The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-04-26
Auburn Interests.
The Shoe Ensincss The Barker Mill, etc.

A correspondent writes concerning the bn,i.
ness outlooks at Auburn. Our entire popnla.
ton is largely dependent upon the prosperity
OF our shoe factories Not only the large DOR
ton actually employed in them, but the trad.
ers and merchants whose patrons these work.
ing-men are. So soon as the factories shut
down and the men are thrown out of employ.
ment the majority of them, who have saved
little or nothing from their wages, find them
selves in Strengthened circumstances All of
the factories have been doing more or less
through the winter, bat the orders have not
been large, and have been given with extreme
caution, leaving but little margin for the man
ufacturer, while the workmen's wages have
been gradually approaching to what they were
before the war. .r
In conversation with some of the leading
manufacturers we learn that the spring and
summer outlook, although not very fatteriug
Is by no means discouragng At present the
New England and Northwestern trade is the
best. Trade at the South and Southwest is
very light. A. Cushman & Co., who generally
head the liss of weekly shipments, are now
turning out about fifty cases day. Up to two
weeks ago their daily product averaged one
hundred cases. There is always lull at this
season, but it comes about month earlier this
year than usual. E. f. Packard & Co.,
who manufacture largely heavy goods
for the Southern trade, have been shut
down for the past two weeks improving
the quiet time in making some necessary re-
pairs in their machinery. They have now
started up again with fair amount of orders
waiting to be filed. Those firms who are
manufacturing mostly for the State trade are
at present running to nearly their first capaci-
~. AS the spring opens many of the men who
have been in the shoe factories during the win
ter are preparing to leave and work on farms
during the summer; so if the shoe trade con-
tlnues dull through the summer it will affect
them but little, and those remaining at the
bench will have better chance. The manu-
facturers are looking for a small and somewhat
unsatisfactory trade until after the fall elec.
ton. For the last three sales the bdyers have
been very conservative. These sales occur
twice year, usually ia January, aod then
again the last of June or first of July, Then
the buyers from all parts Of the country meet
the manufacturers in Boston and order their
son. For the last three sales, or for year and
half, these buyers have ordered few goods and
kept well within their own trade. They have
been carrying very light stocks, much lighter
than few years ago. With their stores now
comparatively empty it is very probable that
healthy and current demand will continue
through the summer.
Auburn people are also interested iu the
success of the Barker Mill. This enterprise
bids fair to change the center of the city to-
wards the bank of the Little Audroscoggin.
The mill is running to its full capacity employ
lag 26O hands and producing 10000 yards of
fine 40 inch sheeting week. Their goods are
sold largely from New York through their
agents Leland, Allen Bates and appear in
the market at the South and West.
They have also sent some of them
to England. 1t is the hope that this foreign
trade that is springing up will produce a sufi-
cient vacuum in the home market to create a =
brisk demand Lud give cotton manufacturing
better chance than it has had for some time
past. Upon the Little Androscoggin Water
Power Company's land there were built the
past year thirty houses making in all q hun
dred dwelling houses that have been built
there within the last three years, since the
building of the mill. There is also q schoo
house aud chapel. In the latter regular ser-
vices are held by settled Congregationalist
minister. There are now three new houses in
process of construction and number of others
will doubtless be built before fall The Compa.
nv has been at work g:adlng streets all winter
and are gradually subduing the land into most
desirable building spots.
The water power controlled by the Company
has been estimated by Mr.. Lockwood as suf-
ficient to turn 100000 spindles The capacity
of the present mill is only 1880 spindles So
soon as the business outlook will warrant it the
Company contemplate building new mill, the
plans for which are already drawn, bringing
their capacity up to $4,000 spindes.