The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-05-12
old DISTRICT INDUSTRIES
Factories That Once Were Leading
Features of This City.
Boring Mills, window Glass Works,
and ShiPbuiIdinE Enterprises-
Race on the Potomac Between
the Washington and the seIden.

Race on the Potomac Between
the Washington and the seIden.
The movement for the establishment Of
manufacturing industries in Washington,
which is being at present strongly advo-
Gated by prominent local business men, is
nothing new Many and varied have been
the factories sought 10 be located here,
ouJ most Of them have, like their extinct
fires. gone up in smoke
The Washington Brewery was estab-
lshed as early as 1911. and was located at
the foot Of New Jersey Avenue-J- W Col
bert & Co. proprietors. IN December Of
the year mentioned this company adver-
tised malt liquors Of superior quality.
Table ale was 50 per barrel, strong ale at
s. per barrel, and ale s. per barrel In
MAY 1913 r. Parrot and /. ". Wester-
man. of England, were established In the
city as manufacturers of machinery for
spinning and carding wool and cotton
They were then setting up machinery OF
their own manufacture at r. PARROT s
mill. at the foot CT his ropewaik- r. Par
rott * Co. had also a grocery warehouse
On the wharf. The Columbia Rolling Mills
were situated near Georgetown, and were
The property Of one George French. They
turued out rolled iron OF all descriptions.
In May. 1917. the Washington Knit
Blocking Factory went into operation, at
which were manufactured cotton and
wooden pantaloons, cotton and wooden
rtoclings, cotton and wooden sleeveless
Naistcoats, cotton and wooden drawers,
Berlin lace, or tulle, etc. Isaac Keller
was the proprietor of this establishment.
The Columbia Mills went into operation
about the same time. George Johnson
was the proprietor of these mills, ana ne
manufactured wooden goods. The win
dow glass factory Of a. and O. way
was tablished In this city IN 1910 or 1911,
OF the banks OF the Potomac near the
mouth Of the Tiber. At this factory there
were produced an average Of 5000 boxes
Of glass per year, each box containing lOJ
fquaFe feet Of glass.
A notice for the sale Of a paper mill
on Rock Creek Is found, dated December,
ISL This mill was 30 feet long, and
fhree stories high. the first story being
built of stone. a flour mill belonging TO
the same property. situated at the Little
Falls Bridge, three miles above wash
ineton was also offered for sale al the
same time, as was also wooden factory
Sri the same neighborhOod. The latter was
q two-story stone building llo ieet long
with carding machines, biiiies, and Jen-
MES twelve broad looms, and NUMBER
OF narrow ones, and, including the houf
mill, cost $4,000
Ia February, 1924, Pope's patent thresh-
ing machine, adapted either TO hand or
horse power, was on exhibition at the
shop Of Mr.. Steuart, coachmaker. on
pennsylvania avenue at the 4Ool VI
Capitol Hin. This machine, with the
power Of one horse. and with one man to
feed II and one man TO take away the
straw Was guaranteed 10 thresh with
ease eight barrels Of wheat per hour. II
was the invention of Joseph Pope, Of
Massachusetts. celebrated in Europe as
well as this country for bis philosophical
researches and attachments
George g. Bomford nad a large -four
mill in Georgetown which was burned
down IA 1874. Upon the ruins MIR. Bonn
ford erected a cotton factory, with Z
water wheel thirty feet high. The build
ing was four stories In height and had
three thousand spindies and one hundred
looms. lt furnished employment to about
one hundred laboreFs. male and female.
In order TO encourage the industry the
corporate authorities OF Georgetown ex-
smpted the machinery from taxation AT
This time it is learned that one Mr.. Davis
had Touring mill in Georgetown, grind
ing from three TO four hundred barrels of
fiour per day.
Toward the commencement of the year
1ssl George Page began the building of