Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1897-04-08
THE WOODEN MILL.
AN ELLSWORTH INDUSTRY DES-
TINED TO DEVELOP.
THE NEW TARIFF WILL HELP THE
BUSINESs-THE CAPACITY OF THE
MILL COULD BE GREATLY
INCREASED.

:
but plea in behalf of what may, Will
proper encouragement and aid, be de-
veloped into one of the city's most pros
porous industries.
The board of trade and the business
men of Ellsworth have shown consider
able energy i'll trying to bring new in
dustries to the city. On one occasion
within the last two years many thousand
dollars were subscribed toward an cleo
trio road. The road was not built; the
money was not called for. Why could
not some of this energy and this money
be directed toward the development of
an industry already established here, but
which is capable of great enlargement,
and Of correspondingly increased benefit
to the city?
The Ellsworth wooden mill, now oper-
ated as a one and one-half set mill, could,
by the outlay OF from ten to fifteen thous-
and dollars, be increased to a three-set
mill. 1t would be necessary to add seven
looms, two sets of cards and two spinners.
The finishing machinery now in the mill
is sufficient for three-set mill, and the
building is large enough to accommodate
the additional machinery.
George l.. Morrison, the prophet or
OF the mill, has not the capital necessary
to thus enlarge the business, but he
would, in the interest of the city, be will
ing to cooperate with others to develop
been under consideration for some time,
but no decided action has been taken.
The plan talked of was to move the
plant to the city, and increase the ma
chinery. The frame of the present mill
building, which is very strongly built,
could easily be moved as it is all boted
together. Such change would of course
be much more expensive than to leave the
factory where it i, on account of addi-
tional cost of power. The power which
the mill has at present is the best that
can be obtained in the city. The mill is
now running with an eighteen-foot head
but Mr.. Morrison owns howage so that
he could increase this to thirty feet 1t
is the thought of leaving this excellent
power that causes Mr.. Morrison the great
est concern.
There is, how ever, one serious objection
to greatly increasing the capacity of the
mill where it now is, and that is the GER
tainty that the dyes used would pollute
the water Of Branch pond stream, on
which the mill is located, and from which,
much further down, Ellsworth obtains
its water supply, SO that it would not be
fit for drinking purposes. The present
mill, operated on a much smaller scale,
has not as yet had any noticeab BILE effect
on the water supply, but with the opera
lions OF the mill extended, the danger
from this source would be increased.
A three-set mill would give employ
ment to thirty-fve or forty hands, and
have monthly payroll of from S1,7Oo
to g, 600.
Mr.. Morrison believes that the time
was never more favorable than at pres
ent for the development of this psrtic-
ular line Of manufacture. The price OF
machinery is as low as it ever has been,
while the outlook for business is most
promising. The new tariff can help but
improve it..
The nucleus of the wooden mill was
formed some sixteen years ago, when
the Ellsworth wooden company was Or
gained. The original plans contem-
plated twenty-set mill, railroad con-
nection with Bangor, boarding houses,
and other like improvements appurtenant
to manufacturing on a large scale. But
like many another such elaborate concep-
ton, it was suffocated by its own weight.
But in this instance, the scheme was not
utterly without fruit-the power was OBJ
tanned, and a carding mill was estab-
lished. 1t was quite a fall from a
twenty-set wooden mill, but it was some
thing.
For eight years the mill struggled
along, but did not flourish greatly, and
then, in 1889, the property was sold at
auction. Mr.. Morrison, Dexter man,
but for twenty years engaged in wooden
mills in Hartland, bought the property
for g, $50.
Mr.. Morrison when he came here found
carding machine, the frame of a mill
and a water power. To this he added
little capital, lots of energy and thor
ough knowledge of his business, and
little by little he has brought the plant
up to its present condition. He now has
good mill building, so So feet in size,
with three stories and attic, and an ex-
tension 27x35 feet in size, equipped with
one and one-half set of wooden manu-
featuring machinery.
But few people in Ellsworth have the
least idea of the amount of business
which Mr.. Morrison is doing. 1t will
surprise them to learn that last year he
bought for manufacture $1,000 pounds of
raw wool. OF this, $4,000 pounds were
raised in Hancock county, and the
balance, finer grade, was bought in
Boston.
This wool was manufactured into
cashmere and heavy woolens for men,
horse blankets bed Blankets or into