The Litchfield County post., 1828-11-13
MANUFACTURES.


MANUFACTURES.
Extract of letter from Kirk Boot, ESQ. to
Matthew Carey, Esq. of Philadelphia,
giving an account of the manufactures
of Lowell, Mass.
There are now in operation, at Lowell,
6 cotton mills, stories high, 166 by A,
containing $4,000 spindles,au $50 looms,
in which were made, the last year, $685.
4O8 yds. of cloth, weighing 1,O45, 1856 lbs.
from 1,176,OS2 lbs. raw cotton. The num-
Der of yards, %, 27, 80, and 40. Two
mills for wilied and four for plain goods.
Three other mills are covered in; the first
two will be started in January, land the 9TH
err two IN July and January folio sing.---
T here are now employed 1900 persons in
the mills, 9-1Oths of whom are females, 20
| Of whom are from IL to IA years of age
Adjoining the mills of the Merrimac manu-
featuring company, are their bleach and
print works, covering more ground but E.
quail in capacity to two mills; something
over hundred are here employed, 18th
females and 18th boys. None are taken
under IL. Apprentices are taken at IA to
Is to 81; receiving for the first year in
Guiding board $l25; and Is in addition
each succeeding year. Except in the print
works, there are no foreigners, and these
do not exceed I-4th part. Daily wages
would perhaps average so cents, the mini
um being 81 1-2, and maximum 200. AT
present about 2 1-2 million yards are prin-
ed, the residue are sold bleached. The
tverage value of the prints is 18 cents of
he bleached goods IL to 13 cents. The
foundation of the first mill was laid in 1922
and the first return of cloth Nov. 1928
Belonging to the mills and print works, in
heir immediate vicinity, 100 tenements a.
oout rs by sc feet, which rent from 60 to
800 per annum. The machine shop is of
The same dimensions as the mills, ard gives
employment to about $50 machnes-ave-
age wages about 90 cents ; but as a large
proportion of the work is under contract,
and done by the apprentices of the con-
tractors, many of them earn from 4 to Sc
per day. There are 80 tenements attach
ed to the shop; the rent of each is about
800 per annum. The cast iron is furnish
ed from Gen. Heath's Furnace four or
five miles above; consumption averages a
on daily.
The company to whom the machine
shop belongs. have large tract of land, &
an immense water power, and are prepared
to furnish machinery Of all descriptions at
short notice, and erect the necessary build
ings. They have latelv contracted to e.
rect two mills i 5 by a., near the same, 81
finish the machinery for m king 100000
yards of cloth, yard wide, of No. Ia yarn,
per annum, to build 80 three-story brick
tenements, agents house, and out build
| ings, to furnish 8 acres of land and am
pie water power, and put the same into OPP
Grafton for about 100000. Besides those
steadily employed in the mills, about $50
mechanics, such as maSons, carpenters, sc
find constant work. The amour, of capi-
tai actually invested is 81, 400, 900 viz.
Merrimac Man'g. Co. 100000
Prophets of Locks g. Canals 100000
Hamilton Man. Co 100000
With respect to the appreciation oflapds
| shall mention fact. / purchased, lin 1922
9-lO,hs undivided, of a farm of ITO acres,
for $500. The owner Of the other l-lOth
had agreed to convey it for 5000; but dy-
ing suddenly insolvent, it was sold by order
of the court, and l gave for 7 1-2-l0,h
Of his l-1Oth, upwards of $500. All his
debts being satisfied, the remainder was sold
year afterwards, for the benefit of minor
children, for nearly $4,000. Land favora-
bly, situated, is worth Is cents foot, and
there are few spots which would COM
mand so. In 1922, the whole population
OF that part of Chelmsford, which consti-
tutes Lowell, did not, exclusive of Mr..
Hurd's Mills exceed 1000; it is now pro-
badly 5000. The solitary store keeper
Of 1922, is now surrounded by numerous
rivals, and there are few Injuries, and
no nsssssaries, that. sharp competition a.