The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-10-03
EASTERN FORGE WORKS.
The Fine Plant Sold at Auction We'd
nesday.


large and fine works of the Eastern Forge
Company at East Deering were sold at
auction. There was little competition In
the bidding and the works were knocked
down to Ardon Coombs, ESQ.,, who repre-
Gented parties at present not definitely
known Mr.. Coombs said Immediately
after the purchase, that the parties whom
he represented would probably take such
action as would result in the starting up
of the works at no distant date.
The Eastern Forge Co. assigned in
june 1894, to Mr. George f. Morse, of
this city, and Mr.. W. N. Fisher, of
Gloucester, Mass. Mr.. Morse had been
for sometime the president of the COM
pany. and Mr.. Fisher representented
large holdings..of stock in the vicinity OF
Cape Ann, and was father-in-law of
Manager Durham, of the company. The
capital stock was $l25, 900, and there was
q mortgage securing bonds which now
amount, interest and all to sos, 1924. II.
There was also a considerable floating
indebtedness, the City National Bank of
Gloucester and Samuel Bradley of Boston
being among the unsecured creditors
Mr.. William Reed Bigelow, an attorney
of Gloucester, was. present at the sale We'd
nesday, and before it began delivered to
Mr.. Allen, the auetioneer warning that
the Gloucester Bank and Mr.. Bradley had
in the United States Court two suits in
equity contesting the validity OF the as
signment, and cautioning all would be
purchasers on this point.
Before the sale began quite party, in
Guiding the two assignees, Supt Green
smith of the Portland Company, Mr..
Bigelow, representing the Gloucester
parties, Ardon W. Coombs, ESQ, and
many residents of Deering, especially
former employees, went over the works
together. These works are well worth
visit. The assignment last year was
caused largely by too extensive improve
ments, which were intended to enable
the company to do any work that any
FORCES in the country could do. The
great crane, which cost $4,000 and could
pick up a great mass of iron or steel
Weighing fifteen tons, and deposit it any
where along the track for three hundred
feet, is sight we'll worth seeing The
great trip hammers, of which there Is
shop full with their furnaces, are also in
teresting. A schedule of the property
inspected is as follows:
These works are located on tide waite,
with substant ial wharf. and have rail con-
nection with the Grand Trunk Railroad-
Area of land in connection with plant is
about 22 acres. The plant consists. of
L. |, eh<ar,c cor
The forge shop is a20 feet long by 70 feet
wide, constr ucted entirely of iron.
New machine shop built two years ago, LOU
Old machine shop 1876 feet long By SO feet
wide. of wood, covered with iron.
The scrap house has large capacity. and
there are besides, office and several store
houses.
6 ton double acting upright hammer.
ton single acting upright hammer.
ton helve hammer.
ton upright hammer.
$500 pound upright hammer for smithing
purposes. r.,
lowing:
II inch lathe, Al foot bed.
48 inch lathe. 25 foot bed.
SO inch lathe. p foot bed.
4S inch slotter.
IS inch slotter.
foot by Ii foot planer.
Al inch by foot planer.
Radial drill and boring mill.
To drive this mac hinery is an engine II
inch by AZ inch.
There is also in this building a Is ton
electric travelling crane.
The works have also electric light. and
for these purposes there are dynamos.
The old machine shop contains the follow
ing;
s / 20 inch by7 foot lathe.
q inch by 8 foot lathe.
2S inch by II foot lathe.
2 cutting-off lathes.
Engine in this building is 10xlS.
The scrap house contains the following:
l plate shear.
alligator shear.
No. Hilles & Jones shear
There are
track scales.
team scale.
Two dwelling houses occupied by en-
ployes.
nacss and tools for such a plant The tools
In the new machine shop have been Doug NJ
within few years: The machinery Is all
In excellent condition.
Before offering the property for sale
Mr.. Allen announced that it was subject
to mortgage of s65, S2471, including fin
terest. The assignees would pay the tax
es, and reserve right to occupy the prem
ises for thirty days for the removal of per-
sonal property. The terms swere cash IN
sixty days, the buyer to deposit $780, at
once
Bids were then asked for, and Ardon
W CooInbs, ESQ.,, offered $1,000 which
meant this sum and the assumption of
the mortgage. 4 Mr.. Bigelow, who had
presented the warning from the Massa-
chusetts people offered S1100. Between
these two bidders the amount was worked
up to $780, at which figures the works
went to Mr.. Coombs.
Mr.. Coombs declined to state definitely
whom he represented, but it is believed
that his clients are a number OF the bond
holders, and that the old managers and
proprietors who controlled sthe works
before the assignment are likely to come
back into management.
The works formerly employed from 100
to 200 men, and it will be a great advant-
age if work can be resumed at no distant
date 1t seems to be the impressionlthat
this will be the case.
Uncollected claims. amounting to $685.
81, of which 1897 was against-the Ameri-
can Casualty Insurance Co., were bought
at auctiOp NV Mr. Caomhs for S96