The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1858-03-20
Ottawa Starch Factory.


establishments. We have Ave Touring mills
some Of them very heavy concerns; we
have three or four planning mills; we have
plough factories, reaper factories, great foun-
dries and machine shops, with innumerable
smaller establishments, but tie great-the
vast institution in Ottawa, in which our pco-
pie take most pride and feel the deepest in
tercst, is the O,tasca Starch tGetory. II is
an object of interest to our people both on
account OF the pride they feel in having so
vast a concern in their midst. as also on ac-
count OF the number Of men it employs, thus
adding many thrifty and industrious fami
lies to our population. Our farmers also
have an interest in it, for it creates large
home market for their corn, at season,
too, when the general market is dull. We
all feel its prosperity to be intimately con
nected with that of our city and its failure
could not fail to be felt as a serious check 10
all departments of our business.
The Ottawa Starch Factory was erected a
year ago last summer by joint stock COM
pany. The stock subscription was $780,
600. Thi. sum, in the original plan, we be-
lieve. was thought TO be sufficient TO erect
the necessary buildings, supply the machine
ry and leave surplus that would suffice to
run the concern until returns could be coun-
ted upen from sales Of starch TO cury it on
successfully. As is generally the case in
such matters. however when the work was
completed, it was found the cost had excee-
dcd the estimates. The buildings and ma
chincry alone had about exhausted the cap
ltal. The company was therefore obliged
to commence operations on borrowed CAPT
tai 1t struggled on thus feebly-at least
working at less than half its capacity-fora
year, doing, however, as its managers be-
lieyed, good paying business, until the
monetary rcvulsion last fall suddenly and
unexpectedly overwhelmed it with pecunia-
~ U.Farrasucnts. In this dilemma tenn
porary assignment was made, but on 4 sub
mission, by the assGnces of its earnings Of
year, its prospects and capacity, to a few
of eur heaviest and shrewdest capitalists,
they came to the firm conviction that there
was money in the concern, and all it need
cd was capital and business energy and tact
to brin. it out Viewing the matter IT, this
light the establishment was leased for a Sim
tied term by Ncssrs. ". II. ". CUsnxAN,
JoIy D. CATION, and GEo. II. NoEEIs. The
guaranty that neither business talent nor
capita! viii hencoforth be wanting to run
the establishment At its highest rcmuncrat-
ing capacity.
In these hands, tho factory IS at present
working about 60 men, and consuming 800
bushels Of corn Il day. The temporary stop
page Of the water power rendered necessary
10 repair the canal for opening on ,hc 2s.h
inst, is supplied by a vast It am engine,
which has been provided for such contiE-
tIngency. Corn, at its present low rates, is
being purchased in vast quantities, and eve
~ provision is being made to run the ostaJ-
lishmcnt at its full caracity-which is five
or six hundred bushels day, on the open
ing of navigation 4 month or two hence.
Three kinds of starch are being made
Laundry Starch, which constitutes the hea-
West item; Golden Gcss," an extra arti-
+ Gle ror the finest laundry uses; and Farina,
or pulverizcd starch for culinary use.
( As to the quality Of this starch, 10 one
who has ever used it will need certificate or
assurance. The people of Ottawa may be
partial to it, but it has certainly driven eve
" other article out of our msrket-not ev-
en- the starch made at Oswogo being regard
ed as its equal. Abroad, wherever it has
appeared, we are assured it has won the
same reputation. Indeed, from the rate al
which orders arrive, we learn the lessccs
have no apprehension Of I want Of sale for
all they can manufacture.