Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1850-11-22
WOOLEN SiIAWLs.

The "Bay state Shawls," so called, ono Of
the most comfortable and becoming articles
that can be worn " the laiics at the appro -
pirate season, and which show that the pro-
gross of the manu-" curing interests Of tn :
country is satiafact lily and steadily onwards,
have been manufactured in large quantities
during the summer months, and The city
markets are now well stocked with them.
We are confident that our female friends
who have the pleasure OF wearing " Bay
State Shawl" and others, will read with salts
faction the following article from the ~ Y.
Reporter -
The manufacture Of wooden slaw's is yet in
its infancy, having been established among us
only about three years, but we find already en-
gagged in the production the Waterloo Compa-
ny, producing about 400 per day, the Ska
neatees and Burnham Mil about the same
quantity; the Wacrylict Company about 100.
and the Bay State NJ lis 1850 per day. with nu-
merous small concerns which turn ont in the
aggregate, say co., making grand total Of
300 per day.
The statistics OF the Bay State Mills are so
interesting that we give them a place in oar
report, that our readers may be able to udre of
their capacity of producing any article they
may turn their attention 10.
They are situated in Lawrence, Mass. on
the Merrimack River, about 81 miles from
Boston, and ii from Lowell. The village con-
talns population of 10000 souls, all deriving
their substance, directly or indirectly, from the
manufacturing business. 1t has two railroads,
one running to Lowell and the other TO Boston,
and its churches, school houses and public
buildings, give evidence that its inhabitants
are moral, religious and intelligent people
Within the town limits are three Atlantic Cot
ton mills, a large machine shop, and three
Bay State Mills. These last employ 1850 or
efatvcs, (morc than a mootY of which are fe.
maIes, in tie production Of shawls, and 2j0 on
cassimcres and sotinetts. The whole are cou-
tanned in three large brick buildings, the larr-
er enc being four stories high, 100 feet front.
and 400 leet wide, and the machinery is driven
by six water wheels, So feet long by 81 feet in
diameter.
! We find our notes OF the size of the two
smaller mills somewhat blurred, but would
state that person leaving the Counting room
and walking the length of each floor, would
travel the distance of about 62 l-2 miles.
! 1t requires $500 sheep to be kept a whole
year to support these mills with wool for one
single day. The consumption of Cochineal
alone amounts to 100000 per annum. The
( pay roll foot5 up to $4,000 per month, and
Of shawls alone they produce | 500 der day.
This is all done in place where three years
since there was not 500 inhabitants, and ac-
compIished solely by the energy of one man,
whose name well deserves to be and is indenti-
fed with the place-Samnel Lawrence, Esq
lie stated few years ago, that the successful
mann acture of new fabrics could be introduc-
ed into the country sufficient to consume TO-
100000 lbs more wool. 1t was thought i'm.
possible. 1t was said he was too sanguine but
here we see one new manufacture alone which
consumes equal to 100000 lbs, we ask was
he mistaken.