USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > Sketches and statistics of Cincinnati in 1851 > Part 20
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the business exchange is largely in favor of Cincinnati. Their stock of engraved copper and zinc plates, cost upward of thirty thou- sand dollars, and they have paid out, during the past year, three thousand dollars for copyrights; also manufacture ruled music paper for copyists. They employ thirty hands; value of product, fifty thousand dollars; raw material, 25 per cent.
This establishment is largely in the piano-forte line of business, having since its first establishment as W. C. Peters, sold one thou- sand of A. H. Gale & Co.'s pianos, and upward of two thousand of those of Nunns & Clark, of New York.
Nut and Washer Factory. - Edwin Hills, Eighth street, near canal, has just commenced this business with three hands. They make three hundred and fifty to four hundred pounds per week, which at ten cents, the wholesale price, is equal to twenty thousand dollars yearly ; raw material, 50 per cent.
Oil-Castor. One factory, that of Conkling, Wood & Co .- Seven hands ; value of product, sixty thousand dollars; raw mate- rial, 75 per cent.
Oil-Lard and Stearine. Thirty-four factories .- one hundred and twenty hands ; value of product, three millions fifteen thousand nine hundred dollars ; of this, 65 per cent. is oil, and 35 per cent. stearine; raw material of lard oil, 93 per cent .; of stearine, 87 per cent.
Mitchener & Co., are probably the largest operators in this line in Cincinnati or anywhere else. His annual manufacture of lard oil is one hundred and fifteen thousand one hundred and seventy-five gallons; of stearine, seven hundred and thirteen thousand five hun- dred and eighty-three pounds ; aggregate value, two hundred and one thousand and sixty dollars. It would surprise most persons to learn that this immense business was carried on by six hands in a two story building, ninety by sixteen feet, from which is taken, on the lower story, a space of fourteen by sixteen feet for other pur- poses than this manufacture.
Thomas Emery, 33 Water, between Main and Walnut streets, manufactures lard-oil, star and adamantine candles. These are of first quality, and the candles actual weight. Mr. E. is among the oldest manufacturers in this line of business.
Oil-Linseed. Three mills .- Employ thirty-eight hands; value of product, two hundred and sixty-three thousand dollars; raw ma- terial, 75 per cent.
N. C. McLean, at the intersection of High street and Miami canal,
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manufactures daily, two hundred and fifty bushels flax-seed ; pro- duct, five hundred and thirty-one gallons oil, and nine thousand five hundred pounds oil-cake ; employs seventeen hands.
Oils- Vitriol, etc .- Eugene Grasselli, manufactures chemicals on a large scale. One thousand five hundred barrels alum and twenty- eight thousand carboys oil vitriol, beside twenty-five or thirty ar- ticles on a smaller scale. Employs twenty-four hands, half by day and half by night, the works being in constant operation. His sul- phuric acid or oil vitriol, is distilled in platina stills, imported from France, which cost him nine thousand one hundred dollars. A very heavy capital is invested in permanent buildings for his opera- tions. His annual sales are to the extent of one hundred and thirty- five thousand dollars.
Packing-Box makers .- Twelve factories, which employ sixty-five hands, and produce the value of one hundred and twenty thousand dollars; raw material, 45 per cent. Two-fifths of this amount is made in the steam-power factory of J. & J. M. Johnston, who ma- nufacture extensively , also, bathing-tubs and refrigerators.
Painters and Glazers. Seventy-two workshops .- Six hundred and thirty-two hands; labor value of product, three hundred and eighty-five thousand dollars.
Hamilton Cummings, corner of Walnut and Baker streets, executes graining in a style that cannot be surpassed. Fine specimens in that style of painting may be seen at N. Longworth's and Larz Anderson's mansions, on Pike street.
Paper - Writing, Wrapping, Printing, and Book .- Cincinnati having a large book and newspaper publishing business, the manu- facture in and for this market is correspondingly extensive. The Miami mills at Hamilton, Becket & Rigdon proprietors ; Graham's mills, also, in Butler county, manufacture almost exclusively for use and sale here, together with other mills nearer to the city. Value of product, seventy-five thousand dollars; raw material 45 per cent. Butler & Brother are their agents.
The paper on which this volume is printed, is from the Miami mills, and compares favorably with that of any other market.
