Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-09-18
directors Vote to Start up the
Edwards Mills.
An Announcement Which Augusta
Most JoyfuIIy Welcomes.
Inc Mills Shut Down August 8, to
Allow Repairs.

W. yesterday morning, by the board
| oi directors of the Edwards Manufac-
| turing co.-that work would be re-
Sumed at their cotton mills in this city,
| Monday, Oct. ).
"A meeting of the board was held at
| the mill office, Wednesday afternoon.
put as all plans for the future opera
| tionS Of the mill We're not completed
| no announcement was given out at
| the time. Among the principal objects
! Oh the meeting was the election of q
| new board of directors. which resulted
| IN the following choice: o. Fl. Afford
| i'oston: Robert j. Edwards. Boston: j.
| Manchester Haynes, Augusta; Joseph
| II. Manley. Augusta; Isaac II. Burr
| Boston: James Il. Case, Boston; Ed
| mund S. Clark, Boston; Francis W.
| FaDyan, Boston; and VIM. G. Hume
man, Boston. Charles b. Johnson, of
| this city, was reelected clerk; and
| Robert J. Edwards of Boston, was
| elected treasurer. to fill the vacancy
| caused by the death of his father. the
| late jacob Edwards. Robert Morang
| was officially appointed agent for the
| company.
| After the meeting the directors who
We're present, comprising Messrs. AL
ford, Edwards, Burr, Case, Clark and
Fabyan, accompanied by Agent Morang
| made q thorough inspection of the plant
and also the tenements and other
property owned by the company, after
| which they left the mill, announcing
! that their decision would be forthcom-
! ing in the morning.
AS announced above. the board decid-
lad 10
Agent Morang was instructed to that
effect BY that date all the repairs ana
alterations which have been in pro-
press since the mills were closed, Aug.
,, will have been completed, and every
thing about the mills will be in first
class condition. There is at present on
hand about $50 bales of cotton, which
is but n small supply, but cotton has
already been bought and is on the way
and more is being bought daily.
Another important decision on the
part of the board, was in regard to
their tencments. Many of the houses
are more or less out of repair, and
these will be renovated throughout
Repairs Will be made on such buildings
as are worth it, and those which are
not will be torn down and new ones
erected in thir stead.
\ subject which was spoken of was
that of spur track from the Maine
Central railroad to the mill yard, and
| while nothing was done in the way
of getting the project into line. it was
admitted that the track would be of
great advantage in handling the output
Of the mills. The track could easily be
built, by route which would not in
tcri"re with the travel on the highway,
and while perhaps it cannot yet be
called a strong probability, it is more
than a possibility
When the mills start again. they will
be in Il condition of excellence which
will obViate all fear of Il shutdown for
repairs for a long time. Although the
| looms have been idle for over two
months, there have not been any signs
Of til" plant being abandoned. A force
of men numbering from 100 to 175 have
been constantly employed in getting
| things into shape, ana about $25 900 has
| been expended in repairs.
TO cnumerate the changes which
! have been made for the better in the
| mills would make n long list For one
| item, all of the sanitary fittings in
| 'iliti'iil IllliiS nav - ib'tll lft'Elttt DN
new and modern fixtures: then new
| timbcrG and floors have been nut i'm
many places: new roofs have been nut
on some buildings; ana machinery ana
| shaftinG lined up throughout the plant
| needed change has also been
made in the power. The old water
wheels were taken out. and have been
| replaced by two vertical J7-inch Victor
| wheels, giving S3S horse power. In the
! canal, also n lot of work has been done
| Here We're two heavy lodges. and these
have been removed by blasting. Civ
| ing n smooth bottom to the canal and
! an increase of power.
Extensive repairs have also been
made in the old mill. New timbcrs have
| been put in throughout the building,
| and it has been strengthened in every
way. In fact. all over the plant every
| thing has been done to place it in a
| first-class condition for the transaction
of the immense business which is an
nually conducted there, and indica-
| tions show that the efforts have been
| crowned with success.
| The starting of the mills is good news
to everybody in Augusta, both to en-
ploycs and traders. alike To the fer
mer it means the wherewithal to So
| cure the necessities and comforts of
life, and to the latter. business. There
are upon the company's pay roll be
tween 1906 and 1900 people, who receive
in the aggregate about $4,000 month
~. The employees are largely French
Canadians. and earning good wages.
spend freely, and that the loss of this
trade on Water street has been felt
cannot be denied.
That the good news of the mills start
ing brought happiness to many home
at the North End of the city, yesterday.
was in evidence everywhere, and
though known to but few in the fore
noon. it spread rapidly enough to be
talked over at many dinner table and
was a cause for general rejoicing.
Great Pritain SnpndS S11o -tO O0o 9, ,,oo,