The Grange advance., 1873-12-31
Red Wing Manufactures for the year
1873.

VANCE is issued on the last day of the Year
A. D 1873 In view of this fact we have
endeavored to ascertain what Red Wing
has been doing during the past year in the
way Of manufacturing. Our report is not
as satisfactory as we would like TO make it,
from the fact that accounts for the year
have not yet been closed. But we have
gathered facts Of great interest and import
the attention of our readers thereto. There
is no subject Of greater Importance to our
people than that of home manufactures
Home manufactures means home consump
tion and home markets. We shall not be
under obligations to railroads for such of
our products as are consumed at home, or
manufactured at home
COGEL g. BETCHER.
have saved 4,3OO, 900 feet of lumber, and
have made 1000, 900 shingles. They saw
for Daniels & Simmons. They run one saw
mill and one sash, door and blind manu-
factory. They furnish every thing for
house except framing, including glass and
glazing.
They employ from seventy to eighty men
and six teams. They get their logs princi-
pal]y from the st. Croix. they also own
and operate grist and Touring mil
ship about 5000 barrels per year, and re-
tail in the neighborhood Of three tons per
week. They employ about twelve hands in
the sash department.
Mr.. Cogel commenced business at this
place in June, "A. D. 1856, in partnership
with Mr.. Blakely, now Of the firm of
Wichman e. Blakely, in the manufacture Of
sash, doors, blinds, &c. They bought their
first machinery of James Tott & Co., Gin
cinnati, which sunk with the old 1thiasca
at Rock Island Bridge. Within three
weeks of the report Of this disaster, the
second lot of machinery was on its way to
the Indian village Of Red Wing, on the up
per Mississippi, where Cogel & Blakely
and few other hardy pioneers were at
tempting to introduce civilization.
In connection with the sash and blind
business they put in the machinery for
grist mill, in the fall Of 1857. This was
the first grist mill run in Goodhue County
There was one then running at Mazeppa
and one started at Cannon Falls the next
year, but there was not then another run
of stone in this county. This enterprise
proved a total failure, and after putting in
their time a whole year, they were out of
pocket $50, and sold the machinery at half
it's original cost. The trouble was not
want of work, but the fact that they had
to buy their fuel.
Mr.. Charles Betcher bought out Mr..
Blakely in 1859, and from that time to the
present the firm has been Cogel & Betcher.
After taking out the grist mill, they put in
the saw mill, running it in the night time,
and the sash business in the day time
They bought the old Freeborn mill in 1861,
and their present saw mill is upon the same
old site.
DENSMORE BROS.
have been doing a good business in the
foundry during the past year. Their main
business is jobbing and repairing They
also make q specially Of water wheels and
mill machinery. They have put in mum
Der Of their wheels, the Joseph Sleeper
patent, and they give the best kind Of sat-
isfaction. They put one in Bringgold's &
mill at Pine Island, and one in Hack &
Meyers mill on Hay Creek. also one for
Manning, Of Lake City, and others. The
wheel and mill work has come to be large
part Of their business. They also make
building columns and lamp posts.
There has been q tremendous run on
sleigh shoes, and they have made nearly
double the number this fall and winter
over other years, and can scarcely keep up
with the demand. This alone has consumed
about 20 tons Of iron. They have put in a
new machine for cutting bolts, that is for
putting on the threads, with which they
can do days work Of two men in As min
utes.
From the middle of June to the middle
Of November, they do vast amount Of re-
pairing on agricultural machinery, and
have every facility for doing that kind Of
work as cheap as it can be done. They
use great deal of scrap iron, which would
otherwise be as useless around our farm
yards rs cobble stones.
They have made various improvements
during the wear which fac;l;ta+ss the;r