E. O. Goodman, Walnut, below Pearl street, is agent for L. F. Claflin & Co., Dayton mills, which make five hundred thousand pounds book and printing, and two hundred and fifty thousand pounds wrapping-paper per year ; for Nixon's mills at Clifton, which make five hundred thousand pounds printing and book paper and
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flat cap, and for other mills in the vicinity, which make two hundred and fifty thousand pounds printing, and two hundred and fifty thou- sand pounds wrapping paper. These mills make Cincinnati their market. Annual sales of eastern writing paper, thirty thousand dollars.
W. Colville's paper factory, on the Miami canal, is the only estab- lishment of the kind in Cincinnati. Its appointments are ample and complete, and calculated for a mill of the first class. These con- sist of two rag-engines, carrying three hundred pounds each, pro- pelled by water. In the machine room is a sixty-two inch Foudrinier machine, of the latest pattern and improvements. This machine turns out one thousand two hundred pounds paper every twelve hours of daylight. Hands employed, seven men and seven girls. The water is supplied by two wells in the basement of the mill, which can afford the necessary quantity in the driest season. Two more rag-engines will shortly be added, which are to be steam pro- pelled. This will keep the machine in active employment at night, and double its paper manufacture.
S. Ruffner, manufactures wrapping paper at Lockland, in this county, exclusively for this market. Warehouse, corner of Western Row and Pearl street. He consumes, every day, one thousand pounds rags, and one thousand five hundred pounds straw. Employs nine hands in a daily product of two thousand pounds wrapping paper. The mill is propelled by water-power from the Miami canal, and runs about two hundred and fifty days in the year. Value of pro- duct, twenty-one thousand dollars ; raw material, 50 per cent.
Patent Medicines. Fourteen factories .- Ninety hands ; value of product, six hundred and sixty thousand dollars; raw material, 50 per cent.
Pattern Makers .- Most of our pattern makers are connected with the various iron founderies. There are, however, ten which follow the business on their own account. Thirty hands ; value of pro- duct, twenty-five thousand five hundred dollars; raw material, 10 per cent.
Perfumery .- There are twelve manufacturers of perfumery, fancy soap, etc., principally, however, on a small scale ; employ seventy- five hands on an average, and manufacture to the value of one hundred and twenty thousand dollars ; raw material, 40 per cent.
A. E. Wetherill, manufacturer of perfumery, essences, extracts for the handkerchief, cologne waters in every variety, pomades and
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other hair preparations ; soaps and shaving creams, cosmetics and powders. This is the largest, and, in fact, the only establishment in the west that has ever succeeded in competing with eastern ma- nufacturers of perfumery. Sales store in Bromwell's Building, cor- ner Vine and Fourth streets. Laboratory, on Hammond street.
This factory employs as large a number of hands as any in the country, and has not only controlled the market here, but to a great extent, as far south as New Orleans. It has recently entered the New York and Philadelphia markets with its products, where they have found a ready sale.
At Mr. Wetherill's saleroom, articles from Paris and the eastern cities may be seen in his show-cases, which afford an opportunity to compare his own manufactures with those of others ; a comparison which, in no respect, cither as to quality or price, disparages the Cincinnati article.
The counters, shelves, and show-cases of Mr. Wetherill's saleroom, are not excelled anywhere in the city as to neatness, elegance and arrangement.
Pickles, Preserves, Sauces, etc. Two establishments .- Twelve hands ; value of product, twenty-five thousand dollars; raw mate- rial, 40 per cent.
C. T. Hughes, & Co., 1 Hopple's Alley, put up pickles, preserves, sauces, catsups, and hermetically sealed articles, warranted to keep in all climates. Their customers are in every part of the south and south-west.
Planes, etc. Seven factories .- Ninety-six hands; value of pro- duct, one hundred and sixty-seven thousand dollars ; raw material, 35 per cent.
E. F. Seybold, 207 Main street, is one of our oldest manufacturers in this line. His products are planes, squares, gauges and saws, to the annual value of fifty thousand dollars. His salerooms are depôts also of truss hoops. Coopers' and carpenters' edge tools are also made here, or in the immediate vicinity ; of which, are sold to the value of sixty thousand dollars. Fifty hands ; raw material, 40 per cent. Sells also, extensively, mechanics' tools of all descrip- tions.
