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THE
C OT TO N M A N U F A C T U R E
OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
CONTRASTED AND COMPARED
WITH THAT OF
(; R E A T B R IT A. IN.

A.
P R A C T I C A L D ETA IL
OF THE
C OTT ON MANU FA CTURE
OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA;
AND THE STATE OF THE
COTTON MANUFACTURE OF THAT COUNTRY
CONTRASTED AND COMPARED
WITH THAT OF
G R E A T B R ITA IN;
WITH
COMPARATIVE ESTIMATES
OF TIIE COST OF MANU FACTURING IN BOTH COUNTRIES.
ILLUSTRATED BY
AIPIPIRO PIRIATE ENGIRAWI INGS.
A LSO,
A brief Historical Sketch of the Rise and Progress of the Cotton Manu-
facture in America, and Statistical Notices of various Manufacturing
Districts in the United States.
BY JAMES MONTGOME RY,
SUPERINT ENDENT, YORK FACTORIES, SACO, STATE OF MAINE ;
AUTHOR OF “THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF COTTON SPINNING,” AND
“THE COTTON SPINNER'S MANUAL.”
GLASGOW :
JOHN NIVEN, JUN., 158, TRONG ATE :
WHITTAKER & CO., LONDON; J. & J. THOMSON, MANCHESTER:
OLIVER & BOYD, EDINBURGH ; D. APPLETON & CO., NEW YORK.
M L CCCXL,
PR E FA C E.
THE writer of the following Details, upon leaving
Scotland in the beginning of 1836, was strongly
urged by his friends to communicate some account
of the practical state of the Cotton Manufacture of
the United States, so far as it might fall under his
observation. In complying with that request, he
found that mere general statements would not suf-
fice, and was therefore obliged, in order to fulfil his
promise, to enter somewhat into details. In doing
so, his materials accumulated to an extent greatly
above what he originally anticipated;—they at least
became too bulky for mere epistolary correspon-
dence. And, being aware of the interest felt by
the British regarding every thing connected with
America, and, at the same time, knowing the vague
opinions which prevail regarding the practical state
of the Cotton Manufacture in this country, he was
led to believe that there might be something in these
details not altogether uninteresting to many em-
ployed in the Cotton Manufacture in Great Britain.
Under these impressions he has been induced to lay
them before the public, especially as the most con-
tradictory reports have been circulated in that coun-
try, by many who have visited America.
vi PREFA CE.
It may be proper to state, that the chief object
kept in view by the author in the following pages,
has been to give simple facts, without depreciation
or exaggeration on either side; he has been careful
to state nothing upon any information, but such as
he thought might be implicitly relied on, and is un-
conscious of having made a single statement that
will not, upon examination, be found to be correct.
At present the attention of the author has been
chiefly confined to that which was thought might be
most interesting to his friends; each machine has
been noticed in its order; whatever was in any
respect different in them from those with which he
was acquainted in Great Britain, has been described.
The practice of this country is contrasted with that of
Great Britain, and the advantages or disadvantages
of both pointed out. Drawings are given of some of
the most important machines which are constructed
here in a different form from those employed for
the same purposes in Great Britain.
To render the work as interesting as possible to
proprietors, as well as to those employed in the
practical department of the business, estimates have
been given of the cost of buildings, machinery, and
other materials used in the manufacture; notice has
also been taken of the general speeds at which the
different machines are driven, the amount of work
produced, the number of hands employed, the hours
of labour, and the ordinary rates of wages; so that
PREFA CE, VII
fair estimates may be formed of the actual difference
of the cost of manufacturing in the two countries.
These, it is believed, will be interesting to those em-
ployed in the manufacture; while, it is hoped, that
the Historical Sketch of the introduction of the
Cotton Manufacture into the United States, and the
Statistical Notices of various Manufacturing Dis-
tricts, will be equally interesting to the general
reader.
To ensure correctness, the various statements
have been submitted to the inspection of several
gentlemen in both countries, in whose judgement,
experience, and practical knowledge of the Cotton
Manufacture in all its details, the author has the
utmost confidence.
Such is the origin and design of the present
work; and the object of the author will be fully
attained, if it shall in any manner contribute to dis-
abuse the public mind, and assist manufacturers in
Great Britain to understand correctly, the present
position of both countries with regard to the Cotton
Manufacture. It must be confessed that the most
formidable rivals with whom the British have to
compete in this important manufacture, are the
Americans; their immense water power, together
with their being the growers of the raw material,
giving them advantages which no other nation en-
joys. So long as the British can manufacture
cheaper than the Americans, just so long will they
viii PREFACE.
retain a monopoly of the trade. But every step the
latter advance in reducing their expenditure, the
nearer do they approach to an equality with the
former. The Factories in Great Britain are already
conducted in general with the most rigid economy,
so that their only chance now, is improvements in
their machinery, by means of which the processes
may be expedited, and the cost of manufacturing
thereby reduced. But the Americans may also
make improvements on their machinery, so as to
derive similar results; and certainly they have more
resources to which they can apply themselves, as by
committing the charge of their Factories to com-
petent persons, immense savings might yet be ef-
fected, of which they seem in general not to be
aware. These savings too, might be effected with-
out waiting for new inventions or improvements in
machinery, or resorting to a reduction of wages.
These, together with the reasons already stated,
operated as inducements to lay the following details
before the public, most of which have been written
at different times, and in the midst of other engage-
ments, which is the only apology the author has to
offer for their many imperfections.
C O N T E N T S.
—º-
Page.
PLAN AND ARRANGEMENT OF THE MII LLs, sº - - 13
Notices of THE VARIOUS MACHINEs.
Willow, º - - - º - - - - 25
Scutching and Spreading Machine, - g- - - 28
Carding Engines, - - - wº - tº- - - 31
Drawing Frames, tº- - (- º -. - - 5 l
Speeders, - sº- - -> e tº- - -: - 60
Spinning Machines, including Notices regarding the Cost,
Produce, &c. of Self-acting Mules in Britain, -- – 69
Spooling or Winding Machines, - - - - – 82
Warping Machine, - - - -> - - '- 85
Dressing Machines, - º cº- - - - - 9 1
Weaving by Power, - --- - º sº- 4-3 - 101
CoMPARATIVE ESTIMATES OF COTTON FACTORIES IN THE
UNITED STATES AND IN GREAT BRITAIN, - º 1 12
Comparative Estimates of the Cost of Buildings, Ma.
chinery, &c., * - - - *E- - - l 14
Comparative Expense in Wages, &c., - - - 1 | S
Comparison of Produce, - - - tºº - - ) 23
Comparative Cost of Manufacturing, including Raw Ma-
terial, - e * - wº- cº, e- - 125
X. C () N.T.E. NTS.
HISTOR is A L SKETCH OF THE RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE
Cotto N MANUFACTURE IN AMERICA, e gº gº
STATISTICAL NoTICES OF VARIOUS MANUFACTURING DIS-
TRICTS IN THE UNITED STATES, º tº E;
Statement of the Cotton Manufacture in the State of
Massachusetts, sº º tº- * , º dº. tº
Statement of the Cotton Manufacture in the State of New
York, Eº gº gº * tº tº a gº 4-
Statement of the Cotton Manufacture in 12 of the States,
Lowell, (Massachusetts,) - gº gºs e- º gº
Rhode Island, gº gº gº sº s tºº tº-e
North Providence, - ſº gº sº * - * º
Smithfield, tº-º tº tº- sº * - tº *
Woonsocket Falls, - ºs sº sº tº º º
Paterson, New Jersey; and other places in the North and
South, - * sº sº #se tºº •º R- sº
MISCELLANIES.
Dynamometer, sº *- *- {º tº- & *-, sº
Prices of Machinery, and various other Articles used in
Cotton Factories, both in Great Britain and America, -
Cost of Steam Power in the United States, tºe gºe
Calculations of the Cost of Water Power at Lowell, Mas-
sachusetts; and Manayunk, Philadelphia, gº ſº tº-
Result of an Experiment to ascertain the Cost of Heating a
Mill by Steam in the United States, - tº gº &
Page.
14, 1
| 56
157
159
160
l62
178
179
180
208
214
215
217
CONTENTS.
Frontispiece.—View of York Factories, Saco, State of Maine.
LIST OF PI, A TES.
Plate I.-Plans of Driving Main Shafts in Cotton Factories, with
Plate
Plate
Plate
Plate
Plate
Plate
Plate
Belts instead of Shafts and Gears.
II. Mason's Whipper.
III. Carding Engines.
IV. Matteawan Railway Carding Engines.
V. Spooling or Winding Machine.
VI. Warping Machine.
VII. Lowell Dressing Machine.
VIII. Dynamometer.
WOOD ENGRAVING S.
Drawing Frame, sº {- 4- tº tºp
Stop Motion for Drawing Frame, - *s
Stretcher or Extenser, sº sº º ---
Patent Knot for Heddles, º- * º
Harness Knitting Frame, tº * º
Page.
55
58
64
l 05
106
THE
COT TO N M A NU FA CTU R E
OF THE
U N I T E D S T A T E S.
CONTRASTED AND COMPARED
WITH THAT OF
(; R E AT BRIT A.I.N.
--º-º-º-
PLAN AND ARRANGEMENT OF THE MILLS.
THE Cotton Factories in America are scattered over
a vast extent of territory. But there are three
particular divisions which may be denominated the
principal manufacturing districts; the first of which
is the Eastern, comprehending Maine, New Hamp-
shire, Vermont, and the Eastern parts of Massa-
chusetts. The second, or middle district, includes
the Western parts of Massachusetts, Rhode Island,
and Connecticut. The third, New York, New Jer-
sey, Pennsylvania, &c. &c. In the above districts
the principal manufacturing towns and villages
are, in the first, Lowell, which is decidedly the
largest and most important in the United States;
also, Waltham, Taunton, Fall River, Springfield,
and Three Rivers, all in Massachusetts; Dover,
Great Falls, New-Market, and Nashua in New
B
14, PLAN AND ARRANGEMENT
Hampshire; and Saco in Maine. There are besides,
a number of insulated Factories that do not require
particular notice. All the manufacturing establish-
ments in this district belong to joint stock com-
panies, and, in general, they follow the Lowell
plans in the form and arrangement of the Mills, as
well as in the style of their machinery.
The principal manufacturing towns and villages,
in the second or middle district, are—Providence
and the vicinity, which, within a circuit of 30 miles,
may comprehend from 70 to 80 Mills, including Paw-
tucket, Smithfield, Lonsdale, Coventry, Cumber-
land, Cranston, Warwick, Scituate, Johnston, &c.
together with Newport. In Connecticut there are
Greenville, Cabotsville, Williamantic, Norwich,
Jewitts City, &c. Though many of the Cotton
Factories in this district belong to corporations, yet
the greater number are the property of private
companies or individuals. And, as it was here the
cotton manufacture first commenced, a vast portion
of the machinery is old, and exhibits all the different
stages of improvement. But the best and newest
Mills being in or near Providence, the others gener-
ally copy their plans and style of machinery.
The principal manufacturing towns and villages,
in the third or Southern district, are the towns of
Paterson in New Jersey, (which is next to Lowell
as regards the number of its manufactories); Mat-
teawan, New York; Mamayunk near Philadelphia;
Baltimore, &c. &c. The Factories in this district
generally adopt the plans and improvements of Pat-
erson and Matteawan, and these latter obtain ma-
chines or models of all the newest improvements
OF THE MILLS. 15
from Manchester and Glasgow, which they put in
operation in this country. Their style of machin-
ery is therefore a little different from that of the
other two districts. The Rhode Island machinery
also varies considerably from that of the Lowell or
Eastern district.
The principal Machine Manufactories are at
Lowell, Massachusetts; Providence and Pawtucket,
Rhode Island; Paterson, New Jersey; Matteawan,
New York.
The plan of the Mills is nearly the same in the
different districts. None that I am aware of exceed
five stories in height, except two at Dover, which
are six stories on one side and five on the other.
The general height of the Mills in this country is
three or four stories with an attic.—See Plate I.
Fig. 2d.—But the Mills recently built at Lowell
are five stories high, with a plain roof, such as Fig.
1st; from which it seems probable, that though the
double roof has been the plan generally adopted, it is
likely to be abandoned, as it is certainly the most
expensive, nor does it give so much room for ma-
chinery as the five stories and a plain roof.
The general height of Cotton Mills in Scotland
is six stories with a plain roof. Those in England
are from six to eight stories high ; Stirling and
Becktow's Mill, lower Mosely Street, Manchester,
is nine stories.
There are a few Mills in this country driven by
high pressure steam engines. There are four in
Newport, and one in Providence, Rhode Island;
and three in Newburyport, Massachusetts. The
coals used, whether anthracite or bituminous, cost
16 PLAN AND ARRANGEMENT
from seven to eight dollars per ton. In general the
Mills throughout the United States are moved by
water; indeed, the water power resources of this
country are incalculable, and many years must
elapse before they can be fully brought into use. In
arranging the Mills, the water wheels are neces-
sarily put under cover, so as to be kept in an atmos-
phere considerably above the freezing point in
winter, otherwise the severity of the frost, which
frequently descends to nearly 30 degrees below
zero, would prevent them from operating a great
part of the year; hence the water wheels are gener-
ally placed in the basement story, which, besides
the wheels, contains the mechanics’ shop and cloth
room; or sometimes it is filled, in whole or in part,
with machinery. The second flat contains the card-
ing engines, &c.; the third, the spinning; and the
fourth and attic, the weaving and dressing machin-
ery, &c. This is the most general arrangement of
the Mills in this country, particularly in the Eastern
district, where, it is proper to notice, the spinning
is nearly all done by throstle spinning frames. In
the middle and Southern districts, there are a con-
siderable number of mules, employed generally for
spinning weft, and here the arrangements are some-
times a little different, the mules being frequently
placed in the upper flats.
The Cotton Factories of Great Britain generally
have their picking or scutching rooms within the
Mill; but in this country there are separate buildings
erected for these purposes, generally standing like
guard-houses about 20 or 80 feet from the main
building, with the passages that connect them se-
OF THE MILLS. 17
cured with iron doors, to prevent the communication
of fire to the loose cotton in the picking-house.
It is said that Cotton Mills in this country are
very liable to take fire, for which I cannot assign
any particular cause, at least for such as are heated
by steam ; those heated with hot air may be more
liable to such accidents, especially when wood is
used for fuel. Some of the Mills lately built at
Lowell, have iron shutters outside the windows, to
prevent the communication of fire from one Mill to
another ; and each Mill has expensive apparatus
fitted up for extinguishing fires, such as forcing
pumps for raising water to a cistern at the top of
the Mill, from which pipes descend into every apart-
ment; and these not only serve to deluge the Mill in
case of fire, but also to supply each room with water
for washing, as every apartment has its water
trough, or what is denominated a sink, for the
workers to wash their hands and face in ; a most
healthy, as well as cleanly operation, which is punc-
tually attended to before every meal, soap being
supplied for this purpose by the proprietors. Be-
sides these forcing pumps and water pipes inside,
a considerable number of the large Mills have
platforms outside, with ladders extending right
over the top of the building ; and in general, each
Factory, (particularly in the Eastern district,) is
furnished with what is called a watch clock, for
the purpose of keeping the night watchman always
on the alert. These clocks resemble a common
time-piece with a circular dial made to revolve :
and surrounding the dial about half an inch from
the circumference, there are a number of small pins,
18 PLAN AND ARRANGEMENT
which the watchman is required to shift: but the
clock is so constructed, that one pin only can be
shifted at certain intervals of time; as, for example,
at the end of every half hour: the clock also con-
tains a certain number of springs, each one of which
must be lifted before one pin can be shifted; but as
the clock is all enclosed except the dial, there are
wires connected with these springs, and with each
room in the Mill ; these wires are also all enclosed,
except at their extremities in the different apart-
ments, therefore, in order to shift one pin, the
watchman requires to go into every room in the
Mill, for the purpose of pulling each wire separately,
and this he must do at the end of every half hour;
for if the pins are not shifted at the proper time,
they cannot be shifted at all: and the superintendent
of the works carefully examines these clocks every
day to ascertain whether all the pins have been
shifted; by which means he can at once know when
the watchman neglects his duty. Some clocks are
so constructed, that one wire only can be drawn at
the end of every five or six minutes; so that when
the watchman draws the wire in one room, he must
wait some time before he can draw the next; by
which means he is kept moving about all the time.
It is somewhat remarkable, that, in general, no
such provision is made in the Cotton Factories of
Great Britain for the prevention of fire. Except in
a few instances, there are in that country neither
forcing pumps and water pipes inside, nor platforms
or ladders outside the Mills. Indeed there are a num-
ber of Mills in country places in Scotland that have
no night watchman either in winter or summer.
OF THE MILLS. 19
The method of conveying motion from the first
moving power to the different departments in the
Factories of Great Britain, is by means of shafts
and geared wheels; but in this country it is done by
large belts moving at a rapid speed, the breadth of
which is 9, 12, or 15 inches, according to the
weight they have to drive, and passing through a
space of from 2500 to 3600 feet per minute. A belt
15 inches broad, moving at the rate of 3000 feet per
minute, is considered capable of exerting a propel-
ling force equal to 50 horses’ power. All the most
recently built Mills are belted, whilst many of the
older ones have had the shafts and gears removed,
and belts substituted in their place; indeed, belts
are generally preferred even by those who have had
sufficient experience of both. There are various
opinions regarding the best plan of fitting up the
drums and shafts so as to apply belting to most ad-
vantage. Plate I. represents two different plans;
a greater number might have been given, but these,
it is presumed, will be sufficient for our present
purpose.
Plate I. Fig. 2d. represents a plan of driving the
whole machinery by one large belt. B is the base-
ment story or wheel room; C is the carding; S the
spinning; and W W the weaving rooms. A is the
water wheel; D the main drum driven by and
geared from the water wheel, and is generally from
eight to twelve feet in diameter; e. e. e. e represent
the lines of drums and shafts in the carding room,
which also drive the spinning frames by means of
sent the lines of drums in the first weaving room,
2O PLAN AND ARRANGEMENT
from which motion is conveyed to the second by
belts passing up through the floor. The dotted line
represents the main driving belt, which gives mo-
tion to all the drums; a a a a are the belt binders,
which guide or lead it in the directions required,
and are suspended on springs or swivels, so as to
bind or take up the slack of the belt, and keep it
always at a proper degree of tension. The large
belt, as here represented, would be between three
and four hundred feet long, from twelve to fifteen
inches broad, and would require from 600 to 700
lbs. of good belt leather to make it. Such belts are
always made from the centre of the back of the
hide, so that they may stretch equally at both sides.
Belts put in operation upon this plan are bulky,
ponderous, and unmanageable; and when they
break, (an accident to which they are very liable on
account of the great weight they have to drive,) run
off the drums, and cause a hinderance to the whole
work; besides, it takes five or six men nearly half a
day to prepare them for being again put in operation.
They also cause a great strain upon the journals of
the shafts, thereby increasing the power required to
operate the Mill in consequence of the multiplied
friction; the journals also heat and wear beyond the
power of any lubrication to prevent, hence this plan
of belting is not very generally adopted.
Plate I. Fig. 3d, represents another plan of gear-
ing with belts, which is generally adopted about
Lowell, and considered the most unobjectionable of
any that has yet been tried; B is the basement
story; C the carding; S the spinning; and WW
the weaving rooms; E E the water wheels; F the
OF THE MILLS. 21
main driving drum; D the main drum in carding
room ; H the main drum in first weaving room ;
A A A A the lines of main shafts in carding and
weaving rooms; II the two main driving belts;
G the second driving belt. There are binders at
II, which exert a pressure of about 30 or 40 lbs.
against each belt, so as to keep them always at a
proper degree of tension.
Two such belts from 12 to 15 inches broad, are
capable of operating 5000 throstle spindles with the
necessary preparation and weaving for coarse heavy
goods, which require a propelling force equal to
between 80 and 90 horses’ power. The spinning
frames being constructed on the plan of what is
called the dead spindle, (same as what in Scotland
are denominated the Glasgow Patent Throstles,)
require considerably greater power than what is
sufficient for driving the common throstle. Some
of the most recently built Mills at Lowell have only
one broad belt from F to D, instead of two ; which
seems to perform its operations equally well.
The two plans of gearing with belts, represented
in Plate I., will be considered interesting, the one
from its novelty, the other from its being considered
the best now in operation. However partial manu-
facturers in this country may be to this mode of
conveying motion to the different apartments, those
who have been accustomed to the neat manner in
which Factories are geared in Great Britain, must
regard the above as heavy, clumsy, and inconve-
nient, as well as more expensive. As all these large
belts have to be enclosed, they occupy a consider-
able portion of the rooms they pass through; which,
$22 PLAN AND ARRANGEMENT
besides interrupting the view, gives less space for
arranging the machinery; they are likewise very
liable to stretch, and when too slack, they will slip
on the drums: and owing to their breadth, it re-
quires a considerable time to cut out one joining
and sew them up again; but in order to prevent
them from slipping, they are generally well soaked
with currier or meat's foot oil, or the following com-
position which is much recommended, viz. two
pounds of common tallow, one of bayberry tallow,
and one pound of bees’ wax : these are melted until
they are completely incorporated; and, while boil-
ing, applied to both sides of the belt with a brush;
and in order to make the composition strike into
the heart of the leather, the belt is then drawn
slowly over a hot furnace, by which means the wax
is completely decomposed, and with the tallow, pen-
etrates every pore of the leather, until the whole
belt is fully saturated. After being prepared in this
manner, nothing more is required, than to lay on a
thin layer of the same composition, at the end of
every five or six months. The drums are also cov-
ered with leather, prepared in the same manner,
and fastened on with wooden pegs, such as shoe-
makers use for fixing the soles on boots or shoes.
Though the Mills in this country are not so high
as those in Great Britain, they are generally very
strong and durable. Instead of joists for supporting
the floors, there are large beams about 14 inches by
12, extending across from side to side, having each
end fastened to the side wall by a bolt and wall plate:
these beams are about five feet apart, and supported
in the centre by wooden pillars, with a double floor
OF THE MILLS. 23
above. The under floor consists of planks three
inches thick; the upper floor of one inch board.
Some have the planks dressed on the under side,
others have them lathed and plastered : the floor
being in all four inches thick, is very strong and
stiff. The average thickness of the side walls may
be from twenty to twenty-four inches, and they
are generally built of bricks. There are very few
stone walls, free stone being scarce in this country.
The preceding remarks embrace the principal
things which a stranger, on visiting the Cotton Fac-
tories of the United States, is most likely to notice as
differing in them from the general plan of those in
Great Britain. It will be observed, that the only
particulars in which those of the former differ from
those of the latter country are, first, the Factories
are not so high in this country; second, the double
roof is peculiar to the American Factories; third,
belts are employed for conveying motion to the vari-
ous apartments; fourth, the floors are laid on large
beams instead of joists; and fifth, in the arrange-
ment of the machinery.
In Great Britain, the weaving is generally in the
lower stories, and the carding and spinning above;
but in the States, the weaving is contained in the
upper stories, with the carding and spinning below.
Instead of large beams laid across the house for sup-
porting the floors, the Factories in Great Britain
have joists about three inches by ten ; these are laid
on their edges about twenty inches apart, with one
inch flooring above, lathed and plastered beneath,
or sheathed with thin boards. The joists are also
supported in the centre by a beam about eleven
$24, PLAN AND ARRANGEMENT
inches by six, running from end to end of the build-
ing ; the pillars are of cast iron, and placed right
under this beam : the beam does not rest on the
pillar, but on a cast iron case, which passes up on
each side of the beam, and meets together above; so
that, whilst the under part of this case rests on the
top of the pillar, the upper part supports the pillar
above; thus leaving the beam entirely free of the
pillars in the rooms above ; by which means the
uppermost floors are supported on columns of cast
iron from the foundation ; there is therefore no
danger of such floors sinking in the centre. But in
this country where the cross beams rest on the top
of the pillars, whilst the pillars above rest again
upon the beams, the floors in the upper stories sink
down in the centre, in consequence of the shrinking
of the timbers, and the pressure of the ends of the
pillars into the beams. The writer has seen some
of these which have sunk down four and five inches
in the course of four years.
The Factories in Great Britain are generally
moved by steam engines placed outside of the main
building, and motion is conveyed to the different a-
partments by shafts and geared wheels. Some of
the factories in this country have the water wheels
outside of the main building, but generally all the
new Mills use belts for gearing; but whether belts
require more or less power than the other mode of
gearing, the writer has not been able to ascertain
satisfactorily. There are various opinions upon the
subject. There are two Mills at Fall River, in the
State of Rhode Island, which seem to decide the
question in favour of the belts. These Factories
OF THE MILLS. 2.5
have equal water power, as the one takes exactly
what passes through the other. The one is geared
with belts, the other with shafts, &c.; and it is found
that the former can put in motion a considerably
greater quantity of machinery than the latter; still
I incline to the belief that if shafts and geared wheels
are fitted up on the newest and most improved prin-
ciples, they will be both cheaper and run lighter than
belts. Some object to the grating noise of wheels,
but this in Great Britain is no objection at all, as
the wheels are mostly outside the building; besides,
geared wheels, when properly made and fitted up,
will run as silently and smoothly as belts.
THE WILLOW.
THE Willows used in this country are generally made
in the form of a cone, enclosed within a concentric
case ; there is one row of spikes on each side of the
case, and four rows on the cone, placed at right
angles to each other. The cotton is put in with the
hand, by an opening right above the smaller end
of the cone, and carried rapidly round until it is
thrown out at the larger, by the centrifugal force.
The self-acting conical Willow, made by Mr.
Lillie of Manchester, has been introduced into this
country, and put in operation at Matteawan, New
York; and Fall River, Rhode Island; but is not
likely to be generally adopted; it altogether appears
to be a heavy, clumsy machine.
26 THE WILLOW.
There is another machine, called a Picker, used
in a number of Factories in this country. It con-
sists of a small cylinder, about 14 inches diameter,
set full of short spikes: besides which there is a
scutcher, or beater, combined in the same machine.
The cotton is led into the picker by a pair of fluted
rollers, having been previously spread upon a re-
volving cloth, or apron; and after passing the picker
and scutcher, it is forced up through a funnel, by a
pair of fanners, to a chamber above. This machine
is very injurious to the cotton, and likely to be laid
aside.
A machine, called a Whipper, is also used in some
Factories, and very highly spoken of. It is merely
a substitute for the old mode of beating the cotton
with switches, and consists of a flake table, or an
oblong frame, the top or cover of which is composed
of elastic cords, with two parallel shafts, fitted up
with arms extending across above the cords, one
shaft on each side of the frame, and moved by cranks,
so as to make the arms strike alternately and rapidly
upon the cords; one end of the frame being higher
than the other, the cottom is thrown in upon the
cords at the higher end; and by the operation of the
arms, or reiterated strokes of the beaters, gradually
passes down until it drops out at the lower: during
this process of beating, the cotton is perfectly opened,
and the seeds and dust drop down between the cords.
The whole machine is covered with a kind of wicker
work, to prevent the cotton from being thrown out
by the beaters.
Another modification of the whipper has been
lately introduced : the writer has had one of them
THE WILLOW. 27
under his charge, and regards it as the best and sim-
plest, as well as the cheapest machine of the kind he
has yet known either in Great Britain or America.--
See Plate II. Fig. 1st and 2d.—A B are two parallel
shafts about 2% inches diameter; a aaa, &c. are arms,
or spikes, about six inches long, and fastened into the
shafts. The shaft A is surrounded with a gird or
harp from c to c, and the shaft B has a harp from e
to e. The gird has several bars containing spikes
pointed inwards; see s ss ss. The front of the ma-
chine is open from b to b; all the other parts of it
are enclosed, except a small opening above, repre-
sented by the dotted lines n n : this opening is about
2} inches, extending across the top, by which the
cotton is introduced, when the revolving arms of
shaft A immediately take hold of it and carry it
rapidly round, and it is thus agitated and torn
against the spikes s ss; but as it proceeds round with
the arms of the shaft A, it is met by the arms of the
shaft B, which clear it off, and throw it out by the
mouth b b. The belt pullies G H are of different
diameters, so as to make the shaft B revolve faster
than A, by which means it has more power, and frees
itself more perfectly of the cotton that becomes en-
tangled between the arms of the revolving shafts.
The diameter of the pulley G is six, and H seven
inches, or the driving drum may be of different diam-
eters, to effect the same variation in the speed of the
shafts. The speed of the shaft B ought to be 1800
revolutions per minute, and A 1600; and as the
shaft. A has to carry round the greatest weight of
cotton, it is generally rather stronger than B.
As the chief use of the willow is to open or separ.
28 SCUTCHING AND
ate the clotted tufts of cotton, so as to make it spread
at the following machine; the tearing process it
must pass through to accomplish this is very liable
to injure and break the tender staples; therefore ev-
ery machine that has been employed for this pur-
pose, is liable to many objections. The writer has
been acquainted with almost all the different ma-
chines that have been in general use for the last
thirty years, and he considers the whipper, represent-
ed in Plate II. as decidedly the best which he has
seen. It is called Mason’s Whipper, from the name
of the inventor, and though of small dimensions, be-
ing only three feet high, and two and a half broad,
it is capable of willowing one bale of upwards of 400
lbs. in an hour and a half. It occupies little room ;
is easily managed and kept in order, and costs 75
dollars = £15. 15. 6.
SCUTCHING AND SPREADING MACHINE.
IN the Cotton Factories of Great Britain, the above
are generally two separate machines; but in this
country they are combined into one, denominated
the lap spreader. In any of the British Factories
where the two are combined into one machine, they
have generally four or five beaters or scutchers; but
here they have only one, two, or at most three.
There are three most essential processes in the
cotton manufacture which, in the Factories of the
United States, are not so well attended to as in
those of Great Britain. First, in this country the
SPREADING MACHINES. 29
cotton is not so well mixed; second, it is not so well
cleaned; and third, it is not so well carded. The first
is done previously to its being willowed; that is, a
number of bales of cotton are mixed together, so as to
incorporate their various qualities, and thereby obtain
a large quantity of an equal and uniform quality.
The method of mixing need not be here described,
and the utility of doing so must be obvious to every
practical manufacturer; but there is one great error
which seems to pervade all the Cotton Factories in
America, that is, to have too little room in their
picking houses: few of those that I have seen have
more than barely room for two or three bales of
cotton, besides a willow and lap spreader. Now it is
not uncommon in Great Britain to mix up from
20 to 30 bales into one heap called a bing or bin;
and if there is any waste to be mixed with the cotton,
there is ample convenience for doing so; by which
means a large quantity of cotton, perfectly uniform,
and equal in quality, may be obtained. The Cotton
being properly cleaned is of equal importance with
its being properly mixed; and the chief use of the
scutching process is to clean it from all those seeds
or vegetable substances that may have got inter-
mixed with it, as well as to open out the tufts of cot-
ton more perfectly than can be done at the willow,
so as to make it spread more equally into a uniform
lap for the cards. When all this is properly at-
tended to ; when the cotton is uniform in quality,
well opened and cleaned previous to its being put
through the cards, the latter process will be more
perfect. The great object to be principally attended
to in spinning cotton yarn is, to make it equal in its
C
30 SCUTCH1NG AND SPREADING MACHINES.
grist, clean, and smooth; but that can never be at-
tained without a proper system of mixing, cleaning,
and carding. In these three processes are to be
found the principal deficiencies of the Cotton Fac-
tories of America, as compared with those of Great
Britain.
The best lap spreaders, or scutching machines,
that I have seen in this country, are made by Mr.
Whitings, South North Bridge, Massachusetts, for
which he has obtained a patent. In principle it is
the same as the newest now made in Manchester
and Glasgow.
Though the scutching process in general is not
carried to the same extent in the American Factories
as in those of Great Britain, the Mills at Three Rivers
and Thorndike in the State of Massachusetts, seem
to be exceptions. At these Factories the cotton is
put through four scutching machines before it is
taken to the cards. At the first it is weighed and
spread on a revolving apron in the usual way; but
instead of scutchers or beaters, this machine has only
a picker or scratcher, that is, a small cylinder set full
of short spikes, which is used instead of a willow,
and instead of delivering the cotton upon the floor,
winds it on to a lap roller. Two of these laps are
put through the second machine, which contains
two scutchers. Four laps from the second are put
through the third; and four from the third are put
through the fourth. Thus the cotton is put through
a picker and three scutching machines, containing
two scutchers each, and leaves the last in a good
state, perfectly purified from seeds, &c. and every
fibre well opened. Very superior goods are manu-
CARDING ENGINES. 31
factured at the above-named Factories, perhaps the
best and finest in the United States. The Yarns
are Nos. 50 to 60, and spun on mules from double
rovings. The cottons used are generally the short
staple, such as New Orleans and Upland, similar
to that from which Nos. 70 to 80 are made in
Great Britain.
CARDING ENGINES.
THAT the remarks upon this subject may be as
explicit as possible, it has been deemed necessary to
give a sketch of the different forms of Carding En-
gines now in general use. (See Plate III.) Fig. 1st
is a common carding engine with a licker-in A, and
12 tops or flats B B. Fig. 2d has 13 tops, but no
licker-in. These two represent the general form of
carding engines in this country. Fig. 1st is the
breaker, and Fig. 2d the finisher. The former is
generally furnished with a licker-in, but not the
latter. There are but few Mills in the United
States that use single carding; mostly all have
breakers and finishers, even those that manufacture
the coarsest goods. In the Eastern district the gen-
eral breadth of the cards is 37 inches, and diameter
of main cylinder 36, doffing cylinder 13, feeding
rollers 1} inches. The main cylinders are made of
cast iron, and covered with broad filleting instead of
sheets. The average speed of the main cylinders is
about 100 revolutions per minute.
In the middle, or Rhode Island district, the cards
are made of various breadths, from 18 to 36 inches,
32 CARDING ENGINES.
and are mostly all wooden cylinders covered with
