Standard history of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Part 26

Author: Wilson, Erasmus, 1842-1922; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926. cn
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Chicago : H.R. Cornell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1192

USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Pittsburgh > Standard history of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania > Part 26

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James Arthurs & Sons' Steam Cotton Factory, on Strawberry, near Cherry Alley, contained, in 1825, one throstle of 120 spindles, one mule of 168 spindles, and was principally employed in the manufacture of fine yarns. Thirteen hands were employed in the cotton factory. Adjoining was a woolen factory owned by them, where a large country business was done and cassinets were made. In 1825 John McIlroy, at Front and Second streets, operated eighty hand

(i) Pittsburg in 1826 .- S. Jones. (This statement is made in general terms and must not be taken as exact. For instance, the O'Hara glassworks started in 1797, and by 1801 were highly successful.)

230

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

looms, which produced daily about 1,202 yards of plaids, stripes and checks, worth $194.62. There were employed 155 hands, who annually made 363,600 yards, worth $54,540. James Shaw, about the same time, on Wood Street, near Liberty, operated 52 hand looms and made 1,044 yards of checks and plaids daily, worth $158.80. He employed 70 hands, who annually made 234,000 yards, valued at $35,100. Thomas Graham, also, on Market, near Fifth, operated 34 hand looms and made 688 yards of plaids, checks, stripes and Wilmington stripe daily, valued at $102.56. Forty-five hands annually made 206,200 yards, worth $30,900. In 1825 Tilford & Sons, near Pittsburg, operated eight looms and annually wove of stripes and plaids about 36,000 yards. They also made cassinets and woolen carpeting. Fifteen hands were employed, and the annual product was valued at $6,123. Besides the above there were operated here, in 1825, about forty-seven additional looms, engaged upon coverlets, carpets, linen, cotton cloth, all producing about 211,500 yards yearly, valued at $29,210, and giving employment to about sixty hands.

Establishment (j)

Looms. Hands

Cotton spun, pounds.

Cotton woven, yards.

Value. $100,000 (k)

Phoenix Cotton Factory

I70

210,000

I35,000

4,185

McIlroy's Cotton Factory

I55

360,000

54,540

Shaw's Cotton Factory

234,000

35,100

Graham's Cotton Factory

. .

206,200

30,930

Tilford & Sons' Cotton Factory

36,000

6,123

Miscellaneous

211,500

29,610

Under the tariff of 1824 the following duty was in operation in 1827-8 on the products of Pittsburg: Thirty per cent. on the products of brewers (except ale, beer and porter), coppersmiths, paper-makers, bellows-makers, saddlers, brushmakers, cabinet-makers, tallow-chandlers, confectioners, coachmakers, wheelwrights, chairmakers, cutters, tanners and curriers, tinsmiths, hatters, woolen goods, cotton goods, hairmakers, pianoforte and musical-instrument makers, marble-cutters, sculptors, gunsmiths, umbrella-makers, milliners. Thirty- five per cent .-- Harness and trunk makers, brassfounders, scalebeam-makers. Twenty-five .- Blacksmiths, typefounders, brassfounders (others), platers, lock- smiths. Fifty per cent .- Tailors, ironfounders (cast), one and one-half cents per pound. One hundred per cent .- Card manufacturers. Fifteen per cent .- Ale, beer and porter. As time passed it was provided that these duties should increase.

In the spring of 1827 the people of Pittsburg took strong sides in the argu- ment on the bill then pending in Congress to increase the duty on wool. The Mercury opposed any increase, while the Gazette insisted that an increase was necessary to make wool growing and manufacturing profitable in this country. The representative of this district in Congress, Mr. Stevenson, spoke against the bill and was severely taken to task by the Gazette. It was shown that immediately after the passage of the tariff of 1824 England reduced her duty on imported wool from sixpence to onepence per pound, a reduction of 500 per cent., which more than counterbalanced the American duty on imported woolens, and actually nullified the law.

