Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1851-06-09
worcester in its Shirt sleeves.
PAPER-MILL-CALIco PAINTING. AND s,

PAPER-MILL-CALIco PRINTING, AND SEW
ING MACHINES.
One of the oldest aud most extensive manufactuino
establishments in Worcester is that of Messrs. God
dard Rice s Co., manufacturers of Paper-miIIs and
Machinery, for printing calico. Their operations are
carried on in the large brick building, next southeast
of the Boston and Worcester Railroad depot, and in
the buildings adjacent, and give employment to from
seventy to eighty hands. The building is divided in.
to various apartments, each of which some partic
uar branch of the business is carried on separate from
the rest; thus by division Of labor securing the ut
most proficiency the part Of the workmen, and the
greatest perfection and finish to the various parts. 1t
is now about fifteen years since the senior partner Of
the present firm, in connection with the late lamented
Mr.. How, commenced the manufacture of paper ma
cainery in this place, employing at that time three me-
chanlcs, In addition to their labor upon the ma
chines but from that small beginning the business has
continued to increase, until it has become one Of the
largest and most important in the city, The paper ma
chinery of this firm has obtained wide celebrity with
manufacturers of the article and they receive orders
not only from the most distant parts of the Union but
from Mexico, Cuba, and South America
The first machine paper ever manufactured in Mexi
CO, made upon of their machines lust preyous
10 the recent with that Republic, and orders were
subsequently received for two Others which have been
supplied. They have just completed beautiful cyln-
der machine for an enterprisng gentleman in Hartford
who proposes to take it Immediately to California; and
there can be but little doubt that it will prove good
speculation, for by this time rags must be abundant and
the demand for paper is very large.
In the lower story Of Messrs Goddard s. RI
fobl chnaan thab l. -
formed, and the huge IRON cylinders ground and
polished such precision to nip the thinnest sheet
of paper equally in all its parts, it passes between
them in the process of manufacture.
The iron castings made ia an adjoining buildings
by Messrs. Fitch Co., who employ about twenty five
hands, mostly in filling orders of R. G. Co. for their
various machines
The second story of the main building, which is 1Os
feet ia length and 40 in width and of the West wings
which is l25 in length. by twenty-five in width, is the
principal Workshop and here may be beautiful
illustration of the capacity Of the human intellect to
subject the elements of nature to the dominion Of
Here the powerful agencies Of steam in full play,
rather in full work, and the labor which would
qure months Of the toll to accomplish, when
unaided by its power, performed in as many hours
Here, upon an enormous lathe, revolves a huge iron
cylinder, Of nearly toms weight, which has come
rough from the foundry. In few hours you will
its exterior pared off, every inequality removed, and
bright surface presented to wew which only needs an
additional polish by attrition upon its fellow, in the
room below to adapt it to its place in the nicely con-
structed machine. There are twenty or twenty-five
machine lahes in this room, and it is truly wonderful
fha nd ~
direction of the skilfu workmen they turn the rough
iron and brazen castings into the requisite shapes.
In the third story is the pattern shopa room where
the wood work of the machines is got out and finished
-Four men are constantly employed in making the pat
terms, and number of others in the construction OF
those parts of the paper machines which are Of wood
In this story there also appropriated to the
manufacture of sewing machines, which is another
branch of Messrs. Goddard, Rice & Co.'S. extensive
business This department is under the superintend-
ence of Mr.. H. II. Houghton one of our most skilIG
mechanics, TO whose ability the beautiful finish and
perfect construction Of the machines bear abundant tes
timony.
These little labor-saving implements are curiosity
in themselves, well worth visit to the shop to
Occupying no more space than live seamstress while
means of a treade, they will sew with accuracy. two
yards oil cloth per mnute twelve stitches to the inch
and az trihng less Of speed, will do the finest
work, even to the setting of the stitches in nice linen
shirt bosom collar The retail price of one Of these
machines, including the right to use it, for il is patent
ed, is from $780, to $50, which, considering that it
does not eat or drink and never gets tired or eenv
may be considered very cheap. The whole machinery
IN the establishment Of Goddard Rice s. Co. is driven
by large steam engine, of about eighty horse power
which consumes four hundred and fifty tons Of coal per
year. Some idea Of the extent Of their operations ma,
be gathered from the fact, that they annually work ur
sixty thousand pounds Of copper and brass, and one
million hundred thousand lbs Of cast and wrought
iron. The wages Of the hands are paid monthly, ia
cash; from three to four thousand dollars being requir.
ed upon pay day for that purpose.
Notwithstanding the threats Of our Southern friends
to withdraw their patronage from Northern manuac.
turers, we notice that Of them continue to send
their orders in this drection for the very good reason
no doubt, that here they get the worth Of their
money The enerprisng firm, whose works we are
noticing, are at the present time engaged in the erec.
ton of an eight engine Fourdrier machine and paper
mill, complete, for Charleston S. c., two for indiyd.
uas or companies, 10 North Carolina and one for yir