sheets: indeed, sheets are generally recommended
even by those who have used fillets for the main
cylinder.
In the Southern district, the general breadth of
the cards is from 24 to 30 inches; here there are
some cast iron cylinders, but they are covered with
sheets instead of fillets. The average speed of the
cylinders in the two last mentioned districts is about
110 revolutions per minute, and diameter 36 inches.
There are no carding engines in this country, as far
as I have seen or learned, that are driven at so high
a speed as those in England; neither have I seen any
that make work equal to that of the latter country.
Indeed the manufacturers in England generally make
superior work with single carding to any thing that
I have yet seen in this country with double carding.
Fig. 2d represents the general form of carding
engines used in Scotland, and for very fine numbers
in England. In the former the breadth of cylinder
is 24 inches, and diameter 36; the average speed
of cylinder 120 revolutions per minute. When used
to card for fine yarns, either in Scotland or Eng-
land, the breadth of cylinder is 18 inches, and speed
from 90 to 110 revolutions per minute.
Fig. 3d represents the general form of carding
engines used in England for middle and coarse num-
bers. The breadth of main cylinder is 36 inches,
and diameter 42; diameter of doffer 18 inches;
speed of main cylinder, from 180 to 150 revolutions
per minute. The cotton is taken in from the feed-
ing rollers by the licker-in roller A, from which it
is transferred to the main cylinder, and again carded
CARDING ENGINES. 33
between the cylinder and the carding rollers B and
C, both of which revolve with a slow motion.
Whatever cotton adheres to B is cleaned off by A,
which acts both as a ticker-in and cleaner to B.
The carding roller C is cleaned by D. These are
technically denominated carders and cleaners: in
this country they are called workers and cleaners.
The relative surface motion of the main cylinder,
and A and D, should be as three of the former to
two of the latter, that is, the surface of the main
cylinder should move through a space of three
inches, in the same time that A and D move two.
The English carding engines are generally mounted
with a drawing head called a drawing box, repre-
sented at F, figures 3d and 5th, the two under
back rollers of which are slightly fluted, and the
upper ones covered with a ply of cloth and leather.
The two front ones, being the delivering rollers, are
Quite smooth, without any covering. The cotton, as
it is delivered from the doffer in a thin fleece, is
conducted into the back rollers, where it is drawn
between that and the middle rollers, about 1, or
2 to 1, and again compressed by the conductor e,
from which it is delivered by the front rollers into
the can. Whilst a number of English Factories
have the card ends delivered into cans, there are
others which have the ends from several cards wound
on large wooden bobbins, with tin-plate ends: these
bobbins when full, are carried direct to the first
heads of the drawing frame. Those who use two
sets of cards generally retain the old lap-drum in
front of the breakers, from which the lap, when
sufficiently thick, is broken off, and placed to the
34 CARDING ENGINES.
back of the finisher. In the Factories in Scot-
land, as well as in this country, it is common to have
a separate machine between the breaker and finisher
cards, for the purpose of forming laps for the latter:
this is called a lapping machine or lap doubler.
Fig. 4th represents a particular form of carding-
engines used in various Factories in Great Britain,
which for single carding, is, perhaps, the best with
which the writer is acquainted, as the flat tops are
here placed in the most convenient position for being
frequently stripped: and whatever impurities may
pass in with the cotton, will be held fast by the first
tops, from which such impurities will be removed by
the top stripper, before they get intermixed with the
carded cotton. The roller G, denominated the fancy
roller, is driven so as to outrun the main cylinder,
by which means the cotton that adheres to the surface
of the main cylinder is slightly raised up, and again
straightened by the carder E, before it is thrown on
to the doffer : this continual operation of the fancy
roller keeps the cylinder always clean, and thereby
supersedes the necessity of stripping it more than
once every second day or so. This not only saves
time and waste, but makes better work, as every
practical carder knows that when the cylinder is
full of cotton, the carding is not so clear and uni-
form as immediately after stripping it; therefore, by
keeping it always clean, the carding is uniformly
good. The fancy roller requires to be covered with
filleting, having longer and finer wires than that
which is used for any of the others: the wires ought
likewise to be set nearly straight, having only a
slight bend, so as to prevent it from carrying round
UARDING ENGINES. 35
the cotton with its accelerated motion. The back of
the wires on the fancy roller being towards the back
of those on the cylinder, very little cotton adheres to
its surface; besides, the cleaner H may be placed so
as to act as a cleaner to both E and G, and thereby
prevent the cotton from collecting on either.
Fig. 5th represents a species of carding engines
used about Oldham, (England), called double card-
ing engines, which are certainly the most powerful
machines of the kind which I have yet seen. They
are similar to those used in Woollen Factories, and
found equally applicable to the cotton manufacture.
This machine, as may be seen by the sketch, consists
of two complete carding engines combined, the main
cylinders of which are surmounted with small cylin-
der cards instead of flat tops. These latter are known
amongst practical manufacturers by various names.
They are called urchins, squirrels, carders and clean-
ers, or workers and cleaners. The breadth of cy-
linder is 48 inches, diameter 42, and the speed at
which they are driven, is from 160 to 180 revolutions
of main cylinders per minute. This may appear in-
credible to some, but the writer had full opportunity
of ascertaining the fact by personal observation. The
intermediate doffer A is about 28 inches diameter,
and revolves once for every ten revolutions of first
main cylinder H. The second doffer B, is about 22
inches diameter, and revolves once for every twelve
revolutions of second main cylinder E. The quan-
tity of yarn produced is from eight to nine cwt. per
week of 69 hours, from each of these double engines,
No. of yarn 86; equal to 155 lbs. of No. 36 per day,
of 11% hours. The feeding rollers G, instead of be-
36 CARDING ENGINES.
ing fluted, are covered with filleting half an inch
broad, and made with strong wires, formed with
what is called the diamond point. Indeed, all broad
carding engines, that is, all above 24 inches, ought
to have a pair of small cylinder cards, from two to
three inches in diameter, instead of fluted feeding
rollers. The teeth of these small cylinders should
be pointed inwards, so as to operate as lickers-in;
and instead of feeding the cotton immediately on to
the cylinder, they should be surmounted by a larger
cylindrical card, for the purpose of transferring the
cotton from them to the main cylinder. Every prac-
tical carder knows that when weights are suspended
on each end of a long feeding roller, it will spring
up in the centre so much, as partly to lose hold of
the lap, and instead of the cotton being fed on to the
cylinder in single filaments, it will be pulled in by
the card teeth in large tufts, thereby producing
bad carding, and of course inferior yarn; and to
enlarge the diameter of the feeding rollers with a
view to prevent the spring in the middle, is attend-
ed with an equally bad effect; for by that means the
bite of the rollers will be too far off the surface of
the cylinder ; as the nearer the bite of the feeding
rollers is to the card teeth, the better. The distance
between the points of the card teeth, and the bite
or centre of the feeding rollers, ought to be rather
less than the length of the staple; by that means the
wires will take hold of each filament separately, and
carry it up to the tops immediately as it escapes
from the rollers. Practical carders are aware, that
when thick feeding rollers are used, the cotton,
instead of being taken off by the card cylinder in
CARD ING ENGINES. 37
single filaments, will stand up, as it were, in flakes
having a fringe-like appearance, between the upper
roller and the surface of the cylinder, and either ad-
here to the roller, or go offin tufts with the card teeth;
and as the principal use of the carding process is to sep-
arate or divide the fibres of the cotton, and straighten
them to a certain degree, so as to form an evenly
sliver, it is of essential importance to the attainment
of good carding, that a proper method of first intro-
ducing the cotton into the main cylinder be well
understood; and here it may be proper to notice the
difference between the practice of the United States
and that of Great Britain. In this country, it is com-
mon to crowd the cotton on to the cylinder so rapid-
ly, that, instead of being taken away from the feeding
rollers in single filaments, it is dragged in by the
slow motion of the revolving cards in large flakes,
which are not allowed to remain long enough under
the operation of the tops, to be sufficiently teased
out, the doffing cylinder being also driven too fast
in proportion to the speed of the main cylinder.
Now the practice in Great Britain is directly the
opposite of this : there the cotton is led into and
delivered from the cards, by a very slow motion ;
that is, the motion of the feeding rollers and dof-
fing cylinder, are comparatively slow in proportion
to the speed of the main cylinder; as, for example,
the mode of regulating the motions of carding en-
gines is as follows: in Britain a main cylinder
36 inches diameter, will revolve between 70 and
80 times for one of the feeding rollers: in this
country their motions are as 35 of the former to one
of the latter. The proportion between the revolu-
38 CARDING ENGINES.
tions of the main cylinder and doffer are in Britain
as 25 of the former to one of the latter. In Ameri-
ca, it is as 17 to 1.
From the above it may be very easily perceived
how the American manufacturers do not generally
produce yarn of equal quality to that of the British.
In the first place, they do not mix a sufficient quan-
tity of cotton at the first process: and secondly, they
do not clean it so well at the scutching; neither is
it so well carded. The British manufacturer makes
the cotton undergo a greater amount of operation,
both at the scutching and carding, and hence he is
enabled to produce a cleaner, smoother, and more
evenly thread of yarn, than that which is generally
produced in America. In order to make smooth
level yarn, it is therefore absolutely necessary to
have the cotton well cleaned and carded : if the tufts .
or knots of the cotton, are not perfectly teased out,
and the fibres well separated at the latter process,
the fleece delivered from the doffing cylinder will
exhibit inequalities, or appear what is technically
denominated “clouded,” and from card ends of that
texture, it is impossible to make good yarn. I am
aware that bad carding will frequently arise from
inaccurate adjustment of the operating parts of the
machine, but at the same time, if the principle upon
which the various processes are conducted be wrong,
the most perfect adjustment of the machinery can-
not remedy the evils arising therefrom. It has been
already stated, that the English spinners make their
cotton undergo more operation at the carding pro-
cess than the Americans; and in order to produce a
sufficient quantity of work, they also drive their
CARDING ENGINES. 39
cards at a much higher speed. While a cylinder of
36 inches diameter moves at the rate of 100 to 110
revolutions in the American Factories; in England
a cylinder of 42 inches diameter, and of the same
breadth, revolves from 130 to 160 times; which,
taking into consideration the difference of their
diameters, is nearly double the speed of the former.
Before leaving this subject, it may be proper to
notice, that the manner of attending and managing
the carding engines in this country, is different from
that of Great Britain. Here the cards, &c. are not
divided into what is called systems, or preparations;
nor is the mode of stripping and grinding the same.
In Britain, one person strips the cylinders, and
another the tops: and as a regular system of strip-
ping is of the utmost importance, the top stripper is
therefore kept constantly going round a certain num-
ber of cards, of which he or she may have the charge,
which number generally constitute a system or pre-
paration : but if these be too many, they may be
divided, so that one person may strip the breakers,
and another the finishers: and suppose the cards to
have twelve working tops, the stripper proceeds in
the following order. Beginning at the one end of
the range of cards, the first four tops are stripped
all round the system or preparation : again, com-
mencing at the first card, the second four, or the
5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th tops, are stripped all round in
like manner; this completes two courses, wherein
the first eight tops have been stripped once : in
the third course, the first four tops are again
stripped, and at the fourth round, the last four,
or the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th, are stripped:
40 CARD ING ENGINES,
thus the stripper takes four courses to go round all
the tops; during which the first four have been
stripped twice, and the other eight only once. The
preceding is the order of stripping the tops for
coarse numbers; for middle numbers, only two,
or at most three tops, should be stripped at each
course, carefully observing to strip the first two
oftener than any of the others: for fine numbers no
more than two should be stripped at each course.
In some Factories the whole of the tops are stripped
in three courses, in the following order. In the first
course, the stripper cleans the 1st, 4th, 7th, and
10th : second course, the 2d, 5th, 8th, and 11th :
and lastly, the 3d, 6th, 9th, and 12th. If there are
more than twelve tops, the order of stripping is so
arranged as to secure uniformity of work. But it is
an invariable rule, that as soon as the whole of the
tops have been stripped all round, the stripper im-
mediately commences to go over the whole series of
cards in the same order as before ; thus keeping up
a constant and uniform system of stripping during
the whole time the machinery is in operation. The
cylinder stripper has also a certain number of cards
assigned to him, which he is careful to strip at least
every two hours, so that the top stripper is left at
liberty to proceed with his work without interrup-
tion, and is paid by the weight of strippings taken off;
which strippings are weighed and examined every
day by the overseer, or some other person appointed
to do so.
In the American Factories the order of stripping
is very different from that described above, particu-
larly in the Eastern district. Here, the stripper
CARDING ENGINES. 41
having charge of a certain number of carding en-
gines, begins at the first card in the series, and
strips every second top all over, that is, the 1st, 3d,
5th, 7th, 9th, and 11th ; and having gone over the
whole of the cards in the set in this manner, he is
allowed to rest a certain time, say fifteen minutes,
before he begins his second course, which embraces
the 2d, 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th tops: thus the
whole of the tops are stripped in two courses, and
at the end of each, he is allowed to rest about fifteen
minutes : but as it is left to the stripper himself to
notice the expiration of the fifteen minutes, the ut-
most punctuality is not to be expected, as the over-
seer, however attentive, cannot always have his eyes
upon him. The top stripper likewise strips the cy-
linders, and during this process he must either stop
all the cards under his charge, or allow them to run
without stripping, which is too frequently the case.
And supposing him to have the charge of ten cards,
it will sometimes take 30 minutes to strip the whole,
the tops being stripped all over with the cylinders
as he goes along : and if the cards have been kept
running all the time, they will thus have been work-
ing full 30 minutes without stripping : it is there-
fore not to be supposed that perfect work will be
produced from such a process. The strippers are
generally paid by the day, not by the weight of
strippings taken off; as owing to the frequent
changes amongst the hands in this country, it is
difficult to establish a system of piece work in some
departments, which can be done with the greatest
convenience in Great Britain.
The mode of grinding or sharpening the cards in
42 CARDING ENGINES.
this country, is very different from that of Great Bri-
tain. In the latter country, when a carding engine is
first clothed with new sheets, fillets, &c. the practice
is to put the cylinders in motion the right way; and
a light emery board about four inches broad, is tra-
versed over the top of the cylinders with a very deli-
cate hand: this is called facing up the teeth, because
the points of the wires are running against the
board, and is intended to cut down any single wires
that may be too long. After running the cylinders
in this way for about fifteen minutes, their motions
are reversed; and small cast iron cylinders coated
over with No. 4 emery, are mounted on the top of
each cylinder, that is, one above the main cylinder,
and one above the doffer : these are denominated
fast grinders; and which, after being properly set,
are caused to revolve in an opposite direction to the
card cylinders. This operation is continued until the
whole of the teeth on both cylinders are ground down
to one uniform length ; but during the process of
grinding, the emery cylinders are made to traverse
a little each way, so as to grind the wires to a round
point, and prevent them from being hooked or
barbed. After being sufficiently ground, the cards
are then dressed up, first with a brush dusted with
chalk, and then with emery boards called straikes or
strickles; this latter process is called sharpening,
and is afterwards continued daily, at least once every
day to the breakers, and every second day to the
finishers. But the fast grinders are not applied per-
haps above once a year, or only when the cylinders
are found what is called “off the truth ;” that is,
when some part of their surface may have become
CARDING ENGINES. 43
higher than the other parts; then the grinders are
employed to reduce all to the same level. By this
method of grinding the cards only when necessary,
and sharpening them every working day, they are
always in good order, and consequently produce
more perfect work: besides, when the practice of
sharpening is continued daily, it can be done in
much less time. Two hands are quite sufficient
without much exertion, to sharpen thirty carding en-
gines in the space of four hours, the card belts being
all fitted up with buckles, so that no time is lost in
shortening or lengthening them for the purpose of
reversing the motion of the cylinders. The tops
are also brushed out and sharpened once every week.
Now the practice in this country differs from the
above in this respect, that the cards are never sharp-
ened except when they are ground; or rather, the
grinding and sharpening constitute the same opera-
tion, which is repeated only once every two, three,
or four weeks, and is done in the following manner.
One fast cylinder grinder is placed between the main
cylinder and the doffer, so as to grind both at the same
time; and after being allowed to operate in this way
for one or two days, it is removed, and the cylinders
dressed off—not with emery boards, but strickles
made of belt leather, coated with emery in the same
manner as the boards;—when the card is in this way
sufficiently sharpened, it is put in operation, and
allowed to run a week, a fortnight, or a month, and
perhaps longer, before the same operation is again
repeated; the tops are also brushed out and sharp-
ened at the same time.
The preceding is the general mode of grinding
44 CAR DING FNGINES.
and stripping the cards in all the Factories of at least
the Eastern district; but whether the practice of the
Southern Factories is the same, the writer has not
had sufficient opportunity to ascertain : according
to information, however, it appears that the manu-
facturers in the Southern States follow the practice
of Great Britain in the general details of their works
so far as practicable.
The clothing for carding engines, that is, sheets
and fillets, are all made with machinery in this
country, and are as good as those in Great Britain;
the leather, however, does not appear in general to
be quite so well tanned ; yet they last as long, if not
longer: from five to seven years may be about the
average time allowed for one clothing. Many of the
spinners in Great Britain renew their card clothing
every three or four years, especially those who spin
fine numbers: the old sheets are sold to coarse Fac-
tories.
Plate IV. represents a system of carding intro-
duced at Matteawan, in the State of New York, the
chief peculiarities of which are the following: the
feeding rollers A, and the doffing cylinder B, are
both considerably below the centre of the main cy-
linder ; so that a greater portion of the latter is in
actual operation. In the common system of carding,
a little more than one-third of the surface of the
main cylinder may be said to be in operation at one
time ; but in the Matteawan cards about two-thirds.
D D are not doffing cylinders, but carding rollers,
at the back of which there are small cleaners, one
end of which is seen at E.-F F are standards sup-
porting a drawing head. C is a horizontal box,
CARDING ENGINES. 45
called a railway, along the bottom of which the belt
G moves with a slow motion, proportioned to the
delivery of the cards. The fleece of cotton delivered
by the doffers B B descends down to the railway
box C, where it is compressed by the small rollers
H H, and carried forward by the belt G, until it
reaches the back of the standards F F, where the
railway terminates, and from which the fleeces de-
livered from each card in the set, being compressed
into slivers, are drawn up in regular order to the
drawing head J, where they undergo a draught
regulated according to circumstances, and then de-
livered into a can. In the plate only four cards
are represented in connection; but it is obvious
that any number from two to sixteen might be
connected in the same way, and the drawing head,
instead of standing in front of the cards, could be
placed at one end of the range; so that the railway
might run along in front of the whole.
The railway system is extensively adopted about
Rhode Island and other parts of the middle and
Southern districts. The writer has seen sixteen
cards all in one line delivering into a railway, hav-
ing the whole doffing cylinders and feeding rollers
connected, and driven by the same motion, whilst
the main cylinders were driven separately ; so that
the whole feeding and delivering motion could be
instantly stopped, or put in operation, without af.
fecting the motion of the main cylinders.
The above, or railway style of carding, was put
in operation in Glasgow, by Mr. Niel Snodgrass, in
1835; and although the writer has seen it in a num-
ber of Factories in various parts of America, yet he
D
46 CARD ING ENGINES,
has no hesitation in saying, that the manner in
which Mr. Snodgrass put it in operation, was alto-
gether the neatest and most perfect of any that he
has yet seen. He had eight carding engines, all
delivering into one railway, one or more of which
could be stopped when it was necessary to strip or
grind, and as soon as the broken off sliver entered the
drawing rollers at the end of the range, the person
attending them, by means of a small shifting lever,
threw one pair of pinions out of gear, at the instant
another pair was put in operation, which diminished
the draught exactly in proportion to the number of
cards stopped. All this was done without interrup-
ting the progress of the work: and the sliver deliv-
ered into the can from the drawing head, was of the
same grist as when all the cards were running. The
Matteawan carding engines have the same means of
shifting various pinions in and out of gear, for the
purpose of increasing or diminishing the draught in
the drawing head J, to suit the number of cards
stopped or in operation. In some Factories this is
accomplished in a very imperfect manner by means
of a pair of comes: in others one or two spare card-
ing engines are kept standing all the time, except
when an equal number are stopped for being stripped
or ground.
The only advantages of the railway style of card-
ing, are the saving of one or two hands, whose wages
are generally the lowest paid in the whole Factory,
and the superseding the use of a number of card
cans; but at the same time it produces a great deal of
very imperfect work. Every practical carder knows
that the card ends frequently break down in front
UARDING ENGINES. 47
of the doffer, in consequence of some interruption
at the feeding, as well as from many other causes:
and when this occurs with those delivering into a
railway, it makes a want or deficiency in the grist
of the sliver carried forward to the drawing head,
and ultimately a weak part in the yarn. But the
same objection will equally apply to the English sys-
tem of making the ends from several carding engines
wind on to a large bobbin for the purpose of being
set up at the first heads of the drawing frame. When
each card delivers into its own can, any inequality
in the sliver can be more easily removed, so as to
secure more perfect work. Great care should be
taken, however, not to press the cans too hard, as
the slivers being very soft and tender at this process,
will certainly stretch when being pulled out of a can
that is hard pressed. A method of pressing the card
ends into the cans has been introduced into various
Factories in Scotland with very good effect. It con-
sists of having the can placed with the bottom up-
wards, upon a round plate of iron, with a small hole
in the centre; this is placed about six inches off the
floor, having a pair of calender rollers right under
it, which are moved by an upright shaft; this shaft
is driven by small bevel pinions on the delivering
shaft of the card, so that the calender rollers of the
card have the same motion as the under ones; and
the card end, as it is delivered from the calender, or
delivering rollers, descends to those under the iron
plate, and being directed by a tin conductor, is made
to pass up through between the under rollers, which
are pressed together with a spring, and by them
through the hole in the centre of the plate into the
48 CARDING ENGINES,
can. Thus the can is filled upwards: and being fur-
nished with a loose or false bottom, which lies down
upon the plate when the empty can is placed there to
be filled, but rises gradually as the sliver is pressed
up into the can ; and when the can is full, the loose
bottom has reached the top, where, by disengaging
a catch, it causes a spring to ring a bell for the pur-
pose of apprising the card tenter, who immediately
removes the full can, and replaces it by an empty
one to be filled in like manner. Those cans that
are pressed in this way contain a great number of
card ends, which, from the gradual manner in which
they have been filled, are easily drawn out without
stretching.
It has been already stated, that the preparation ma-
chinery in the American Factories, is not divided into
systems, or preparations, as in those of Great Britain.
In general, every Factory in this country is calcula-
ted and fitted up for making only one kind of goods,
and the warp and filling" being made from the same
cotton, undergoes the same operation ; whereas in
the British Factories, there are generally various
qualities of goods manufactured at the same time;
so that the waste made from the finer, may be used
up in the coarser; and the warp and weft are always
made from different qualities of cotton. Weft does
not require the same quality of cotton as the warp ;
neither does it require the same expensive process:
and it would be attended with considerable profit
to the manufacturers of this country, if they had
sufficient room in their picking houses to make at
* Weft in this country is always called filling,
CARDING ENGINES. 49
heast two mixtures of cotton, one for warp and an-
other for filling, by which means all the waste used
could be put into the filling, thereby leaving nothing
but good cotton for the warp; as the latter requires
to be strong, smooth, and wiry; whilst the former
requires to be soft and woolly, so as to fill up the
cloth, and give it a more rich and full appearance.
When waste is put into the filling, it imparts to it
this rough and woolly quality; and when prepared in
a separate system of cards, drawing, &c. the process
could be abridged and better adapted to the quality
of yarn required.
The manufacturers of this country generally use
up a considerable portion of the inferior waste into
what is called batting, that is, after being spread in-
to a card lap in the usual way, it is put tbrough a
breaker card, which is mounted with a lap drum ;
and when the carded lap has acquired a proper thick-
ness, it is broken off from the drum, and rolled up
in paper for the purpose of being sold to country
people, or others who may want it, to be afterwards
sewed between two plies of cotton cloth, and used
instead of blankets. These are then called com-
forters, and are extensively used in this country
both by rich and poor; one good one is certainly su-
perior to a pair of Scotch blankets: and when neatly
covered with printed calico, quilted, and bound round
the edges, they appear extremely meat and cleanly
upon a bed. It is somewhat surprising that these
comforters are not, at least so far as known to
the writer—used in Great Britain; as poor people
might thus have good warm bed clothing much
cheaper than woollen blankets.
50 CARDING ENGINES.
Double carding, or breaker and finisher cards, are
generally used in all the American Factories, as for-
merly stated, and between the breaker and finisher,
there is a separate machine employed for making
laps for the latter, denominated a lapping machine,
or lap doubler, which, though used for the same pur-
pose, is made upon a very different construction from
those now in general use in Scotland, but is not
deemed of sufficient importance to merit the expense
of a separate plate. All that is considered necessary
in this place, is to endeavour to describe the differ-
ence between the two.
The lap doublers used in the Cotton Factories of
Scotland, require to have double or treble rows of
cans crowded behind the machine; and the card
ends, from these being guided by proper conductors,
are directed through between a pair of calender rol-
lers, from which they are then wound on to the lap
roller for the finisher cards. Those used in this
country, have a long frame stretching out about
seventeen or eighteen feet behind the machine: this
frame is mounted with wooden rollers for the pur-
pose of carrying forward the card ends from the
cans, which are stretched out in one row along the
angled side of the frame; the card ends are brought
forward in regular parallel rows between the wooden
rollers, till they reach the calender rollers, where
they pass through the same operation as the above.
But each end as it comes out of the can, passes
through a guide or conductor, called a latch, which
is so constructed, that when an end breaks or runs
out, the latch drops down; and as it drops, it touches
a pin fastened into a horizontal rod lying along one
DRAWING FRAMES. 51
side of the frame, and causes the rod to turn round
so far as to disengage a catch at the head of the
frame: the disengaging of this catch allows a spiral
spring to operate upon the belt lever, so as to shift
the belt from the fast on to the loose pulley, by
which means the machine instantly stops. Thus
when an end breaks or runs out, the machine stops
instantly, until the attendant repairs the broken card
end, and lifts the latch to its proper place. The
writer is not aware of any such machines in Great
Britain being fitted up with a similar contrivance;
so that when an end breaks in those used in that
country, it is wholly left to the attendant to stop the
machine, or piece up the broken end while running:
and practical carders know the difficulty of always
obtaining correct work at this process.
D R AWING FRAMIES.
THE Drawing Frames used throughout the Eastern
district are made on the same plan as those generally
used in England, and consist of a single beam with
three pairs of rollers, each frame containing only
three single heads. The draught on each head is
divided between the middle and back, as well as be-
tween the middle and front rollers. Some of those
frames which are made about Providence in Rhode
Island, have double roller beams; but none that I
have yet seen, are equal to those now made in Glas-
gow, (Scotland.)
The drawing is a most important process in the
52 DRAWING FRAMES.
art of cotton spinning, and requires to be arranged
with great skill and attention, so as to give the
slivers that amount of doubling and drawing that is
just necessary, and no more; at the same time the
slivers ought to be kept as heavy as possible, until
they pass through the fly frame where they are
twisted. Now, so far as I have had an opportunity
of ascertaining by visiting Factories or otherwise, I
do not find that the manufacturers in this country
double the slivers so much as is done in Britain.
And in many Factories the slivers are as fine as in
those of Manchester, that manufacture from Nos.
150 to 200. This must, therefore, be attended
with very injurious effects; as owing to their ex-
treme softness and delicacy, they require to be very
tenderly handled; and, indeed, it is almost impossible
to pull a fine sliver out of the can without stretching
it; hence the necessity of keeping them as heavy as
can be done with safety, at every department of the
process.
The drawing frames of this country, that is,
those with the single beam of three pairs of rollers,
are made upon the most simple plan ; yet they are
not so well adapted for making good work as those
with a double roller beam ; because when the sliver
is drawn between a pair of rollers, it spreads out,
and becomes thin and broken at the edges. Now,
in a three roller beam, where the draught is dis-
tributed between the middle and back, as well as the
middle and front rollers, the first draught spreads
out the sliver to a certain extent, whilst the second
causes it to spread still farther : and when it is de-
livered from the front rollers, the edges or Selvages
DRAWING FRAMES. 53
of the sliver are so thin, that they become ragged
and broken, and the fibres or filaments losing their
hold of each other, double up, and adhere to the up-
per front rollers, by which they are carried up to
the cleaners, and there collect in large tufts, which,
besides making waste, causes a great deal of very
imperfect work. I have never known the drawing
frames in Great Britain cause so much trouble as
those with which I am acquainted in this country, in
consequence of the slivers adhering to the upper front
rollers. If the same evil is general in all the Fac-
tories, and I know it is in a great many, I am not
surprised that the manufacturers of this country
have not as yet attained to great perfection in the
quality of the goods manufactured. Besides the
cause above stated, viz. the double draught in the
single roller beam, there is another, which I have
no doubt operates in some measure to produce the
same effects, that is, the quantity of electricity gen-
erated in the carding rooms. It was formerly stated
that the spinning frames were generally driven from
the carding room, by means of belts passing up
through the floor; this, of course, causes a great
number of carrying belts in the card room ; and
these belts produce a great deal of electricity, more
so than anything of the kind I have ever witnessed
in any Factory in Great Britain. At certain times
the loose fibres lying on any part of the machinery
under these belts, will all be standing up on one end,
pointing to the belts, and a small tuft of cotton held
by the hand, within two feet of the belts, will, as
soon as let go, fly straight up, until it strike the
belt, and then fall down to the floor. If a piece of
54. T) RAWING FRAMES.
pointed steel is held up to these belts, a current of
sparks will instantly issue from its point towards the
belt, accompanied by a snapping noise, and at times,
the same effect will take place by holding the fingers
close to the belt, whilst a certain twitching is ex-
perienced, being a succession of slight shocks. But
whether the same effects would be produced by
rapidly revolving belts in the Cotton Factories of
Great Britain, I am not prepared to say, as I never
experienced anything of the kind, at least to the same
extent as I have done here. One thing is certain,
that the climate of this country is much drier than
that of Britain ; and it is always observed, that the
air here becomes more highly charged with elec-
tricity in very dry weather, particularly before rain.
On some occasions it is so much so, as to effect the
work considerably in the carding rooms, and espe-
cially the drawing frames. I have seen in one room
about twelve frames, and not one of them working
properly, but all, more or less, lapping up on the
upper rollers, and making a great quantity of waste,
besides spoiling the work. But this may be greatly
remedied by the double roller beam, such as that
represented in the annexed figure. Here the slivers
in passing through the back beam A, undergo a
draught of 2, or 2% to 1 ; and as it, (the fleece or
reduced slivers) is thereby caused to spread out, it
is again gradually contracted as it proceeds from
the front roller of the back beam, to the back roller
of the front beam B, by which means the thin edges of
the fleece are caused to double over ; and entering
the front beam in that state, where it undergoes a
draught of 3 or upwards, it is again delivered from
DRAWING FRAME$. 55
the front rollers with smooth unbroken selvages,
being equally as thick at the edges as in the centre;
and the fibres having hold of each other, are not so
liable to double up, or lap on the front rollers.
Although only four card ends or slivers are repre-
sented as passing through the head in the figure, it
is obvious that six or eight may be put up, according
as might be thought requisite.
I have already stated, that the drawing frames in
this country have generally only three heads, by
which the cotton is what is technically denominated
three times drawn, that is, made to pass three times
through the drawing frame. Now in Great Britain,