In January, 1827, the new steam gristmill of W. C. Miller was in operation on the Allegheny opposite the garrison. The proprietor called for wheat, rye, corn, barley, etc. J. Harvey built organs here in 1827.

The Pennsylvania Society for the Promotion of Manufactures and. Mechanic Arts, with headquarters in Philadelphia, took strong action in the summer of

(j) Pittsburg in 1826 .- Samuel Jones.

(k) Including machinery manufactured.

Arthurs & Sons' Cotton Factory.

13,500

...

231

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

1827 by holding meetings throughout the State in the interest of wool growing and manufacturing, and was instrumental in organizing many local bodies having the same object in view. It was through the efforts of this society that a large meeting was called to be held in Pittsburg June 16, 1827, on which occasion John Darragh was made chairman and John M. Snowden and Ross Wilkins appointed secretaries. The following resolutions, proposed by Ephraim Pent- land and seconded by Neville B. Craig, were adopted :

"Resolved, That every description of American manufactures, wherever located, is an object of national concern and deserving of national protection.

"Resolved, That the protection of woolen manufacture and the wool grower is a subject of the deepest national interest and that the failure of the woolen bill in the late Senate of the United States ought to be deplored by every true friend of the American system.

"Resolved, That it be earnestly recommended that the woolen bill should be brought forward at the first session of the next Congress, and so amended as to embrace any other article which needs protection.

"Resolved, That four delegates be appointed by this meeting to attend a con- vention at Harrisburg on the 27th inst."

A motion made by Mr. Baldwin and seconded by Mr. Snowden, to substitute other resolutions for all the above except the first, was lost. In accordance with the recommendation of the last resolution above, the following gentlemen were appointed to attend the manufacturers' convention at Harrisburg: Walter Forward, Christopher Cowan, Joseph Patterson and James S. Craft.

One of the strongest arguments used at this time by the enemies of a high protective tariff was that such a duty was a tax on the consumer. This view was taken by James S. Stevenson and by a strong following here, among whom was Mr. Snowden, editor of the Mercury. In fact, these two men at this time were the leaders of the opposition in Pittsburg to a protective tariff. At the meeting of the 16th they made great efforts to defeat the object of the Pentland resolutions. Mr. Baldwin, whose views on the subject had undergone a change, opposed the Pentland resolutions. It must be understood, however, that out- spoken opposition to protection was weak and halting in Pittsburg.

The national convention in the interest of protection to manufactures was held at Harrisburg in July and August, 1827. Several days were spent in debate and deliberations. A memorial stating the wishes of the convention was pre- pared and sent to Congress.

The supporters of Adams and Rush here in 1828 believed that the election of Jackson meant the repeal of the tariff of 1824 and the success of the Southern policy, which advocated the production in this country of the raw material and the manufacture of the same in Europe. Powerful stress was laid upon this fact by the friends of the administration here, and strong verbal pictures were drawn of the results of the death of local manufactures.

The business of selling goods at public auction in the original packages, by foreign importers, and that, too, before the duties were paid, was complained of as a great evil, injurious to the interests of resident merchants and importers, and as defeating the intention of the Government in its revenue law for the pro- tection of home manufactures. A long credit was given importers, which enabled them to buy and sell at auction many times before being required to pay duty, and hence do an immense business on little or no capital.

In January, 1828, Benjamin Bakewell was summoned before the Con- gressional committee on manufactures to answer under oath questions con- cerning the glass manufactures of Pittsburg.

In January, 1828, Richard Mansley conducted a ropery at Bayardstown, near the Phoenix Cotton Mill. He made bedcords, plowlines, bed-lacings, twine

232

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

of all sorts, lines, etc. He called for hemp and flax. In 1828 J. & J. Parker man- aged a rectifying distillery, making liquors, brandy, rum, gin, alcohol, whisky, cordials, bitters, etc.

