The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1870-03-12
An OTTAWA INSTITUTION.


Diln1 EsaSblisknenS Of
COLWEL.I., CLARK Il CO.
Wealth alone will not build up city neither
will good location, nor commercial advantages.
Either is gsod, all are better; but what is most
need is enterprise. Ottawa has all the other ele-
meuts; enterprise alone is apparently deficient.
For want of life and energy Ottawa seems "going
to seed" However, there are few men here
who are energetic-s few who have not become
rich in Ottawa and then gone elsewhere, or in
vested in government bonds, or loaned it out at
enormous interest. Among these honorable ex-
ceptions We may mention the very extensive
firm of CoLwELL, CLARK Il Co., on La Salle
street. at the southwest corner Of Washington
Square. Mr.. John Colwell, the senior partner,
began here on very small scale, in 1859, with
a one-horse power to do such little jobs in the
line of turning and the like, as he could get.
Slowly and carefully he enlarged, got more capi-
tai, larger machinery, and a partner, and with
that constant perseverance, such as is peculiar to
John, went onward From business of only
three thousand dollars the first year, the firm
afterwards advanced so that Colwell, Clark & Co.
became mammoth establishment, doing business
at the rate of two hundred and fifty thousand
dollars year, employing in their business some
times a hundred land fifty hands at time, and
filling their extensive building, now covering
half block, with the very best machinery that
modern ingenuity has devised or improved upon,
or that money could buy. Many of the machines
used in making blinds. window rods, &c, and for
other purposes, requiring hand work hitherto,
Mr.. John Colwell himself invented modified or
improved, as in his judgment was required and
all who have watched the wonderful working of
these ingenious inventions, and are conversant
with their use, unhesitatingly pronounce them,
with John Colwells improvements, perfect, while
those of his invention for making and sand-paper.
ing rods for blinds, to be exactly adapted to their
use. The machine for morticeing and pivotiug
Stats for blinds is equally perfect, SO that the
blinds come together with that degree of perfec-
ton. which can never be accomplished by hand
Besides these, there is a countless number of
smaller and larger machines for numerous 9th.
er uses in planning, matching, morticing, finish
ing, DC, too numerous to mention, but such AS
featuring establishments in the largest cities.
Among other articles they make here is a
dashboard, that simple and necessary article so
indispensable in every household, which isjsuch
valuable improvement upon all others ever in
vented that when once known no other will b--
used, and 1t is an improvement suggested by the
ever practical John Colwel.
In recen, visit through these several large
shops, we found large number of men at work
in each department, and were informed that
though even the times are dull the firm were
determined to keep as many of the hands at work
as possible, though they should have supply on
hand far exceeding the demand. The hands now
earn about four hundred dollars per week,
though when times were better their wages have
run up to nine hundred dollars, aud it is need.
less to say the hands are regularly paid in full
every week.
Messrs. Colwell, Clark 4 Co. have carried on
heavy business rs contractors and builders, and
| among many of the elegant buildings about the
city may be named the East Ottawa and Sixth
Ward school houses, the Clifton Hotel, many Of
the large brick blocks around the west north
and east side of Court House square. and the
iron fence around Washington Square, As well as
many churches and hundreds Of fine buildings,
public and private, in this county, particularly
a large number at S,reator and other thriving
| towns around US.
Besides this large trade they constantly ship
doors, blinds, sash, mouldings and ether finished
work. In large quantities, to points in Iowa, Mis-
souri, and to the larger cities in this state thei-
trade at Chicago alone being no uncomfortable
item.
Their shops SO large and numerous, and
their machinery so varied, that one might spend a
half day in looking through their factories, and
find himself delighted and instructed. AS one
item, it might be mentioned, that such are their
facilities and experience in house building, that
q man wishing an ordinary frame house built in
the proper season. for out door work, will find
the house built and ready for occupancy III a
week from making his contract, and the work
will be of good material and the building neatly
and substantially erected and nicely finished.
This planning, sash, door, blind and house
building establishment of Colwel Clark & Co.
is credit to Ottawa, and gives bread to many
poor people, besides contributing largely toward
paying the public taxes, and great share
OF this is due to the public spiritedness of John
Colwell, whose energy and splendid managing
qualities have added to the success of this enter
prise and the general welfare of Ottawa. United
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