56 x D R A WING FRAME$.
the drawing frames are made with six, eight, or ten
drawing heads, according to the number of times
the slivers are to be drawn. For three times draw-
ing, the frame will have six heads paired, two and
two : for four times drawing, there will be eight
heads, and ten heads for five times drawing. Five
times drawing, however, is only used for very fine
yarns; four times for middle numbers; and three
times is deemed sufficient for all low numbers,
whilst the number of doublings is often a mere mat-
ter of opinion : in all Factories there are more or
less, according to the peculiar notions or experience
of the superintendents, or the quality of the yarn
wanted, and the cotton from which it is to be made.
I have often found that too many doublings and
drawings had a greater tendency to injure the yarn,
than improve it; and I believe it is generally ad-
mitted, that the less operation the cotton passes
through at this department of the process, it is the
less liable to injury; hence every experienced man-
ager of Factories studies to give just what is neces-
sary and no more.
The drawing frames in this country having three
single heads, require two girls to attend them,
whilst one in Great Britain, with six heads, and
driven at the same speed, requires no more. Thus
a drawing frame in the latter country, being double
the size, produces double the work with the same
number of hands.
A striking peculiarity in the drawing frames of
this country, viz. their self-acting stop-motion, so far
as I am aware, has not yet been introduced into the
Factories of Great Britain, nor do I believe it neces-
A-" ºf
DRAWING FRAMES, J /
sary that it should; because the helps” in that coun-
try are very different from those in this. Here they
are constantly changing, old hands going away, and
new ones learning. The great majority of girls
employed in the American Factories are farmers’
daughters, who come into the Factory for, perhaps,
a year or two, and frequently for but a few months,
until they make a little money to purchase clothes,
&c. and then go home. In consequence of this con-
tinual changing, there are always great numbers of
inexperienced hands in every Factory: and as the
drawing process requires the utmost care and atten-
tion to make correct work as well as to prevent
waste, it is necessary to have the most expert and
experienced hands attending the drawing frames;
but this cannot always be obtained in this country as
in Great Britain; hence it is more necessary to have
some contrivance connected with the machinery
here, which will, to a certain extent at least, pre-
vent the work from being injured by inexperience
on the part of attendants. All the drawing frames,
therefore, which I have seen in this country, are
mounted with a self-acting stop-motion, so that
when an end (sliver) breaks, or runs out, that
head with which it is connected instantly stops.
The annexed figures represent the stop-motion;
A A is the wooden beam, supporting the stand B,
with the drawing rollers: L L, called the latch, is
supported by a pin PP, upon which it is so nearly
* The work people in Cotton Factories, as well as house servants
in this country, are always called “helps ;" upon no occasion do we
ever hear them designated workers or servants.
58 D R AWING FRAMES.
equipoised, that it requires only the weight of the
sliver H to make it stand upright; but as soon as
the sliver breaks, it falls down, and the under point
m n touches a small pin projecting from the rod c c,
which causes it to turn partly round, and in turning
round, another projecting pin presses up the catch i ;
this catch turning on the stud s, the point o is
brought down, and thereby relieves the rod XX,
which is immediately forced forward by the spiral
spring d ; and striking against the belt lever h,
causes it to shift the belt from the fast on to the
loose pulley; by this means the head is instantly
stopped before the end of the broken sliver enters
into the back rollers. The small steel spring a
_T
Y-
y s—ſº- i. y
ri is Jº-lºr:}
ſ H-4→ §
; A- O) \


DRAWING FRAMES. 59
presses slightly on the catch os i at , and thereby
keeps the point o in its place. The whole of this
apparatus except the latch L L, is concealed when
the frame is in operation, between a piece of wood r,
and the beam A.
The stop-motion is entirely an American inven-
tion, and is particularly necessary in this country
for the reasons already stated. But besides the ex-
pense of fiting up, it is very liable to get out of or-
der, and when that is the case, it makes a great deal
of imperfect work, as it usually begets carelessness
on the part of the attendants, who depend almost
entirely upon the latch for stopping the head when
the work goes wrong; and when one latch falls, it
frequently brings down others, and breaks or injures
the slivers, besides causing some trouble in putting
them all right before the head can be again started.
Now in Great Britain where there is always a com-
mand of experienced hands, the introduction of this
stop-motion would be attended with no advantage, as,
in my opinion, two active girls by close attention,
would do more and better work on a drawing frame
having no self-acting stop-motion, than any I have
yet seen with it, even the most improved.
{}{} SPEEDERS.
S P E E D E R. S.
THE first machine which follows the drawing
frame is in this country usually denominated a
“Speeder,” and of these there is some variety; as
for example, the Taunton Speeder, the Double
Speeder, the Eclipse Speeder, and the Plate Speeder.
All these are entirely American inventions. The
first, viz. the Taunton Speeder, takes its name
from the place where it was first put in operation,
Taunton, in the State of Massachusetts, a place
where there is a great deal of very superior ma-
chinery made. This machine was patented in Eng-
land in 1825, by Mr. Dyer of Manchester, and is
known by the name of Dyer’s Frame. They are also
made in Glasgow, by Mr. Holdsworth, and Messrs.
William Craig & Co. (late C. Girdwood & Co.)
where they are known by the name of tube frames.
Though the principle of these frames is the same in
both countries, at least in as far as the tube is con-
cerned; yet those that are made in Britain are so
much improved in their general form and construc-
tion, as to render them altogether a very different
machine from anything of the kind which I have
yet seen in this country; indeed, so far as I have
learned, the Taunton Speeder is rather an unpopular
machine in this country, and is likely to be entirely
superseded by others of a much superior character.
The tube frames made in Glasgow have generally
two rows of bobbins in one frame; those of this coun-
try have only one row: and in the various Factories
which I visited in England in 1836, I do not re-
SPEEDERS. 61
member having seen any of Dyer’s frames with two
rows of bobbins. Hence those now made in Glas-
gow are altogether the best that I have yet seen,
and are well adapted for spinning any numbers of
yarn under No. 36.
The Eclipse Speeder, or, as it is sometimes called,
the Bellows Speeder, was introduced into Manches-
ter in 1835, where it is known by the name of the
Eclipse Roving Frame; a short description of which
is contained in the “Theory and Practice of Cotton
Spinning.” The rovings produced from this frame
are in every respect the same as those from the tube
frame, having no twist, and built on the bobbins, or
spools, with conical ends in the same manner. In-
stead of the roving passing through a tube, as it de-
scends to be wound on the bobbin, it passes through
between two opposing surfaces of a travelling endless
belt, which produces the same effect. In the quality of
the roving, it has no advantage over the tube frame,
but it is much more simple in its construction, occu-
pies very little room, and requires much less power
to work it; whilst, at the same time, its power of
production is astonishingly great. The front roller,
being 1% inches in diameter, may be driven at the
rate of from 700 to 750 revolutions per minute; and
a machine, therefore, of ten bobbins, the size gen-
erally made, will produce 40 to 50 hanks of roving
per hour, allowing for time to remove and replace
the bobbins or spools as they are filled.
The Eclipse roving frames are made by Messrs.
Sharp, Roberts & Co., of Manchester, by whom
they have been much improved, and made altogether
very superior to those used in this country.
E
62 SPEEDERS.
The Plate Speeder was introduced into Glasgow
in 1835, by Mr. Neil Snodgrass, who imported one
direct from America. The general form or con-
struction of this frame is similar to that of the
tube frame, only in place of tubes, there are fric-
tion plates; and each ply of roving, as it proceeds
from the front rollers to the bobbin, passes through
between one pair of these plates, which, revolving
rapidly in opposite directions, twist and untwist the
roving exactly in the same manner as the tube. The
whole surfaces of the plates are not in contact but
only about one-half inch from their periphery, which
part is beveled off so as to make those sides of the
plates nearest the front rollers stand about 1, inches
apart, in order to bring the two surfaces of the
beveled portion exactly parallel to each other. The
plates are therefore placed so as to form an acute
angle; the acute point of which, pressing on the
bobbin upon which the roving is wound, makes it
wind on as firmly and compactly as if done by the
tube. That portion of the inner surfaces of the
plates which are in contact, are slightly grooved or
fluted, so as to operate more effectually on the rov-
ing, and they may be set closer or farther apart, as
may be thought necessary, by which means they are
equally adapted to coarse or fine roving, as well as
to dirty or clean cottons.
The Plate Speeder, whilst it possesses all the
merits, and obviates many of the defects of the tube
frame, is not considered equal to the eclipse speeder,
either in the quantity of work produced in a given
time, or in simplicity of construction.
The Double Speeder is properly a fly frame, but
SPEEDERS. 63
differing very materially in its construction from
those generally used in Great Britain. It is con-
sidered the best in this country, and is more exten-
sively used than any of the three already mentioned.
I am not aware, however, that it has ever been in-
troduced into Great Britain, nor do I think it would
succeed there; as, with all its merits, it cannot be
compared with the fly frames now made in Man-
chester and Glasgow. As regards the quality of the
roving produced, it is equal to any fly frame I have
yet seen; but it is heavy, clumsy, and extremely
complex. The fly frames of Great Britain have all
two rows of spindles, whilst the double speeders of
this country have only one ; yet one of the latter
with twenty spindles will require double the power
to move it, and consume double the quantity of oil
required for one of the former containing forty-eight
spindles: at the same time, the English fly frame
will produce much more than double the quantity
of work.
The double speeder is made in two different
forms: the first of which is that which receives the
cans direct from the drawing frame, and has only
one row of spindles on the one side of the frame;
these are usually called speeders: the other receives
the bobbins from the speeder, and reduces the rowings
to a finer texture, and is denominated a stretcher or
extenser: these have one row of spindles on each
side of the frame similar to that of the common
throstle or spinning frame.
The figure on the next page represents the exact
position of the spindles and bobbins in the extenser.
The bobbins A A A A having been filled at the
64 . SPEEDERS.
speeder, are here mounted on a common creel con-
taining four rows; and one ply of roving from the
upper and under bobbins being doubled, they pass
through the beam rollers B B, where they undergo
a draught of from 5 or 6 to 1; from these the re-
duced rovings are delivered to the flyers, and enter-
ing the funnel at a a, they descend the tubes c c c c,
from the bottom of which they are wound on to the
bobbins D D, which, when full, are removed and
carried to the spinning frames. By examining the
figure, it will be seen that the front rollers are lower
than the back ones; this is called the bevel of the
rollers. All the frames of this kind, as well as the
spinning frames, have the rollers more or less be-
veled, as by that means the twist from the flyers
proceeds direct up to the bite of the front rollers.

