The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1873-11-27
Mathews Hretkers' New Establish.

which has just commenced operations in
the manufacture of sashes, doors, blinds,
&c, deserves something more than a pass
ing notice. 1t is probably the largest and
most complete factory of the kind in New
England and has been gotten up with
large outlay and with all the improve
ments which knowledge of the business
and long experience could suggest The
location itself has many advantages, being
bounded on three sides by Front, Miller
and Cross streets. and on the fourth ad-
joining the shipbuilding grounds of Carter
4 GO. Their buildings are thus placed at
a distance OF more than a hundred feet
| from any other-a great security against
| fire. They are close to the wharves, and
convenient to shipping facilities by sailing
vessels, steamers and railroad The site
Of their main building 50 inclines that the
great convenience of street level en-
frances to the basement and first story
above are afforded on opposite sides. The
large sewer on Miller street has been re-
built and covered with stone work on
their whole front. giving 4 convenient
drive way.
| The main building. of wood, is t. by
s. feet, four stories high, including base
ment, and has a flat roof with cement and
gravel covering. Light is afforded on all
four sides by one hundred windows The
! engine house on the south side is of brick,
with double walls and air space, % by Is
feet, and is fire proof, communication
with the main building being had only oy
one door and window Of iron, which can
be instantly closed in case OF fire The
roof is laid in mortar, with raised edging
and pipe for covering it with water The
chimney from this building is Il huge one,
double walled, and - feet high, 6 IL feet
square ut the base, and contains $4,000
brick. The boiler, made by f. Hodge L
Co., of East Boston, is 4 tubular one, very
large and Of improved pattern. The en-
| built by g. w. Bird & Co. East Boston, is
very handsome one of fifty horse power.
| The foundation of the engine. as well as
| Of both buildings, are laid upon the solid
| ledge. To supply water to the boilers
| large reservoir has been built in the gully
southeast of the factory, where never
failing springs keep it full and from which
a three inch iron pipe leads to the engine
| room. Also a large reservoir under the
main building collects the drip OF the
roofs.
The basement. opening towards the
water and Carter Il Cos shipyard, is fitted
up for ship work 1t contains q Daniels
planer, jig saws, circular saws, and ma
chinerv for heavy work. One portion is
for pump and block making. The exhaust
steam is used to soften plank tor fit
ting to the frames of vessels. The tacili-
ties for turning out ship work are unsur-
passed by any on the coast. The timbers
Of this story are Of immense strength, fit
ted with hanging knees and stitfened by
heavy timber braces Two lines Of shaft
ING are hung overhead. The second story,
which opens at grade on Cross street, Is
devoted to planning, moldlng, and match
inc Of lumber for sashes, door, blinds,
&c, and is full of the newest and most
improved machinery for the purposes. y
piazza roof projecting above this story
gives dry place for loading teams IN wet
weather The third story is for making
doors. The business office Of the firm or-
'"n;"e ON" nn'nnr Senarated by glass par
tltlonS. In the fourth story the SaShes and
blinds are manufactured, the machinery
becoming lighter and more delicate as we
ascend. until we reach the floor where are
fabricated the light and graceful Sashes
and the beautiful Venetian blinds
Steam plays Al important part in this
establishment. 1t not only gives the mo-
.ive power for moving the machinery, but
It seasons the lumber i'll the adjacent dry
house, BY underground pipes; it warns
the whole building by means Of 300 feet
OF iron pipes along the sides Of the rooms
t HOSTS the lumber and sends down the
piles Of door, sashes and blinds by means
Of an elevator running from basement to
roof; it melts the glue; it works fire
pump provided with hose; by means OF
perforated iron pipes around every room
it can flood with water any portion that
takes fire and finally it sounds a big gong
that wakes the hands (and everybody else)
in the morning. And speaking of fire, it
would seem that the risk is here reduced
to the smallest amount for such an estab-
lishmcnt Work will stop when daylight
fails, and no fire of any kind be allowed in
work rooms. A Waterman will patrol the
premises at night Each floor is provided
with Mushrooms and water closets. Forty
hands are employed in all departments of
the factory.
A large storehousc for seasoned lumber,
and 4 dry-house with glazier's shop, are
situated out Of fire reach on the lot and a
square away on Cross street is a three
story store house for finished work The
proprietors planned and supervised the
work themselves Their engine and boiler
have been set by Mr., George O. Parkman
and Mr. Wood The latter remains in
charge of the engine All the extensive
iron piping has been done under Mr.. Park
mans direction, and well done.
The firm consists of Noah NJ, Spencer
W. and Sanford II. Mathews. They have
had twenty years experience in the bust
ness, and have built up an enviable repu-
tation for the beauty and durability of their
work. They have orders from all parts
of New England, the middle and western
States, all parts of the southern coast. and
even FROM the Pacific When on the 9th
Of August these gentlemen looked upon
the smoking ruins of their large establish
m,nt. destroyed almost without mo-
ment's warning, and found themselves
without the means Of striking 4 blow, the