Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-03-05


and reduced these items, collectively 10 l I.2
cts. pcr ID. for fine broadcloth twelve quarters
wide.
Question what kind of cloths do you usually
manufacture
Answer. Broadcloths and cassmeres.
Question. What quantity of wool is requir-
ed to make one yard Of each Of the descriptions
Of cloth made at your factory ? and what is the
width, in the flannel Of each description Of
cloth
Answer. During a perod of six months, I
find the average quantity Of American and Sax
ony wool to be IA lbs. to yard Of broad
cloth. When made Of Spanish wool, lbs. is
sufficient. We make finer and lighter quality
of cloth than many other manufacturers II re-
quires about half the quantity OF wool TO the
yard of cashmere, which is about s l-2 quail
ters in width, when it comes from the loom.
The broadcoh when ready for market, is Z
quarters wide the cashmere from 90 to 2S
inches.
Question. What is the cost Of weaving each
yard, Of each description of cloth manufa ctured
at tho works referred to?
Answer. We have paid two prices. Before
the power looms came into use, we paid from
lS to 2S cents per yard. Since the power looms
have been put into operation, the weaving in
these looms cost but 10 cents per yard, for
weaving broadcloth. The cassimeres cost half
that price.
Question. What is the cost per yard, scour-
ing, fulling, dying, dressing, and otherwise pre-
pairing for the market, each yard Of each de-
scription of cloth, before described?
Answer. Ono man is able to scour all the
cloth ofouT establishment, and we pay him $2l
per month, including his board. 1t formerly
cost double that sum. The fung requires a
man and boy; the man is paid S 80 per month,
and tine boy 8 10 per month, including their
board. Raising or knappng, which is common.
ly called gigging, comes next in the operation
This requires one superintendent, who receives
$26 per month, and six dollars per month for
board; and young men,. who receive On an
average II dolls. per month, and their board in
cluded There is also a teazle setter, whose du-
ty it is to7 prepare the teazels for knapping,
who receives 10 dolls. per month, and his board
which is dollars. The cloth is then ready for
shearing. which requires one superintendent at
80 dolls and seven girls at dolls. per month,
including board and these attend to 20 PAIR Of
shears. There are seven other girls employed
in burlng, linting, and marking the CLOTH who
receive also dollars per month, board in
cluded. pressman and boy, are also
necessary the man receives "a dollars
the boy IA dollars per month, inclusive Of board.
All colors, except black, dyed as soon as the
WOO! is assorted; black is dyed after the cloth
undergoes the process Of fulling. The prices
for dying vary. Blue costs SO cents per yard;
blacks, and all other colors, 10 cents per yard.
Question. What are, and have been, for the
last three years, the values per yard, at the fac
tory of each description Of cloth so made?
Answer. Our cloths are not sold at the fac.
tory, but in the Boston market have not an
account of our sales with me, and therefore
cannot speak with accuracy, but, from recollec-
ton, should think we sold our first quality
blue broadcloths, of Saxony wool, at from
10 7dollars per yard, in 1925. The same quail
iiy blacks sold at the same prices that year.
In 1925, the same qualities and colors were sold
at about s s SO to s 6 so per yard. In 1927. the
sales we're at about the same prices, but more
ready sales, and on shorter credits. The finest
cloths of the above description, made Of Ameri-
can wool, will average about 81 per yard less
than those made of Saxony, for each year.
These cloths are made Of the lst and I'd qua-
ties in the asserting. Prime and picklock are
worked together, and are about equal to Saxony.
The prices of cassimeres, are generally abont
half those Of broadcoths, Of the same qualities
and descriptions Of wool, at the same times.
The lowest quality oF blue broadcoths made
at our factory, sold, in 1925, at about $3 per
yard, and the lowest blacks, at about So SO per
yard. In 1926. the same cloths sold at about
So rs for blue, and about S 2 rs for blacks.
All the coarse cloths are made Of American
wool. In 1927, the same coarse blues were
worth so, and the blacks about rs.
Question. Are there different patents or de-
scriptions of machinery for spinning wool?
If yea, what patent or description is used in the
factory Of which you speak and what patent
or description is considered preferable?
Answer. There are two descriptions Of ma
chinery, the one called the 4" jenny" the other
| patent called the Brewster" We spin about
two-thirds Of our yarn upon the jenny, and one
| third upon the Brewster. As 10 which Is pre-
| ferable, there is great variety Of opinion. 1t is
generally conceded that the Brewster is pre-
ferable for coarse yarns, but, for fine yarns,
consider the jenny preferable.
Question. What officers, agents, clerks, and
superintendents, are employed in the factory Of
| which you speak; and at what wages or salaries
| TO each!
Answer. Myself and brother arc the superin-
tending agents Of our factory, and we jointly re-
| ceive l-2 per cent. upon the gross amount Of
| the sales, as our compensation for these SER
| vices This has been the case only from the
| lst January, 1926. cannot tell the amount
this per centage will come TO annually, as have
not the account of les, but, as nearly as can
| calculate, for the Is months, from LIST January,
1926, to Ist July, 1927, the whole we shall re-
| ceve for superintendence will be about 1880
or 2,4)O dollars. We also employ clerk, at
salary Of $500 annually, and he boards himself
A superintendent ofthe cards at $50 per month
including board; and two superintendent Of
looms, at "a dollars each, per month, including
board. These are all who can be considered as
| officers.
Question. What number ofhands are employ
ed in the sanio factory? what are their descrip-
tions-as men, women, boys, and girls; and
| what wages are paid for their servicesi
| Answer. The whole number employ ed, is 90