SPEEDERs. 65
It likewise shortens the distance between the top of
the flyers and the rollers, so that the yarn or roving
may be as softly twisted as may be thought neces-
sary; therefore I consider this method of beveling the
beam rollers an improvement of much importance,
which has not yet been generally adopted in Great
Britain. -
The fly frames used in Great Britain have the fly-
ers balanced on the top of the spindles, in the same
manner as in the common throstle frames; here the
three are altogether disconnected. The tops of the
flyers run in collars b b, fastened to the framing of
the machine. The under part of the flyers rest upon
e e of the wheels r r, these are again supported on
the wooden beams s s. The bobbins D D, rest on
the rings o 0, which are connected with the spindles.
The bottom rail upon which the spindles rest, ascends
and descends by a regular motion, and thereby car-
ries the spindle and bobbin up and down with it.
As the bobbin rests upon, and is moved by, the
spindle, the speed of the latter varies according to
the increasing circumference of the bobbin, whilst
the motion of the flyers is equal and uniform, giving
a regular twist to the roving.
The double speeder has only one beam, contain-
ing three pairs of rollers: the extenser has two, one
on each side; therefore the slivers, from leaving the
drawing frame until delivered from the extensers,
pass through two beams of drawing rollers: now
one English fly frame mounted with two beams,
will do the work of both speeder and extenser to
much better purpose, and at a great saving of room,
power, and oil, as well as expense of attendance.
66 SPEEDERS.
The newest fly frames from Manchester, made by
Messrs. Cocker and Higgens, containing their im-
proved spring presser, have already been introduced
into this country, and put in operation at Mattea-
wan, in the State of New York; and I have no doubt
that as soon as their merits become known, they will
be generally adopted, and entirely supersede all the
other roving machines mentioned in the preceding
pages. Those fly frames made by the above-named
machinists, are in every respect superior to any
roving machines which I have yet seen either in this
country or in Great Britain. They are superior to
the double speeders and extensers—so much admired
in this country—in various most essential qualities
of Cotton Spinning Machinery. First, fly frames
are less complex, and, of course, more easily ad-
justed and kept in order. Second, they condense
the process, and thereby save waste and expense for
attendance. Third, they save room, power, oil, &c.
&c. Fly frames in Great Britain cost only about
one-fourth of the price of double speeders in this
country. The latter being sold at from 35 to 36
dollars per spindle, whilst the former cost only about
as many British Shillings. Fly frames, however,
cannot be driven at so high a speed as the others.
The revolutions per minute of the spindles in fly
frames are from 800 downwards; while those of
the speeder and extenser may, with equal safety, be
driven at the rate of from 900 to 1000. The speed
of the front rollers of the latter are from 150 to 200
revolutions per minute, diameter 1} inches.
The double speeder and extenser are almost uni-
versally used throughout the whole of the Eastern
SPEEDERS, 67
district. The eclipse and plate speeders are used
chiefly about Paterson in New Jersey, and some
other places in the Middle and Southern districts.
Mule stretching frames are employed for finishing
frames about Rhode Island and Connecticut, parti-
cularly for fine spinning, that is, from No. 40 to No.
50. The finest yarn spun in the United States, of
which I have been able to obtain any account, is only
No. 60, except that which is made for sewing thread,
Some of which is as fine as No. 110.
Twenty finisher cards, 86 inches broad, supply six
drawing frames, containing three heads each ; six
double speeders, containing eighteen spindles each ;
and seven extensers, containing eighteen spindles on
each side, = 252 spindles in all on the extensers.
Seven extensers, containing 36 spindles each, sup-
ply two-hank roving for 4,416 throstle spindles,
producing six hanks each per day of No. 18 yarn
= 26,496 hanks. Therefore each extenser spindle
produces 105} hanks of yarn per day; each speeder
spindle 245, hanks; each drawing frame of three
heads 4,416 hanks; each finisher card 13,248 hanks,
or 78; lbs. of yarn per day.
The preceding may be regarded as the average
produce of these machines: some may produce more,
but there are many that produce less. It is neces-
sary to mention, however, that the throstle spindles
referred to as producing six hanks per day, are what
in this country are called the dead spindles, known
in Great Britain by the name of Montgomery's
Patent Throstle Spindle, or the Glasgow Patent
Throstle.
To attend six drawing frames, the front of twenty
68 SPEEDERS,
finisher cards, and the back of six speeders, will re-
quire twelve girls receiving 48 cents each per day = 2/
Sterling—six speeders require three girls at 60 cents
per day = 2/6 Sterling—seven extensers require five
girls ; four attending three sides each, and one at-
tending two sides, at 60 cents per day = 2/6 Sterling.
Girls attending the spinning frames are paid at the
rate of 50 cents per day" = 2/1 Sterling. One girl
can atttend four sides of 48 spindles = 192 spindles
of the above-named throstles, spinning No. 18, and
producing six hanks per spindle per day. In gen-
eral, the spinning girls, and in some Factories, the
speeder and extenser girls, are paid by the quantity
of work done. This is ascertained by small clocks
mounted at one end of each frame, and moved by the
back rollers which properly indicate the revolutions of
the back roller, and from these, calculations are made
to find the length taken in, according to which a
scale is made out, by which each girl is paid a given
rate for a given quantity of work.
Turning to the figure on page 64, it will be seen
that the spindles are driven by bevel wheels at the
bottom, like the fly frames of Great Britain, but the
flyers in the speeders and extensers, are driven by
spur gears. (See the figure.) The wheels r r drive
the flyers, and instead of the teeth of these gears
being cut right across, they are cut in an angular or
slanting direction, and denominated spiral gears.
Small gears or pinions of this kind, are cut in a
* These rates of wages were furnished to the author by a gentle-
man in Lowell, who had ample means of ascertaining the different
rates of wages paid in the various Factories in that place.
SPINNING MACHINES. 69
cutting machine, with a very fine pitch, and are ex-
tensively used in this country on the drawing rollers
of spinning frames, speeders, and extensers. For
the drawing rollers, the pitch is from 23 to 32 teeth
to the inch. They run perfectly smooth and free,
without the least vibration, the whole breadth of the
teeth not being in contact at one time; for as the
one side comes into contact with its opposite, the
other is just going out. The friction of the teeth
in the two opposite gears, is therefore not so ap-
parent as in those cut in the common way; for that
reason the spiral gears are much better adapted for
the drawing rollers of all roving and spinning
machines.
SPINNING MIACHINES.
THROSTLE Spinning Frames are universally used
for spinning warps in the American Cotton Fac-
tories, with the exception of a very few where a
superior quality of fine goods is manufactured, from
No. 40 yarn and upwards. The few Factories
in which these fine goods are made, use mules for
both warp and filling. Some of the recently built
Mills at Lowell spin No. 50 yarn, both warp and
filling, on throstle frames; but the cloth made from
such yarn cannot be compared with that spun by
mules. -
Mules are generally used for spinning, filling, or
weft, about Rhode Island, Connecticut, and the
Southern Factories, with the exception of those at
70 SP1NNING MACHINES.
Baltimore, which follow the Lowell style of ma-
chinery.
In Lowell, and generally throughout the whole of
the Eastern district, throstle spinning frames are
used for spinning both warp and filling; and in this
district too, the particular kind of spinning frames
employed, are almost entirely the dead spindle,
mentioned at page 67. In the Middle and Southern
districts the live spindle, or the old common throstle
frames are generally used.
The Cap Spinner, known in Great Britain by the
appellation of the Danforth Throstle, is used in some
Factories in Paterson, New Jersey, and a few others
about Rhode Island: but so far as I can learn, it has
not been so successful in this country as in Great
Britain ; indeed, its success in the latter country is
greatly owing to the many improvements made upon
it since its first introduction.
The Ring Throstle, or, (as it is sometimes de-
nominated) the Ring and Traveller, has been put in
operation in various Factories about Rhode Island
and other parts; and I am told it has given great
satisfaction wherever it has been tried. Having had
one under my own charge working along with others
of the dead spindle kind, I have no hesitation in say-
ing, that so far as I have been able to test the two
together, the ring throstle is greatly superior to the
others. It requires much less power, and may be
driven at a much higher speed, and at the same time
it makes a better quality of yarn.
Mr. Gore’s patent throstle spindle has been intro-
duced into this country, and put in operation at
Taunton, Massachusetts, and is regarded by compe-
SPINNING MACHINES. 71
tent judges here as a most important improvement.
Having had an opportunity of seeing this throstle
in full operation in various parts of Great Britain,
I have no hesitation in pronouncing it the best that
has yet come under my observation. I found the
current opinion of practical men both in Scotland
and England strongly in favour of the old common
throstle. But Mr. Gore’s patent partakes of all the
merits of the other, while at the same time it can,
with safety, be driven at a much higher speed.
Driving machinery at a high speed, however, does
not always meet with the most favourable regard of
practical men in Great Britain; because in that
country where power costs so much, whatever tends
to exhaust that power, is a matter of some consider-
ation: but in this country, where water power is so
extensively employed, it is of much less consequence.
Besides, the expense of labour being much greater
in this country than in Great Britain, the American
manufacturers can only compete successfully with
the British, by producing a greater quantity of
goods in a given time; hence any machine that ad-
mits of being driven at a higher speed, even though
it should exhaust the power, if it does not injure the
work, will meet with a more favourable reception
in this country than in Great Britain. For these
reasons alone can I account for the extensive use of
the dead spindle spinning frame in America; as
the same spinning frame was tried in Glasgow
under the most favourable circumstances, and never
realized the high expectations entertained regard-
ing it upon its first introduction. In fact it may
be said to have turned out a total failure in that
72 SPINNING MACHINES,
country, and yet it has been very successful here.
The chief objections to it in Glasgow were its im-
mense weight and consequent exhaustion of power,
together with the great quantity of oil it consumed.
The same objections would prevail against it here,
but for the reasons already specified.
The weight of the dead spindle spinning frame
compared with the common throstle, is considered
to be as 80 of the former is to 100 of the latter;
that is, one horse power is deemed sufficient to
move 100 spindles of the common throstles with the
necessary preparation, while the same power is re-
quired for 80 of the other. w
Both Mr. Gore's patent spindle and the ring
throstle obviate, in a great measure, the objections
urged against the dead spindle. They require much
less power and oil, and may with safety be driven
at a higher speed.
In order to ascertain the average speed and pro-
duce of the dead spindle spinning frames of this
country, I have had access to memoranda, contain-
ing an account of them in a number of Factories
in various parts of the United States; and without
specifying any particular Factories, it may be stated
in general, that the speed of the front rollers of these
frames, which are one inch in diameter, will range
from 60 to 100 revolutions per minute for all num-
bers between 12's and 40's ; but some of the fine
spinning frames are even below 60. Some Fac-
tories in Lowell had the speed of the front roller as
high as 110 revolutions per minute for No. 14, but
it was afterwards brought down to 100, as being con-
sidered more profitable. The average speed of the
SPINNING MACHINES. 73
flyers according to their diameters, will range from
3,800, to 4,700 revolutions per minute ; and their
average produce is from 4% to 6% hanks per day of
12} hours. The ring throstle can produce one-
fourth more than the dead spindle. Their relative
speeds, as I have had them working, are as 80 of
, the latter to 100 of the former. Dr. Ure gives the
following as the produce and speeds of the English
throstle frames.
“The quantity turned off is about 24 hanks per
spindle of 30's twist in 69 hours." " " In some Fac-
tories, with new throstle-frames, fully 30 hanks" of
84's or 36's may be turned off.
“In spinning 32's, the front rollers of the common
throstle make 64 revolutions per minute, and the
spindles 4,500. For the spinning of lower numbers,
the rollers go quicker; thus, from 28's to 30's they
make from 68 to 70 revolutions.” “* In Mr. Orrell’s
Factory, for 36's the front rollers make 72 revolu-
tions per minute, and the spindles 4,000.* * * * * *
At Hyde, where excellent throstle-yarn is spun, 3%
hanks of 36's are the average daily quantity per
spindle, or about 21 hanks in 69 hours.
“I visited a great Factory at Stockport, where
the throstle-spindles revolved 5,000 times in the min-
ute; and the front rollers 90 times, in spinning 86's.
These machines were constructed by Mr. Gore of
* If such is the produce of the common throstle in England, it is
more than I was accustomed to witness in Scotland, even with the
best constructed machinery. I am not aware of any in that country
that have been able to keep up more than 24 hanks per week on any
numbers,
74 SPINNING MACHINES.
Manchester. I was informed that Mr. Axton, of
Stockport, had contrived a modification of the
throstle-spindle, in consequence of which he could
give the front rollers a speed of 80 turns in the min-
ute, and the spindles 7,000 turns, in spinning 24’s.”
From the above it will be seen, that the common
throstle in England is capable of producing nearly
as great a quantity of yarn in a given time, as the
dead spindle of America: and that Mr. Gore’s im-
proved spindle will even exceed the latter. Hence
from all I have seen or can learn regarding the dif.
ferent throstles that have been brought into general
use, I do consider the ring throstle and Mr. Gore's
improved throstle, as greatly superior to any others
that have yet been introduced.
The ring throstle, owing to the vibration it gives
the yarn, tends to start the fibres, and make the
thread more rough and spongy; but Gore's throstle
gives the yarn all the wiry smoothness of the com-
mon throstle. Each of these will be appreciated by
manufacturers according to the particular purposes
for which the yarn is to be appropriated.
It is unnecessary here to describe Mr. Gore's im-
provement on the throstle spindle, as that, it is pre-
sumed, is already generally known; but the principle
of his patent spindle has been applied to the bobbin
and fly frame (at Matteawan, New York,) upon
which it has effected a considerable improvement.
Its application to the fly frame, however, is said to
have been tried in Manchester before it was brought
to this country.
Good throstle frames cost about 10/ per spindle
in Glasgow and Manchester. In Lowell they cost
SPINNING MACHINES. 75
from 4 to 4!. dollars, or about 18/ Sterling per
spindle. -
The best mules I have seen in this country are
made at Providence, Rhode Island. They are alto-
gether upon the plan of the mules made in Scotland.
Indeed, judging from the opportunities I have had of
examining them at different times, and in various
Factories, I consider them equal to the best now
made in Glasgow. Their only deficiency is the
want of the taking in apparatus for returning the
carriage home to the beam-rollers.
The rate at which mule spinners are paid in
this country, will average from eight to ten cents
per 100 hanks = 4d. to 5d. sterling. When I
last visited Newport, Rhode Island, I saw some
operative spinners whom I had known in Glas-
gow : they were then working from sunrise to
sunset, that is, from half-past four o’clock in the
morning, to half-past seven o’clock in the evening,
spinning No. 30 for seven cents per 100 hanks =
3}d. Sterling. This I was informed, was the rate
generally paid in that part of the country. But
when trade was good, the rate per 100 hanks was
raised to eight or nine cents; some fine spinning
Mills paid as high as eleven cents for No. 40 power
loom warps. This last rate of paying for mule
spinning, however, was previous to the late depres-
sion of trade. I have since that been told by spin-
ners in Providence, that these same Factories that
paid eleven cents, have now, together with all others
in that part of the country, reduced their rate of
paying about 40 per cent.
The Self-acting Mule, invented by Mr. Smith of
76 SPIN N IN G M A CHINES.
Deanston, has been introduced into America, and put
in operation in the State of New York; but there
are several circumstances which operate against
its rapid or extensive use in this country. Girls
are not employed here as piecers, and lads of suf.
ficient age to attend these mules, are scarce, and
charge high wages; overseers are also highly paid,
and there are few mechanics sufficiently acquainted
with mules to keep self-actors in repair ; yet, from
the well known energy and ability of the talented
inventor of these mules, and the advantages derived
from their use in Great Britain, as exhibited in the
statements which follow, and with which I have
been kindly favoured, it is not unlikely but they may
yet obtain an extensive adoption in this country.
Cost of Mr. Smith's Mules per spindle when new, … 8/
— of adapting the self-acting motion to Hand Mules, per
spindle, 3/6
— of Messrs. Sharp, Roberts & Co.'s Mules, per spindle,
new, 9/6
— of adapting their self-acting motion to Hand Mules, - 4/l
— of Mr. Potter's Mule, per spindle, new, …~~~~~~~~ 7/6
— of adapting his motion to Hand Mules, - ~~~~ 3/3
of Common Hand Mules in Glasgow, per spindle, new, 5/6
From the above it will be seen, that for Mr. Smith’s
Mules, about £75 of extra capital is required to fit up
600 spindles, self-actors, and about £100 to adapt the
motion to hand mules; perhaps £ 10 may be added
to this last sum for sundry articles that may be re-
quired. Keeping this in view, the following will
shew the cost of working a pair of self-actors of
600 spindles for two weeks, producing 21 hanks per
spindle per week of No. 36 weft.
SPINNING MACHINES. 77
Wages to Piecers, 25,200 hanks @ 1/9 per 1,000 hks. £2 4 1
Extra attendance of Spinning Master and Mechanics, - 0 5 0
Interest and charge for tear and wear on f 110 extra
Capital, (6) 7% per cent, --~ 0 6 3
Extra charges, including Power, Oil, and Banding, ~ 0 5 0
Insurance on extra Capital, 0 0 8
Nett charges for two weeks, - £3 ] 0
being 2/5.05 per 1,000 hanks.
The lowest price paid for hand-spinning in Glas-
gow at present, is 2/10% per 1,000 hanks; this is
what is technically called the 2#d. per shilling rate.*
At the termination of a strike in Glasgow, in April
1838, an agreement was made between the oper-
atives and their employers, by which the rate was
fixed at 3/5 per 1,000 hanks for No. 40's, with a
discount of 1 per cent off the gross wages for every
24 spindles which any spinner had under his charge
above 600. In consequence of this clause, many of
the manufacturers got two wheels coupled together,
and gave 1,200 spindles and upwards to each of their
spinners. The following small table is intended to
shew the annual difference on every 1,000 spindles of
each of the three methods,-common, hand-coupled,
and self-acting mules; the produce supposed to be
21 hanks per week, No. 36's weft, and the rate
allowed for the common mules is the lowest at pres-
ent paid in Glasgow, viz. 2/10% per 1,000 hanks,—
that for the coupled mules 3/5, with the discount
}
* The above rate refers to an old list of prices, in which No. 100's
was paid (@ 2/ per lb. but in the progress of the manufacture, the
price has gradually fallen to 5 #d., or 2.Éd. per shilling.
F
78 SP1NNING MACHINES.
allowed for 1,200 spindles,—and the rate for the
self-actors is that found in the preceding table.

Hand Mules. | Coupled. - Sclf-actin g.
Price tº lb. for No. 36's, l.24! 1.096 1.038
Cost of spinning 30,333
lbs. No. 36's from 1,000
spindles in 12 months, 156 16 || 1 || || 138, 15| 6 || 131 || 3 || 10
Gain tº annum on 1,000
spindles of coupled & self-
acting over hand mules, 18 || 1 || 5 || 25 || 3 || 1
In the above estimate no allowance is made for
the difference of produce. It is likely to be greater
from the self-acting, and less, with the yarn some-
what inferior, from the coupled mules.
The following statements have been obligingly
furnished by gentlemen in and around Glasgow, all
of whom have had extensive acquaintance with self-
acting mules; and having had ample opportunities
of judging of their merits, their statements will be
valuable to all who are anxious to obtain correct
information regarding self-acting mules in Scotland.
The first relates to a Factory having a large number
of spindles fitted up with Smith's self-acting motion.
“Speed of our spindles, for No. 36's warp, 6,400 revol. tº minute.
• ... for No. 18's weft, 4,800
Produce … of No. 34's warp, 18% hanks per week.
… of No. 40's do. 17 do. do.
of No 18's weft, 23 do. do.
of No. 34's do. 22 do. do.
Wages of Piecers,.…. for No. 34's to 46's 1/9 per 1000 hanks.
for No. 20's 1/l l ; do. do.
for No. 18's 2/ do. do.
SPINNING MACHINES.
79
“There is considerably more trouble with the
self-acting, than with the hand mules, arising from
the extra machinery required to perform all the
different movements: our spinning master attends
upwards of 10,000 spindles, but we find he has
rather too much to do.”
The next relates to the same description of
mules, and contains a comparison of the price paid
per lb. for self-acting, and that paid for hand spin-
ning, in the immediate neighbourhood, the rate
being 3/1% per 1,000 hanks; but it must be observed
that the price noted for self-acting is the nett amount
paid for wages, and does not include anything for
extra capital, charges, &c. These will amount to 20
per cent on the wages, yet, even taking this into
account, the difference is still very considerable.