Another "large and respectable meeting" of the citizens was held in the courthouse March 12, 1828, on which occasion resolutions favoring a higher pro- tection on wool were adopted. M. M. Murray was chairman of the meeting and Charles H. Israel and Henry Peterson secretaries. The resolutions were offered by Neville B. Craig and seconded by Michael Allen. Mr. A. Murphy, of the firm of A. & J. Murphy, wool growers and manufacturers, of the county, addressed the assemblage. Upon the adoption of the resolutions there were several dissenting voices (1). The policy first advocated by Jefferson was thus asserting itself here, and under Jackson was destined to attain a growth pre- sumed impossible by this already great manufacturing center.

The Phoenix Cotton Factory, owned by Adams, Allen & Craft, operated 5,500 spindles in 1828-9, and produced 7,000 pounds of yarn and 3,600 yards of superior muslin per week. At the same time the Franklin Cotton Factory, owned by Asa Waters, operated 1,000 spindles and turned out 1,400 pounds of yarn weekly.

"Mr. Hamilton Stewart has commenced the manufacture of damask table linen. His table-cloths are extremely neat, and, what is of equal importance, they are very cheap and of a texture that will insure service and durability. In weaving the cloth the threads are so arranged and managed that almost any figure or name or letters can be made to appear in full view upon the surface. His wareroom is on Third, near Wood Street" (m). His weaver was Thomas Brown, from Edinburg.

John Towne, in 1828, conducted the Pittsburg Linen Factory and advertised for hemp and flax. In 1828 the Fort Pitt Glass Works, conducted by Price, Curlings & Co., turned out large quantities of cut, plain and flint glass. Price, Curlings & Co. dissolved in September and R. B. Curling & Sons continued. The members before had been William Price, Robert B. Curling, William Curling and Alfred B. Curling. Morgan & Catton manufactured looking glasses, mantel and pier glasses, mahogany frames, etc. Hilary Brunot, in Eastern Liberties, manufactured white lead, both dry and ground. J. J. Carpenter con- ducted the bookbindery that had previously been owned by J. S. Sheldon. Henry Holdship and his son, G. W. Holdship, made paper of all kinds. David P. Ingersoll made hats. Elkin & Ledlie made tobacco and cigars. B. Troost conducted a chemical laboratory and made ether, ammonia, potash, soda, acids, cordials, rectified liquors, etc. Reddick & Owen manufactured coaches, car- riages and harness. R. & W. Mackey made saddles and harness in Bayard's Row. George Evans turned timber lasts, hatblocks, etc. John Thomp- son conducted a tannery. R. Flint & Co. made brass goods, and Ramage made type.

The spinning of flax by machinery driven by steam-power was considered an important enterprise here in 1829. John Towne furnished the capital and placed William Sutliff in charge as superintendent. The machinery was set in operation in January, 1829. Soon drilling, table-cloths, linen, etc., were placed upon the market (n). In February, 1829, the hat factory of Dobbins & Anshutz was doing a large and profitable business. In 1828 there were built here or in this vicinity twenty-two steamboats, aggregating a total tonnage of 4,570, and costing in round numbers $275,000 (o). In the spring of 1829 two merchants of this city each imported directly from Liverpool from 1,200 to 1,500 crates of

(1) Gazette, March 13, 1828. (m) Statesman, December 17, 1828.

(n) Statesman, January 28, 1829.

(o) Gazette, February 27, 1829.

233

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

queensware, which fact induced the local newspapers to notice that yellow queensware was manufactured near here (p).

"President Jackson has ordered from Messrs. Bakewell, Page & Bakewells, of the city of Pittsburg, a set of glass for his own use. It consists of large and splendid bowls, with and without stands, celery glasses, pitchers, quart and pint decanters, tumblers, wine and champagne glasses, salts, etc., all executed in the very best style of workmanship. The glass is as pellucid as crystal and the beautiful cuttings give a brilliancy of effect not easily described. We under- stand the order is valued at about $1,500" (q).

