The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-05-29
MARSEILLEs.
Its Manufactures and its Business.

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Frequent mention has been made In these
columns of the town Of Marscilles, and as it
possesses many advantages which,. when
known, should attract capital and engage the
attention OF men of enterprise and ability in
the East, where opportunities are not so fire..
quent nor SO good for the investment Of large
wealth as here in the rapidly growing region
of the great Mississippi Valley, We think it
our duty to speak Of the place as it merits,
not only to benefit Marseilles, but at the same
time to stimulate the capitalists of Ottawa to
improve our own water power, and not allow
neighboring town Of less, or at least no
greater material advantages, to eclipse us.
Marseilles is located about stventy-seven
miles west of Chicago, the great commercial
metropolis of the west, or, more properly, of
the central portion Of the United States and
on the Chicago, Rock Island s. Pacific Rail-
road, which il now the national thoroughfarc
between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and
also is on the Illinois and Michigan canal, the
water route connecting the lakes with the
Mississippi river thus giving it such com
munications with every business point in all
directions as but few locations possess In
addition. arrangements have been perfected
for another Railroad from Chicago via Plain
field and Lisbon, crossing the Illinois river
at Marseilles, thence through Streator and
Pekin enthusiastically into Missouri con-
Meeting with al! the important roads in that
direction. This new road is a fixed fact, con-
tracts having been let for grading, bridges,
&c. Mr.. Bell of this city already having the
contract to erect the bridge across the Yer
million river. The excellent wagon bridge
over the Illinois river at Marseilles is to be
used by the Railroad, the company having
initiated preparations to strengthen it for
their track, and the work Of grading is al
ready begun and being rapidly pushed for
ward at different points along the line.
Marseilles has a most excellent water power,
ample to drive mills and factories of nearly
every description, and Of the largest size.
The dam. is substantially constructed, and
warranted by the builders to Withstand all
ordinary wear and accidents, tor twenty
years. The town is admirably situated for
manufacturing place, being on level ground,
with plenty ofspace for city Of $4,000 in
habtants, and if the growth of Marseiles
shall continue at the rate it has improved
since the dam was built, the above figures
will be reached in q very few years. Two
years ago the new part of the town numbered
but 2O6 people; now the census gives about
nineteen hundred! It's manufacturing estab.
llshments at present in operation and being
completed are; The Touring mills of VIM.
RickarIl 4 Co., brick and frame structure,
40 by so feet. four stories high, besides large
basement and sub-basement 1t has four run
Of stone, besides one devoted to making
Oaten Meal--a speciality with these mills,
in which they have been very successful.
They have 100000 of capital employed, and
make $50 barreslof flour per day.
Near these mills is the extensive paper manu-.
factory of NSyes, Brown & Norton. The
building is of brick, ~ by SO feet, three stories
high. They employ about twenty hands. boys
and women, make about three thousand ia.
Of paper per day, and have $4,000 capital
invested. The same firm have another similar
establishment near the above. It is also of
brick. 30 by 80 feet, four stories high, and
will employ in it $4,000 capital. They make
brown, manila and straw wrapping papers,
and OF a most excellent quality. Their new
mills are nearly in running order, the other
has been in operation over a year. T
West and north of this is the large and sub
stantial book and print paper mill Of ]. P.
Black, formerly OF Yorkvlle. This is brick
structure, with very heavy walls; one wing is
So by s. feet, three stories high, and the other
portion is "a by So feet, two stories high. with
an extensive basement cut in the solid rock un-
der each. Its capacity will be 1900 lbs. per
day, employing s5 hands. Capital 10000.
They will be running in about 20 days.
Near this mill is the cotton mill of Mr.
Warren Aldridge, an institution of great ca
pacity, and withal one rather novel here. The
principal building is brick, so by 100 feet,
stories high, with an ell "a by 80 feet, stories
high, and solidly put together-thea floors
heavy and strong, as they must be to sustain
the great weight and resist the Earring of the
machinery to be placed upon them This
mill will contain one hundred looms and give
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