| Self-acting. || Hand Mules.
No. of Produce, Cost Cost f
Yarn. - Hanks. per lb. per lb.
30 || 24 5625 | 1.125
40 || 24 .75 1.5 ||
50 19 7813 2.125
60 17} | 1.047 || 2.75 |
w 16} | 1.313 || 2.375
“We allow one spinning master for every 8,000
spindles, and our piecing costs about 1/5 per 1,000
hanks.”
The next statement relates to a work in which
several pairs of Mr. Smith's self-acting mules have
80 Sł’INNING MACHINES.
been for a considerable time in operation along with
hand mules, and the statement shews the actual cost
and produce from 1,872 spindles, each, self-acting,
and hand mules, during the period represented.
Time taken by Hand Mules to produce
359,424 hanks, No. 41's, ~ 114; days.
Produce per spindle per week, …. 22 hanks.
Cost of spinning (3) 3/13 per 1,000 hanks, f56 10 8
Time taken by Self-actors to produce
359,424 hanks, No. 41's, ~ 96 days.
Produce per spindle per week, … 24 hanks.
Piecers' wages, 1/9 per 1,000 hanks, - f 3 l 9 0
Extra attendance of spinning master & mechanic, 4 4 1
— 35 13 I
* Gain by Self-actors, - £20 17 7
The two statements which follow refer to Messrs.
Sharp, Roberts & Co’s. self-acting mules, and ex-
hibit the produce, &c. of two Mills in which they
have been extensively adopted.
1st. “Produce, No. 50's, 19 hks.: cost of piecing, 1/6 tº 1,000 hks.
… No. 60's, 17% do. 1/7 do. do.
~~~~~ No. 70's, 17 do. 1/9 do. do.
“It takes two men two weeks to fit up the head-
stocks of a pair of mules. A spinning master may
attend 10,000 spindles.”
* It must be observed that no allowance has been made in the
above statement for extra capital, charges, or insurance. From 20
to 25 per cent should be added for these, which would still leave
about £13 in favour of self-actors.
SPINNING MACHINES, S1
2d. “The speed of our spindles runs from 4,800
to 5,500 revolutions per minute.
“Produce, No. 20's & 24's, 22 hks.: cost of piecing, 1/8 tº 1,000 hks.
- No. 36's 21 do. . 1/9 tº 1,000 do.
“One spinning master may attend from 6 to 7,000
spindles. A mechanic is required for the same num-
ber; and the mules are expensive to keep up.”
I have made particular inquiry regarding the self-
acting mules said to be invented by Dr. Brewster,
and I find that these were not mules, but rather a
species of self-acting common jenny, invented, not by
Dr. Brewster, but by a machinist of the name of
Brewster.
The chief peculiarities of Brewster's self-acting
jennies, consisted in having the spindles placed
in a horizontal position, about 12 or 14 inches off
the floor; and the clasp, together with the creels,
containing the rolls or coarse ropening, rose and fell
in a perpendicular direction. That is, the clasp
ascended, while the yarn was being stretched and
twisted ; and this completed, the spindles backed
off, and wound on the twisted yarn; while winding
on, the clasp descended till within a few inches of
the spindles, and again commenced another opera-
tion, and so on, alternately ascending and descend-
ing, whilst the spindle frame was stationary. These
jennies were only used in Woollen Factories, but
are now entirely abandoned, the same process being
now performed by the common stretching mule,
similar to those used in cotton spinning.
There is a species of self-acting mules used at
Nashua, New Hampshire, which are said to be very
82 SPOOLING OR WINDING MACHINES.
imperfect and complex, and not likely to be adopted
by any other manufacturing company, as not being
considered equal to the common hand mules.
SPOOLING OR WINDING MACHINES.
MANY of the old Factories of Great Britain are
exclusively occupied with the necessary machinery
for manufacturing cotton yarns, whilst others are
entirely occupied with weaving. In this country
there are but a very few small Mills, chiefly about
Rhode Island, that are employed for spinning only;
and a considerable portion of the yarn manufac-
tured in these Factories is used for sewing thread
and stocking yarn. All the respectable establish-
ments have both spinning and weaving conducted
under the same roof.
In those departments of the cotton manufacture
which relate to carding and spinning, I consider this
country much behind Great Britain, especially in the
carding. But in those which relate to weaving by
power, the Americans have in every respect equalled,
and in some things surpassed, anything I have yet
seen, either in Glasgow or Manchester. I refer to
common power-loom weaving. In fancy weaving,
either by power or hand, this country, so far as I
am informed, has not yet made a beginning.
Amongst that series of machines which belongs to
power-loom weaving, the first in order is the Spool-
ing Machine, by which the yarn is wound off copes,
SPOOLING OR WINDING MACHINES. 83
or small bobbins, on to larger ones, called spools,
for the warping machine. -
Plate V. represents the spooling machine used in
this country, which I consider much superior to the
common winding machine of Great Britain. It is
certainly much more simple, and can be attended by
girls from eleven to fourteen years of age, who,
upon the American spooler, are capable of doing as
much work as a woman of thirty, upon the British.
Fig. 1st represents a common cylindrical shaft
containing sixteen drums: A A A A are four bob-
bins, or spools, laid on two of the drums, and driven
by friction : B B represent cast iron arches placed
between each pair of drums, which serve to keep
the spools in their places (see a a, Fig. 2d.); each
spool has small projecting ends, which serve instead
of skewers (see Fig. 1st.); c c are the bobbins from
the spinning frame : n n are round pieces of iron
covered with cloth, lying on the moveable rails o o.
Pieces of cloth are also fastened on the rails beneath
the cleaners n m, so that the thread passes through
between two plies of cloth, which partly smooth
down the fibres, and clean it from any loose specks
that may adhere to it; e e are guide pins fastened
on the rail o o. The pulley E, driven by a band
from the cylinder shaft, is connected with a heart
motion, which moves the rails o o alternately in a
horizontal direction the full length of the spools, and
by means of the guide pins e e, causes the yarn to
wind on equally from end to end. Each drum is
covered with cloth or leather, and requires to be
perfectly true, as otherwise it would give a vibratory
motion to the spools while the yarn is winding on.
84 SPOOLING OR WINDING MACHINES,
The whole machine is extremely light, simple,
easily attended and kept in order. One of twenty
drums may be attended by two girls of twelve years
of age, and is capable of winding 3,000 hanks per
day of 12} hours.
Instead of winding the yarn off the small bobbins
on to others of a larger size, it is common in a num-
ber of Factories to take the small bobbins direct
from the spinning frame to the warping machine,
which is mounted with a small rack or creel suited
to the size of the bobbins. This creel, rack, or bob-
bin frame, is attached to the back of the warping
machine, and lies in a horizontal position, but is
hollowed in the centre like a cradle ; hence it is de-
nominated the cradle warper. The girl who attends
this machine stands with her face towards the back
of the warper, having the bobbin frame intervening;
she thereby has all the bobbins within her reach, so
that whenever she perceives one about empty, she
is ready to remove it, replace it with a full one, and
tie the two ends of the thread, without stopping
the machine. And owing to the number of bobbins
in the frame, and the small quantity of yarn con-
tained on each, they are constantly emptying, while
the attendant is constantly supplying their places
with full ones: but in order to prevent them from
running out entirely, she requires to take out a con-
considerable number before the yarn is completely
wound off. The yarn, therefore, which is left on
the bobbins, if not wound off at some other machine,
is liable to be made into waste. Hence the cradle
warper has not been generally adopted, as it has been
found that the loss from the quantity of waste made
WARPING M A CHINE. 85
by it, is greater than the expense required for spool-
ing, or winding the yarn from small bobbins on to
others of a larger size, suited to the common bobbin
frame of a warping machine.
WAR PING MACHINE.
THE next Machine in the series, is the Warping
Machine: and as all those I have seen in this country
are furnished with a stop-motion, by means of which
the machine is instantly stopped when a thread
breaks, I have in Plate VI. given two views of this
warper, chiefly for the purpose of illustrating this
rather curious contrivance, the origin of which is
ascribed to the inventive genius of Mr. Perkins,
inventor of the celebrated steam gun.
Fig. 2d, Plate VI. is a side view of the warper :
A A, figs. 1st and 2d, the framing of the machine,
which, being made of wood, gives it a heavy appear-
ance in the engraving: B, figs. 2d and 4th, are the
threads of yarn proceeding from the bobbin frame
to the iron plate c, where each thread is separated;
the plate c being perforated with small holes cor-
responding to the number of threads to be wound
on the beam. Passing the plate c, where all the
threads are brought into one horizontal plane, they
thence pass over the rods a a , from these through
the guide reed p, and on to the beam H, which is
represented as containing only the first round of
yarn. The belt pullies K are on the same shaft
with the wheel G, which drives E.; on the same
86 WARPING MACHINE.
axis with E, is the drum D, which drives the yarn
beam H. The iron axis of the yarn beam rests in
two slots of the framing at X, and is pressed down
upon the drum D, by the stirrup m m, which is also
weighted down by the cross lever F. From the top
of the stirrup m, an arm J extends to the guide reed
p, so that as the yarn fills on the beam H, it gradu-
ally rises, and the arm J presses up the guide reed
with the same gradual motion, so as to keep it
always in a proper position in relation to the in-
creasing diameter of the yarn beam : L, fig. 2d, is
a strap attached to the weight M, and which winds
round a small shaft, on the end of which the ratchet
wheel N is fastencil. When the yarn beam is suf-
ficiently full, the strap L is wound up by means of a
wrench attached to the ratchet wheel, which thereby
lifts the weight M, the lever F, and the stirrup m,
until the hook on the axis of the yarn beam at X, is
so far relieved as to be pressed back: the full beam
is then removed, and an empty one put in its place—
the stirrup is brought forward till the hook is right
above the axis of the beam—the catch of the ratchet
wheel is lifted—the strapunwound—and the machine
is then ready to warp another beam.
From the preceding description, it will be seen that
this warping machine in its general operations, dif-
fers very little from those used in Great Britain.
In every respect it is equally as simple, efficient, and
easily attended; besides having the advantage of the
stop-motion, which is now to be described.
As the yarn from the bobbin frame enters the
plate c, it passes over the rods a a ; but between
these rods, there is a drop-wire suspended upon
WARPING MIACHINE. 87
each thread: these drop-wires are pieces of flat-
tened steel wires, about four inches long, from ,
to #: broad, and 1% of an inch thick. (See fig. 5th.)
Some of these which I weighed, varied from 4
grains 4 dwts. to 4 grains 10 dwts. They are hooked
at the top, and suspended by their own weight
on each thread. (See o o 0, front view, fig. 1st, and
o, fig. 4th.) When the machine is in operation,
the drop-wires are borne up by the tension of the
yarn, but as soon as any one thread breaks, it
slackens, and, of course, the wire drops down till
the point of the hook at d, fig. 5th, rests on the
plate n n, fig, 4th ; and it is this dropping down of
the wire that stops the machine. The shaft y y ex-
tending across the machine, has an eccentric at P,
figs. 1st and 4th, which works into the fork of the
lever R. R. On the top of the lever R R, there is a
small tumbler s t s attached to the steel plate e, figs.
1st and 4th. The lever R R turns upon a journal
at T, figs. 2d and 4th ; and in consequence of the
eccentric P working into the fork, the top of the
lever, and with it the tumblers t s, and the plate e,
are made to oscillate right under the drop-wires; so
when a thread breaks, the wire drops down, and
retards the oscillating motion of the plate e, which
immediately depresses either end of the plate s s of
the tumbler, which again presses down the lever u v
at u, and raises the other extremity at v. By lifting
the lever at v, the rod r r, being then disengaged,
is operated upon by the spiral spring f. fig. 1st,
which causes it to shift so far as to act upon the
upright rod k, and turn it round as far as to make
the belt lever at Q, shift the belt from the fast on to
88 WARPING MACHINE.
the loose pulley. And as these various parts are
fitted so as to operate all at once, the whole machine
upon the breaking of one thread is instantly stopped.
When the broken threads are all tied, and the
machine ready to be put in motion, the girl attend-
ing, lays hold of the rail 2 2, fig. 1st, and pulls it
forward: a a are straps of leather fastened to the
wooden frame WW, containing the drop wires;
therefore, by drawing down the rail 2 2, the shaft
h / turns round, and causes the straps a ac, to raise
the frame WW so far as to lift all the drop-wires
above the top of the plate e, which keep their places
by the tension of the yarn, as soon as the machine
gets into full operation. In lifting the drop wire
frame W W, it also draws up the point q, of the
small lever q l, ſigs. 2d and 4th, which causes the
other extremity l, to operate upon an arm of the
upright rod k, and turn it round as far as to let the
belt lever at Q shift the driving belt from the loose,
on to the fast pulley: at the same time another arm
Y, of the upright rod k, fig. 2d, also operates upon
the rod r r at b, fig. 1st, and shifts it to the right hand,
untill the point v of the lever u v, drops into the
square groove seen in ſig. 1st: the lever or catch v.
is kept in the groove of the rod r r, by the small
spiral spring i. Thus, by pulling forward the rail
2 2, the drop-wires are lifted, and the whole ma-
chine is instantly put in operation ; and, by lifting
the catch v, the rod r r being operated upon by the
spiral springf; it is as instantly stopped.
Fig. 3d is a front view of the guide reed p, seen
in fig. 2d, for directing the yarn on to the beam H.
It consists of a piece of sheet iron cut into a number
WARPING MACHINE, 89
of slits, corresponding to the number of threads to
be warped on the beam. By examining the figure,
it will be seen that the slits are so contrived, that a
lease may be formed on each beam if necessary.
The views of the warping machine given in
Plate VI, are chiefly designed to exemplify its gen-
eral movements, but more especially those of the self-
acting stop-motion, which, by carefully examining
the figures, and attending to the descriptions given,
may be easily understood. Fig. 4th is also repre-
sented in its proper place in fig. 2d.; the former be-
ing drawn to a larger scale, merely for the purpose
of giving a more accurate representation of its
operations.
In looking at the representations given of this
machine, those unacquainted with it might be apt to
suppose, from the number of levers, springs, &c. de-
pending on each other, that it would work inac-
curately, and be difficult to keep in order. This,
however, is not the case. Although acquainted with
the most improved warping machines made in Glas-
gow up to the year 1836, and having had oppor-
tunities of observing the operations of the newest
made in Manchester, particularly in Mr. Orrell’s
Factory at Stockport, and in other places; yet I
have not seen any that made more perfect work,
or required less attention, than those just de-
scribed. The warping machines used in Great Bri-
tain require the utmost attention on the part of the
attendant to notice instantly when a thread breaks;
as should her eye be diverted from her work but
one moment, the end of a broken thread might wind
round the beam so far, as to require five minutes or
90 WARPING MACHINE.
more to find it, and put the machine again in mo.
tion. But this is not the case with those used in
this country; for while the machine is in operation,
he attendant is frequently behind the bobbin frame,
taking out empty spools, and supplying their places
with full ones; nor could the cradle warpers of this
country be used, except by being furnished with a
self-acting stop-motion. This motion is, therefore,
eminently entitled to the appellation of an important
labour-saving improvement.
I omitted to state in its proper place, that the
drum D, fig. 2d, on which the yarn beam rests, and
by which it is moved, is exactly one yard in circum-
ference, and upon the one end of its axis, there is a
screw working into small geared wheels connected
with an index, which indicates the revolutions of
the drum during the warping of each beam, from
which the length of yarn on each beam is ascer-
tained, and the attendant is paid accordingly.
Upon an average of weeks, I find a smart girl
can warp 13 beams per week of No. 12's, each beam
containing 300 threads of 8,000 yards in length,
for which she is paid about 27 cents per beam,
being 3 dollars 51 cents, = 14/7% for 18 beams, or,
per week. Another ordinary hand can average
9 beams per week of No. 18's, each containing 300
threads of 5,000 yards in length, and for which she is
paid 33 cents per beam, being two dollars 97 cents,
= 12/4} for 9 beams, or, per week. Besides the
length of yarn on each beam being ascertained,
they are also weighed to ascertain the weight of each,
a correct account of which is regularly kept.
DRESSING MACHINES. 91
DRESSING MACHINES.
THE Dressing Machines used in this country, are
made upon an entirely different construction from
any I have seen either in England or Scotland.
They are much more simple, more easily attended
and kept in order; besides requiring less power
and oil. And I believe one could be made in Great
Britain for one-half the cost of those now made in
Manchester and Glasgow.
Plate VII. represents a side view of the dressing
machines used at Lowell, and generally throughout
the Eastern district. A A is the centre frame, sup-
porting the centre beam a, containing the dressed
yarn. The wheel E on the centre beam, is fastened
with a set screw, so as to be easily taken off when a
full beam is to be removed, and put on the empty
beam which is to replace it. B B B to the right and
left are the section frames, all made of wood, contain-
ing the section beams H. H. H. H. The ends of the
section beams are of cast iron, with a square groove
for receiving a friction strap, and a weight repre-
sented at v v v v. The sizing rollers are repre-
sented at y y y y. The yarn as it leaves the section
beams, passes through a raddle or ravel, made of
small pieces of hard wood, and represented at
w w w u,-from that, through between the sizing rol-
lers, again, through a brass wire reed at o o o o, .
through a copperplate supported by b b,-through
another brass wire reed at d d, and under the
measuring rollers N N.-at which place the yarn
from the four beams on each section are, for the
92 DRESSING MACHINES,
first time, brought all into one horizontal plane.
From the rollers N N, the two sections of dressed
yarn pass up through heddles at k, called the lease
harness; from that it is wound on to the centre
beam a, at the top. The lease harness may be
shifted to either side of the frame by means of a
Screw at Æ, and only one section of the dressed yarn
goes through heddle eyes in the lease harness; so
that when a full beam is to be removed, a lease rod
is introduced between the two sections of yarn above
the harness, then, by drawing the harness to one
side, another lease is formed, into which a rod is
introduced.
The different operations of the machine are ef.
fected in the following manner. F are the fast and
loose belt pullies, driven by a belt from the room
below ; n n are two cones, that to the right being
driven from the one to the left, by the cross belt R.
On the axis of the cone to the right hand, there is a
small bevel wheel working into another on the bot-
tom of the upright shaft r r on the top of the
upright shaft, there is a small bevel wheel working
into the wheel c, and on the axis of the wheel c,
there is a small spur gear, not seen in the engraving,
working into the wheel E, on the centre beam a.
Motion being thus given to the come on the left
hand (by the belt pulley F which is fastened on the
same shaft,) it is next communicated by the belt R.
to that on the right, and from it to the beam on the
top, containing the dressed yarn; hence the speed
of the centre beam a, on the top of the centre frame,
may be increased or decreased, by shifting the belt
R, on the cones n n.
D RESSING M A CH INFS, O3
The brush motion is next to be considered:
D D D are the brush racks, or brush frames; they
are not fastened to the section beam frames B B B,
but are fitted so as to move up and down, short
spears 2 2 being fixed to the top and bottom of each
side of the brush frames, which slide into the eyes of
studs, and serve to keep them in their proper posi-
tion, as well as to let them move freely up and
down : s ss s are small blocks of cast iron, which
are fitted to slide freely on the polished steel rods
h h h h : the dotted lines represent straps or belts
passing over small pulleys on each side, and de-
scending down to the large wooden pullies G G, to
the surface of which the belts are fastened : the
blocks s s s s are fastened to the belts by a small
nut and screw on the under side, whilst the brushes
rest on the blocks above. The feathers represented
on the blocks at s s s s, fit into slits in the ends
of the brushes. WW represent two beams of wood,
(one at each side of the machine,) about four inches
broad, and three inches thick, called sweeps; these
are supported in the centre at f, and at the end to-
wards the left hand, they are attached to the lever
PP, the under point of which supports the whole
brush frame; the other end of the sweeps being at-
tached to the block i, towards the right hand : the
block i is a projection from a shaft, extending across
the machine at each section, the axis of which is
seen at ar, and the pullies G G are fastened on each
end of this shaft. By carefully examining the en-
graving of the various parts of the machine, the re-
ciprocrating motion of the brushes, together with
the up and down motion of the brush frames, will
G
94. DRESSING MACHINES.
now be easily understood. The lever J is con-
nected with a sliding crank on the axis of the cone
n, towards the left hand; consequently, the revolv-
ing of the crank moves the sweeps alternately, from
section to section; and the end of the sweeps to the
right hand, being attached to the block i by a strap
of belt leather, the alternate motion of the sweeps
moves the shaft a, and with it the pulleys G G,
about one-fourth of a revolution each way: this re-
ciprocating motion of the pulleys, draws each end of
the straps represented by the dotted lines, and
thereby produces the necessary reciprocating move-
ments of the brushes upon the yarn ; while, at the
same time, the other end of the sweeps towards the
left hand, by means of the lever PP, raises the
brush frame, and with it the brushes, up and down
at every alternate stroke. Thus, when the brushes
are at h h / h, the frame is down, and they are
then in a proper position for moving along the sur-
face of the yarn, (which has just been coated with
size, in passing through between the sizing rollers,)
and having made one full stroke, they are then at
the opposite side of the frame, which is immediately
raised by the lever P P, connected with the sweeps;
and in raising the frame, the brushes are lifted out
of the yarn, until they return to their former position
at h h / h. The whole movements of the machine
commence at the come n, towards the left hand.
From it, motion is communicated by the belt R, to
the opposite cone, and from it, to the centre beam
a at the top : and from it (the cone m), motion is
also communicated by the sliding crank, and the
connecting lever J, to the sweeps WW, of which
P. RESS IN G M A CH IN F. S. 9.5
there are two, and the one end of each moves the
brushes alternately from side to side, whilst the
other end produces the up and down motion of the
brush frame. The whole machine is extremely
simple, and all its different movements so contrived,
that they can easily be adjusted so as to operate
with the most perfect accuracy.
L L represent the fanners enclosed in wooden
boxes, open only at the centres for admitting a current
of air, and at the mouths Q Q, for throwing it out:
by this method of confining the air, it rushes out
with much greater force, and the mouths Q Q
are made so as to direct it right up amongst the
dressed yarn. The fanners here represented have
four wings each, but some have only two or three :
that to the left hand, is driven by a belt from the
room below, and from it, a cross belt communicates
motion to the one on the right. X is a hot air pipe,
with a branch extending up to the hot air box M,
placed between the two rollers N N. The cover of
this box extends till within one half-inch of each
side, which leaves a small opening for the escape of
air, which issues out at each side upon the yarn, and
being entirely hot air, it has a peculiar effect in ab-
sorbing any remaining moisture upon the yarn, be-
fore it is wound on to the centre beam a, on the top.
Instead of the hot air box M, some dressing frames
have a centre fanner, similar to those used about
Manchester.
The sizing rollers y y y y, are generally made of
soap stone, with an iron axis; the under roller only
is covered with cloth : one of these rollers, when
finished, costs about eight dollars = £1 . 13s. 4d.
96 DRESSING MACHINES.
The two sections of these dressing machines may
be extended out as far as may be thought necessary.
In order to diminish the size of the plate, the dis-
tance from the centre of the section beams to the
centre of the frame, is represented as only 9, feet;
some, however, extend to 17 or 18 feet. As the
greater the distance from the sizing rollers to the
centre beam containing the dressed yarn, more time
will be gained for drying; but when the section
beams are stretched out too far, the yarn is more
liable to break with the drag of the centre beam.
On one end of the axis of the measuring rollers
N N, there is a screw or worm working into gears,
connected with an index which points out the num-
ber of yards of dressed yarn on the centre beam ;
every 33 yards is marked with paint, which allows
80 yards of cloth to each piece, the 3 yards, (equal
to 10 per cent.) being allowed for shrinkage in the
weaving, &c.
The measuring rollers, in general, are common
wooden cylinders, about eight inches in diameter;
some are revolving steam cylinders, which, when
properly packed at the journals so as to prevent the
steam from escaping, has the best effect of anything
that has yet been tried for drying the yarn speedily.
It is impossible to give even the average pro-
duce of these machines; indeed, in all my experi-
ence, I have never known anything so variable as
the produce of the dressing machines of this country.
In some Factories, their average produce will be
about 14 pieces per day to suit a 9” reed; yarn,
Nos. 14's to 18's. In other Factories, on the same
kind of work, these machines will dress 20, in others
DRESSING MACHINES, 97
30, 40, 50, and 60 pieces per day. Some of those
fitted up with revolving steam cylinders, are said to
produce even 70 pieces on the same kind of work,
viz. coarse 9”, yarn No. 14's, and each piece is in-
variably intended to make 30 yards of cloth. One
great cause of this difference in the quantity pro-
duced from the dressing machines, arises from the
different temperatures in the apartments where they
are in operation, as well as from the mode of apply-
ing the heat to the dressed yarn. In some Factories
the dressing machines are in the same room with
the looms, where the temperature seldom exceeds
75°. Those mounted with steam cylinders," in
place of wooden measuring rollers, generally pro-
duce the greatest quantity of work; next to these,
are those with the hot air pipes; and next to the
latter, are those with three fanners, that is, one at
each side, and one in the centre. Those with only
two fanners, produce the least quantity of work.
The prices paid for dressing, are as variable as
the produce of the machines. Some Factories pay
as low as 1% cents per piece, whilst others pay as
high as 4% cents = 24d. Sterling, for the same kind
of work. In fact, the dressing, as well as some
other kinds of work, are paid more or less, accord-
ing to the quantity the machines are able to pro-
duce. The great object with all manufacturers in
this country, is to pay their help just such wages as
* The steam cylinders for measuring rollers were invented by
Samuel Batchelder, Esq., Agent of the York Factories at Saco, State
of Maine, for which he obtained a patent in 1835.
98 DRESSING MIACH INES,
will be a sufficient inducement for them to remain at
the work. Hence the greater the quantity of work
produced, the higher the profits, because paid at a
lower rate of wages.
The size used for dressing, is generally made of
potato starch for all coarse work; and of flour, for
the finer goods, or such as are intended for printing.
The mode of preparing the starch for size requires
particular attention; and although different places
may have different methods, the two following have
been found to suit the purpose remarkably well.
First,-Method of making Size from Potato Starch for coarse
Goods.
2, Gallons of yeast, and 2 quarts of vinegar, to be
well mixed with about 9 gallons of water, which
has been previously heated to 120°, or as hot as
the hand will bear to work in it. To these are
added 125 lbs. of potato starch. The whole is then
allowed to stand in a warm place about 10 or 12
days, or until it is perfectly fermented, then 3} lbs.
of common clean tallow is dissolved in 75 gallons of
water, heated to 160°, to which are added 75 lbs. of
the fermented starch. The whole is well stirred,
until all the ingredients are perfectly incorporated.
The size is then to be used immediately before, or
after it is perfectly cooled down. To the above,
some add about 2% lbs. of the sulphate of copper,
to prevent mould.
The above makes a very superior size. It is
smooth, clean, and entirely free from any offensive
smell; and although about the same price as flour,
it is found to answer the purpose much better for
DRESSING MACHINES. 99
coarse goods; very little of it adheres to the yarn,
yet quite enough to make it weave well.
Second,—Method of making Size from Flour for the finer
Goods.
300 lbs. of flour mixed in 45 gallons of water,
and allowed to stand for four or five days at blood-
heat, until it is perfectly fermented; this is called
yeast. To the above are added about 140 gallons
of water heated to 180°. The whole is then boiled
by steam from 30 to 45 minutes; at first it boils
thick, but by continued boiling becomes thin in the
middle, when it is considered done ; after which it
should stand over one week, and be reduced with
cold water when used.
The following mode of making Size from Flour, is practised in
Glasgow for various kinds of Goods.
One barrel of flour is soaked in water, which had
been previously heated a little over 120°, and al-
lowed to stand in this state about a week, or until
it ferment thoroughly. It is then mixed with about
110 gallons of water in a copper boiler, with a
cast iron casing; and by introducing steam into the
boiler, as well as into the vacant space between the
casing and the boiler, it is gradually heated until it
boil; after which the steam may be admitted at any
pressure, and the boiling process continued about an
hour; during which an agitator, driven by the en-
gine, moves round with a slow motion, until all
the concretions or lumps are completely dissolved,
when a wooden roller being dipt into it, if the small
portion which adheres to the roller has a thick,
IOO DRESSING MACHINES.
smooth, glutinous appearance, it is then ready to be
emptied out into narrow deep vessels to cool, in
which it is allowed to stand for three or four days
before using it.
It now only remains to be noticed, that one of
these dressing machines when complete, costs in this
country 400 dollars = £83. 6s. 8d, and upwards.
And throughout all the Eastern manufacturing dis-
trict, girls are employed to attend them. Men are
employed as dressers about Rhode Island and some
other places; but so far as I am informed, there are
none in this country make so high wages, as the
same class of workmen generally average about
Glasgow, (Scotland.)
Besides the kind of dressing frame just described,
there is another made at Providence, Rhode Island,
and generally used throughout that part of the coun-
try, known by the name of Pitcher and Gay's dressing
frame. The principal difference between it and the
one already described, is, that the former has four
pairs of sizing rollers on each section, while the lat-
ter has only two ; that is, the yarn from the two
upper beams passes through between one pair of
sizing rollers, and that from the two under beams
through another pair. By this and some other con-
trivances, it appears somewhat more simplified than
the other, and, I believe, will be more generally
preferred by workmen, as being more convenient
and easy to attend. But I have not been able to
obtain a drawing of this machine, and without it,
a description would be unintelligible to those un-
acquainted with it.
There is one peculiarity of the American dressing
WEAVING BY POWER. 101
frames, viz. their requiring but little oil, so that the
machines, and all about them, are at all times per-
fectly clean. The girls who attend them, have no
appearance of being even in the vicinity of anything
that could soil their clothes. This is not the case
with those used in Glasgow, for there no class of
workers employed about a Cotton Mill, seem to have
dirtier work than those who attend the dressing ma-
chines. In some of the new Factories of this country,
the floor under the dressing machine is painted a
high cream colour, which by a slight washing over
once in two weeks, has always a fresh cleanly appear-
ance, as not a drop of oil is to be seen all around it.
WEAVING BY POWER.
IT has already been stated, that, with respect to
common power loom weaving, the Americans have
attained to as much perfection as the manufacturers
of either Glasgow or Manchester; and some of the
machines employed in that department, I consider
superior to any of the kind I have seen in any part of
Great Britain. As regards the looms now generally
used, viz. the crank loom, they are in every respect
equal to any made by the best machinists either in
Manchester or Glasgow. Those at least whieh I have
had an opportunity of seeing, are in every respect
equal, either as a smooth, steady, working machine,
or as regards the quantity and quality of cloth pro-
duced. I do not say that all the looms used in this
102 WEAVING BY POWER.
country are as good as those referred to in Great
Britain ; but the principle upon which the newest
crank looms are constructed, is the same in both
countries; the only difference lies in some of the
minor modifications, which do not affect the general
merits of the machine.
All the looms I have seen in this country are
mounted with a letting-off motion as it is called in
Britain; and with a very few exceptions, they have
all self-acting temples. After witnessing the sim-
plicity and efficiency of these contrivances, I am
only surprised they have not yet been more generally
adopted in Great Britain. The self-acting temples,
besides saving a great deal of labour on the part of
the attendant, make a much superior, and more uni-
form selvage, whilst the letting-off motion equalises
the number of picks in the cloth, by giving off from
the warp beam, exactly as the cloth beam takes up.
It is unnecessary to describe either of these im-
provements, as it is presumed they are already suf-
ficiently known in Great Britain. When in Man-
chester in April 1836, I met with Mr. Amos Stone
from Rhode Island, who was then introducing his
power loom for weaving silk, which contained the
self-acting temples and letting-off motion, upon a
much improved principle, for which he had taken, or
was about to take out, a patent: and since that time,
they have been partially adopted in various parts of
Great Britain. In this country there is some va-
riety in the form or plan of these contrivances; yet
I have not seen any superior to those of Mr. Stone.
But there is another little improvement which has
been added to some of the looms about Lowell, that
WEAVING BY POWER. 103
I do not recollect having seen on Mr. Stone's loom,
viz. a self-acting apparatus for shifting the pace
weight gradually towards the extremity of the lever,
as the cloth beam gradually increases in diameter,
by the continued winding on of the cloth.
The ratchet wheel, which moves forward the
cloth beam, is itself moved by clicks attached to a
perpendicular lever at the side of the loom, which
(lever) is operated upon by a stud fastened in the
sword of the lathe; and on a horizontal arm of the
lever, there is a weight suspended, denominated the
pace weight. Now every practical man knows, that
this weight acts with more power when the cloth
first begins to wind on an empty beam ; and as the
beam gradually fills with successive layers of cloth,
the effect of the weight gradually diminishes. The
improvement here referred to, is a simple contriv-
ance, by which the weight is shifted progressively
towards the extremity of the horizontal arm of the
lever, so as to keep the cloth always at a uniform de-
gree of tension, which, together with the other con-
trivances, make a perfect uniformity in its quality.
In all the power looms I have seen in this country,
the shuttles are propelled in the same way as those
used in Scotland, with this difference, that instead
of shuttle cords made of coarse cotton yarn or roy-
ing, strips of leather are used, which have been
tanned and prepared for the purpose. These are
called picker-strings, and are made to pass up
through a slit right in the bottom of the shuttle box
of the lathe, and fastened with nails to the under
part of the shuttle drivers, which are made of Buf.
falo hides. The picker-stick, as it is technically de-
104. WEAVING BY IPOW EIR.
nominated, is also fastened to a cross bar of cast iron,
which connects the under ends of the two swords of
the lathe, with which it likewise reciprocates, so that
in every position of the lathe, the picker-stick is al-
ways perpendicular to it; and the treadles, by which
the shuttle is propelled, are pressed upwards.
In order to ascertain how long one of these leather
picker-strings might last, I have kept account of the
number of sides of picker-string leather used during
one year, in a weaving room containing upwards of
100 looms, together with the average number of
picker-strings cut out of each side; and according to
this, I find that each string upon an average, will
last between eight and nine months; each side will
make between 80 and 90 strings. Picker leather
costs about 50 dollars per dozen sides in Boston.
The heddles, or, as they are commonly called in
this country, the harnesses, are generally made of
cotton yarn; each Factory makes to suit themselves;
but the yarn must always be of a good quality, and
generally spun from double roving. Three plies of
yarn No. 8's make very good heddle twine for weav-
ing heavy goods, from yarn sizing No. 24, and
downwards. Before using the harnesses, they re-
ceive two coats of varnish made of the following
ingredients:—
1 Gallon Linseed Oil, # Lib. Umber,
1 Lib. Lithorage, } … Gum Shalac,
1 - Red Lead, # - Sugar of Lead.
All these, except the shalac, are first well boiled
over a moderate fire, until the strength is out of
the lead; the shalac is then added, but only a little
at a time, while the whole is still boiling, and it re-
WEAVING BY POWER. 105
quires to be well stirred all the time. When the
shalac is entirely dissolved, the whole is then cooled
down to blood heat, then a sufficient quantity of the
spirit of turpentine is added, to make it fit for use.
Such articles as require it, are to be pulverised. Be-
fore putting on the varnish, the harnesses ought to
be brushed down with paste or size from the dress-
ing machine: and after the varnish is thoroughly
dry and hard, they ought to be brushed down with
tallow, to smooth them well before they are put to
use. Harnesses properly made in this manner, and
perfectly dry before they are used, will generally
last over one year.
A patent has been taken out in this country for a
peculiar method of forming the eyes on heddles,
which consists only of a double knot, one on each
side of the eye. (See the annexed figure.)

TE —l. —---
Ǻ *= J →
S-2TATSs:-"
The one side A, is perfectly straight, whilst two
single knots are formed on the side B, each of which
encloses A, and when drawn tight, the heddle-eye is
formed between the two knots, so that in the up and
down motion of the harnesses, the warp threads are
pressed against the knots, which being hard tied, are
not so likely to cut the eye, as if they pressed against
a single loop of the heddles.
These patent heddles are made or knit upon a
revolving frame represented in the annexed figure.
106 WEAVING BY POWER.
The above figure represents what is denominated
a harness knitting frame : A is a plain top of a
common form, or stool, supported on the legs B B.
The centre rod c is oval shaped, and made of
polished steel or iron : a a are the two ends of the
knitting frame fastened on the centre rod c, and as
this rod revolves, the two ends revolve with it: m at
are the two shafts of the heddles or harness, which
fit into slits of the revolving end of the frame a a,
and are fastened by set screws: s is a moveable
binder fastened by screws to each shaft, intended
merely to prevent them from twisting or bending,
and can be moved from side to side, or taken off at
pleasure. The eyes of the heddles are formed on
the centre rod, at each side of which the knot is
tied ; the under shaft is then turned up, and the
loop formed by the cord; then the other shaft is
turned round, another loop formed, and then again
the two knots, &c. &c.
One smart girl will knit harnesses on the above
frame, to the amount of 120 beers (porters) per
day of 12} hours, for which she is paid at the rate
of one half cent, equal to one farthing per beer.
The general speed of the looms will range about
120 pecks per minute. And I have just now before

WEAVING BY POWER. 107
me the produce of a room containing 48 looms,
weaving jeans, three leaf'd tweel, 88 inches broad,
and containing 82 warp threads to the inch, or 3,120
in the whole breadth, 56 to 60 pecks per inch.
And for the last four weeks, I find the average pro-
duce has been 51 pieces per day, being three over
one piece to each loom, or nearly 32 yards daily;
the length of each piece being 30 yards. For this,
the girls are paid at the rate of 27 cents for the
piece, equal to 1/1, sterling for weaving 80 yards.
A smart girl upon this kind of work will, upon an
average, weave 14 pieces per week on one pair of
looms, for which she will be paid 3 dollars 78
cents equal to 1519 sterling, the hours of labour
being 12} daily, or about 73, hours per week.
Sometimes one girl attends three looms; but this
is seldom allowed, as very few are capable of attend-
ing three looms with advantage. It is, therefore,
only resorted to in cases of necessity, when the
hands are scarce, as it is better to give three looms to
the best weavers, than let them stand unemployed.
The shuttles generally used are made of apple-
tree, which is very abundant in this country, and
suits the purpose remarkably well, being a fine light
wood. They cost about five dollars per dozen = 20/10
sterling. There is another kind of wood sometimes
used, called persimmon, which is much superior to
the apple-tree, being nearly equal to box-wood. It
is dearer, however, than the apple-tree, but of much
finer quality. It grows principally in Maryland,
and some other of the Southern States.
The shuttle drivers, as already stated, are made
of Buffalo hides, and cost about eight dollars per
gross = £1 . 13s. 4d. Sterling,
108 WEAVING BY POW F. R.
Dr. Ure gives the following as the results of
experiments which had been tried to ascertain the
necessary power required to move certain machin-
ery employed in the cotton manufacture.

One horse power drives in the fol-
lowing Mills:—
Mr. Orrell’s Mill, spinning No.
36's, …
Peil & Williams' Mill, .................
Factory of J. A. Beaver, …
Clark & Son's Mill, --~~~~~
Average of the above, …~~~~
ſ E | 3 G | 3 G sº #
§3 ||33 | E3 || 3 #| ##| #
#3 |53 #3 || 5 # 5? | #
: : * : E. : 3 2 3 à cº:
3. * | *, 3 & 3 | Sº 3 | * E | >
dº sº- F & C. tº 5. * "Sº
qu •- Sº co QD ~ Q) bO
qd k- <!-2 lºt * * g sº
5 a. 3 a º a = + # 3 .5
º S.c o º &
#5 |##| ##| ## &# £
5 & B | F. P. 3 || 6
500 |300 180 10
6
15
11 l
500|300||180, 8 || 13
The following are the results of experiments made
at Lowell, in the State of Massachusetts.
One horse power moved
as under :-
Spinning No. 14's, and producing
7 hanks per spindle per day, …
Spinning No. 40's, and producing
6 hanks per spindle per day, …
& 5 & 2 #
## ##| #3
#: ; ; 3% 3 &
& S. .S. § { *.5
* - 3–t
.g. 3 || 5 tº 3 -
g = | #5 # 3
# = | fi: ; ſº:
{− = £:
77* 8.5 | 12
127 | | 1 | 12
-|
l, 6
3.8
|
105
} 160 warp.
188 weſt.
* The throstle frames used at Lowell are the dead spindle, which
are supposed to require at least one-fourth more power than the live
spindle.
WEAVING BY POWER. 109
The preceding details embrace all that is deemed
necessary regarding the various machines employed
in the cotton manufacture of this country. I have
endeavoured to describe each machine in its order,
and to point out whatever has appeared worthy of
notice, or wherein they differed from those which I
was accustomed to in Scotland. Their general pro-
duce, and cost of attendance, have been stated ; so
that any person acquainted with the business in
Great Britain may be able to compare those of the
one country with those of the other. There may be
many things omitted which ought to have been no-
ticed; yet I am not aware of having stated anything
that, upon examination, will be found incorrect.
The number of machines taken from America,
for which patents have been obtained in Great Bri-
tain, have led many to suppose that the Americans
must have attained to considerable perfection in la-
bour-saving machinery. This, however, is not the
case; nor do I think that, in this respect, they are at
all equal to the British : and, indeed, most of those
machines that have been taken from this country,
are in a much higher state of perfection in Britain,
than any of the same kind I have seen here.
A great proportion of the machinery about this
part of the country, is fitted up as if never to be
altered. The machine makers seem to proceed upon
the supposition that their machinery is already per-
fect. The machines are calculated for one kind of
goods, and only one system of working. Hence, in
making alterations in the adjustment of any machine,
so as to introduce a different system of working, or
to suit a different quality of goods, it is frequently
H
110 WEAVING BY POWER.
necessary to make some new patterns, in order to
accomplish the alterations required. Now the ma-
chinery used in Great Britain is, in this respect,
greatly superior to the American. There, every
machine is so constructed, that all its parts can be
adjusted with the greatest accuracy, to suit the vari-
ous qualities of cotton, or whatever kind of goods
may be wanted: and, consequently, the manufac-
turers can easily arrange and alter their machinery,
so as to make just such goods as will for the time
being suit the market. But here they can make
only one kind of goods, whether they suit the pre-
sent demand or not, as they have not the same
facilities for changing the style of their goods, so as
to take advantage of the variations in the markets.
The framing of a great part of the machinery in
this country is made of wood painted green; indeed,
this is the prevailing colour for painting the wooden
part of the machinery, such as that of cards, speeders,
spinning frames, spooling, warping, and dressing ma-
chines, looms, &c. There are also a great many ma-
chines made with cast iron framing. Of these, some
very superior machinery is made at Pawtucket and
Providence, State of Rhode Island; and at Mattea-
wan, in the State of New York. At this latter
place, the drawing rollers for throstles and mules
are covered with fine velvet cork-wood, for which
a patent has been taken out, and are said to suit the
purpose much better than those covered in the
ordinary way with cloth and leather.
In giving the preceding details of the various
machines employed in the cotton manufacture of
this country, I have endeavoured to point out their
WEAVING BY POWER. 111
advantages and disadvantages, as compared with
the machines used in Great Britain. These will be
interesting chiefly to practical men. To the minds
of proprietors, an interesting inquiry will naturally
occur, viz. What may be the actual difference in
the cost of manufacturing in the two countries? In
order to ascertain this as nearly as possible, I have
endeavoured to give in the following pages correct
estimates of the cost of erecting manufacturing
establishments, and putting them in operation; to-
gether with their produce and expense of workman-
ship in both countries; from which a fair estimate
may be formed of their comparative advantages, for
the manufacturing of cotton goods.
COMPARATIVE ESTIMATES
OF
C O T TO N F A C T O RIE S
IN THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERIC A,
AND IN
GREAT BRITAIN.
IN the following Estimates of the cost of Buildings,
Machinery, &c. of Manufacturing Establishments in
the United States of America and in Britain, each
Factory is supposed to contain 128 power looms,
with all the subordinate machinery required. The
extent and form of the buildings, together with the
number of machines, and the arrangement of the
various departments are suited to the practice of each
country. Likewise the number of hands employed—
the rates of wages paid—the cost of materials—and
the amount of goods produced—are also adapted to
each country respectively.
In estimating the cost of building a Factory in the
United States, the extent of the Mill is supposed to
be four stories besides the attic. The first, or base-
ment story, contains the water wheels, cloth room,
ESTIMATES OF COTTON FACTORIES. 113
and mechanics’ shop ; the second, contains the card-
ing; third, the spinning; fourth and attic, the
weaving and dressing; leaving the picking-house
and cotton store for separate buildings.
The Factory in Britain is supposed to be five
stories in height, and arranged in the following
manner. The first and second stories contain the
weaving and dressing; the third and fourth, the
mule and throstle spinning; fifth, the carding; and
the attic, the picking and scutching. At one end
of the carding and spinning rooms, there may be
small apartments partitioned off for a mechanic's
shop, cloth room, &c. The engine and boiler house
being situated at one end of the Mill, and the cotton
store in a separate building.
In the following, and all other computations of
money throughout this work, the dollar is reckoned
at par value, equal to 4/2 sterling, making the cent
equal to one halfpenny ; each dollar contains 100
cents, or 100 halfpennies, equal to 50 pence, or 4/2.
When exchange is at par between Great Britain
and the United States, 108 dollars here are equal to
100 in Great Britain, supposing the dollar 4/6.
:

CoMPARATIVE ESTIMATEs of the cost of BUILDINGs, MACHINERY, &c. and of the Ex-
PENSES IN WAGES, &c. for a Cotton Factory in GREAT BRITAIN and the UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA.
—C3369–
BUILDING AND GEARING.
AMERICA. BRITAIN.
A Cotton Factory, built of Brick, 142 by 42 feet within the walls, AMOUNT. A MOUNT.
four stories in height, besides an Attic, including all expenses for Dollars. Sterling. Sterling.
Materials, Labour, &c., º © © © º e 25,000 || 5,208 || 6
Two Water Wheels, equal to 80 horses' power, including Gearing,
Gates, Shafting, Belting, &c. º © e º º º 17,000 || 3,541 || 13
A Cotton Factory, built of Brick, 90 by 38 feet within the walls,
five stories in height, including all expenses for Materials, La-
bour, &c. º e º © e © º e e © © 960 0 0
A Condensing Steam Engine, of 25 horses' power, with Boilers, &c. 660 || 0 || 0
Gearing, including Wheels, Shafting, Drums, Fitting up, &c., e e e || e s ] & © 290 || 0 || 0
Furniture, Gas and Steam Pipes, Lathes, Tools, &c. &c., . º 2,000 || 416 || 13 570 || 0 || 0
44,000 || 9,166 || 13 2,480|| 0 || 0 |
º:

PREPARATION DEPARTMENT.
AMERICA. BRIT AIN.
AMOUNT. | A MOUNT,
No. of No. of i
Machines. Rate. | Dollars. Sterling. Machines. Rats. Sterling.
Willow, tº g e 1 100 100 20 | 16 || 8 l f:20 20 || 0 || 0
Scutching Machine, I 600 || 600 || 125 || 0 || 0 l 58 58 || 0 || 0
Spreading Machine, © * tº . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . || 1 50 || 50 || 0 || 0
Carding Engines”, including Clothing, 40 |210 || 8,400 || 1,750 || 0 || 0 || 64 28 || 1,792 || 0 || 0
Lapping Machines, . sº © ſº 1 || 250 250 52 1 || 8 2 20 40 || 0 || 0
Drawing Frames of 3 Heads each, 6 |200|| 1,200 || 250 || 0 || 0
2 Do. of 6 do. do. * > . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . || 12 has. 9 108 || 0 || 0
Double Speeders of 18 Spindles each, 6 |660 || 3,960 || 825 || 0 || 0
Extensers of 36 Spindles each, * 7 |900 || 6,300 || 1,312 || 10 || 0
9 Fly-frames of 48 Spindles each, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |432 Spº. 38|| || 820 | 16 || 0
Roving and Card Cans, . ſº ſº 542 || 112 | 18 || 4. tº º © tº 61 | 16 || 0
Top and Cylinder Grinders, Brushes, &c. 210 43 | 15 . . © g 30 || 0 || 0
Miscellaneous Charges, {} 100 20 | 16 || 8 gº 20 || 0 || 0
21,662 || 4,512 18 || 4 3,000 | 12 || 0
N. B.-Some variations from the prices stated for the machines in the above and following Tables, may, no doubt, be found in the
various places where they are made; but those assumed are believed to be a fair average for machines of good quality.
* In the above estimate the American Cards are understood to be 37 inches broad, and the British 24 inches.
Cylinder in both is 36 inches.
The diameter of
E

SPINNING DEPARTMENT.
AMERICA. BRIT AIN.
AMOUNT. A MOUNT.
Number. Rate. Number. Rate.
Dollars. Sterling. Sterling.
Throstle Spindles, © 4,992 |4,5022,464 |4,680 || 0 || 0 || 2,160 |9|6 || 1,026 || 0 || 0
Mule Spindles, 2,400 5/6 || 660 || 0 || 0
Machine for covering Rollers, © © © 1 | f 15 I5 || 0 || 0
Rove Bobbins, e 10,000 .6 600 || 125 || 0 || 0 |74 gross 19/ 70 || 6 || 0
Spinning Frame Bobbins, 12,000 | ..] 120 25 || 0 || 0 || 59 || || 8/ 23 12 || 0
Skewers, 6,000 .1} 90 18 15 || 0 |35 || || 10/ 17 | 10 || 0
Spools or Warpers' Bobbins, . 6,000 | .3 180 37 10 || 0 |40 "|12|| 24 || 0 || 0
Miscellaneous Articles, O 100 20 | 16 || 8 . . || 22 || 0 || 0
28,554|4,907 || 1 || 8 1,858 || 8 || 0
5

DRESSING AND WEAVING DEPARTMENT.
Spooling or Winding Machines,
Warping Machines,
Dressing Machines, including Mounting,
Looms, including Mounting,
Twisting Frames,
Miscellaneous Articles, Boilers, Tubs, &c.
,--
AMERICA. BRIT AIN.
No. AMOUNT. No. A O | NT.
of | Rate. of | Rate.
Machs. Dollars. Sterling. Machs Sterling.
6 || 70 || 420 87 || 10 3 f" 21 || 0
6|| 150 || 900 || 187 | 10 3 || 17 51 || 0
9 |400|| 3,600 || 750 || 0 6 || 49 || 294 || 0
128 || 75|| 9,600 || 2,000 || 0 128 10 || 1,280 || 0
© 3 || 1 3 || 0 ||
100 20 | 16 65 || 0
14,620 || 3,045 | 16 1,714 || 0
:

CoMPARATIVE EXPENSE in Wages per fortnight in BRITAIN and AMERICA.
PREPARATION DEPARTMENT.
Attendants at Willow, * > ©
Do. at Scutching Machine,
Do. at Spreading Machine,
Do. at Cards, . tº
Do. at Lap Machine,
Do. at Drawing Frames,
Do. at Speeders,
Do. at Extensers,
Do.
Top Strippers, •
Sharpers and Grinders,
Overseer, . º
Assistant for Overseer,
at Fly Frames, (3 (3) 716, and 3 (3) 4/6,)
AMERICA. BRITAIN.
* Amount per
Nº. º Amount per fortnight. Nº. º: fortnight.
Hands. Week. Dollars. Sterling. Hands. week. Sterling.
1 || 4 8 1 || 13 || 4 || 1 || 6/ || 0 | 12 || 0
1 || 5 10 2 || 1 || 8 || 1 || 6/ || 0 | 12 || 0
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . || 2 | 6/6 || 1 || 6 || 0
2 3,50 || 14 2 18 || 4 || 4 |4| || 1 | 12 || 0
I 4 8 1 | 13 || 4 || 2 | 6/ || 1 || 4 || 0
12 2,50 || 60 12 || 10 || 0 || 4 || 7/ 2 | 16 || 0
3 || 3 18 3 | 15 || 0
7 || 3.25 || 45,50 || 9 9 |7
© º I e g • e || e s e > | * 6 3 || 12 || 0
4 || 4 || 32 6 || 13 || 4 || 4 || 7/6 || 3 || 0 || 0
2 || 4.75 || 19 3 | 19 || 2 || 2 | 7/ || 1 || 8 || 0
1 | 12 || 24, 5 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 21/|| 2 || 2 || 0
1 || 6 12 2 10 || 0
35 250.50, 52 | 3 |9| 27 18 || 4 || 0
:

SPINNING DEPARTMENT.
Hands attending Throstle Frames,
Cost of spinning Mule Yarn No. 18's.
Overseer,
Assistant for do.
Roller Coverer,
AMERICA. BRITAIN.
Number Amount per wº #: Amount. § fortnight.
H., | Rate. Dol. Sterling. Quinty. Rate. Sterling.
30 8 180 || 37 10 || 0 12 5/ 6 || 0
o . . || 5,666 lb. .706d. | 16 || 13
I 12 || 24 5 || 0 || 0 l 24/ 2 | 8
l 6 || 12 2 || 10 || 0
I 4 || 8 I | 13 || 4 l 8| 0 | 16
224 || 46 | 13 || 4 25 17

g

DRESSING AND WEAVING DEPARTMENTS.
Winding (the rate stated is tº 1000hks.)
Warping, do. do. do.
Dressing,
Drawing and Twisting,
Weaving,
Flour for Dressing,
Overseers,
Assistants for do. te º
Dressing Maker, and Brush-Washer,
Sweepers,
Cloth Pickers, . © º Qe
AMERICA.
BRIT AIN.
Amount per fortnight.
Amount ºft'
No chands No othands | Rate. fortnight.
Quantity. Rate. Dollars. Sterling. Quantity. Sterling.
181,440 hanks .18 || 32.65 || 6 | 16 || 0 || 101,520 hks. 7%d.|3| 3 5
181,440 do. . .16% || 30 6 || 5 || 0 101,520 do. 7%d.|| 3| 3 5
1,710 pieces .4 68.40 || 14 || 5 || 0 1,408 pcs. |2}d.|13 40
216 beams .20 || 43.20 || 9 || 0 || 0 140 bns. |4}d.|| 2 9|7
1,710 pieces .25 ||427.50 || 89 || 1 || 3 1,408 pcs. | 10d. 5813|4
1,710 do. .2 34.20 || 7 || 2 || 6 1,408 do. 2d. 11|14|8
2 hands, 12 48 10 || 0 || 0 2 hands 26||5|4|0
2 do. | 6 24 5 || 0 || 0
1 do. 4.50 9 I 17 | 6 I do. 13/. || || 6|0
2 do. 2 1 || 13 || 4 I do. 6/. |0|12|0
2 do. 2.50 || 10 2 || 1 || 8
734.95 || 153| 2 || 3} 99|| 0: 5
£

GENERAL CHARGES.
- ~~~~~~~~ : - -
Calenderer or Packer,. * >
Hands for Measuring and Folding Cloth, &c.
Mechanics, º
Porter, e tº * tº te
Book-keeper, . c iº Ç &
Watchman,
Engine-keeper,
Superintendent or Manager, . º G
AMERICA.
BRIT AIN.
s, a || rººt | No || R. #"
Hia. wº. Dol. Sterling. Hia. wº. Sterling.
1 4.50 || 9 || 1 || 17 | 6
2 2.25 || 9 || 1 || 17 ||6 || 3 || 7/. || 2 || 2 || 0
3 9 54 || 1 || || 5 || 0 || 3 || 23/. || 6 | 18 |0
1 || 5 10 || 2 || 1 || 8 || 1 | 16ſ. || 1 | 12 || 0
1 9.50 || 19 || 3 | 19 |2|| 1 || 23/. || 2 || 6 || 0
1 5 10 || 2 || 1 || 8 || 1 | 12|, || 1 || 4 || 0
o 1 || 21/. || 2 || 2 || 0
1 || 25 || 50 || 10 || 8 || 4 || 1 || 50/. || 5 || 0 || 0
l6] || 33 || 10 || 0 21 || 4 || 0
g

