The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1866-03-09
MANUFACTURING "REMINISCENCES.

MANUFACTURING "REMINISCENCES.
The cotton manufacture was commenced on
the Saco river in 1926, by the Saco Manufac-
turing Company.
The business was unsuccessful from various
causes, and in 1880 the mill was burned, and
in July Of the samc year the whole property
was sold at auction. The property was pur.
chased on account Of Samuel Fales, Charles
W. Cartwright, Charles Bradbury, James
johnson, Pliny Cutler, Ebcnezer t. Andrews
and Others, who made arrangements with Sam
uel Batchelder to rebuild the mill and conduct
the business. The York Manufacturing Com.
pany was organized under on act OF incorpora.
ton passed March 10Th, 1881, with capital
Of three hundred thousand dollars, and com
mcnced manufacturing early in tho year 1880.
In August of 1888, the stock was increased to
five hundred and forty thousand dollars, and
arrangements were made for building second
mill. Further additions were made to the cap
ital stock from time to time, until It amounted
to ono million; and the third and fourth mills
were built and put in operation previous to
1916. Before this time, several saw mills with
land and water power in Saco and Biddcord,
had been purchased for the purpose Of uniting
the whole mill power on the lower falls Of the
river; and in 1910 the York Company con.
veyed to the Saco Water Power Company their
real estate in Saco and BddeIord, except their
cotton mills, and other buildings on Cults
Island in Saco. In 1913 Mr.. Batchelder re-
moved to Cambridge, Mass, and gave up any
agency in the management Of the business,
which was continued with various success un'
ill 1856, when Mr.. Batchelder was elected
Treasurer, and Mr.. II. Temple took charge OF
the business Us agent at the mills, whose skill
and experience have enabled him to manage
the concerns Of the Company up to the present
time very successfully.
Tho experience OF Mr.. Batcheldcr in the
manufacturing business commenced with the
building of the second cotton mill in the State
of New Hampshire, which was put in opera
ton in 1908 in New Ipswich. Tho first mil
in that State was built on the same stream In
1901. As reminiscencc of the state of things
in regard to manufacturing at that time, il
may be stated that the proprietors OF the frs
mill felt degree of hostility against those who
were concerned in building the second mill
under the apprehcn, ion that they would opsrdc
the business!' The first mill had lcss than five
hundred spindlcs, and tho second mill abou,
the same number! After tho erection oil
those mills, number OF Yorkshire weavor'
and some Scotch manufacturers settled in the
neighborhood, which induced Mr.. Batchcldcr
to undertake the manufacture OF checks, tick.
ings and other articles by hand looms. lie
continued in this until 1925, when he removed
to Lowell and commenced erecting the works
of the Hamilton Manufacturing Company
where he remained until 1881, when he re-
moved to Saco as before stated.
Concerning Mr.. Batchclder us cotton man
ufacturcr or rs q Gnancier, we need say bu,
little. His thorough knowledge of cotton
manufacturing in all its departments, obtained
by the study and experience OF so many years
his discreet and careful management in fnan
cial matters, his promptnesS and reliability In
all his business relations, united to characte,
of answering integrity, have gained him ar
enviablc and widespread reputation.
lie is tho inventor OF the Dynamometcr, th'
only machine in use for weighing the power o
machines driven by bands or belts, which HI
first used at tho York Mills in tho year 1887
In the year 1885 he invented and patented thu
steam cylinders and connections now so uni
versaly used in Dressing Frames for drying
yarns. About tho year 1888 or 1884 no in
vented and applied the first stop motion to thu
Drawing Frame, which he afterward patented
in England, where it has since been in general
use, as we'll as in this country. lie is the orig
inator of several other inventions and improve
mcnts, but patented none but those above
mentioned. lie is now Treasurer Of tho York
Mills, and OF tho Everett Mills, Lawrence
Mass, the two largest manufactures OF colorcd
cotton goods in the United States. We ven
ture to say that Mr.. Batchcldcr has had the
largest experience and tho greatest success in
this branch of manufacture, of any man now
living. Although no has reached the advanced
ago of SO years, his mental faculties arc np'
parcnty unimpaircd, his form is still erect, his
step elastic, and his devotion to business more
untiriug than that Of many younger men,
May he long occupy the positions he now SC
ably fills.
The nunr srlniles In the tniicl States In 1907
about 1000 In 1850 the number hal increased to 5000 600
and Il will I've safe say that within tho present year NOR
than 200 600 new spindes will he put In operation In this
connection may hc interesting 10 add that the first cotton
mill built In the Untcd States In beverly, Mass, In l'S
6rst In this State at Brunswick, In 1909. =