J. Harvey of this city manufactured church and other organs and piano- fortes in 1826-7. He placed a fine large organ in the Catholic church at Cincin- nati. In 1827 there was begun here the manufacture of wigs, braids, curls, scalps and other hair work. Mr. Price, of Price, Curling & Co., had, years before, been engaged in the same business with General O'Hara. At this time, also, Frost & Vodrey, from Staffordshire, England, commenced the manufacture of earthenware. The distillery in Bayardstown, owned by Whitehill & Bayard, was offered for sale in April, 1828. Its capacity was from twelve to twenty bushels per day. The Phoenix Cotton Factory in Northern Liberties, owned by Adams, Allen & Co., was offered for sale in February, 1830. It operated 4,000 spindles, 50 power loons, was run by steam and manufactured woolen and linen, as well as cotton goods. John Caldwell began to manufacture morocco leather in February, 1830. A. & W. Beatty & Co. began manufacturing cotton goods in 1830 on Sixth Street, near Wood. Coltart & Silvey of the Phoenix Brewery brewed about 2,500 barrels in 1829. In July, 1830, they offered the establishment for sale or rent. About 12,000 boxes of glass, manufactured at Pittsburg, Wheeling, etc., were shipped to the Atlantic coast per annum from 1827 to 1830. John Blair manufactured caps here in 1830. In 1832 there was consumed here daily about 10,000 bushels of coal. The daily consump- tion in Manchester, England, was about 42,000 bushels. This fact was brought out by the recommendation of Governor Wolf to levy a tax on coal. Lyon & Shorb consumed about 100,000 bushels annually. James B. Morgan conducted a big steam sawmill in Bayardstown, near Shoenberger's iron works, in Septem- ber, 1832. John Hise and Samuel C. Cole manufactured coaches, barouches, chariotees, carioles, gigs, sulkies, dearborns, etc., in 1832. The Phoenix Brewery in Kensington was sold at sheriff's sale in September, 1833, and the Washington Brewery was offered for rent. C. Lukens & Co. manufactured paper about two miles from Pittsburg in 1833. The cotton factory of Arbuckles & Avcry, known as "Eagle," was in full operation in April, 1833. John Faber & Sons manufac- tured machine cards here in 1834.

The tariff of 1832 and the act of 1833, to equalize it, were both on the line of a reduction of the duties on almost every article produced by Pittsburg manufacturers. This was particularly true of cotton goods.

"There are six cotton factorics, with an aggregate of 20,000 spindles, 116 power looms and 770 hands, 6 extensive whitc-lead factories, 5 extensive brew- eries besides smaller ones, 6 steam sawmills, 4 steam gristmills, 10 extensive glassworks and upward of 100 steam engines in operation. There are, more- over, innumerable establishments for the manufacture of plows, timber wheels, screws of all kinds, saddletrecs, machine cards, bells, brass works of every description, locks, etc., all manufactured extensively for exportation" (r).

The Fort Pitt Glass Works Co., composed of R. B. Curling, William Curling, A. B. Curling and Henry Higby, was dissolved by mutual consent July 17,

(p) Harris' Intelligencer, 1829. (q) Mercury, 1832.

, (r) Mercury, October 28, 1834 (adapted).

234

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

1834. The business was afterward carried on by William A. B. Curling. The Pittsburg Powder Mill was conducted by A. & A. Watson in 1835, and the Stour- bridge Glass Works by T. & J. Robinson were in operation the same year. In the spring of 1835 the sale of Pittsburg manufactured articles was larger than ever before known (s). On June 26, 1835, it was estimated that there were in operation here and in this vicinity 120 steam engines. In 1836 Douglass & Moore made a line of hats and caps. James Mackin & Co. manufactured "pure and unadulterated bread" at the corner of Penn and O'Hara streets in 1837.

