Year: 1859




known as Eddy's, and afterwards as Hol
brooks, but which, since the establishment
passed into its present owners hands, and the
mill has been rebuilt, is called Rockdale. After
the fire by which the former mill was destroy
ed, the ruins stood for several years, an un-
slightly and mournful spectacle to the bypass
er, while everything thereabouts wore the as
pect of desolation and decay. 1t was therefore
subject of general graduation when it was
announced that the property had been pur
chased by the enterprising and wealthy firm of
Paul Within & Sons, for the purpose of imme-
date occupation. The anticipations to which
the change of proprietorship gave rise, have
been fully realized, and now, where stood the
blackened and ruined walls, is the site of the
model factory of New England, and where des-
olation and silence reigned, the cheerful and
busy hum of active and remunerative industry
is now heard.


Being at Rockdale, a few days since, we ac-
cepted the polite invitation of VIM. d. Mas
croft, Esq, the Superintendent of the estab-
lishment, to visit the mill, and are indebted to
his attentions for the opportunity of seeing
| every portion of it, from basement to attic,
with all the various processes of manufacture,
and of having them inteligently explained
| The dam across the Blackstone is beautiful
structure, and like every thing else about the
concern, is built in the most thorough, substan-
tial and durable manner and with ten feet
head and fall affords a constant durable, and
sufficient motive power at all seasons of the
| year.


The factory building is noble structure,
built of light colored granite obtained in the
immediate neighborhood. The stone is un-
hewn, but SO evenly split that it would hardly
be improved by that process The building is
166 feet in length, by &C feet wide three stories
in height, with high lighted attic, and it is so
just and fine in its proportions, that it does not
convey to the eye of the beholder any adequate
idea of its great size. The material, in every
part of this structure, is of the best kind, and
all the workmanship the most thorough and
faithful. The interior is well finished in every
part, including walls, ceilings, passage-ways,
&C., from foundation to ridgepole, with all the
improvements known down to the time of put
ting it in operation. The same care has been
taken to have all the machinery not only of
the best kind but the best of its kind; most
of it having been built by the proprietors,
with special reference to its perfection and
durability, and we noticed particularly, the re-
markable stiffness with which it all run-a
sure Indication of good workmanship.


The mill contains 10000 spindles and 210
looms. The goods manufactured are white
sheetings, of which two qualities are made
one bringing nine and half and the other
eleven cents per yard. The yarn is No. 3D.
the cloth is thirty-nine and half inches
wide as it comes from the loom, and thirty
seven when bleached and finished. OF these
goods $4,000 yards are made per week, equal
to about l66 yards per week, or % per day,
to each of the 210 looms. The spinning re-
quires twenty hands to tend it-a part of them
children-or one hand, on an average to each
5000 spindIes.


The establishment is lighted by gas, made
on the premises, from rosin and sawdust. The
gas costs but 81 per thousand feet and its illu-
minating power is said to be twice as great as
that of coal gas, so that the expense IS ii6
er than it would be to use coal gas at 81 per
thousand feet,-an economy in lighting, of
which we were not aware that it was possible
is economy consulted and the nuisance of
smoking lamps avoided, but the danger of fire
is almost entirely done away


We are reminded in speaking of fire, of the
other precautions taken to guard against dam
ger from this destructive agent. An appara-
tus is so arranged, that, in case of fire in the
picker room-the place of principal danger
jets of water can instantly be thrown from the
ceiling in every direction into all parts of the
room literally inundatng it with showers of
water, so that fire could not continue for
moment after the water is let on.


Such, in brief, is a general outline of this
model establishment-one in which the lead
ing object aimed at has been, as in the other
similar works of the Messrs. Whitins, to Sc
cure the most perfect work and the greatest
amount of it, at the least possible expense of
labor and repairs. BY adopting this plan they
have been enabled to go on successfully
through all the fluctuations of manufacturing
and trade, and to do living business, when
mills, less perfect in their structure and ap-
pointments, could be run only at a loss.
Messrs. Within Son may well be considered
public benefactors, in that they make the labor
they employ productive to themselves to the la
borer, and the community; that they acceler-
ate the march of improvement in their own
region and elsewhere; and that they teach
lesson and afford an example which cannot
fail to be of use to others.