Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1903-03-11
WOOLEN MILLS.
The Big Albuquerque Enterprise Now
Ready for Business.
few INTERESTING FACTS.

The first piece of cloth ever pro-
duced in New Mexico was turned off
the looms at the Rio Grande Wooden
Mills yesterday.
The wool from which the cloth was
made was bought from Merced Mon
toya, of Monticello, n. NJ, and went
through all the various processes at
the Rio Grande mills until it is now a
finished product.
A Citizen reporter called at the
mills, which have just begun opera
tons and was shown through the spa
oious building by Secretary II. b.
Ray, who pointed out and explained
all the different steps though which
the wool must go until it is a finished
cloth product ready for the market.
Johney H. Bearrup is president and
treasurer of the new industry, which
means the beginning of a new era of
progress and commercial development
for Albuquerque. j. C. Ferger is vice
president and superintendent and II.
B. Ray is the accommodating secre-
tary.
The Rio Grande Woolen Mills com
pany besides being extensive dealers
| in wool and pelts, are manufacturers
of fancy cassameres, dress goods blan-
| kets and clothing. a department will
be devoted to the manufacture of leath
| er clothing. Angora and sheep skin
rugs. capes, moccasins, etc Already
they are working on large orders for
leather clothing.
The Office building stands south of
the mills facing toward the Mountain
road. 1t is roomy and the white walls
and newness renders it cheerful and
welcoming.
Between the Office and mills are sew
eral long deep watts made from cement.
In these are placed the hides as they
are bought. The vats contain a brine
or lye that loosens the wool, and soft
ems the hides, after which they are
ready for the large tanning vats, eight
in number. The skins are thrown in
these watts after the wool is removed,
and are then ready for the tanning
process. Next to the tanning watts are
row of vats for dying the wool. Along
the north side of the building are two
securing machines, of the latest mod
ern Improvement The wool is run into
the machine just as il is received from
the ranches. After it goes through sew.
eTal machine tubs of boiling water ii
comes out free from dirt, grease or
odor As soon as the wool has left the
xrrhf 10
is placed in the drying machine, which
is an automatic self feeder. The wool
is fed on a wide wire apron running
through the dryer heated by steam.
Ii requires about eight minutes for the
wool to pass from one end TO the other
where it comes out dry and clean,
ready for the carding machine. The
second floor is covered with complicat-
ed machinery. beginning with the card
ing of the wool. taking in the spinning
of the yarn and the weaving of the
cloth. The most interesting machines
IN this room are the machines which
take the loose wool and card is ready
for the spinning process. There are
two sets, each set comprising three
different machines, each one making
the roll of wool smaller and more com
pact. 1t finally comes out ready for
the spinning mulls. There are four Of
these spinning mulls. each containing
AGA spindles. which draw the loose
rolls of wool harder and tighter, until
the wool being wound on the spindle
is a strong, kinky, bristling yarn,