In 1836 Cadwalader Evans & Co. were succeeded by C. & O. O. Evans, manufacturers of plows, cultivators, corn-shellers, farmers' mills and horsepowers; also founders and millers. John Robinson, glass manufacturer, died in 1836. In this year the new glass manufacturing firm of William O'Leary, Patrick Mul- vaney and James Robinson was formed and named the Birmingham Flint Glass Company, for the making of cut, pressed and plain glass. John Anderson and William P. Canan still conducted their foundry at Front and Smithfield streets. At this date, also, Benjamin, Thomas and John P. Bakewell took as a partner John P. Pears, and took the name of Bakewells & Co. Some of their specialties at this time were apothecary-shops furniture, hall lamps, pressed panes for steamboats, britannia and Japan casters, cut bottles, etc. McLain, King & McCord, who had been engaged in manufacturing hats and caps for several years, dissolved early in 1838. Luke Loomis & Co. were burned out in October, 1837. They conducted a bookbindery and bookstore. The comb factory of David Abbey & Co. was in full operation during the autumn. In November, 1837, Lawrence Seymour & Co. began the manufacture of oilcloths in Alle- gheny, at the corner of Sandusky and Lacock streets. They made, among other articles, floorcloths, bronzed elastic table-covers, stands, spreads, transparent win- dow curtains and oilcloths in all their variety (t). David Abbey, with a factory in Allegheny and a store in Pittsburg, began, in 1836, to manufacture combs of excellent design and finish to the amount of $8,000 to $10,000 per annum (u). He was still in business in 1838. The combs were made from horns, shells, etc. Employment was given to eighteen persons; 250 to 300 dozen combs were pro- duced weekly. In 1837 they sold to English manufacturers $500 worth of horn tips for knife-handles, having no use for the same themselves (v). William Micheltree took in his brother Montrose as a partner and became W. & M. Micheltree, manufacturers of liquor and cordials, in December, 1837. Shinn, Sellers & McGill conducted the Pittsburg Chemical Manufactory in 1838, and among their products were flaxseed oil, oil of vitriol, sulphuric ether, spts. nitre dulce, aqua ammonia, extr. gentian, extr. colocynth compd., salts tartar, etc.

In June, 1837, a select committee of the Legislature visited Pittsburg to inquire "into the system of labor adopted in cotton and other factories, and particularly with reference to children employed in such manufactories," and make report thereon at the next session. The committee remained in Pittsburg from the 20th to the 30th of June and made a searching examination. Their report to the Legislature in 1837-8 contained matter of little historic importance, except that the laws of the employer were absolute and the hours of the employe long and laborious.

In February, 1838, Bell, Mason & Co. operated a large door and sash factory at Marbury Street and Allegheny River. The powder-mill of A. & A. Watson, situated about four miles above Pittsburg on the Monongahela, was blown to pieces October 3, 1838, injuring one man so that he died. This explosion of 7,000 pounds of drying powder was heard twenty miles. In 1836 there was

(s) Gazette, March, 1835.

(u) Manufacturer, October, 1836.

(t) Gazette, December 2. 1837.

(v) Gazette, March 3, 1838.

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HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

quite a revival of trade. Manufactures of all kinds, though still restricted, were in a flourishing condition compared with 1833-5. The number of establishments and the value of products at the close of 1836 were as follows (w):

Six cotton factories. $ 770,000

Eight white-lead factories (all).

206,600

Birmingham manufactures (excluding white lead).

2,491,000

Six iron manufactories and rolling-mills east of the Mo- nongahela River.

1,957,500

Nine iron foundries east of the Monongahela River. .. Ten steam-engine manufactories and foundries

500,000

700,000

Seven glass manufactories east of the Monongahela River.

430,000

Three ropewalks.

250,000

Three manufactories of saws, axes, etc.

230,000

Livingston's platform-scale factory

60,000

Ingersoll's steam hat-body manufactory

11,250

All other manufactures and mechanical productions in

city and environs (careful estimate)

4,000,000

Total annual manufactures.

$11,606,350

Mercantile business of the city

13,100,000

Commission business of the city.

5,875,000

Coal trade of the city.

