The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-04-03
BIDDEFORD AND SACO

MATTERS

ing up OF all the business interests of town
he has only to visit some towns like Biddeford
and Saco to have his mind cleared from the an
tiquated cob-webs. While in too many town;
lethargy overpowers every interest, in those
that have secured factories and introduced vari
GUS industries, we find the evidences of vigor
GUS growth and general prosperity. Prominent
among the manufacturing towns of the State
and first among those that are still growing are
Biddeford and Saco. Other cities in particu
lar branch of manufacturing exceed these cit
les, but in the general variety and two or three
special and valuable branches they are unsur.
passed in Maine.
Within the limits of the present article, We
are unable to mention but two leading interests
but will hereafter notice others.
THE COTTON FACTORIES.
From a few figures that we have been able to
gather the importance of these manufacturing
interests to these localities may be estimated
The mill of the York company was first built in
1881. The investment of the company in round
numbers has been or is now worth about
s., 100000 Its annual product of goods is
about $2,000,000, though this sum varies with
fancy or colored cotton goods exclusively, con-
sisting of denims, all kinds Of stripes, fancy
pantaloons stuffs, etc., ETC. The York mill EN-
ploys about HOO operatives, to whom the CON-
pany pays annually about S275,000. The mill
runs about $4,000 spindles. The second mill
the Laconia-was established in 1916. The in
vestment of the company is worth about $780,
900. 1t annual product of goods is 100000.
The goods made by the Laconia consists of
shirtings, sheetings drillngs, ETC., in all widths,
from 30 to 1O5 inches The Laconia employs
1900 operatives; the annual payroll foots up
the round sum of $275,OOO The number of
spindles is $1,000. The Pepperell, the largest
of the mills, was built in 1850. The sum in
vested by the company is about 81 200 900. The
annual product of goods is $2,2O0,000. The
goods turned out by the Pepperell are the best
grades of white goods similar to those manu-
featured by the Laconia The Pepperell gives
employment to 1900 operatives, who are paid
$780, 900 year. The Pepperell mill runs 75,-
600 spindles. q ,s sa.
Besides the amount paid out as wages $780,
000) there is paid by the three mills $45O,O00
for what is termed supplies, which includes
nearly everything in the way of repairs, and
running expenses except coal and oil, the basis
of which is local labor, SO that the amount of
to a hundred other industries and trades in
these towns, cannot be less than 81 ,200,00
These mills are all noble structures and the
boarding houses connected have a look of re-
spectability and comfort that tenements in
large cities that rent for $1,000 or more, could
hardly aspire to. We noticed in the windows
of some of them fine plants and cages of birds,
and thought that these outside signs of refine
ment might afford lesson for some of the gen.
tlemen in and out.of Congress who bewail the
deplorable condition of the operatives in our
factories
We now come to a corporation which makes
little noise and whose name as mere name,
does not inspire one with the idea of it's i'm
portance. We refer to the
ae sAco WAFER POWER MACHINE SHOP
In this establishment 500 men are employed,
the larger part of Whom are not only mechan-
les but must be from the nature of their work,
the most skillful and intelligent of the workers
of iron and other materials. The company de-
votes itself exclusively to the manufacture of
cotton machinery, and their works are among
the largest and best knowno of the few similar
establishments in the country. We cannot
give in brief article, any adequate idea of
this elaborate mandatory, which takes the
raw and rough materials and turns out instead
those wonderfully intricate pieces of machinery
for the manufacture of cotton. The annual
pay roll of the employees amounts to nearly
$3.50 900. The value of the machinery turned
out annually reaches $550,OOO. This machinery
turned out by this shop Gas it styles ITSELF goes
all over the country. During the five years of
the organization of the company, less than one
years product has gone to Maine mills exclu-
sively. As an investment, like that of many
of our railroads, it has never paid much if any
dividends on the $500, 900 original stock that it
took to found the enterprise. The operators
consider it so much dead capital. -
It is claimed, and fairly too, that the present
tariff system has worked disasterously to this
splendid enterprise. The duty, for instance, on
pig iron which comprises large part of the
stock is 6Oper cent. while the duty on cotton
machinery is but IS per cent. 1t will be seen
that this system Of protection to skilled labor,
is just that which they pray to be delivered
from. But it promises to be worse. If the
Senate bill passes the House the duty on cot
ton machinery is reduced ten per cent while on
the raw material of pig iron it remains UNI
changed. The Agent, j. H. Mcmillan convinc-
ed us by indisputable facts, that the margins
were very small under the present system and
that further change as indicated by the SEN
ate bill may render it impossible to run with
out a loss. 1t would be nothing short of a pub
lie calamity to have this mandatory cease to
run. A large part of the skillful mechanics
have invested their surplus earnings in small
homesteads and depend upon their trade which
has for years been matter of just pride to
them for support. The experience and skill OF
these men the result OF years of TOLLS Sc
much invested capital that would be thrown
away or nearly so, if they should, by any means,
be thrown out of employment Such enter
prises as the Saco Water Power Machine Shop,
if any, may justly claim the protection of the
government for they are our strength as well
as our pride.
: SACo CRY AFFAIRS. AT the meeting of the
City Government of Saco, Monday evening,
Rev. J. NJ Bailey was elected S. S. Committee
for three years in piece of Charles H. Milliken,
whose term of Office had expired. Hampden
Fairfield, ESQ.,, was elected ON the same board
in place of Edward Eastman, resigned. .ee
The following joint standing Committee were
appointed.
On Finance-Mayor Burnham, Alderman Jane;
Beatty, Councilmen Francis Milliken, Danl L. Young
and George A. Carter.
On ccounM-Alderman Lewis Hodsdon, Council
men John Tongue and Winfield s. Hasty.
Public Property-Mayor Burnham, Alderman JAS
Beatty. Councilmen George p. Mckinney and George
A. Carter flt Ht' ..
On Pr;nting-Alderman Lewis Hodsdon, Council
men P. p. Milliken and Jason III. Sawyer
Public NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Burnham, Alderman
VIM. II. Deering, CouncilInen George p. McKenney
Daniel L. Young and Edward T. Knight.
Drains and Sewers-Alderman William H. Deer
ing, Councmen James Tibbstts and P. P. Milliken
On Poor-Alderman Harrison Cleayes Councilmen
Simon Sawyer and Samuel Berry.
On OrdinGnce-Mayor Burnham Councimen Geo
A. Carter and Daniel L. Young.
On Streets-Mayor Burnham, Alderman Nathanie
T. Boothby, Councilmen Francis MillikeD, John
lounge and George H. Boothby.
Fire observation-disclosures Charles Littlefeld
Councilmen Edward T. Knight and John w. Sweet
sir
On Lighting Streets-M Mayor Burnham, Councilmer
George Fl. Boothy and Winfield S. Hasty.
Standing Committees of Board of Mayor and Al
dermen:
On Sale Of Intoxicating Liquors-Aldermen Har
rison Cleavcs, William Littlefeld and William II
Deering.
On Police-SIayor Burndam Aldermen JAS Beat.
ty and William Littlefeld.
On Liceases-Mayor Durham, Aldermen William
Littlefield and Lewis Hodsdon. .1.4 81
On Enrolled BiLts-Aldermen Charles Littlefeid
Harrison Cleaves and William Littlefeld.
On Elections-AMermen William Littieield, Har
rson Cleayes and Charles Littlefeld.
Standing Committee of Common Council:
On Etections-C ouncilmen Winfield s. Hasty Sam
Berry aud Jason H. Sawyer.
On PnroyLed PIIs-Counc;lna, J,r,os T;hI>ot+S