The Portland daily press., 1886-11-04
THE sKowHEcAN SHOE FACTORY
History of the Rise and Fall Of a
Promising Industry.
Ruin Wrought by QuarreIs Between
Employers and Employed.

IL has been repeatedly predicted that the
Knights of Labor were soon TO present q
new price list for the adoption Of the firm OF
keene Bros, and it was also predicted that
the list would be adopted. The first part OF
the prophecy has passed into history and the
second part is likely to become true The
knights have presented new price list and
demand its adoption. 1t is an advance Of 20
per cent all around which would make diff
ference of $4,000 in the expenses Of the
| firm.
Now when 1t is remembered that the firm
have not been making great profits on their
shoes for some time and that they can by no
p0ssibilityge one cent advance over old prie-
es, it is apparent that the $4,000 additional
expense Is simply prohibition Of their busi-
ness. They have large and valuable plant
but can't afford any such tax.
What viii they do then?
Supt. Stafford has been to Lynn in consul
tation with the firm (they don't like to come
to Skowhegan) and he brings back word that
one Of two things must happen. The price
list must be softened or the factory will be
virtually closed While the doors will not
be locked, only such work will be done as
can be done at profit. If the price list Is
reduced, the factory will be run TO its fullest
capacity. Until an answer is received the
factory Is run but one or two days per
week.
WHAT WILL BE THE OUTCOME.
Two opinions are expressed. One is that
tne knights will tire Of idleness in few
weeks and like the men at Richmond say,
give us the work, we won't loaf" This
tney are admonished not to do by their
brethren at Lynn who tell them ''you beat
TINS flrm one by adhering to us and you can
DO 1t again. They won't let the factory lie
IDLE long but will grant you the prices asked
for: Opinion is about equally divided as to
which will yield first. The firm have gone
back on themselves and their friends 50
~ many times that It Will not surprise any one
TO see them do anything.
RISE AND FALL OF THE SHOE RusrNrss
IN sKowHEGAN.
AS the manufacture Of shoes in Skowhe-
gan Dy the present management, at least. is
douDtless nearly at an end brief sketch of
how the business came to be established can
not fail to be of interest at this time.
Early In March 1852, there was a chance
meeting Of trio of Skowhegan citizens in
front Of Coburn block. They were the late
Hon. Stephen C0burn, Harry Kimball and
Z. I. Mayo. Mr.. Kimball drew from his
pocket copy Of the Portland Transcript and
called attention to an advertisement in which
AeccnO DlVo- VI lynn advertised tOr lOca-
tlon IN Maine. The conditions were a large
building erected for the purpose in a live
rent to be low.
AZ that time it was supposed that the
building then lying idle that had been built
for shirt factory would be available for the
new industry. IL was agreed at once that
okOWnegan was big enough and ought To
nave the factory. Accordingly it was de-
clded that each one of the three answer the
NJ Aaarnk 80
IhaS afternoons mail bore three glowing
letters to Lynn. Answers were received
promptly Dy each gentleman, saving that
oKoWhegan would be investigated before
any location, was finally decided upon.
Nothing further was heard of the matter
until one day in June the writer was sitting
az MS desk when in rushed fine looking
business man who had the appearances Of
being In the habit Of getting around before
preakIast. Throwing down the letter that
nau Deen sent 10 Lynn few weeks ago he
said, Are you the writer of that letter %
Being answered in the affirmative. he as
quickly added, well, / am ready to see
what you have got to show me-"
ne had Just arrived on the cars and had
not Deen TO his hotel, much less removed the
stains OF travel or partaken of tea. w. S'G.
keene, senior member Of the firm of Keene
BROS, shoe manufacturers of Lynn. Mass.
u was who thus introduced himself to a
Ssfn.ownegan sf.oNi @ editor. Ere he had been in town
rage and driving over the river to locate a
Snoe factory. Before we had reached the
snlrt factory 1t was evident from the broad.
