The Portland daily press., 1864-07-11
Manufacture of Clothing.

Manufacture Of Clothing.
There is probably no branch of manufactur.
ing that keeps in active circulation so much
capital, and gives employment to SO many per-
sons, as the manufacture of clothing. There
are three establishments In this city where
the manufacturing Of citizens clothing for
the trade Is carried on regularly, and one en-
gagged entirely in manufacturing army cloth
ing. Each of these establishments keep sew
eral men cutting all the time and getting the
garments in readiness for making. From ten
to sixty persons are employed in the estab-
lishments in this city, but the work is mainly
sent into the country to be made
The cloths are purchased in large quanti-
ties, and in most instances sponged at an es-
Enlistment in Boston, where it is done by
steam. They are then put into the hands of
cutters, who get the garments in readiness for
making, each man cutting from 80 to 100 in q
day. These garments are packed in boxes
ard sent to traders ia the country, who deal
them out to persons to make up, these traders
employing one or more men to press them as
they come in. There are several traders en-
gagged In the business who give employment to
a thousand persons each. The garments are
then returned to the city and pass through
rigid examination, and il not finished as they
should be, are put into the hands of females
to be repaired.
Messrs. Woo6man, True & Co., about four
teen years ago, added to their large and in
creasing business the manufacture of cloth
ing. Mr. A. Prince was employed to take
charge OF the custom work, and Mr.. w. Wis
well Of the wholesale work, both OF whom
remain in their employ up TO the present
time. The third story Of the building they
occupy is devoted exclusively to this depart
ment, and is divided into cutting-room,
into almost every town in this and York eoun-
ties to be made up, giving employment TO q
large number of persons. Their clothing is
sent into every part Of this State, and orders
and the Provinces. This firm have been large
ly interested In the manufacture of army
clothing, and have an interest in the manu-
facture OF wooden goods. Their Dry Goods
establishment, nearly opposite the Post Office,
on Middle Street, is one of the Oldest aud
most extensive jobbing houses in the State.
Messrs. Ii. J. Libby & Co. commenced the
manufacture Of clothing about twelve years
age, associating with them, for that purpose,
Mr.. Jacob T. Lewis. The business was car
ried on extensively by this firm until recently,
the partnership has been dissolved, and Mr..
Lewis continues to carry on the clothing BUSH
ness. He has taken his son into partnership,
and they are doing a jobbing business and
manufacturing for the trade only. They have
taken several army contracts, and in several
instances were required to do large amount
of work I'M very short time, but By persever-
ing industry have been able to get their work
In at the time agreed upon. Mr.. Lewis has
been long engaged in the business, and gives
to 1t his personal attention, and furnishes his
customers such styles and quality of garments
as find ready sale. Messrs. II. j. Libby &
Co. are now extensively engaged in manufac-
turing wooden goods, having an interest or
ownership in mills in Oxford, Lisbon, Var
mouth, Gray, Sabattus. Dexter, and other
Places E FkF ID ia
Messrs. Storer, Cutler & Co., have more re-
Gently commenced the business, but are cut
ting up an immense quantity of cloth. They
occupy The entire building on the corner OF
Lime and Middle streets, the two upper stories
of which are devoted exclusively to the CLOTH
ing and cloak business. They are also largely
engaged in the Dry Goods trade, keeping a
large stock, and are undoubtedly doing an ex-
tensiye business. Their orders for clothing,
as well as other goods, are from the eastern
part. Of the State, New Hampshire and the
Provinces. Their clothing department is un-
der the direction Of Mr.. ]. E. Blabon, who
manages in the most systematic and careful
manner, and has had large experience in the
business.
Soon after the war broke out Mr.. William
Deering succeeded In getting contract for
army clothing, which was so well and faith
fully made that he has found no difficulty in
obtaining all the work that he could get made.
He has employed some forty or fifty persons
at his rooms on Free street, and thousands in
the country, ia making up the different kinds
OF garments required by the soldiers. In
little more than two years he has manuiac-
tured 772,00o garments, comprising uniform
frocks, flannel sacks, shirts and cotton flannel
drawers, cavalry and infantry pants and en-
gineer's oyeralls. II every clothing contrac-
tor has been as faithful in fulfilling his con-
tract as has Mr.. Deering, the Government has
had but little TO complain Of in that direction
The prices paid for labor must necessarily be
low, as he has to compete with Others In the
same business. We have no data by which
we can estimate accurately the amount of cap
ital invested in the wholesale clothing business
in this city, but 1t cannot have been less than
s4,0ooeoo year, for three years past. There
is no city in New England where traders can
purchase better clothing or on better terms
than in Portland.