The Portland daily press., 1868-01-13
Letter From saccarappa.
sAccARArrA, Jan, Ii. 1ss


To the Editor Of the Press: .-...s.
professional gentleman of your city, who
has resided there several years, and whose
knowledge of the geography of the four quar-
tiers of the globe is unsurpassed, being sent
Tor to make visit to Saccarappa few years
since enquired if that village was not on the
road between Portland and Biddeford. For
the information of such, and such only, it'may
be well to state, that Saccarappa is village
In Westbrook, on the line Of the Portland and
Rochester Railroad, and about six miles from
your city. 1t was once celebrated as the place
where pine and hemloek trees were converted
into New England rum, more recently as a
place ofresort for rowdy boys ofa larger growth
from Portland and other places where they
could give license to their drinking and row.
dyish propensities, unrestrained by police regu-
lations. Still more recently it has become
as moral, enterprising, and industrious a
yillage as l know of in New England,
and the stigma that has heretofore rested upon
it, ought to be forever obliterated. But few
persons are aware of the extent of its manu-
featuring, the number of persons employed in
the various industrial pursuits, and the large
quantity of manufactured articles of various
kinds that is taken from the depot or sent by
teams to Portland. To persons who now re-
side, and have resided, for years in this vii
lage or vicinity the statistics given win be car
rying Goals to Newcastle. ~. -,l 80
COTTON MANUFACTURES. -
About ten years ago company consisting
of Fl. N. Jose, A. and s. e. Spring, r. Cram,
r. E. Wood, N. Cummings, ]. Walker, Neal
Dow, st. John Smith of Portland, and others,
purchased the power now owned and occu-
pied by the Westbrook Manufacturing Com
pany, with the mill thereon, and the buildings
herewith connected, for the sum of $4,000
The power and buildings had cost some $3.50,
900 but the business was found to be unproit-
able and the company sold the whole proper
ty at this immense sacrifice. The mill was
thoroug hly repaired and put in operation I'M
der the direction of Mr.. James Haskell, an ex-
perienced manufacturer and prudent and
skilful manager, who has had entire charge
of the manufacturing up to the present time,
and to whose industry and wise management
the company is very much indebted for the sue
cess that has been realized. a.7..~a
The old mill is 200 feet long by 45 wide and
five stories high. 1t was built in the most
thorough manner, and with the repairs it has
had is as good as new. 1t turns out about
100000 yards of sheeting and 100000 yards of
striped goods, tickings, denims, Sc. The weav
ing is under the care of Mr.. ID. W.'Babb--the
spinning of Mr.. G. w. Lane,-the dress room
of Mr.. w. B. Hartman and the calding room
of Mr.. John Whidden. The coloring depart
ment is under the direction of Mr.. Nathaniel
Murch, and the machinery, of Mr.. William
Wright. Mr.. Henry Blatchford has the gen.
eral supervision of repairs Sc. Each of these
has the reputation of being well informed in
theirsdepartmentsa ndall are intelligent, indus
trious men. 1i-.'' sA' -f ID
The Duck Mill was built abont two years
ago. 1t is 100 feet long by forty wide and
three stories high. 1t is owned by the same
company as the old mill and is under the di-
rection of the same agent. Mr.. g. Frost has
charge of the spinning, and Mr.. A. Bradbury
of the packing. 1t turns out about 100000
yards of sail duck year. The Portland Duck
made at this mill, finds ready market at re-
munerative prices The Company, in the va
rous departments of manufacturing, gives EN-
ployment, when the mills are in tuli operation,
to 225 persons 1t uses 1000 bales of cotton
and 800 tons of coal, year, and requires about
$4,000 monthly to pay the operatives. This
company has one of the best water privileges
in New England for reliability and safety, be-
ing supplied from some of the largest lakes
and ponds north of it. There is eighteen feet
fall, affording power sufficient to run ten
times the machinery it is carrying.
There are connected with the mills and
owned by the company, the agents house, 4
boarding houses, 10 dwelling houses and sew
eral other buildings, all in good repair and &C.
cupied by persons in its employ.
Jonas II. Perley, Esq, of Portland, is the
selling agent and treasurer of the company.
Messrs. Deering, Milliken & Co., Woodman,
True q Co., and several other wholesale dry
goods dealers in Portland, are kept supplied
with these goods, as fully as it is in the power
of the company to keep them supplied Such
has been, and continues to be, the demand for
the sail duck manufactured by this company
that there is seldom found a large quantity on
hand, orders generally following close upon
the heels of supply.
Ifyou publish this, / shall take it for granted
that another communication in relation to
other branches of manufacturing and the va
rious improvements and needs of the village
will be acceptable. q,