ANNUAL ON. COST.
Capital, with rate and amount of Insurance,
Tear and wear on Machinery, Buildings, &c.
Coals, Oil, Tallow, and Gas,
Paper, Twine, Belting, &c. . e
Cloth and Skins for Rollers,
Materials for repairing Machinery,
Carriage of Cotton and Cloth, . e ©
Feu duty and Water,
Incidental charges, e
Nett annual on-cost, . o º ©
Nett on-cost for two weeks, . $º O
AMERICA. BRITAIN.
AMOUNT. A MousT.
Rate Rate | —
Dollars dº. Dollars. Sterling. dº. Sterling.
nooooel 1,100 229 || 8 || 4 |E|2,000|17|3|105|0|0
103,800|47, 7,785 || 1,621 || 17 | 6 || 9,000 |f7}|675|0|0
. . . . || 2,250 || 468 || 15 || 0 368||0|0
. || 750 || 156 || 5 || 0 || . 120 | 0 || 0
350 || 72 18 || 4 50 || 0 || 0
850 || 177 || 1 || 8 80 || 0 || 0
600 || 125 0 * > 50 || 0 || 0
e e e || * > 0 } e o e Q 55 || 0 || 0
. . || 1,500 || 312 || 10 || 0 . . . . || 300 || 0 || 0
. . 15,185 || 3,163 || 10 || 10 | . 803 || 0 || 0
* 584 || 121 || 13 || 4 69 || 6 || 1
as . ~~~~...~ . -...--~~~.
g

CoMPARIsoN of PRODUCE per fortnight in BRITAIN and AMERICA.
—e-Q-e-
S PIN N IN G.
No. of Spindles. Hanks
No. of Speed of Libs. Hanks per
Yarn. | Throstle. Mule. || Spindles. produced. produced. Spindle
Throstle Warp Spinning in America, º - | 18 2,880 || - - || 4,700 |10,080 18,1440 63
Do. do. do. in Britain, - Gº 16 2,160 |- - - || 4,400 6,345 10,1520 || 47
Do. Weft do. in America, i- - 18 2,112 - - || 4,700 7,744 13,9392 | 66
Mule do. do. in Britain, - &= 18 - - || 2,400 || 4,200 5,666 10,2000 || 42%
W E A V IN G.
America. | Britain.
Pieces” produced from 128 Looms, - - tº- * - gº - - 1,710 | 1,408
Yards do. do. - - - - - - - - 51,300|35,200
Speed of Looms per minute, - tº- tºº º tº º * * 120 95
Effective Shots obtained, º º º * g- º -- º º 104 || 77.42
* The Cloth assumed in the above calculations is, for America, a 900 three leaved tweel No. 18's warp, and weft three threads in
the split, 2,400 threads, 30 inches broad, 30 yards long; 62 picks to the inch, weighing about 10 lbs.
No. 16's warp, No. 18's weft, 2000 threads 35 inches broad, 25 yards long, 63 picks to the inch, weighing about 85 lbs.
For Britain, a 1000 shirting,
g
ABSTRACT OF CHARGES FOR TWO WEEKS.
Preparation Charges, * e * º © o e
Spinning Charges, & o º º º ©
Dressing and Weaving Charges, ſº e . . ©
General Charges,
On-Cost for two weeks, .
Nett amount of charges for two weeks, .
Nett charges per piece (see pieces produced as shewn in table of
Comparative Produce,) Q
Nett charges per yard, (see yards produced as shewn in table of
Comparative Produce,)
Difference in manufacturing charges per yard in favour of Britain
equal to 19 per cent. e e e
AMERICA. BRIT AIN.
Dollars. Sterling. Sterling. -
250,50 || 52 3 9 18 4 || 0
224. 46 || 13 4. 25 | 17 || 4
734.95 || 153| 2 || 3 || 99 || 10 5
161. 33 || || 0 || 10 21 4 || 0
584. 121 | 13 4. 69 6 || 1 ||
1954.45 |407 || 3 || 6 || 234 || 2 || 8
1.14 || . 4 || 9 || . 3 || 4
.3% . | 1.9 © 1.6
;
e .3