C. B. Schaefer & Co., salerooms 224 Main street; factory on Miami canal, manufacture planes, squares, gauges, bevels, etc., of all descriptions ; value of planes, etc., fifty thousand dollars ; twenty- five hands ; also edge tools, such as cooper's, carpenter's, wagon
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makers' coach makers', etc. No finer article of edge tools is made anywhere else.
Planing Machines .- These are made here, by B. Bicknell, as the commencement of an important branch of business. His manufacture is yet on a small scale, employing twelve hands; value of product, thirty thousand dollars ; raw material, 25 per cent. Extra knives may be obtained when ordered. Leather or India-rubber bands forwarded to customers.
Platform Scales, etc .- There are six factories in which scales, including platform scales, are made. Thirty-six hands; value of product, sixty thousand dollars.
W. J. Groves, on Second, west of Main street, manufactures plat- form and counter scales, beams, trucks, skids, and truck-wagons. Hay-scales built and put up to order; employs eight hands, and makes annually, four hundred scales, twenty-two to seventy-five dollars each ; average value, forty dollars.
Colville & Stryker. Factory and saleroom, north side Second street, east of Sycamore, manufacture brass and iron scale-beams, platform, and hay scales. On contract with the Secretary of State of Ohio, they have recently made scales and weights of exquisite finish and accuracy ; one for each county in the state, and deposited with the respective county auditors, as legal standards of weight.
Plows. Six factories .- Twenty-four hands; value of product, forty-five thousand dollars ; raw material, 40 per cent.
Garrett & Cottman, Seventh, west of Main street, manufacture steel mold-boards by machinery, and make annually, one thousand plows of light draft, which scour themselves in all sorts of soils. These average nine dollars in value, each. Large quantities of these mold-boards are sold to plow makers in the country. Three- fourths of the plows are retailed at the factory.
Plumbers. Ten shops .- One hundred and thirty hands; value of product, one hundred and ninety-five thousand dollars; raw material, 40 per cent.
George W. Brooks, Fifth, between Main and Sycamore streets, manufactures pumps, both force and lift, suitable for wells, cisterns, etc. Hydrants, bathing apparatus, water closets, with latest im- provements ; and lead pipes of all sizes, made and put up; also battering-rams, for carrying water into upper stories. Employs thirty hands, and manufactures annually to the value of forty- five thousand dollars.
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P. J. Moore, 223 Fifth street, manufactures hydrants, pumps, bath and water closets, supplies lead pipe of every size, and puts up Douglass' improved hydraulic ram, for forcing water to any required distance or elevation, when a proportionate fall can be applied. Employs ten hands, and manufactures yearly to the value of twelve thousand dollars.
Plug, Bung, and Tree Nail Factory .- Employs eight hands ; pro- duct, twelve thousand dollars ; raw material, 40 per cent.
Potters' Ware. Ten potteries .- Fifty hands ; value of product, thirty-six thousand dollars ; raw material, 25 per cent.
Pork and Beef Packing, Sugar-Cured Hams, etc. It would have been desirable to divide and classify these several operations, but the mode in which they run into each other, forbids the effort.
Pork is our great staple, and hogs to the number of four hundred and ninety-eight thousand one hundred and sixty, have been cut up in the market in a single year. The yearly average number of hogs put up here, during the last four years, will not, however, exceed three hundred and seventy-five thousand. That of 1850-51, was three hundred and twenty-four thousand five hundred and thirty- nine. The beef business is of increasingly great extent. There are as many as thirty-three pork and beef packers and ham and beef curers on a large scale, beside numerous others, who do business on a smaller one. The number of hands, of course, varies with the various stages in the process of cutting up, pickling and curing. They may be averaged at two thousand four hundred and fifty for the various departments. The value of these products of beef and pork packed and cured here, is five millions seven hundred and sixty thousand dollars ; raw material, 90 per cent.
In the city of Covington, on the opposite side of the river Ohio, is the pork and beef house of Milward & Oldershaw. This mam- moth establishment incloses an area of nearly two acres. Lofty and well ventilated cellars lie under the whole house-these are used for bulking the meat; and so excellently adapted are they to the purpose, that spoiled meat is comparatively unknown on these pre- mises. The first floor, immediately over the cellars, is used for cutting and packing barrel pork. On a level with this, and of the depth of fifteen feet, are nine water-tight brick cisterns, each capa- ble of containing four hundred barrels pork. In warm weather the pieces of pork are packed down in these, and immediately covered with pickle. By this method, there is but a slight chance of any of
MILWARD &DLL PORK HOUSE
MILWARD & OLDERSHAW
NEW
BORORLEANS
LICKING PALKET
MARY COLE
Onken's Lithography, Cin. O.
