Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-08-12
AN ENTERPRISING TOWN.
HUDSON, Mass, Aug. s, 1870.

this beautiful and enterprising village, can
not forbear giving you a description of what
may be justly styled the Bee Hive of New
England, as doubt il there is another town
in the United States, numbering only little
over 5000 inhabitants, that can compete with
it in business enterprise, or the amount of
capital employed.
BY the kindness of friend visited the ex-
tensive shoe factory of F. Brigham & Co.,
and was politely shown the process of the for
nation Of the shoe in all its parts, from the
cutting of the leather, passing from machin-
cry to machinery, and room to room, until it
comes out perfect shoe.
This town was incorporated in 1866, and
derives its name from Hon. Charles 1lud-
son, an eminent lawyer Of Boston, who was
born here when it was small farming place,
being the north part of Marlboro, Middesex
county, from which town it was set off few
years since. Mr.. Hudson, for the honor con-
ferred upon him. generously made it dona-
ton of a very valuable and extensive library.
The buildings of Messrs. Brigham & Co.
are three in NUMBER one of them is four sto-
ries high, the other two three stories.
and contain about $1,000 square feet of
flooring. They employ $50 hands, male and
female. They turn out on an average per
day 1000 pairs, or over 100000 pairs year,
and have made rs, 900 pairs in month. They
manufacture women's, misses and childrens
shoes, cutting up about 300 sides of leather
daily. Their pay roll amounts TO $4,000
per year. Their motive power is water wheels
of 100 horse power. They use GO machines
of various kinds III their business; among
them are seven pegging machines. Their
goods are cut by dies. which are manuiac-
tured in this village.
W. I. Trowbridges factory is located on
the west side, not stones throw from the
factory of +. Brigham & Co., and contains
/ about % 900 square feet of flooring 1t has
five full working stories, ranging from ten to
thirteen feet in height. Mr.. Trowbridge en-
poys l25 hands in the building, besides
others outside. and manufactures about 800
pairs day of the best quality of women's,
misses and clildren's pegged shoes, chiefly
| of calf and buff material. His machinery is
moved by a steam engine of % horse power,
and 40 horse boiler.
| The largest shoe factory, however, is that
of Mr. George Houghton, who turns out 1000
pairs day, employs 800 hands, and whose
pay roll amounts to $4,000 per week.
The shoe factory of Stowe, Bills Co. con-
tains "a 900 feet of flooring. They employ
| vi Thair oil
amounts to $4,000 per month.
Messrs. Tets & Davis employ in their shoe
factory As hands, men and women, and turn
out Il 900 pairs per month.
There are two other establishments for the
manufacture of shoes, one of which is owned
by Mr.. George Stratton, and the other by Mr.
/. A. Tidd, the statistics of which was una
bic to obtain, as had not time to go to head
quarters.
The motive power of the above named
firms are steam engines varying in capacity
from II to 100 horse power.
Mr.. p. f. Millay has large factory for the
manufacture of lasts and sole patterns, and
has a large number of hands in his employ.
He turns out $500 pairs per month. Mr..
Millay is from Gardiner, where he formerly
carried on the last business. The most of his
operatives are Maine men; indeed l was as
tonished to meet so many who informed me
they were from the valley of the kennebec.
There is also a toy factory, where are
manufactured large amount. These toys
are sent to New York, where they find a
ready market.
We also visited the establishment of Messrs.
S. l. Kaer & Co., manufacturers of piano
forte cases, and were politely shown the pro-
cess of manufacturing these cases from the
lumber as it came from the mill until it came
out piano case of the most exquisite work
manship and beauty. The lumber for the
manufacture of these cases passes through va
rious degrees of temperature of heat from
one drying room to another, where it is suf
fciently seasoned, when it is piled in close
room until it is ready tor use. was elevated
from the basement through the different
rooms until l reached the attic, by means of
steam, on an elevator not unlike the one used
in your extensive establishment, but of much
stories high and 80 feet long. Their motive
power Is a steam engine Of 80 horse power.
They usually employ from 80 TO 40 men
wbea ll4elr works are in full operation, but
lhelr force AZ tie preseni time Is only about
Is. They tarn oHt u c&ses per month.
Thsir p2y rell zszzss--z2-..s - IS =s47zss 10 .
about $500 per week. The b&nds IN ,tseir
employ receive from three 70 three doll2rs
and = half per day. Mr. Ksler ia natjre Z;
Camden, Ne, whore HE parents now feslde.
Mr.. Asa Hall. originally frota wiscasse,,
Me-, carries On the Tailoring and furnishing
business.
There are also four large machine shops, /
to say nothing Of the stores and all other
trades and professions which are too numer-
Gus to particularize.
There are four very pretty modern built
houses for public worship, Baptist, Unitarian,
Methodist and Catholic he aides a large asso.