g

Comparative Cost of Manufacturing, including Raw Material.
Charges on Shipment to the British Manufacturer,
Freight and Insurance, º º º
Importer's Profit,
Duty on Cotton Wool, .
Inland Carriage, (average,)
Nett charges on Importation of Cotton to the British Manufacturer,
Average do. to the American Manufacturer, (see pages 127 and 128,)
1 Piece of 25 yards, 84 lbs. = .34 lbs. per yard.
Add ºth for Waste and Loss, .056
.396 lbs. of cotton (a) 7d. per lb.
Add charges on Shipment, 27% per cent. • tº g º
Cost of Raw Material in Britain per yard,
Charges of Manufacturing in do. do. . g e º
Nett Cost of one yard of Cloth to the British Manufacturer, .
.396 lbs. of Cotton (as above) @ 7d. per lb.
Add charges in America, 11 per cent.
Cost of Raw Material in America per yard, . . º º o
Charges of Manufacturing in do. do. º o e e
Nett cost of one yard of Cloth to the American Manufacturer,
Nett difference of Manufacturing in favour of America, equal to 3 per cent,
4 tº cent.
12% do.
ll
27} tº cent
do.
2.772d.
.762d.
3.534d.
1.600d.
2.772d.
.305d.
3.077 d.
1.900d.
5.134d.
4.977 d.
. 1570.
126 COMPARATIVE ESTIMATES
It is not designed by the preceding estimates to
point out the amount of profit realized by manu-
facturing cotton goods, as that will often vary ac-
cording to the state of the markets. The chief de-
sign is to show the real cost of manufacturing in the
United States and in Great Britain: and the utmost
accuracy has been studied in order to give a fair and
impartial statement of the actual expense of manu-
facturing in both countries, so as to ascertain the
real difference as nearly as possible.
The comparison has been made upon goods which
require the same quality of cotton—the same ex-
pense in manufacturing, —and each yard contains the
same weight of raw material; so that they may be
supposed to sell at the same price. The various
estimates have been submitted to the inspection and
correction of experienced manufacturers in both
countries, by whom they are considered accurate
and impartial statements.
The amount of goods produced is much greater
in America than in Great Britain; but the hours of
labour are somewhat longer in the former than in
the latter country.
The cost of the buildings, machinery, &c. is a
great deal higher in America than in Britain, as
well as the general rate of wages, particularly in the
carding department.
After comparing the advantages and disadvantages
of each, it appears that the British manufacturer
can produce his goods, at least 19 per cent. cheaper
than the American. This, however, is more than
neutralised, by the cheaper rate at which the latter
can purchase his cotton. -
The circumstance of America being a cotton
OF COTTON FACTORIES. 127
growing country, will always give to her manu-
facturers advantages of which the British cannot
generally avail themselves. It is very common here
for several manufacturers to join together, and ap-
point some person acquainted with the business, to
go to the Southern States, and purchase cotton suffi-
cient for a year's consumption. The person thus ap-
pointed goes to the first markets, and selects such
cottons as he knows will suit those for whom he is
purchasing—he buys it at the cheapest rate, and has
it shipped to the nearest port to where it is to be
manufactured. The whole charge for commission
will not amount to one per cent. on the prime cost.
The ordinary way of purchasing, however, is
through a cotton agent in the South ; and in order
to show the whole expense on transactions of this
kind, I will here copy the amount of the charges
from some invoices now before me.
Mobile,
Invoice of 300 square bales of cotton shipped by J. Hazard & Co.
per Brig Pioneer, Jordon, for S , Maine, consigned to P
C , Esq. Treasurer, for account and risk of the Y Man-
ufacturing Co.
Dollars. Cents.
300 square bales of cotton, 141,138 lbs. at 12}
cents = 6; d per lb. 17,289 40
CH A R GES. Dol. Cts.
Draggage to store, 37;
Do. to vessel, 37;
Wharfage, 30
Storage, 25 cents per bale, --~~~~. 75
Bills of lading, . 50
Postages till date, 2 25
Brokerage, per cent, S6 45
Commission, 2% per cent, ~~~~~ 438 97
Freight, 1 cent per pound, …láll 38
Total charges, ~~~~~~ * w 2 l l 9 55
19408 95
128 COMPARATIVE EST IMATES
The whole amount of charges on the above 300
bales is about 12} per cent. on the prime cost;
and it is to be remarked, that the whole were
landed within 200 yards of the Factory where they
were to be used.
New Orleans,
Invoice of 122 bales of cotton, shipped by Stelston, Avey & Co.
per Ship Ohio, C. Cutter, bound to Boston for account and risk
of the Y Manufacturing Co. To the order of W B
S , Esq. and to him consigned.
Dollars. Cents.
122 Bales cotton, 53,913 lbs. at 103 cents = 5%d
per lb. 5795 64
CHARGES. Dol, Cts.
Draggage, 12 dollars 20 cents: repairs
on bagging, 1 dollar, . 13 20
Brokerage, } per cent = 28 dollars 97
cents. Commission, 2% tº cent= 144
dollars 88 cents = | 73 85
Freight, 3 cent, per lb. … 404, 35
Total charges, --- 59] 30
6,386 94
The charges on the above 122 bales, amount to
about 10% per cent, on the prime cost; and the
storage, &c. in Boston, together with the carriage to
the Factories, amounted to about , per cent. ; making
the whole charges for having the cotton laid down
at the Factories, something less than 10% per cent.
Savannah, Georgia,
Invoice of 100 bales of cotton, purchased and shipped by Wood-
bridge and May, on board Barque Richmond, Captain Andross, bound
OF COTTON FACTORIES. 129
for Boston, consigned to W B S , Esq. Presented by
his order for account and risk of the Y Manufacturing Co.
100 bales gross wt. 36,810 lbs.
Tare, 200 Dol. Cts.
Nett, 36,610 lbs. at 10.1% cts. = 5%d. tº lb. 4008 80
CHARGES. Dol. Cts.
Draggage, 8 cents, wharfage, 5 cents, tº bale, 13
One week's storage, at 64 dollars, ~~~~ 6 25
Mending bagging, twine, and labour, 4, 75
Commission on 4008-99; dollars at 2 tº cent, 80 17
1 O O
Freight, 3 cent, tº pound, 274, 58
Total charges, 378 75
4.387 53
The charges on the above 100 bales, are nearly
9, per cent. on the prime cost, to which add , per
cent, for additional expenses of storage and carriage
to the Factories, making the whole amount to about
10 per cent.
The above are fair specimens of ordinary transac-
tions, from which it will be seen, that the whole
expenses attending the purchase and carriage of
cotton, until it is laid down at the Factories, seldom
exceed 12 or 13 per cent, on the prime cost, and in
many cases are much less. The Cotton Factories
in this country are generally situated near the sea
coast, so that the expense of inland carriage is very
trifling, compared with that paid by the majority of
Factories in Great Britain. The carriage from
Boston to Lowell is two dollars per ton, while to
many other Factories, the inland carriage is not
above one dollar; at the same time, there are vari-
ous other Factories, in different parts of the country,
to which the carriage cannot be less than four dol-
lars per ton.
I 30 COMPARATIVE EST IMATES
The foregoing Tables bring out a view of the
manufacture of the two countries, which is worthy
of observation by the manufacturers on either side
of the Atlantic ; viz. that in every description of
goods in which the cost of the raw material exceeds
the cost of production, the American manufacturers
have a decided advantage over the British. And they
have availed themselves of this advantage to improve
the quality of their goods, as any person who has had
an opportunity of comparing the domestics manufac-
tured in the two countries, can have no hesitation in
giving the preference to those manufactured in Amer-
ica; and the experience of every British manufacturer
engaged in producing this description of goods has
painfully convinced him, that the superior quality of
the American goods is gradually driving him from
every foreign market. On this subject Mr. William
Gemmell of Glasgow states in his affidavit, (as given
in Mr. Graham's pamphlet on “The impolicy of the
tax on Cotton Wool,”) that although he was for sev-
eral years in the habit of supplying Chili with cotton
domestics, he has latterly been obliged to abandon
the trade, in consequence of being unable to compete
with the manufacturers of the United States.
Being well acquainted with the kind of domestics
manufactured by Mr Gemmell, and also with those
of the same kind manufactured in various places in
the United States, I do not think it is difficult to un-
derstand why Mr Gemmell was obliged to abandon
the trade. But if those kinds of domestics manufac-
tured by Mr John King of Glasgow, could be sent
to Chili on the same terms, they would be found to
stand a competition with any of the kind that has
OF COTTON FACTORIES. 131
yet been manufactured in any part of America.
The coloured tweel stripes also, made on the prin-
ciple invented by Mr John M'Bride of Messrs.
Sommerville and Sons, Glasgow, would, from their
beautiful texture and finish, successfully compete
with any of the same description I have yet seen
produced, either in this country or in Great Britain.
Hitherto the British have enjoyed a monopoly in
the manufacture of fine goods, but the resources of
the Americans will very soon enable them to com-
pete successfully even in these. No people in the
world are more enterprising, none more ready to
pick up and avail themselves of every improvement
by which their interest is to be advanced; and there
is no doubt, that, in a few years, they will adopt a
more economical method of getting up their works, a
more improved system of general management and
conducting of the various processes, which will ena-
ble them, even in the finer goods, to compete suc-
cessfully with the British.
It is worthy of remark, that, in printed goods,
the French have the advantage over both countries;
the French prints selling in this country 25 per
cent. higher than either the British or American.
There are a few statements made by Dr. Ure, in
his work entitled, “The Cotton Manufacture of
Great Britain systematically investigated,” which I
think scarcely correct, and which I will here notice.
At page xxxix. he states: “The capital required
to carry on the manufacture in the best manner
is considered to be at the rate of 100 dollars for each
spindle ; but, in general, not more than 60 dollars
have been expended.” I conceive 40 dollars are
132 COMPARATIVE ESTIMATES
amply sufficient for each spindle, allowing some-
thing above 20 for fixtures, and the remainder for
business capital.
At page xli. he gives the general rate of wages
paid in the United States, upon the authority of
Mr Kempton, a manufacturer from Philadelphia,
which statement may be correct as to the rate of
wages paid in the Southern section of the United
States, but differs very materially from those of
New England, where very few hands are employed
under fifteen or sixteen years of age, except in some
Mills about Rhode Island. The Factories about
Philadelphia cannot be admitted as a proper cri-
terion of the general state of the cotton manufacture
of America. The character and appearance of the
manufacturing population there, as well as the gen-
eral manner of conducting the business, are very
different from that of Massachusetts, which contains
nearly one third of the Cotton Factories in the whole
Union. In order to ascertain the actual state of the
cotton manufacture of America, we must take our
estimates of the cost of materials, rates of wages,
&c. &c. from that State. The rate of wages given
by Mr Kempton, compared with that generally paid
in the Factories of Massachusetts, is shown in the
following Table.
#
Rates of Wages paid in
MAssachusetTs.
Rates of Wages according to Mr KEMPTON's STATEMENT.
Card Tenters, …~~~ }
12 do.
14 do.
Attending Drawing Frames,...
16 do.
Attending Roving Frames, … 18 do.
Girls attending Throstle Frames,
Machine-Makers,
Overseers,
Assistant Overseers,
3|to 4| do.
10Years of age.—3/?week, - 72
CentS,
do.—4/ do. = 96 do.
do.—5/ do. = 120 do.
do.—6/ do. = 144 do.
do.—8/ do. = 192 do.
5/to8/do. = 120 to 192do.
5/ tº day = 120 do.
5|to 6| do. = 120 to 144 do.
= 72 to 96 do.
None employed.
Do.
l do.
1 dollar 80 cents.
2 dollars to 2 dollars 20 cents.
2 do.
2 do.
1 do.
1 do.
20 cents to 2 dollars 50 cents.
50 do. to 2 do. 75 do.
20 do, to 1 do. 50 do.
75 do. to 2 do. 25 do.
84 cents to 1 dollar 25 cents.
ka
134, COMPARATIVE ESTIMATES
Upon the same authority as the preceding, it
is stated by Dr. Ure ; “No. 16 water-twist, made
entirely of good cotton, sells in the United States
at 10%d. per pound; in England, No. 16 yarn,
made from a mixture of waste and a small quantity
of Uplands, sells at 11d. per pound.”
I have made inquiry regarding this statement at
some old and experienced manufacturers, none of
whom can recollect the time when No. 16 water-
twist could be manufactured and sold in any part
of the United States at 10%d. equal to 21 cents per
pound. There is certainly some mistake in this
statement; instead of 10%d. it ought to have been
13d. equal to 26 cents; and even this is too low.
It is stated at page xlvii. “The money prices of
provisions have been much higher in Great Britain
than in the manufacturing countries of the continent
of Europe and America.” Now it may be true,
that the prices of provisions have been higher in
Great Britain than in America; but they are not
so now. I can speak from experience on this sub-
ject, and have no hesitation in asserting, that the
price of living is higher in this country than in
Britain ; I know of nothing that is cheaper here
but spirits, tea, and tobacco. I have no doubt but in
the interior of the country, potatoes, Indian corn,
butter milk, poultry, &c. may be much cheaper; but
in all the cities and manufacturing places, they are
much higher. It will be supposed that flour must
be considerably cheaper here than in Great Britain;
but it is not always so, as during these few years past,
there has been a vast quantity of wheat imported
from Great Britain and the continent of Europe.
OF COTTON FACTORIES. 135
House rents are higher here than in Scotland,
and fuel is at least triple the price of what it is in
Glasgow. All kinds of clothing are higher, and
particularly the making of clothes. The price of
making a coat in Boston is from eight to twelve dol-
lars; as much as would purchase one complete in
Glasgow.
Dr. Ure proceeds to state, that “In the event of
that more serious struggle, which in the natural
progress of competition is likely to take place, the
cheapness of the means of subsistence, by conferring
a higher condition upon the foreign workman, leaves
more room for a reduction of wages. Mr. Kirkman
Finlay, a great authority in these matters, says,
* I think the difference would be this, that if the
amount of wages paid in Great Britain were abso-
lutely necessary for the comfortable subsistence of
the workmen, it would be quite clear that whatever
pressure there might be, those wages could not be
permanently reduced; but if the money wages paid
in America are sufficient to get a great deal more
than the absolute necessaries and comforts of life,
then, if there is a pressure upon its manufacturers,
they can so reduce the wages as to meet that diffi-
culty, and by that means undersell the manufac-
turers here.’ ” (Britain.)
That the general rate of wages is higher in the
United States than in Britain is admitted, particu-
larly the wages of females employed in the Factories.
The greater part of these are farmers’ daughters,
who go into the Factories only for a short time until
they make a little money, and then “clear out,” as
it is called; so that there is a continual changing
136 COMPARATIVE ESTIMATES
amongst them, and in all the places I have visited,
they are generally scarce; on that account the man-
ufacturers are under the necessity of paying high
wages, as an inducement for girls to prefer working
in the Factories to house-work: and while this state
of things continues, it is not to be expected that
wages in this country will be so low as in Great
Britain ; and although they have undergone a con-
siderable reduction during the late depression, still
they are higher than in any part of Britain.
Mr. Kirkman Finlay, in his letter to Lord Ashley
in 1833, states, that the prices of spinning a given
quantity of yarn from No. 10's to 20's, was 4ſ in the
United States, and 4/11 in Glasgow; and the prices
of carding the same numbers, were 6/7% in the
former, and 7/1} per week in the latter. I think
there must be some misunderstanding in this. The
prices of mule spinning in the New England States,
was, previous to 1837, 10 cents per 100 hanks, or
100 cents = 4/2 per 1000 hanks, while, at the same
time, the price of mule spinning in Glasgow, was
3/6, for all numbers under 40's, being about 17
per cent. in favour of Glasgow. But during 1837,
the price of mule spinning was greatly reduced in
the New England Factories; so far as I could learn,
the average rate was about 7 cents per 100 hanks
= 2/11 per 1000, which, supposing the rate still paid
in Glasgow to be 3/6, would be 21 per cent, in
favour of America.
Throstle spinning is nearly as cheap in this coun-
try as in Britain, in consequence of the higher speed
at which the spinning frames are driven, and the
greater quantity of work produced in a given time.
OF COTTON FACTORIES. 137
But the price of carding is fully double that paid in
Britain, because here men are generally employed
to attend the cards, spreading, scutching machines,
&c. while the same work is done by boys and girls
in Britain. The lowest wages paid to any girl in
the card room that I am aware of, is one dollar per
week and her board; and taking her board at the
lowest rate, viz. 1 dollar 20 cents per week, her
wages in all will amount to 2 dollars 20 cents, equal
to 10/2 sterling per week. The average rate of
wages for girls in the card room, may vary from 11/
to 12/6 per week. Men's wages may vary from 13| to
18/ per week. Thus, in every department, the rate
of wages is generally higher in the United States
than in Britain ; nor do I think that they will, at
least for many years, be so low in this country as in
Great Britain.
The price of living here is higher, and the hours
of labour longer; besides, the greater part of the
Factory workers being connected with farming,
whenever wages become reduced so low, as to cease
to operate as an inducement to prefer Factory labour
above any other to which they can turn their atten-
tion, then a great many Factories will have to shut
up. During a stagnation of trade, it is common for
the manufacturers here to stop a part, or the whole
of their Factories, and then the workers retire to
their farms: such was the case in 1837, when a vast
number of Factories were entirely shut up. Yet it
seemed not to affect the workers very materially;
indeed, many of the girls who had been some time
in a Factory, seemed to rejoice and regard it as a
time of recreation; so that the manufacturing popu-
138 - comparative ESTIMATES
lation of America are an entirely different class, and
placed in very different circumstances from those of
Great Britain, and very great changes must take
place before the wages in the former can be so low as
in the latter country: and, indeed, the manufacturers
here can afford to pay higher wages than the Bri-
tish, because they run their Factories longer hours,
and drive their machinery at a higher speed, from
which they produce a much greater quantity of
work; at the same time, they can purchase their cot-
ton at least one penny a pound cheaper, and their
water power does not cost above one-fourth of the
same in Great Britain. But though wages cannot
be reduced much lower than they are at present,
there are other means by which manufacturers
might abridge their expenditure. Their establish-
ments might be erected at much less expense—a
more improved arrangement might be adopted—
and the work conducted with much more economy.
All these, however, are matters which the Ameri-
cans will very speedily learn ; every successive de-
pression of trade will lead them more and more to
see the necessity of managing every department of
the business with the least possible expense; and as
soon as they can equal the British in this, they will
be able to compete with them, and that successfully
too, in any market whatever.
The British have, no doubt, attained to great
perfection in the art of manufacturing cotton goods;
but whether they will be able to maintain that high
pre-eminence to which they have arrived, or have to
yield to the increasing improvements of foreign na-
tions, are questions of difficult solution. Their most
OF COTTON FACTORIES. 139
powerful rivals are, doubtless, the Americans. The
manufacturers of no other country can purchase their
cotton so cheap, and it is presumed no country pos-
sesses so extensive water privileges; only a small por-
tion of which has yet been occupied. If we add to
these, the intelligence and enterprising spirit of the
people, it will at once be obvious to every unpreju-
diced mind, that the American manufacturers are the
most formidable competitors with which the British
have to contend in foreign neutral markets.
The preceding brief details will be interesting
chiefly to proprietors and practical manufacturers.
What follows, being more of an historical and sta-
tistical nature, will, it is hoped, be found interesting
both to them, and also to the general reader.
H IS TO RIC A. L S K E T C H
OF THE
RISE AND PROGRESS
<} F THE
C O T TO N M A N U F A C T U R E
IN
A M E R J C. A.
THE following brief sketch of the American Cot-
ton Manufacture has been compiled chiefly from
“White's Memoir of Slater,” a work replete with
interesting information, to which all who wish a
more complete illustration of this subject are re-
spectfully referred.
As early as the year 1787, a Society was formed
in Philadelphia, under the name of the “Pennsyl-
vania Society for the Encouragement of Manufac-
tures and the Useful Arts,” which made some pro-
gress in the manufacturing of various kinds of
goods, such as jeans, corduroys, fustians, plain and
flowered cottons, flax linens, tow linens, &c. But
the machinery employed in this manufacture seems
to have been of the very rudest kind. A short time
before the formation of this Society, an attempt to
spin cotton yarn by machinery had been made at
K
142 THE RISE AND PROGRESS
Bridgewater and Beverly, in the State of Mas-
sachusetts. Two mechanics from Scotland, Alex-
ander and Robert Barr, brothers, were employed
by a Mr Orr, at East Bridgewater, to make card-
ing, spinning, and roving machines, which they
completed, and on the 16th November, 1786, the
general court of Massachusetts made them a grant
of £200, lawful money, for their encouragement,
and afterwards added to the bounty, by giving them
six tickets in the State land lottery, in which there
were no blanks.
In March 1787, Thomas Somers, an English mid-
shipman, constructed a machine, or model, under
the direction of Mr Orr; and by a resolution of the
general court, £20 were placed in the hands of the
latter, to encourage him in the enterprise.
The above remained in the possession of Mr Orr
for the inspection of all disposed to see them, and
he was requested by the general court, to exhibit
and give all information or explanation regarding
them. It is believed that the above were the first
machines made in the United States for the manu-
facture of cotton.
The Beverly Company commenced operations in
1787, and are supposed to be the first Company that
made any progress in the manufacture of cotton
goods; (that at Bridgewater had been on a very
limited scale ;) yet the difficulties under which they
laboured—the extraordinary loss of materials in
the instruction of their servants and workmen—the
high prices of machines unknown to their mechanics,
and both intricate and difficult in their construction,
together with other incidents which usually attend a
OF THE COTTON MANU FA CTURE. 143
new business, were such, that the Company were put
to the necessity of applying to the State legislature
for assistance, to save them from being compelled to
abandon the enterprise altogether.
In their petition to the Senate and House of
Representatives of Massachusetts, presented June
2d, 1790, only three years after they had com-
menced operations, they state, “That their expen-
diture had already amounted to nearly £4000,
whilst the value of their remaining stock was not
equal to £2000, and a further very considerable ad-
vance was absolutely necessary, to obtain that de-
gree of perfection in the manufacture, which alone
could ensure success.”
Accordingly a grant of £1000 was presented to
them, to be appropriated in such a way as would
most effectually promote the manufacturing of cot-
ton piece goods in the Commonwealth.
The petition above referred to, and other collateral
facts, sufficiently prove, that cotton spinning in this
country, further than the hand card and one thread
wheel, was carried through its first struggles by the
Beverly Company in Massachusetts. And from this
State the manufacture was carried to Rhode Island,
though it must be acknowledged that both States
were indebted to foreign emigrants for instruction
and assistance in spinning and weaving, as well as
in preparing the cotton.
Cotton spinning commenced in Rhode Island in
1788, in which year Daniel Anthony, Andrew Dex-
ter, and Lewis Peck, all of Providence, entered into
an agreement to make what was then called “Home
Spun Cloth.” The idea at first was to make jeans
144 THE RISE AND PROGRESS
of linen warp spun by hand; but hearing that Mr
Orr of Bridgewater, and the Beverly Company, had
imported some models or draughts of machinery
from England, they sent thither, and obtained draw-
ings of them, according to which they constructed
machinery of their own. The first they made was
a carding machine, which was something similar to
those now used for carding wool, the cotton being
taken off the machine in rolls, and afterwards roped
by hand. The next was a spinning frame, some-
thing similar to the water frame, or rather the com-
mon jenny, but a very imperfect machine. It con-
sisted of eight heads of four spindles each, being
thirty-two spindles in all, and was wrought by means
of a crank turned by the hand; this, after being tried
for some time in Providence, was taken to Pawtucket,
and attached to a wheel propelled by water: the work
of turning the machine was too laborious to be done
by the hand, and the machine itself was too imperfect
to be turned by water. Soon after, these machines
were sold to Moses Brown of Providence; but as all
the carding and roving was done by hand, it was
very imperfect, and but very little could be done in
this way. Such were the rude machines used for
spinning cotton previous to 1790; and the wonder
is, not that the manufacturers failed in their under-
takings, but rather that they were able to persevere.
And we can now perceive that from these small be-
ginnings, the present brightened prospects received
their foundation.
Previous to 1790, the common jenny and stock
card had been in operation in various parts of the
United States: and mixed goods of linen and cotton,
OF THE COTTON MANUFA CTURE. 145
were woven principally by Scotch and Irish weav-
ers. Mr Moses Brown of Providence, had several
jennies employed in 1789, and some weavers at
work on linen warps. The jennies were used for
making weft, and operated by hand in the cel-
lars of dwelling houses. During 1790, Almy and
Brown of Providence, manufactured 326 pieces,
containing 7823 yards, of various kinds of goods.
There were also several other Companies and indi-
viduals in different parts of the Union, who manu-
factured goods from linen warps and cotton weft.
But notwithstanding these most laudable and perse-
vering efforts, every attempt failed of success, and
they saw their hopes and prospects entirely pro-
strated. There was no deficiency of enterprise or
exertion; no want of funds, or of men ready and will-
ing to engage in the business; and no lack of pat-
romage from the government, they having learned
from the privations to which the country was sub-
jected during the revolutionary war, the absolute
necessity of promoting and encouraging domestic
manufactures. The great cause of these failures is
to be found in the fact, that during all these inci-
pient struggles to establish the cotton manufacture
in America, Great Britain had in full operation a
series of superior machinery, which the manufac-
turers in this country had in vain endeavoured to
obtain.
It is to be remembered that Sir Richard Ark-
wright took his first patent for an intirely new
method of spinning cotton yarn for warps in 1769,
at which period his first Mill was put in operation
at Nottingham in England, and his second Mill,
146 THE RISE AND PROGRESS
which was much larger, was erected at Cromford,
Derbyshire, in 1771. After which his mode of
spinning by water frames extended rapidly all over
the kingdom ; so that during the period when the
most persevering exertions were being made, by va-
rious enterprising individuals, in different parts of
the United States, to improve and perfect this most
important manufacture, England was enjoying all the
benefit of Arkwright's patents, by means of which
cotton yarn was produced at much less expense, and
of a superior quality to any that had ever been made
by machinery before that period: and, at the same
time, the British government were using every
means in their power, to prevent models or drawings
of these machines from being carried out of the coun-
try. Every effort to erect or import this machinery
into the United States had hitherto proved abortive.
Much interest had been excited in Philadelphia, New
York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts, but they
found it impossible to compete with the superior
machinery of England. The difficulties under which
these incipient measures, towards the establishment
of the business, were pursued, can hardly be con-
ceived at the present day, even by a practical ma-
chinist or manufacturer. Besides the difficulties ex-
perienced in consequence of imperfect machinery, the
period at which the business commenced in this coun-
try, was also most unfavourable, as from the peculiar
state of the manufacture in England at that time,
and other causes, many in that country became bank-
rupts, their goods were sold at auction, and shipped
to the United States in large quantities, where they
were again sold at reduced prices. Agents were also
OF THE COTTON MIANU FA CTURE. 147
sent from England to the various manufacturing
towns with goods, which were sold at low prices and
long credit given, extending in some instances to
eighteen months. It is likewise said, that British
manufacturers formed themselves into societies, for
the purpose of sending goods to this country, to be
sold on commission, when they could not be disposed
of to advantage at home.
Such was the state of the cotton manufacture in
the United States in 1790: every endeavour to intro-
duce a proper system of spinning had been fruitless;
and nothing but the introduction of the water frame
spinning, which had superseded the jennies in Eng-
land, could have laid a foundation for the successful
prosecution of the business in America; and that
was happily accomplished by one who was personally
and practically acquainted with the business in all its
details. The individual here referred to was Mr
Samuel Slater, who has justly been called the FA-
THER OF THE COTTON MANUFACTURE OF AMERICA.
Mr Slater was born in the town of Belper, Derby-
shire, England, on 9th June, 1768; and when about
fourteen years of age, he was bound an apprentice, at
Milford, near Belper, to Jedediah Strutt, Esq., (the
inventor of the Derby ribbed stocking frame, and for
several years a partner with Sir Richard Arkwright
in the cotton spinning business.) At that time Mr
Strutt was erecting a large Factory at Milford, where
Slater continued to serve him for some time in the
capacity of clerk, but during the last four or five
years of his apprenticeship, his time was solely de-
voted to the Factory, as general overseer, both as re-
spected the making of the machinery and in the man-
148 THE RISE AND PROGRESS
ufacturing department. After having completed the
full term of his engagement, viz. six and a half years,
he continued for some time longer with Mr Strutt,
for the purpose of superintending some new works
that were then erecting: his design in doing so, was
to perfect his knowledge of the business in every de-
partment, as previous to this time his thoughts had
been directed to America, by various rumours which
had reached Derbyshire, of the anxiety of the govern-
ments of the different States in that country to intro-
duce and encourage manufactures. A newspaper
account of a liberal bounty of £100 having been
granted to a person who succeeded in constructing a
very imperfect carding machine, for making rolls for
jennies, and the knowledge that a society to promote
manufactures had been authorised by the same legis-
lature, finally determined him to try his fortune in
the western hemisphere.
Mr Slater had a perfect knowledge of the Ark-
wright mode of spinning; and from the confidential
situation he occupied under Mr Strutt, few enjoyed
the same opportunities of acquiring a complete know-
ledge of all the minutiae of the business; and being a
person of retentive memory, close observation, and
attentive to his engagements, it can easily be sup-
posed that he must have been eminently qualified
to introduce the cotton manufacture into America
upon the same improved scale in which it was then
in operation in England, especially as his mind had
been for some time directed to that object. For,
having once determined to leave his native country,
and give to the land of his adoption all the benefit
of his practical knowledge and enlarged experience,
OF THF COTTON MANUFACTURE. 149
there is every reason to suppose that he would em-
brace every opportunity of preparing himself for the
great object he had in view. He knew that it was
impossible to take any patterns or drawings along
with him, as the government restrictions were very
severe, and the custom-house officers scrupulously
searched every passenger for America. It was there-
fore necessary that he should be fully qualified to su-
perintend the building and arrangement of the Mills,
the construction of the machinery, and to direct
the details of the manufacture, without the aid of a
single individual: as the whole business was new to
the people of this country, he could not expect any
one to assist him except by his own directions. He,
accordingly, stopped with Mr Strutt, until he con-
sidered himself qualified to engage in this important
enterprise.
He embarked at London for New York, on the
13th September, 1789, and landed at the latter on
the 17th November, after a passage of sixty-six days.
He was immediately after his arrival introduced to
the New York Manufacturing Company; but finding
that the state of their works did not suit his views,
he left that place in the January following for Provi-
dence, Rhode Island, and there made arrangements
with Messrs. Almy and Brown, to commence pre-
parations for spinning cotton entirely upon his own
plan : on the 18th of the same month, the venerable
Moses Brown took him out to Pawtucket, where he
commenced making the machinery, principally with
his own hands; and on the 20th December, 1790, he
started three cards, drawing, and roving, together
with seventy-two spindles, entirely upon the Ark-
150 THE RISE AND PROGRESS
wright principle, being the first of the kind ever
operated in this country. These were worked by
the water wheel of an old fulling mill in a clothier's
building, in which place they continued spinning
about twenty months; at the expiration of which
time several thousand pounds of yarn were on hand,
notwithstanding every exertion had been used to
weave it up and sell it.
Early in 1793, Almy, Brown, and Slater, built a
small Mill in the village of Pawtucket—known to
this day by the name of the Old Factory—in which
they put in operation seventy-two spindles, with the
necessary preparation, and to these they gradually
and slowly added more and more as the prospects
became more encouraging. After a short time, be-
sides building another Factory, they considerably
enlarged the first.
Such then were the circumstances under which
the Arkwright mode of spinning was introduced in-
to this country, and such was the individual to whom
belongs the entire merit of its introduction. Previ-
ous to 1790, the year in which Mr Slater arrived
at Providence, and which is justly denominated the
era of the American cotton manufacture, there had
been introduced at various places, particularly at
New York, Providence, and Massachusetts, jennies,
billies, and cards, for spinning cotton weft, to be
woven into velverets, jeans, fustians, &c. with linen
warp; but the history of those times shows the im-
perfection of the above-named machines to have been
such, as to preclude the manufacture of cotton cloth,
or cotton yarn for warps—that they were defective
in their operations—deficient and expensive in their
OF THE COTTON MANU FACTURE. 151
application—and that, under such difficulties and
perplexities, it was entirely beyond the power of
American manufacturers to compete with foreign
goods introduced by British agents and American
merchants, even though assisted by legislative aid,
as was done at Beverly.
The citizens of Massachusetts, perplexed and in-
volved in their incipient and imperfect attempts to
manufacture cotton goods, and fully aware of the
importance of introducing a better system of ma-
chinery, which they knew to be in successful opera-
tion in Great Britain, exerted themselves to obtain
a model of the Arkwright patent spinning frame;
but finding no person able to construct that series of
machinery, and unable to obtain one from England,
in consequence of the severe penalties imposed by the
government on the exportation of machinery, they
entirely failed in all their efforts. In this gloomy
period of the American manufacture, Mr Samuel Sla-
ter, as already stated, then in the employ of Strutt and
Arkwright, having seen a premium offered by the
Pennsylvania Society for a certain machine to spin
cotton, was induced to leave the land of his fathers,
where he had every prospect of succeeding in busi-
ness, and embark for America. After his arrival,
being informed that Moses Brown of Providence
had made some attempts at water spinning, he re-
paired thither; but on seeing Mr Brown's machin-
ery, he pronounced it entirely worthless, and advised
him to lay it aside. At this period, without the aid
of a single individual skilled in making machinery,
Mr Slater constructed the whole series of spinning
machines upon the Arkwright principle, and put
159. THE RISE AND PROGRESS
them in operation so perfectly, as to supply all the
establishments with cotton warp superior to linen ;
and in fourteen months Mr Brown informed the
Secretary of the Treasury, that machinery and Mills
could be erected in one year, to supply the whole
United States with yarn, and thus render its im-
portation unnecessary. Such is the amount of evi-
dence regarding the introduction of the Arkwright
machinery into the United States; and if the man-
ufacturing establishments are in reality a blessing,
as has been well observed, the name of Slater must
ever be held in grateful remembrance by the Ameri-
can people.
Mr Slater laboured under every disadvantage in
the construction of his machinery; for although he
had perfect confidence in his own remembrance of
every part and pattern, and in his ability to perfect
the work according to his agreement, yet he found
it difficult to get mechanics who could make any-
thing like his models. But, perhaps, one of his
greatest difficulties was to get card sheets made to
suit his machines, as the card-makers in this country
were entirely unacquainted with the operations of
his machinery; indeed, the first carding machine he
put in operation, had almost turned out an entire
failure, in consequence of the defective manner in
which the card teeth were set. But he persevered
until he overcame this, as well as all his other diffi-
culties; and his case furnishes one other bright ex-
ample of the never-failing success which always
attends patience and perseverance in the pursuit of
any laudable object.
In 1798 Mr Slater entered into partnership with
OF THE COTTON MANUFACTURE. 155
Cy
Oziel Wilkinson, Timothy Green, and William
Wilkinson; the two latter, as well as himself, having
married daughters of Oziel Wilkinson. He built his
second Mill on the East side of Pawtucket river; the
firm was Samuel Slater & Co., as he owned one half
of the stock. A short time afterwards the hands in
this Mill revolted, or struck work for higher wages;
five or six of them went to Cumberland, and erected
a small Mill, owned by Elisha Waters and others:
from these men and their connections, several Fac-
tories were commenced in various parts of the coun-
try, and, in fact, most of the establishments erected
from 1790 to 1809, were built by men who had
directly or indirectly, drawn the knowledge of the
business from Pawtucket, the cradle of the Amer-
ican Cotton Manufacture. Some of his servants
stole his patterns and models, and by that means his
improvements were soon extended over the country;
so that the business has, from that to the present
time, been rapidly extending over the United States.
Mr Slater's business was so prosperous, that
about the year 1806, he invited his brother, Mr
John Slater, to come to this country, who, in all
probability, brought with him a knowledge of all
the most recent improvements made by the English
spinners. The now flourishing village of Slaters-
ville in Smithfield, was then projected, in which
John Slater embarked as a partner, and in June of
the same year, removed to Smithfield as superin-
tendent of the concern. In the spring of 1807, the
works were sufficiently advanced for spinning; and
up to the present time, they have been under the
management of that gentleman in an uninterrupted
1 5 | THE RISE AND PROGRESS
state of improvement. This fine estate was owned
in equal shares by four partners, but now wholly
belongs to John Slater and the heirs of his brother.
Cotton spinning, according to the preceding state-
ments, commenced in the then obscure village of
Pawtucket in 1790, at which time only seventy-two
spindles were put in operation. Since that time,
the rapid extension of the business in this country
has been equalled only by that of Great Britain.
According to the report of a Committee, appointed
by Congress in 1832, to inquire into the progress of
spinning and of the manufacture of cotton goods,
The number of Mills in twelve States, were … 795
Spindles in do. 1,246,503
Looms in do. 33,506
Males employed in the Manufacture, … 18,539
Females do. do. … 38,927
Total employed, 57,466
Previous to 1815, the whole weaving in the
United States was done by hand looms, in many of
which considerable improvements had been made,
and great quantities of cloth were manufactured for
home consumption. About 1814, a Mr Gilmour
landed in Boston from Glasgow, with patterns of the
power loom and dressing machine, whom Mr John
Slater invited to Smithfield, and made known to him
his wishes to construct these important machines; but
not being able to prevail on the whole of the part-
ners to engage in the business, Mr Gilmour re-
mained some time at Smithfield, employed as a me-
chanic, where he introduced the hydrostatic press,
which proved to be of great advantage in pressing
cloth, &c.
OF THE COTTON MANUFACTURE. 155
Judge Lyman of Providence had been endeavour-
ing to construct a power loom, but failed in the at-
tempt. On hearing of Mr Gilmour, he, with some
other gentlemen, entered into a contract with him,
to build a power loom and dressing machine from
the patterns he had brought from Great Britain,
which he did to the great satisfaction of his patrons,
from whom he received a compensation of 1500 dol-
lars. These machines were soon after introduced
into Pawtucket, where David Wilkinson commenced
making them for sale. Gilmour was a man of great
mechanical genius, but neglected to turn his talents
and opportunities to the advantage of his family,
and, consequently, on his death, they were left in
poor circumstances.
The hand looms were soon superseded by the
others, the introduction of which greatly aided in ex-
tending the business in this country, and has enabled
the American manufacturers to compete with Great
Britain in South America, India, and some other
foreign markets.
STATISTICAL NOTICES
OF WARIOUS
M A N U F A C T U R IN G D IS T R I C T S
IN THE
UNITED STATES.
THE preceding historical sketch details the intro-
duction of the cotton manufacture into the United
States, and the names of the several gentlemen
through whose enterprising exertions it was first
established. But in order to know its success, or
the extent to which it has arrived, it is necessary to
give some account of the various manufacturing dis-
tricts. As the Cotton Factories of America, how-
ever, are widely scattered over a great extent of
country, it is impossible here to take notice of them
all. Some observations on a few of the principal
districts is all that will be attempted.
It has already been stated in a former part of this
work, that Massachusetts is the principal manufac-
turing State in this country. An Act was passed
by the Senate and House of Representatives of that
State in 1837, for the purpose of obtaining “Sta-
tistical information in relation to certain branches
of Industry within the Commonwealth.” The fol-
lowing Table is copied from the report of the
Secretary of the Commonwealth, which he pre-
pared from the returns of the assessors in the
various towns and cities in the State.
§

STATEMENT of the Cotton Manufacture of the State of MASSACHUSETTS in 1837. Compiled from the Returns
of the Assessors in each Town and County, by John P. BigELow, Secretary of the Commonwealth.
- Yards of Cloth Value of Cotton 4 - Capital invested
COUNTIES, *śl off. [...º. * Gºº- cºal dº | ºn
JDollars. Dollars.
Suffolk,
Essex, 7 13,300 804,222 || 2,301,520 372,972 115 402 337,500
Middlesex, 34 165,868 17,696,245 52,860,194 5,971,172 1054 6435 6,909,000
Worcester, 74 124,720 5,292,018 20,280,312 1,991,024 1884 1998 2,015,100
Hampshire, 6 8,312 563,000 | 1,574,000 176,060 72 233 216,000
Hampden, 20 66,552 4,727,302 || 15,107,583 | 1,504,896 626 1886 1,698,500
Franklin, . 4. 5,924 135,045 | 1,081, lq0 76,125 48 140 90,000
Berkshire, 31 35,260 | 1,390,162 7,530,667 575,087 339 766 633,725
Norfolk, e 32 25,782 | 1,365,953 || 4,953,816 509,383 280 583 609,500
Bristol, 57 104,507 || 4,814,238 18,382,828 1,678,226 987 2015 1,622,778
Plymouth, . 15 13,298 480,884 2,052,061 182,474, 85 279 230,616
Barnstaple, 2 1,508 6,848 195,100 19,240 7 20 7,000
Dukes County,
Nantucket,
Total, 282 565,031 37,275,917 | 126,319,221 | 13,056,659 || 4,997 || 14,757 14,369,719
158 STATISTICAL NOTICES
The total population of the State of Massachusetts
at this period, was 701,331. The total number of
hands employed in all the different branches of in-
dustry, was 117,352. This number, (with the ex-
ception of those engaged in the rearing of sheep and
the fisheries,) does not include any of those em-
ployed in the various branches of agriculture and
commerce; neither does it embrace store-keepers,
clergymen, physicians, lawyers, bankers, hotel-keep-
ers, labourers, stage coach drivers, nor those em-
ployed on rail roads, in steam vessels, &c. It only
includes those employed in the various manufactur-
ing and mechanical arts, from the ship builder down
to the manufacturer of snuff and cigars, together
with wool growers, and those employed in the
fisheries.
Out of the 117,352 engaged in the various branches of industry,
there were employed in manufacturing cotton goods, 19,754 hands.
Cotton batting, thread, warp, and candle wicks, • 151
Calico printing, . C. e º tº e 1,660
Total employed in the Cotton Manufacture, . 21,565 hands,
being fully 3 per cent. of the whole population, and upwards of 18
per cent. of all those employed in the different manufacturing and
mechanical arts.
The annual value of the produce of all these arts and manufac-
tures was estimated at . e º . 86,282,616 dollars.
Value of cotton goods manufactured, 13,056,659 dollars.
Cotton batting, thread, warp, and wicking, 169,221 do.
Calico printing, . tº * . 4,183,121 do.
Total annual value of the Cotton Manufacture, 17,409,001 dol.
being about 20 per cent. of the value of all the manufactures of the
State.
OF MANUFACTURING DISTRICTS.
1.59
The amount of capital invested in the various branches of industry
54,851,643 dollars.
was estimated at
In the manufacture of cotton goods,
Cotton batting, thread, warps, and wicking,
Calico printing, -**
Total capital invested in the Cotton Manufacture, 15,986,719 dol.
being a little over 29 per cent. of the capital invested in all the
different branches of industry.
© $
14,369,719 dollars.
78,000
1,539,000
The following Table gives the number of Fac-
tories, capital invested, produce, hands employed,
&c. &c. in the State of New York.
STATEMENT of the Cotton Manufacture in the State of New
York: from Williams' Annual Register for 1835.