expansive p conversation of the exquisitely
dressed ana nervous talking visitor that that
building would only make good-sized en-
glne room for his factory. So no stop was
haue, out 1t was simply pointed out as a
building 70 rent We drove straight to the
present site Of the handsome building. The
nearness to the railroad was pointed out and
Mr.. keene showed how the spur track would
run 10 his back door, as it does today. For
tne hrst and only time in my experience
with Mr.. keene he was silent He told me
aIterWards, IN speaking Of it, that he was
overcome with the beauty and general utility
OF the spot. He broke the silence with the
query, Can this lot be secured ?''
told him thought it could, and he ex-
! pressed MS desire to see the owner Gov
SoDurn at enee. We then drove to theIresi-
dence OF that gentleman who had Just re-
| turned home from a business trip down
river. l knew he must be weary and
rather feared the result of an interview, SO,
requesting MI. keene to remain in the car
him OF our errand and told him we would
cali In the morning, as he was doubtless
weary. NO" he replied, II will see him
now. Ihe answer was as expected and
was obtained in the only possible manner
as those who remember the gentleman's
| peculiarities will realize
:, MI; keene had no more than crossed the
tnresn0ld Oh the room than IL was apparent
Inat the venerable fnaneier ''took to him. -
Inc more he unfolded his scheme, the more
interested the governor became. The visit
| was cut short as the Governor was 10 attend
the High School graduating exercises that
evening; As We left the room, the Governor
salu IN ms unique way to the writer, ''Just
keep the run of this for me, and will make
1t all right: That simple remark meant vol
umes Tor the enterprise. Ii meant that the
| Governor meant to take hold of il, and that
| was success assured. On the way back 10
tne hotel, Hon. Stephen Coburn was met on
MS way up to the Governors, and he was
told the outline of the scheme, as was also
Gen. H. u. Shepherd and II. S. Steward All
expressed themselves so heartily in favor OF
the plan that MIR. keene got very enthusias-
again view the location. He was more
charmed than ever on the second visit, and
was able to talk freely.
The next day he met the Governor at the
bank, and other prominent business men OF
| the place, to whom he revealed his plans He
was to solve the whole trouble between capi
tai and labor by removing his business to q
rural spot where he could employ the farm.
ers' sons and daughters who knew naught oi
labor unions. He would build homes for his
workmen,and give them chance to buy anC
own them in time. Then, when the men
owned their homes, they would be less in.
cllned TO strike and be driven from the town
where they owned their houses, for work
nc WOulu nave tne factory owned by thu
towns that In case of trouble with the help
the towspeople would be interested parties Il
suDduing the trouble, and would naturall,
side with the firm. He must have factor
built OF brick, and he would have it at
nominal rent for ten years, with chance I,
purchase at the end Of that time at stipu
lated price.
The real amount required to be raised by
the citizens Of the town was placed at SIS,
900, but no one Of the friends Of the schem,
thought it advisable to state that sum fO
fear the citizens would become discouraged
and give up trying. $4,000 was the sun
named to be raised, and committee consist
ing of III. 5. Steward, l.. w. Weston and j
Il. Merrill started out to get that sum.
looked dark for long time, but Gov Coburl
started the ball in his usual manner by put
ting in the lot and taking stock for it. Mr
Steward and MIR. Weston each took thous
and dollars Of stock. and so it went
Those who had subscribed stock met an,
organized into corporation under the nam
OF the Skowhegan Manufacturing Company
Gov C0burn was made President and on tn
board OF directors were such men as l.. w
| weston, III. ). Steward, j. II. Merrill, Judgl
Fuller, Gen. Dyer, L. +. Fairbrother an,
Others whose names do not occur to me a
this moment. Thanks to the public spirit o.
the town nearly $4,000 was raised by volun
tary subscription.
In August, Superintendent Tucker cam
to town by special train. to meet our citizen
relative to a spur track from the main lin
to the factory and also to removing a hug