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the meat being pronounced " sour," by the inspectors in the various markets.
The rendering-house is furnished with large kettles, capable of containing three thousand pounds each, while, for those who prefer to have their lard rendered by steam, two of " Wilson's patent iron tanks" are kept in constant work.
The slaughter-house, which will contain four thousand hogs, is on the upper floor, and the hog-pens are on the roof, the hogs being driven up an inclined plane, which may be seen on the north or right hand side of the illustration. The building measures three hun- dred and sixty feet front, and runs back one hundred and sixty feet. It is doubtless the largest building for the purpose in the United States, and the proprietors assert with truth, that a more commo- dious or more excellently arranged establishment can nowhere be found. They do a large business on their own account, but their avowed business is pork and beef packing on commission, for the home and foreign markets. Their brand, of all products, stands deservedly high, and eastern operators, intrusting their orders to them, will have them executed to their entire satisfaction. Part of the premises consists of a large singeing establishment, which was erected exclusively for the benefit of our friends on the other side the Atlantic. This establishment cut up and packed, last season, eleven thousand seven hundred and forty-six hogs, and more than three thousand beef cattle for the European markets.
S. Davis, Jr. & Co., beef and pork packers, commission mer- chants, and curers of extra family hams-" Diamond Brand."
An award of diploma and silver medal was made them by the Ohio State Board of Agriculture, at the fair held October, 1850, " For the best hams exhibited."
Their packing, and warehouses are on the south-west corner Court street and Broadway-occupying ninety-four feet front on Broad- way, running to Miami canal, one hundred and fifty feet in depth. They cut and pack annually from fifteen to eighteen thousand hogs, and five to seven hundred head of cattle; pack five thousand bar- rels pork. The number of hams cured here, in a season, varies from fifty to eighty thousand. A large proportion of these are put up in pickle for the eastern market. In the winter, when cutting and packing meats, they employ thirty to seventy hands. They are dealers, also, extensively in pork and provisions generally.
The pork cutting and packing operations of Cincinnati, are suffi-
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ciently known, one department only excepted. This is that of hams and even shoulders of extra quality, put up for family use. And first, of Schooley & Hough's " Queen City " ham establishment.
The extensive buildings occupied for the purpose of curing hams by this firm, are situated on the side of the hill, on the Deer creek road, East Court street. They were erected expressly for the pur- pose, and consist of a main curing and drying apartment, and three extensive smoke-houses, and commodious apartments for storing and packing during the summer. The main building is built of brick, and is three and a-half stories in height, ninety feet front, running back one hundred and forty feet to the washing department, and separated from it by a heavy brick wall, with doors and windows of iron. Underneath this building is a cellar of the same dimensions, which will contain upward of seventy-five thousand hams at one time, under the process of curing ; this cellar is so constructed, that it can be kept throughout the winter at the same temperature, all being under ground with the exception of the front, which constitutes the first story of the building. The first floor above, is divided off, similar to the smoke-houses, and is used for the drying-room, where the hams go through a process preparatory to the smoking. In the third and attic stories are done the canvasing, coloring, decorating, etc., of the hams, which, during the appropriate season, are also hung up here. At the rear of the main brick building, is the wash- ing apartment, connected still farther in the rear with three smoke- houses, which are built separate and apart, having no connection, and at the same time under one roof; they are separated by twelve inch walls, slushed, with fire-walls on the roof. The hanging rooms are distant from the pits where the fires are made, from twelve to fifteen feet ; these smoking apparatus are so arranged as to make them absolutely fire proof. Each smoke-house will contain one hundred thousand pounds, giving to the three houses a capa- city of three hundred thousand pounds at one time, or equal to twenty-four thousand hams; the only connection that these houses have with the main building is a temporary avenue, running from the second story, closed at the entrance with an iron door.
Schooley & Hough cure from seventy-five to one hundred thousand hams every year, and the well-known care and skill they give to their extra curing and preparing for market, gives character to their brands.
