. B. Authier & Bro., proprietors. Size 18 by 26 inches, 5 columns to the page. Published every Tuesday. Republican in politics. The office has been loca- ted since the paper was established, in Lynch's building, Remsen street near Columbia street.
The Northern Herald .- Williams and Eagan, proprie- tors. Size 30 by 44 inches, 6 columns to the page, quarto. It appears every Sunday morning. Independent in politics. The first number was issued Sept. 4th, from 83 Ontario street, which had been occupied as the office of the Eagle.
The People's Railway Guide .- Chas. S. Pease, pro- prietor, 24 pages. Established Oct., 1875, and is published every fortnight.
BANKING INSTITUTIONS.
The National Bank of Cohoes .- C. II. Adams, president ; Murray Hubbard, cashier. Became a National Bank, May 31, 1865. Its capital was increased from $100,000 to $250,000 Aug., 1872. Mr. Hubbard was elected cashier March 5th, 1862, in place of James M. Sill. Mr. Adams became president after the death of Mr. Egberts, in March, 1869.
Manufacturers Bank of Cohoes .- Win. E. Thorn, pre- sident ; Norman W. Frost, cashier. Its capital was in- creased from 8100,000 to $150,000, July 1, 1874.
Cohoes Savings Institution .- Henry D. Fuller, presi-
32
250
HISTORY OF COHOES. 1876.
dent ; John Hay, secretary; T. G. Younglove, treasurer ; Edward W. Fuller, ass't treas.
Mechanics' Savings Bank .- Robert Johnston, president; William S. Smith, secretary; Abner J. Griffin, treasurer ; Le Roy Vermilyea, ass't treas.
POST OFFICE.
Jas. H. Masten, P. M .; A. W. Adams, Geo. W. Cook, clerks. The first post office was located at Mr. Water- man's, near the junction. On the appointment of Mr. Howe, it was moved to his new store on the canal bank near the present Jute Mill, where it remained for a short time. It was, in 1833, taken to the building just erected by E. L. Miller, on Mohawk street, opposite the City Hotel. When this was burned in 1847, the office was moved to a building on the west side of Mohawk street, between Oneida and St. John's alley. In May, 1851, it was established in a building erected by Dr. Carter, on Oneida street, east of Remsen,1 where it remained until 1861, with the exception of a few months (August to October), in 1854, when it was moved to a building in St. John's alley, in the rear of J. M. Brown's (now Mrs. I. Terry's) store. On the appoint- ment of I. W. Chesebro, in August, 1861, the office was located in his drug store on Remsen street." In 1865, J. H. Masten transferred it to his building on the site of Music Hall, in which locality it has since remained, except while the new building was in progress of erection - during which time the office was located in Rogers' block.
The postmasters have been as follows :
Frederick Y. Waterman, appointed 23d Feb .. 1832. Hezekiah Howe, 13th July, 1833.
Peter F. Daw, 66 28th July, 1854.
Geo. H. Wager, 66 7th June, 1855.
Izrakiah W. Chesebro, 7th Aug., 1861.
Jas. H. Masten, 66 16th June, 1865.
' Now A. H. Frink's cigar store.
2 Now occupied by Ten Eyck & Browne.
1876.
HISTORY OF COHOES.
251
Samuel D. Trull, 1 appointed 19th Oct., 1866.
Jas. H. Masten,
20th Oct., 1867.
The clerks in the post-office have at different times kept records of the way in which Cohoes was spelled on letters received at the office, some of which have been published in the local paper. The following list, recently prepared, presents more varieties of orthography than any of those which have previously appeared:
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