The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-08-16
Home Manufactures.

tnat promised large returns, but ere the
dividend day arrived their unstable cbarac-
ter was exposed, and it was found that
only enough OF money had been made to nav
set of incompetent officers or managers "a
wind up of the affairs, left the compap,ss ~,
solvent Such has unfortunately been the fate az
too many manufacturing enterprises within the
last ten years, but though there have been
some failures, there have also been many most
successful industries built up and profitably
> continued, Of both corporate and individual
character. Of the latter class is
LANES COTTON MILLS,
which occupies the square bounded by Front
Tchoupitoulas, Valence and Cadiz streets,
Sixth District. The mill proper is large
three story brick building, covering two thirds
of the square, and was erected shortly before
the war by L. NJ. Lane. The present owners
are Messrs. Lehman, Abrahams & Co., who
purchased it in 1871 and who have, since it came
into their possession, expended many thousands
of dollars in perfecting the machinery, etc. The
product of this factory is too well known to
need eulogy at our hands. lanes Mill Os.
naburgs, Yarns and Twine," are in demand all
over the South, and command higher prices
than the same kinds of goods of Northern and
Eastern manufacture. The process gone through
in producing the fabric is very interesting, and
affords food for reflection and wonder at the
| perfection attained in the machinery used.
Through the kindness of Mr.. J. Oplatel, the
Superintendent, we are enabled to present an
outline of the working of the factory.
| The first thing done with the cotton when
loosened from the bale is to place it in the
Opener" where it is subjected to thorough
separation and prepared for the "Lapper," or
oh rro ~ @
purities and renders it into lint by means of
revolving cylinders provided with sharp teeth.
This process is continued through another ma
chine which winds the lint large rolls or
rollers from whence it goes to the "Card
ROOM" where it undergoes the combing pro-
cess and is prepared for the ''Drawing Frame,
when the cotton begins to assume the appear
ance of thread. Then passing successfully
through the "speeder," to the bobbins and
spinning frame, it finally reaches the LOOM,
and from thence it is sent to the packers, where
it is marked and baled for market.
The consumption of raw cotton at the "Lane
Mills Z" is about eighteen hundred pounds daily,
which is fabricated into sixty-fve pieces of
osnaburgs of forty-two yards each, four hun
dred and fifty pounds of yarn and one hundred
and twenty-five pounds of Irvine, the latter ar
tcle being made from the waste of the Gard
Room"
The number of operatives employed is sixty
i've, comprising men, women, boys and girls,
and the skill and precision with which they
perform their several duties, show that they
thoroughly understand their business; and as
skilled labor for this work is hard Co procure
in this section, they receive liberal wages, and
changes are very seldom made. The spindles
number twenty-one hundred and sixty, and
there are fifty-two looms which, worked to
fall capacity, will consume forty. five thousand
pounds of cotton a month.
The power used in driving the various ma
chimes is furnished by one sixty horse power
steam engine, and in this respect the cost of
exceeds that in the East-where
water power is generally used. But larger
Intimate profits are realized by manu- featuring
cotton here than there, where the natural IA
'ilities are apparently much greater, the
increased cost in the production of the fabric
IN the South being more than counterbalanced
~ the freight charges to and FROM the East to
his market. The present high price of skilled
abor here may be lessened by the inducements
'he south offers to European operatives; and
The Development of the coal fields in Texas
md Arkansas, will reduce the price of coal SO
much that we will be able to compete with
lowell in manufactures, pay handsome profits,
md sell our goods at fifteen or twenty per cent
ess than our Eastern rivals.
MOSS FACTORY.
Another equally profitable manufacturing
Industry has within the last eighteen months
cen built up, the credit of which is due to our -
nterprising fellow-citizens, Messrs. Clarke and
Crown, of No. "a Camp street. Machine picked
loss of the Delta n brand has become a sta
lie article throughout the United States and
anada, and orders are coming in daily from
urope, where the senior member of the firm
ow is' The perfection attained in the pre-
aration of the moss for market is surprising,
nd the article produced after manipulation
y their machinery bids fair to take the place
hair in upholstery and carriage work. Par
cularly is it adapted for mattresses, and being
ermin proof, all danger from bed bugs is re-