565,200

In 1836 the six leading glass manufactories were owned and operated by Bakewells & Co .; Robinson, Anderson & Co .; Curling, Robinson & Co .; Park & Campbell; O'Leary, Mulvaney & Co .; and Whitehead, Ihmsens & Phillips. They consumed 310,000 bushels of coal annually, employed 440 men and pro- duced $560,000 worth of goods. Bakewells & Co. boasted of having made full sets of cut glass for Presidents Monroe and Jackson and General Lafayette, and of having received a silver medal from Franklin Institute for the best specimen of cut glass. In December, 1836, they claimed they had been in the flint-glass business here for nearly thirty years and had built a furnace in 1829. The establishment of Whitehead, Ihmsens & Phillips was an immense one and closely connected with it was C. Ihmsen & Co. They conducted four large factories in Birmingham: 1. Flint glass, to the amount of from $100,000 to $120,000 per year; 2. Black bottle factory for champagne, claret, wine, porter, apollinaris, druggists' carboys, demijohns, $60,000 annually; 3. Vials annually produced, 112,600 gross, worth $38,500; 4. Window-glass, 5,500 boxes annually, worth $38,500. Robinson, Anderson & Co. operated the Stourbridge Flint Glass Works and produced annually $90,000 worth of goods.

The six cotton factories in 1836 were Phoenix, Engle, Hope, Pittsburg, Union and Globe. All operated 28,900 spindles, employed 1,030 hands, used annually 2,100,000 pounds of cotton, produced 1,032,000 yards of brown shirting and large quantities of yarn from No. 5 to No. 20; consumed 224,000 bushels of coal and turned out yearly $500,000 worth of products. The Pittsburg factory was owned by Blackstock, Bell & Co .; the Eagle by Arbuckles & Avery (spin- ning only); the Union by George Beale (spinning only). It is said that the brown shirtings made in Pittsburg were of such excellent quality, and became so popular as an article of apparel, that English factories took up the same line and closely imitated the Pittsburg product. Two of the ropewalks were owned by John Irwin & Son and Smith & Guthrie; the former was in Allegheny and

(w) Harris' Directory, 1837.

238

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

the latter near the Arsenal. John Irwin & Co. claimed to have commenced the business thirty-five years before December, 1836. The paper-makers were G. W. Holdship and Patterson, Forrester & Co., the mill of the latter being on the Ohio River, one mile below.

The large chemical factory of Shinn, Sellers & McGill had been recently established by December, 1836, and stood on the South Side, one mile down the Ohio. Of the white-lead factories those of Shinn, Sellers & McGill, Avery Ogden & Co., Maderia & Aston, Hilary Brunot, Gregg & Hagner and T. Hays & Co. were the most prominent. Shinn, Sellers & McGill made large quantities of oil of vitriol, cut dyewoods, linseed oil, etc. T. Hays & Co. made $50,000 worth of products annually, principally linseed oil.

In 1837 coke made from Pittsburg coal sold down the river for seven cents per bushel. Other manufactures here in December, 1836, were wood-planing, cracker-baking, grinding bark, turning, seven stone-cutting establishments, two burr-millstone factories, ten tanneries, five breweries, seven tobacconists, and many other small concerns, all of which produced annually $6,000,000 worth of products (x).

"One extensive manufacturing establishment, that hitherto produced from its workshop near half a million dollars' worth of work for our public improve- ments, has discharged 175 hands, keeping none of their apprentices and but a foreman or two. One establishment that employed thirty-seven hands now has seven. Another that had thirty-six now has five or six; another thirty-four now has two or three. Several have discharged half, three-fourths or two-thirds of their hands and some have entirely suspended. The merchant tailors, who employed a large number of poor widows and industrious females, have been obliged to discharge them all, and this throws out of employment a large number. of poor and struggling females, who, with small families to support, are now left without employment or means to make a living. Our manufacturers are daily getting back protested drafts from the West, which they had drawn for their sales. We have heard of journeymen carpenters and molders carrying the hod for bricklayers and offering to work for their board.

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Standard history of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Part 26

Author: Wilson, Erasmus, 1842-1922; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926. cn Publication date: 1898 Publisher: Chicago : H.R. Cornell & Co. Number of Pages: 1192

Author: Wilson, Erasmus, 1842-1922; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926. cn
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Chicago : H.R. Cornell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1192