The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1895-04-06
cARROLL,s GREATEST INDUSTRY.
Oakland WOODEN MillS-HiSt0ry of Their
Growth and DevelOpment-New Mill 10
be Built-0ther improvements.

On the North Branch of the Patapsco in
Freedom district. in lower Carroll, is located
the most important and most extensive indus
try in the county. and one of the largest in
Western Maryland.
Nestled in the valley of the Patapsco. be
tween high hills, lies the wooden mills OF the
Oakland Manufacturing Company, whose cap
ital has lust been increased from Sl25.OOO To
500. 600. and which employs 225 operatives
men. women and children. In the valley are
located the two mills. the companys store.
the warehouse, 40 by 20 feet. two stories, and
the Superintendent house, and on the sur
rounding hills are the homes of the operatives.
mostly new and neat. Ten more houses will
be built this spring, as il is desired by the
company to supply homes to It's employees
convenient 10 the scene of their labor. At
present Il number occupy houses across the
Patapsco which Is spanned by a bridge. but
in times of high water they are cut off from
the mill and the houses are altogether too far
away.
Oakland mill was established many wears
ago. For some time It was owned and oper-
ated by j. G. Melville. and was purchased
from him by James A. Gary. About 1880
Mr. Nicholas ". Steele purchased the property
from Mr. Gary and successfully operated It
until il was destroyed by firc three or four
years ago. While his loss was considerable,
Mr.. Steele was not discouraged, With char
acteristic energy and pluck he took hold with
renewed zeal. Experience had taught hlm
that with increased facilities he could readily
/ dispose of the output. and with increased vol
ume Of manufactures would come proper
tionately increased profits. The plans he laid
out required large capital and skill. With
faith aud courage he began operations. \
new mill. ! 10 BY 81 feet. 6 stories high. with
foundations walls feet thick, was commenced,
the stone for which was quarried from q hill
close by As its foundations began to rise
and story was added To story. the neighbor-
hood wondered. And when the roof was
completed. the cone being - feet from the
ground. there stood as strong and Is sub>tau-
I tial a mill as 10 &c found anywhere. The
girderS are solid timhers. about two feet square.
and 20 feet in length. ln 10 these are run
iron rods secured with iron heads on the ont
side of the walls HEAVY ioiSts. laid on these.
support the t0orS. and 81 SOlldly Is she miii
/ built that with the hundreds Of toms ot ma
Z chinery running on each Of the hoorS thcrr
Is scarcely any Earring. Not only j. the mill
most substantially built. hat the arrangement
for lighting and heating are complete. and the
security against fir Is almost absolute. he
building Is heated hy steam. and 22H slcCiuc
lights. IL candle power. furnish the light
Each floor Is fitted with sprinkier- that arr
-eli-acting ia ease Of fire. and each ilDor iH
addition has ire hose. attached To stand
pipe. ready az all tiusrs for service. The iarcr
ot the water j. so gTea, that with the hose ou
Z the top floor a stream can De thrown nth cuU-
siderable force for 90 or more feet. nn the
ground. near the huildius. J. a hvdraut, with
the best Ut gum and fabric hose attached, sud
With this hose the water IAN b. thrtuH 81 ur
AZ feet above the root