The Portland daily press., 1872-03-07
The Shoe Manufacture.

was in error, the OF ler day. in saying that
the shoe manufacture could be well accommo-
dated in any large and roomy chambers, of
which we have many at present. unoccupied.
This branch of industry must have abundant
light, as well rs the manufacture of clothing
and newspapers, but there is no difficulty IN ar
ranging for that .Di W a.Er
To-day, visited some of the shoe establish
ments in Union street, and was greatly sur
prised as well as delighted at their extent and
their success and their prospects, At one of
these was shown q large pile of orders for
February only, for their goods from the West
as far as St. Louis--running through the cities
and towns of Ohio, Indiana Illinois and
Michigan. And this establishment is Of recent
origin, but it is full and in successful operation.
Twas pleased to see that the Massachusetts, sys-
tenn is adopted, that of combining the factory to
a very few classes of goods, and making spec
iality of them. In that way greater expertuess
is attained in the processes, and better work is
done, than would be the case, if u great variety
of goods was attempted. GAS tFR
1t was quite wonderful to notice the rapidity
and precision with which the several processes
are executed, and how speedily the goods are
turned out completed, from the rough material,
at small cost of labor on each shoe though
the work people make large weekly wages
have been in many shoe factories, large
and small, but not within the LIST five years,
and j was to-day surprised to notice the addi-
tons that have been made to the ingenious
machinery employed, so that now, almost every
part of the work done on fine shoes as well Us
on the cheaper kinds, is performed by machines,
and in almost moment of time. .Il.r.
These factories do lot buy in gross, the leath-
er which they use. This is done in the great man
ufacturing centres like Lynn, Haverhill &C.
arranged into classes, for the different kinds of
goods, and the manufacturers all over the couil-
try, order from the cutters, the particular de-
scription of stock required for their own
''make" In this way, the cost is much less,
for all waste is avoided. All parts Of the rough
manufacture, eitherin one kind of boot or shoe OF
another, and each factory orders the poor and
cheap cuts, the better CUTS or the best, accord
ing to the kind, style and quality OF the goods
| that are made. In this way all the leather Is
| utilized-and the great waste of former times
| is avoided. - rs az ~ q
Some of the rooms in these Union Street Fac
| tories, resounded with the noise of sewing-ma-
chimes driven by steam, almost like the weav-
ing-room of Cotton Factory; and it was III
teresting to see the large number OF nicely
dressed young girls, sitting at these machines
| and executing beautiful work, with the great
| est ease and rapidity In other rooms, mer
were standing at other and different machines
some were sewing the soles upon the shoes, and
doing it better and in less time than a shoe
maker of the old time could fix the last upoI
his knee with the strap over it, ready to begin
| Others were putting heels npon the shoes per
fectly and trimming them all in the one mo
ton, in less time than workman in the ole
time could drive one Peg, And SO by perfec
| division of labor, every part OF the work wa
hurried ON with the greatest rapidity, and exc
cuted with precision and excellence.
The establishment recently commenced, a
first sent work out into the country to b.
executed, where it was done by hand; but nov
these workmep have been induced to move irtt
town, and are located here permanently, il
large numbers. All these people do piece wor
the price on each pair of shoes being small
but by the aid of the steam engine and machin
cry, the number turned out, weekly Is YER
large, and the week s wages is a handsome sun
enabling the workmen to live in good houses
and in the most comfortable manner.
Now-this manufacture is yell and thorough
ly established there on Q paying and satisfacttt
ry basis. There isl.o other branch Of manufat
wealth faster than this, on an outlay and at
risk so small 1t would be easy to extend thi
trade indefinitely, at very small hazard, eithe
by starting new establishments, or by putin
more capital into those already in operation
and the latter would, for the present, be tn
wiser way, because the expenses would be les
and the great-the necessary thing, is to have
An additional capital in this manufacture, {
one hundred thousand dollars, would add MOI
than one thousand to our population, wbic
would require one hundred and fifty dwelling
{ houses at least, and a weekly wage of aboi
eight thousand dollars. n. ID.