The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-06-22

= Lowell has been styled the spindle city"
but the indications now are that not only Low
ell but Lawrence, Manchester and all the 9TH
er important manufacturing towns westward,
are soon to yield the palm to our "down east
city of Lewiston, and that hereafter the Spin
die City will be found upon the banks OF the
An droscoggin rather than the Merrimac. A
dozen years since the Falls at Lewiston were
improved for water power purposes only, to
very limited extent, and in comparatively
rude manner. A few saw mills and q small
wooden factory, we think, embraced nearly all
the manufacturing interests of the town where
now great enterprises are being projected up
ona scale Of magniicence and liberality which
can scarcely fail to make that one of the most
important localities in New England.
AT time when the water power was held
cheap and when real estate could be pur-
chased at low figure, men Of broad views and
deep forecast, combined their efforts under an
act of incorporation and purchased along the
bank Of the river and extending over the pres
ent best part Of the town, about 800 acres of
land, commanding the extensive water power,
and extinguishing all individual ownerships
that could possibly interfere with the accom-
plishment of the liberal plans and the inaugu-
ration Of the liberal policy which existed in
the minds Of the corporation. This corpora
tion is now known as the Franklin Company,
OF which Mr.. A. ID. LOCKWOOD is the accom-
plished business agent.
a. he haads IF the R.lts 40
nal has been cut, sixty feet wide and Of twelve
feet depth of water, extending down the river
and far enough from it to admit two ranges Of
factories, thehead of water being sufficient, in
tapping the canal and carrying the water at
right angles with it to the river, to admit Of
its being twice used. The whole head is not
far from fifty feet Thiscanal must be at least
Q mile in length, extending to deep ravine at
the lower end Of the new Androscoggin Mill,
one Of the largest in the United States. The
Franklin Company hold the water power in
their own hands, and lease the water to COM
panies to whom they give an outright deed of
land privilege. The Bates and Hill corpora
lions, with two large factories each, are stu
Ated on lands giuen by the Franklin Company,
to whom they pay annual rent for the use of
water to propel their machinery. Between
the Hill Mill and the large Androscoggin Mill
Ia distance of several hundred yards-it is
supposed the new Maine Mills will be located,
which haye been incorporated with S2,000,000
capital, and are designed for the manufacture
OF both cottons and linens The Androscog-
gin Mill is one of the wonders of the place.
The main building is 542 feet long, about 80
feet wide and five stories high, and contains
$4,000 spindles and 800 looms. 1t is one OF
the most thoroughly built structures of the
kindin the country, and its machinery is all
OF the latest and most approved patterns. By
the politeness of Mr.. Lockwood-who is the
agent of this corporation as well as of the
Franklin Company = we were allowed the
privilege of a hurried trip through the mill
from wheel-pit to dressing room--Mr. L. him.
self personally pointing out the varied i'm.
provements over older mills that have been
compared in the construction and fitting up
OF this. One of the most needed and most
noticeable improvements is that which has in
view the sanitary interests Of the operatives
by which perfect ventilation is secured, and BY
which, even in the heretofore heated and Of
fensive dressing room where the sizing of the
yarn Is done, the air is often changed, and the
bad smell and the sickish sensation are com
paeteIy obyiated. ~ Fl M q
Not only have the Franklin Company pro
jected their works upon a scale of grandeur
commensurate with great business purpose
but they have had an eye to the building VI
Of the town, and to its being done in a way t.
make Lewiston desirable dwelling place, ant