The Portland daily press., 1876-04-24
The GOodalI Enterprise.
The Mills ut Sanford Corner-A Miracle
OF Brains, Industry and Energy-Where
the Lap-robes are Made-An Enterprise
Complete i'm Itself, etc etc.

complete IN Etsef, etc etc.
len years ago Sanford Corner contained
| couple OF stores doing limited business,
few dwellings that had evidently witnessed
better times, and on the magnificent water
| power of the Mousam river at that point
were grist mill, saw mill and
small woolen factory-all bearing those marks
which too plainly indicate that there are no
better days coming. In short, Sanford Corner
was just like almost hundred other little VIII
lagos near water powers and crossroads which
have lost their trade and life by the change in
the channels of trade and travel incident to the
building of railways. But better things were
| in store for Sanford Corner. Mr.. Thomas
| Goodall, man of English birth, had for years
| in that country and here, if We mistake not,
been engaged in the expectation from England
| to this country of an article known as Slap
| robes.' A few years since but comparatively
few of the article were in use in this country.
Now they are found in all good carriages and to
a great extent are taking the place of buffalo
| robes in sleghs. Mr.. Goodall after studying
the subject came to the conclusion that bet
ter lap-robe than that made by English manu-
sold at a much less price, After looking about
the country, Mr. Goodall, with that rare iudg-
| ment which has characterized the management
of this business, fixed upon the safe, constant
and ample water power which Mousam river
affords at Sanford Corner, as the locality
where he should plant his thriving industry.
1t could be no haphazard work. He would
have to compete with the established reputa-
tion, experience, skill and cheap labor of Eng
lando In this country he had no one to pattern
after. No workmen Skilled in the production
of this specially were to be found in this coun-
try. In fact Mr.. Goodall had to begin at the
beginning. His task was most diff cult one,
but the result has proved that Brains, Industry
and Energy have triumphed AS Mr. Goodall
at first decided, he was able at the first to put
into the market much better article of lap
robe than the English maker could do. The
tariff was in his favor, but years ago, before the
tariff, when materials of all kinds were the
cheapest, the English manufacturers lap robe
cost the Yankee purchaser quite four times as
much as Mr.. Goodalrs larger and much better
product sells for in the open market now. AS
soon as MI. Goodall commenced to manufacture
the British producer anu importer began to re-
duce his price, but despite the disadv antages
under which he has la5ored with such protec-
tion as the tariff afforded, he has held the field
and has practically driven his foreign competi-
tors therefrom. If the tariff was repealed,
the British htrader could doubtless greatly en-
barrass Mr.. Goodalrs industry by flooding the
market with an inferior production. Should
the foreigner be able to compel Mr. G to shut
mil fharah Irr
the business, he would have the market to
himself again and would be tempted to restore
the old prices he obtained years ago when the
cost of production was no greater than at pres
ent. Indeed, in the case of Mr.. Goodalps en-
terprise, 1t does look as though the tariff had
tendency to encourage a competition in this
country, which has not only transferred the in
dustry to our own people with all the advan-
tages derived from the employment of capital
and skilled labor, but has actually reduced the
price of better article in the proportion of
three to one if not more.
At present the firm, which is composed of
Thomas Goodall, his sons, George B. and e.
NJ, with Messrs. S. G. Chase & Co., (who sell
the goods 129 Washington street, Boston, have
two mills engaged exclusively in the manu-
facture of lap-robes. They employ over 100
people in these mills, the greater part of whom
receive high wages. At present the greater
part of the workmen are natives ofSanford and
adjoining towns who have learned the art
They make good workmen. The wool is all inn
ported. 1t is not produced in this country. 1t
is long and coarse and very much resembles
hair, aud is variety Of the Angora. The ma
chinery for spinning and weaving is the most
improved used in the manufacture of woolens.
When the cloth comes from the lsom it isn't
fine looking material, aud very little resembles
the beautiful goods which have made the name
of Goodall and the Sanford mills familiar in
the dry goods market of the country.
After the cloth is printed plain, it is
colored. This is done by means of stamps
made on wooden blocks like type. 1t is in the
designing of these stamps that much depends.
The pattern has much to do with the sale of
the goods. The colors are put upon the stamps
and the cloth being on a long table, the stamp
is placed where it is wanted and the colors
fixed upon the cloth by pounding. Sometimes
single pattern requires nearly dozen differ
ent stamps. None but careful and experienced
workmen are entrusted with this work. Bun
Cling in printing would ruin everything. New
patterns are got out every year. The firm have
just got out their styles for the ensuing season,
They are varied, to suit the fancy of the va
rious purchasers. The most striking patterns
and those which exhibit the greatest skill, are
those manufactured for the Centennial The
mixing of the colors is undoubtedly the secret
OF the business. 1t requires skill and expe-
rience. This department of the business is
now in charge of Mr.. George g. Goodall, who
has displayed a remarkable genius for land
scape painting. To him is intrusted this inn
portant branch, and the late patterns of goods
indicate his excellence. The finishing comes
after the printing, and here, too, the same skill.
full workmanship is displayed The coors will
not work out for ell the goods are rinsed in hot
water
The Goodalls, father and sons, are born man
ufacturers. The young men bid fair to become
as famous as the father, who, now about fifty
years of age, has not only made a fortune un-
aided, but has given the country a prosperous
industry and is so using his wealth and oppor.
tunities of doing good as to entitle him to be
regarded as a public benefactor.
The Mousam River Mill was started a wear
| ago. 1t is owned by one of the sons, Mr.. L. b.
Goodall, and Mr.. Amos Guernsey and Others
This mill is devoted exclusively to the manu-
fecture of wooden plush, both plain and crmp-
ed. This mill gives employment to about rs
people, and uses 2500 pounds of wool each
working day, The owners are building a small
machine shop and large building for storage
and other purposes.
One feature of the management is worthy of
note The concern makes all of its own ma
| chinery except looms. IF new machine is
| required for any purpose, some one about the
| establishment is equal to its planning and con-
| struction. The Goodalls are all clever in this
| direction. TLey keep three or four skillful
machinists and by this policy save thousands
annually. They purchase nothing which they
can manufacture. They manufacture the
boards used in making their boxes, and make
the same by machinery. They purchase lot
/ of land, cut the timber and saw the boards in
their own MILL The goods of the Mousam
River Mill alone will require 100000 feet of
| boards tor packing boxes this year. The pay.
roll of the two firms is from $4,000 tn S7000 ner