Diplomas and certificates were recently awarded them by the
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Ohio State Fair, and Ohio Mechanics' Institute, for the best article exhibited, and there can be no doubt that their sample of hams and shoulders sent to the World's Fair, London, will recommend our city fancy hams, etc., to the English epicures. This firm employs fifty-five to seventy men in their various operations, including can- vasers, cutters, inspectors, colorers, and decorators.
Trowbridge & Beatty, cure beef; also hams and shoulders exten- sively. Their hams and shoulders are sugar-cured. Of the hams thirty thousand; of the shoulders, twenty thousand are annually cured here.
They use up, for covers to these articles, thirty-seven thousand yards cloth. Most of these hams are sold for the supply of the retail market here, these hams being considered among the most juicy in the city. They are shipped, also, to Natchez, Vicksburg, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, etc.
On the 20th March last, from seven o'clock A. M. to five P. M., deducting the dinner intermission of forty-five minutes, there were four thousand and thirty one hams papered and covers sowed on, by twelve hands ; one of these, a boy of fifteen, sewed six hundred and seven hams as his share. This was the greatest day's work, in this line, ever yet done.
Printing Ink. Two factories .- Employ eight hands, and manu- facture a value of fifteen thousand dollars; raw material, 50 per cent.
Geo. S. Stearns, on Liberty street, makes yearly eight thousand dollars of printing ink, which is consumed in western and southern markets.
Printing Presses, etc .- C. Foster & Brother, corner of Smith and Seventh streets, Cincinnati, manufacture power presses, hand, card, seal, standing, embossing, and all other kinds of presses. Brass rule, chases, galleys, composing sticks, cases, etc. They are pre- pared to fit out an office in twenty-four hours from the time of re- ceiving the order.
This factory works thirty hands, and produces yearly fifty-two thousand dollars ; raw material, 30 per cent.
The Cylinder hand press, recently invented, is calculated to print with twice the speed of any other hand press in use, and is designed for both book and newspaper printing. It is managed by one person only, inking the form and throwing off its own sheet by the same operation, and is less liable to get out of order than
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the ordinary kinds. The price does not exceed that of other hand presses.
This establishment has also just completed a new and improved card press, which for style, durability and cheapness, is not equaled in the United States.
Publishers-Book and Newspaper .- There are three large printing establishments, which issue largely for the periodical press. These are the " Gazette " Office, on Main street, with five power and cylin- der presses, and twenty-four hands; Morgan & Overend, on the Miami canal, with nine Adams power presses, which employ thirty- two hands; work off daily five thousand impressions each ; and the Methodist Book Concern, with four cylinder and power presses and twenty hands. These print books, newspapers, etc., to order. Beside these, there are the various newspaper publishers, who print at their respective offices.
There are twelve regular publishing houses of booksellers, who issue their publications on the presses first alluded to, principally at Morgan & Overend's establishment.
The value of these book and newspaper publications, is one mil- lion two hundred and forty-six thousand five hundred and forty dollars ; hands employed, six hundred and fifty-six; raw material, 40 per cent.
H. S. & J. Applegate & Co., booksellers and publishers, 43 Main street. This is a new establishment, which has commenced the pub- lication of books here, during the past year, with great spirit, and on quite an extensive scale. They have issued within that period, one thousand copies Clarke's Commentary, four vols; ten thousand copies Dick's works, two vols .; four thousand copies Plutarch's Lives ; three thousand copies Rollin's Ancient History, two vols .; two thousand copies Spectator, two vols. All these are imperial or royal octavo. Also, Histories of Texas, Oregon and California, Christianity, Methodism Explained, Young Ladies' Companion, duodecimos, nine thousand copies ; Lyons' Grammar, five thousand copies, and the Parley History series, six thousand copies. To this should be added the Sacred Melodeon and Sabbath Chorister music books, ten thousand copies of each.
The aggregate value of these various works will reach sixty-two thousand five hundred dollars.
W. H. Moore & Co., 118 Main Street, have been publishing school books, during the last eight years, and they are now entering the
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field as general publishers of standard literature, of which, their re- cent publications, "Footprints of the Creator," by Hugh Miller, and " The Course of Creation," by J. Anderson, D. D., are the commencement. These have attracted general and favorable notice at the east, as evidences that books can be got up in the west, as regards paper, printing, and binding, in a style not inferior to those in the east, and that miscellaneous literature can be published to ad- vantage in Cincinnati, although a contrary opinion prevails in our Atlantic cities.
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