* tº c5 >, º -3
§ 2 | – ; Čás, Šá # sås ãº
##| ## s 35 | #: | s= | 3 #5 | #5
counties. | ##| #: ###| | #5 # 5 # == .#
2, 3 | Q E # = 3 | #5 5= ~# 5 || 5 5
& 8 3. § 2 C 2.
Oneida, 20 | 735,500 |1,705,290 31,596 || 175,080 5,273,200 2,354
Renselaer, 15 525,000 854,300 16,606 || 147,110 |2,790,315 1,621
Dutchess, . l2 445,000 | 833,000 17,690 | 185,500 1,952,000 | 1,974
Otsego, ll 304,000 || 618,543 15,344 || 56,000 2,322,000 | 1,077
Columbia, . 7 21S,000 || 559,000. 13,266 | 199,000 | 1,150,400 1,265
West Chester, 5 || 115,000 || 486,000 9,400 || 438,000 | . . . 2SO
Washington, 5 | 100,000 | 168,800 3,606 || 33,500 || 717,650 275
Herkimer, 5 || 35,000 | 106,237| 2,296, 33,500 || 269,912 | 28
Saratoga, 4 144,000 || 270,000 5,752 . . . 1,210,660 || 460
Jefferson, 3 170,000 || 327,000 6,020 22,600 | 1,004,720 595
Ulster, . 3 || 140,000 || 410,000 5,796 330,000 | 115,000 475
Orange, . 3 || 135,000 || 251,000. 4,200 4,000 || 740,000 || 460
Madison, 3 || 30,000 || 35,000 1,998 || 31,500 . . . 35
Tompkins, 3 28,000 || 55,500 S12 1,000 | 199,063 97
Onondaga, 2 | 62,000 | 125,000 2,160 5,000 || 460,000 || 2:25
Monroe, . 2 55,000 || 208,000 2,648 || 105,000 || 300,000 || 320
Clinton, . 2 16,000 || 25,000 S84 | . . . 100,000 70
Rockland, 1 100,000 200,000 3,500 | 40,000 || 460,000 || 500
Schenectady, l 77,000 || 1 18,000 2,000 20,000 || 416,000 | 200
Chenango, l 75,000 | 200,000. 4,474 | . . . . S00,000 225
Seneca, I 70,000 | 190,000. 4,000 & © 550,000 150
Caynga, . l 70,000 | 180,000 2,692 8,000 1S0,000 || 13S
Franklin, l 10,000 | . . . * @ * - - * e - © tº
Suffolk, . l 10,000 || 36,000 576 || 33,000 30
Total, . l 12 3,669,5007,961,670 157,316|1,867,790 21,010,920 12,954
160 STATISTICAL NOTICES
The number of persons employed in the cotton
manufacture in the State of New York, according
to the preceding Table, was 12,954; being more
than three-fifths per cent. of the whole population,
which at that period was estimated at upwards of
two millions.
The valuation of property in that State, from
the Comptroller's Report of January 1835, was as
follows:—
Real Estate, º 350,346,043 dollars.
Personal Estate, e 108,331,941
Total, e e o . 458,677,984 dollars.
The capital invested in the cotton manufacture being 3,669,500
dollars, is nearly one per cent. on the valuation of the whole
property of the State.
STATEMENT of the Cotton Manufactures in 12 of the States
$n 1831.
STATES. Capital. Number of clºsed cººd .§:
Spindles. yearly. yearly. yearly.
Dollars.
Maine, 765,000 6,500 1,750,000 525,000 588,500
New Hampshire, 5,300,000 || 113,776 29,060,500 7,255,060 | 7,845,000
Vermont, 295,500 I2,392 2,238,400 574,500 760,000
Massachusetts, 12,891,000 || 339,777 79,231,000 21,301,062 24,871,981
| Rhode Island, 6,262,340 || 235,753. 37,121,681| 9,271,481 | 10,414,578
Connecticut, 2,825,000 l 15,528, 20,055,500 5,612,000 || 6,777,209
New York, . 3,669,500 157,316 21,010,920, 5,297,713| 7,661,670
New Jersey, 2,027,644 62,979| 5,133,776|| 1,877,418 5,832,204
Pennsylvania, . 3,758,500 | 120,810 21,332,467 4,207,192 || 7,111,174.
Delaware, . 384,500 24,806, 5,203,746 1,201,500 | 1,435,000
Maryland, 2, 144,000 47,222 7,649,000 2,224,000 || 3,008,000
Virginia, 290,000 9,844 675,000 168,000 | 1,152,000
Total, 106. 2,984 1,216.703290,461,990 59,514,926 77,457,316

OF MANUFACTURING D ISTRICTS. 161
In the State of Pennsylvania there were 500,000
dollars, and in Delaware 162,000 dollars invested in
hand looms, both of which sums are included in the
amount specified in the preceding Table, as the
capital invested in the cotton manufacture.
The preceding Table shows the extent of the cot-
ton manufacture of the United States in 1831; since
that time there has been a considerable increase.
The amount of capital invested in manufactures in
the State of Massachusetts was then 12,891,000 dol-
lars; in 1836, it had increased to 14,369,719 dollars,
being nearly 12 per cent. in the space of only five
years; but allowing the ratio of increase since 1831
to be 10 per cent. all over the Union, the amount of
capital now invested in the cotton manufacture can-
not be less than forty-five millions of dollars, equal
to £9,375,000 Sterling, being about a fourth part
of the capital invested in the cotton manufacture of
Great Britain.
The following Table contains the number of
Mills, rate of weekly wages, and the number of
hands employed in the Factories in 1831.
Average #Yerage children Average
g Males | Yºges Females Yages of indºw
STATES. Mills. Looms. ºa º: §. º* ". ޺
g dols, cts. dols. Cts. dols. cts.
Maine, . . . 8 91 84 || 5 50 205, 2 33
New Hampshire, 40 3,530 875 6 25 4,090. 2 60 6() 2 0
Vermont, i7 352 | 102 || 5 0 || 363 l 84) 19 || 1 40
Massachusetts, . |256 8,981 2,665||7 0 ||10,67s, 2 25
Rhode Island, l 16 || 5,773 | 1,731 || 4 25 3,297. 2 20 || 3,472 || 1 50
Connecticut, 94 2,609 | 1,399 || 4 50 2,477 2 20 || 439 || 1 50
New York, . 1 12 3,653 1,374 || 6 0 || 3,652; 1 90 || 484 || | 40
New Jersey, 31|| Siș 2,131|| 6 o 3,070 i 30 217 i to
Pennsylvania, 67 6,301 6,545 || 6 0 8,351 2 0
Delaware, . ić 235 697 || 5 () 676 2 0
Maryland, 23 1,002 || 824, 3 S7 1,793 l 91
Virginia, 7 9 | 143 2 73 #5 l §§
Total, . . . Sol 33,433 18,590 38,927 | 3.09.
162 STATISTICAL NOTICES
The preceding tables show the particular distri-
bution of the cotton manufacture in the United
States, from which it will be seen that the greatest
number of Factories and spindles employed are in
the State of Massachusetts, next to it are Rhode
Island and New York; but Rhode Island is a very
small State compared with either of the other two,
and in proportion to its extent may be said to con-
tain more than three times the number of Cotton
Factories in New York State. The cotton manu-
facture commenced in Massachusetts and Rhode
Island, and ever since these two have continued the
principal manufacturing States in the Union.
LOWELL, (MASSACHUSETTS.)
THE principal manufacturing town in the United
States is that of Lowell, which may justly be
denominated the Manchester of America, as regards
the amount of capital invested for manufacturing
purposes, the extent of the business, and the spirited
manner in which it is conducted. And here, too,
the Factory system is perhaps in more perfect opera-
tion than in any other part of the United States.
Here are the largest establishments, the most perfect
arrangement, and the richest corporations. And it
may, without fear of contradiction, be asserted, that
the Factories at Lowell produce a greater quantity
of yarn and cloth from each spindle and loom (in a
given time, ) than is produced in any other Facto-
ries without eaception in the world.
OF MANUFACTURING D1STRICTS, 163
The following short account of the introduction
of the cotton manufacture into Lowell is quoted
from the Lowell Journal, a spirited newspaper pub-
lished weekly.
“The territory of Lowell is about four square
miles, and contains upwards of fifteen thousand”
inhabitants. About eighteen years ago the whole
of this was owned by a few honest farmers, who ob-
tained subsistence for themselves and families by
the cultivation of this comparatively barren spot;
and the fish they caught in the Merrimack and Con-
cord rivers. And being situated at the confluence
of these two rivers, was called Chelmsford Neck,
and originally by the Indians Wamaset.
“For centuries it lay with its vast resources slum-
bering in its bosom, unsuspected and unknown. But
the spirit of improvement came, and its touch like
that of the magic wand, has turned this seeming
wilderness, not simply into a fruitful field, but into
a busy, enterprising, and prosperous city.
“In 1819, Kirk Boot, Esq.,t a wealthy Merchant
of Boston, explored this place in the habit of a hunter.
He discovered its resources, and immediately, in
* This was the number of inhabitants at the time this article was
written, but according to a late statement in the same paper it appears
there are now 20,000.
t Mr Kirk Boot was a native of Boston, but received his early
education in England; he spent one or two years at Harvard
University, after which he joined the British army, and served some
time as an officer under the Duke of Wellington in the Peninsular
war; on his return from which, he spent some years at the Military
School at Woolwich, in England, where he acquired considerable
164 STATISTICAL NOTICES
company with several other rich merchants of that
city, purchased the land and water privileges.
“They were incorporated by the name of the Pro-
prietors of the Locks and Canals on Merrimack river,
and commenced operations, by digging a Canal from
the Pawtucket Falls, easterly, one mile and a half
where it emptied itself into the Concord river. This
Canal is sixty feet wide, and carries in depth eight
feet of water. This is their grand Canal; lateral
branches are cut, which carry the water to the sev-
eral manufactories, from which it is discharged into
the Merrimack or Concord rivers. They then erect-
ed a large machine shop, and commenced building
machinery. This company sell out the privileges
proficiency as a draftsman and engineer. On his return to Boston,
he engaged in mercantile pursuits, his mind being now withdrawn
from the military, and directed to that of a commercial or mercantile
life: he easily discovered the vast resources of the Merrimack, and
the immense advantages that might be derived from employing its
waters in propelling machinery; accordingly he found some wealthy
merchants in Boston equally enterprising with himself, who willingly
joined with him in purchasing the property on which the city of
Lowell now stands. Mr Boot was appointed their agent, and
superintended the cutting of the Canals, erecting the Factories, plan-
ning and building the whole city, in which situation his extraordinary
talents for business rendered his services invaluable : during his
superintendence, a large thriving city, containing nearly 20,000
inhabitants, was raised from a comparative wilderness. He died,
April 11th, 1837, deeply regretted by a numerous circle of friends.
He was a man of a generous public spirit, possessed of energy and
enterprise sufficient for accomplishing great undertakings, while his
gentlemanly manners and urbanity endeared him to his friends, his
disinterested generosity and kindness gained for him the public
respect.
OF MANUFACTURING DISTRICTS. I 65
to manufacturing companies, dig the Canals, erect
the Mills, and build the machinery, all ready for
being put in operation; they do all this cheaper than
any other company will do it; and these are the
only terms on which they will sell the privileges.
“The Locks and Canals Company have a capital
of 600,000 dollars, employ about 500 workmen in
the machine shop and otherwise. A part of their lands
have been sold out to individuals at an enormous
advance on the original price. Land for which they
paid 20 or 80 dollars per acre, has been sold again
for one dollar per square foot: there is still a por-
tion of their land on hand unsold.”—Kirk Boot, Esq.,
acted as their agent till his death in 1837.
“Lowell was incorporated in 1824 into a town
distinct from Chelmsford, and received its name
from Francis C. Lowell, Esq., who was amongst
the first to introduce manufactures in this place.
There are now twenty-seven Factories in operation,
besides print works, bleacheries, &c. and there yet
remain unoccupied privileges for nearly as many
more : when these are taken up, as, in all probabil-
ity, they will, they will then afford means of subsist-
ence to another 20,000 inhabitants, making the
whole about 40,000.
“A new Canal has been lately cut, which furnishes
sites for about a dozen of Mills. A rail-road of two
tracts has been completed between Boston and Low-
ell, which is found to be of mutual advantage to
both places, but especially to the latter. There is
also a steam boat plies between Nashua (another
manufacturing place) and Lowell, a distance of four-
teen miles, which likewise co-operates with the rail-
road.”
166 STATISTICAL NOTICES
The total amount of capital invested for manufac-
turing purposes at Lowell, was, at the beginning of
1839, about 9,000,000 dollars, equal to £1,875,000
Sterling. There are ten incorporated companies, viz.
1st, Locks and Canals Co.—capital 600,000 dol-
lars, = £125,000. This company originally owned
the whole water power, which they sell out to the
different manufacturing companies at the following
rate. A Mill power is estimated at 3,584 throstle
spindles, with the necessary machinery for preparing
the cotton and manufacturing the yarn into cloth,
and is sold for four dollars per spindle, = 14,336 dol-
lars for the whole Mill power, together with about
four acres of land surrounding the site of the Mill,
for the Mill court and other necessary buildings.
This company has a large machine shop for making
machinery for the cotton and woollen manufactures,
rail-road cars, engines, &c. They employ in gen-
eral upwards of 500 hands; when building Mills
they employ directly and indirectly from 1,000 to
1,200.
2d, The Merrimack Co.—capital 2,000,000 dol-
lars, = £416,666. 13. 4. This company have five
large Cotton Mills, besides print works. They run
37,984 throstle spindles, 1,300 looms, and give em-
ployment to 1,300 females, and 437 males; they make
upon an average 220,000 yards of cloth per week,
and use about 50,000 lbs. of cotton in the same time.
They generally spin No. 22's and 40's yarn for mak-
ing printed goods and sheetings.
3d, The Hamilton Co.—capital 1,000,000 dol-
lars, = £208,333 . 6 . 8. This company have a
large printing establishment, and three Cotton Mills.
OF MANUFACTURING DISTRICTS. 167
They run 20,992 throstle spindles 564 looms, and
give employment to 830 females and 230 males:
they make about 100,000 yards of cloth, and use
about 40,000 lbs. of cotton weekly: they generally
spin No. 14's to 40's yarn for making drilling (three
leaf tweel) printed and coloured goods.
4th, The Appleton Co.—capital 500,000 dollars,
= £ 104,166 . 13 . 4. This company have two
Cotton Mills, and run about 11,776 throstle spin-
dles, 380 looms, and give employment to 470 females
and 65 males. They make about 100,000 yards of
cloth, and use 40,000 lbs. of cotton weekly; they
generally spin No. 14's yarn for making shirtings
and sheetings.
5th, The Lowell Co.—-capital 500,000 dollars,
= £104,166 . 13 . 4. This company have one
Cotton and one Carpet Factory contained in one
building, but divided in the middle. They run
5,000 throstle spindles besides those used in the
woollen manufacture; 154 cotton and 70 carpet
looms; and give employment to 400 females, and
200 males. They make about 2,500 yards of carpet-
ing, 150 rugs, and 60,000 yards of cotton cloth per
week: they spin No. 12's yarn for making coarse
negro cloth.
6th, The Suffolk Co.—capital 600,000 dollars,
= £125,000. This company have two Cotton Mills,
and run 11,264 throstle spindles, 352 looms, and
give employment to 460 females, and 70 males.
They make about 90,000 yards of cloth, and use
about 32,000 lbs. of cotton weekly; they spin No. 14's
yarn for drillings.
7th, The Tremont Co.—capital 600,000 dol-
168 STATISTICAL NOTICES
lars, = £125,000. This company have two Mills,
and run about 11,520 throstle spindles, 404 looms,
and give employment to 460 females, and 70 males.
They make about 125,800 yards of cloth, and
use 34,000 lbs. of cotton weekly: they generally
spin No. 14's yarn, for making shirtings and
sheetings.
8th, The Lawrence Co.—capital 1,500,000 dol-
lars, = £312,500. This company have five ex-
tensive Factories and a Bleachery; they run 31,000
throstle spindles, 910 looms, and give employment
to 1,250 females, and 200 males. They make about
200,000 yards of cloth, and use about 64,000 lbs. of
cotton weekly: they spin No. 14's to 30's yarn for
making printed cloth, shirtings and sheetings.
9th, The Middlesex Co.—capital 500,000 dol-
lars, = £250,000. This company manufacture
broad cloths, cassimeres, &c. They have two Mills
and a dye-house, and give employment to 350
females, and 185 males: they run about 4,620
spindles, 38 broad cloth, and 92 cassimere looms.
They make about 6,300 yards of cassimere and 1,500
yards broad cloth weekly. They use 600,000 lbs. of
wool, and 3,000,000 teasels yearly.
10th, The Boot Cotton Mills Co.—capital
1,200,000 dollars, = £250,000. This company
have four large elegant Factories in operation,
containing 29,248 throstle spindles, and 830 looms.
They employ upwards of 950 females, and 120
males, and produce upwards of 155,000 yards of
cloth, and consume 53,300 lbs. of cotton weekly.
They spin from No. 14's to 50's yarn for making
drillings, shirtings, and cloth for printing. This
OF MANU FA CTURING DISTRICTS. 169
company spin the finest yarn on the dead spindle
throstle of any that I am aware of in this country.
To the above-named principal establishments may
be added, the extensive Powder Mills of O. M. Whip-
ple, Esq.; the Lowell Bleachery; Flannell Mills;
Card and Whip Factory; Planing Machine; Reed
Machine; Flour, Grist and Saw Mills, together em-
ploying above 300 hands, and a capital of 300,000
dollars, = £62,500; and in the immediate vicinity of
Lowell, there are Glass Works, and a Foundry
supplying every description of castings.
The Locks and Canals Co.'s Machine Shop can fur-
nish complete machinery for a Mill containing 5,000
throstle spindles with weaving in proportion, in four
months, having lumber and materials always at
command, to build or re-build a Mill in that time if
required.
The following Table contains a more condensed
view of the Lowell manufactures. It was compiled
at the beginning of 1839 from the most authentic
sources, and may be relied on for its accuracy. It
may be proper to remark, however, that Lowell is
not yet finished, but is still extending in wealth and
population ; nor can we conceive the extent to which
it may yet be enlarged, as it is the opinion of many
that there are still a sufficiency of power to propel
double the machinery already in operation: at
present it is the most important and extensive man.
ufacturing town in the United States, and in all
probability will continue to be so.
s
STATISTICs of Low ELL MANUFACTUREs, 1st January, 1839.—Compiled from authentic sources.
Dollars.
1,000,000
CORPORATIONS, ...
Capital Stock,--
Num. of Factories,
Spindles, ~~~~
Looms, ~~~~
Females employed,
Males employed,
Yds. made weekly,
Bales of Cotton
used per week,
Pounds of Cotton
used per week,
Yards dyed and
printed per week,
Tons wrought and
castiron used $2'an.
Locks and
Canals. |Merrimack.
Dollars. Dollars.
600,000 2,000,000
2 shops and 5
l smithy. and print
works.
37,984
1,300
1,300
500 437
e 220,000
120
50,000
185,000
1,225
Hamilton,
3
and print
works.
20,992
564,
830
230
100,000
100
40,000
70,000
Appleton.
Dollars.
500,000
2
11,776
380
470
65
100,000
100
40,000
|cotton, besides
Lowell.
Dollars.
500,000
I
cotton & carpet
5,000
woollen.
I54 cotton.
70 carpet.
400
200
60,000 cot.
2,500 carpet
150 rugs.
80
34,000
Suffolk.
Dollars.
600,000
2
11,264
352
460
70
90,000
90
32,000
Tremont,
Dollars,
600,000
2
11,520
404
460
70
125,800
90
34,000
Lawrence.
Dollars.
1,500,000
5
31,000
910
1,250
200
200,000
180
64,000
Middlesex.
Dollars.
500,000
and dye-house.]
4,620
38 broad cloth
92 cassimere.
350
185
6,300
Cassimere.
1,500
broad cloth.
600,000
lbs. wool.
3,000,000
teasels tº an.
Boot Cotton
Mills,
Dollars.
1,200,000
4.
29,248
830
950
120
155,000
130
53,300
TOTAL.
Dollars.
9,000,000
29
eXclusive of
print works,
163,404
5,094
6,470
2,077
1,061,250
890
347,300
255,000
1,225


§
e º º - * , Rugs, Drillings, Sheetings. | Printi Broad cloth, Printi
Kinds of Goods º' ºil; º;|*|† :::::::::: *ś ºf
made, &c, for rail-|No. 22 to 40. Drillings, No. 14. No. 14. Sheetings lings and
roads. No. 14 to 40, & Shirtings, Shirtings
No. 14 to 30 No. 14 to 50
Tons Anthracite
coals used p" year © º 5,200 2,800 400 400 330 330 650 500 750 11,360
Chaldrons Smiths’ coal, 200 e e tº e tº e e Q ſº 6 º' © C tº º e tº e tº e 200
Tons hard coal, ~~~~ 200 tº e • ‘e * e • * > tº - • * e - s tº e © e 200
Cords of wood
used per year, 300 570 1,250 e e 500 70 60 60 1,000 70 3,880
Gallons of oil used
per year, --~~~~ || 2,300 8,700 6,500 3,440 | Olive, 4000 3,840 3,692 8,217 Olive, 11,000 7,100 65,289
Sperm,4000 Sperm, 2,500
Diameter of wa-
ter wheels, … 13 30 13 13 13 13 13 17 17 & 12 17
Length of water
wheels, 14 24 42 14, 60 42 42 60 46 & 21 60
When incorporated 1792 1822 1825 1828 J828 1830 1830 1830 1830 1835
Commenced ope- w g
rations, …~~~ 1822 1823 1825 1828 1828 1832 1832 | 1833–4, 1830 1836
How warmed,..... Hot air | Steam & | Steam & | Hot air | Hot air | Steam & | Hot air | Steam. || Wakefield | Steam &
furnace. Hot air. Hot air. furnace. furnace. Hot air. furnace. furnace and Hot air.
Steam.

172 STATISTICAL NOTICES
Cotton consumed at Lowell per annum, (say one half Uplands, and
one half New Orleans and Alabama,) e 18,059,600 lbs.
Cloth manufactured at Lowell per annum, . 55,185,000 yds.
being rather more than 3 yards from each pound of Cotton.
One hundred pounds of Cotton will produce eighty-nine pounds of
Cloth.
Average wages of females at Lowell, 2 dollars per week, besides
their board.
Average wages of males, 80 cents. or 3/4 per day, besides their
board.
As regards the health of persons employed, great
numbers have been interrogated, and the result
shows that six females out of every ten enjoy better
health than before being employed in the Mills,
of males one half derive the same advantage : as re-
gards their moral condition, they are not inferior to
any portion of the community.
Medium produce of each loom at Lowell, on No. 14's, 44 to 55
yards per day.
Medium produce of each loom at Lowell, on No. 80's, 30 yards
per day.
Average produce per spindle, . . 116 yds. of cloth per day.
Average amount of wages paid per month, 145,000 dollars, =
f22,083. 6.8.
Consumption of Starch per annum, . e e 600,000 lbs.
… of Flour for Starch in the Mills, Print
Works and Bleachery per annum, e e 3,800 bar.
Consumption of Charcoal per annum, . o . 500,000 bu.
:
:
*
©
;
OF MIA NUFACTURING DISTRICTS. 173
Hours of labour at the Lowell Factories.
From the first of September to the first of May,
work is commenced in the morning as soon as the
hands can see to advantage, and stopped regularly
during these eight months, at half-past seven o’clock
in the evening.
During four of these eight months, viz. from
the first of November to the first of March, the
hands take breakfast before sunrise, that they may
be ready to begin work as soon as they can see: but
from the first of April till the first of October, 30
minutes are allowed for breakfast at seven o’clock,
and during the months of March and October at
half-past seven.
During the four summer months, or from the
first of May to the first of September, work is com-
menced at five o’clock in the morning, and stopped at
seven in the evening.
The dinner hour is at half-past twelve o’clock
throughout the year; the time allowed is 45 min-
utes during the four summer months, and 30 min-
utes during the other eight.
The following Table of the average hours of
labour, has been furnished me by an experienced
manufacturer, and is deemed as correct an average
as could be given.—The time given is for the first
of each month.
MI
174 STATISTICAL NOTICFS
Average hours of work per day throughout the year.
Ho. Min. Ho. Min.
January, . . . l l 24 July, . . . . 12 45
February, . . . ] 2 35 August, . . . 12 45
March, . . . . 11 52* | September, . . 12 23
April, . . . . 13 31 || October, . . . 12 10
May, . . . . 12 45 | November, . . l l 56
June, . . . . 12 45 || December, . . l l 24 |
Taking one day for each month, the whole num-
ber of working hours in the year, according to the
preceding Table, are 146 hours 44 minutes, which,
divided by twelve for the number of months, gives a
result of 12 hours 13 minutes as the average time
for each day, or 73 hours 18 minutes per week;
therefore about 73% hours per week may be re-
garded as the average hours of labour in the Cotton
Factories at Lowell, and generally throughout the
whole of the Eastern District of the United States.
In many, perhaps in the majority of the Cotton
Factories in the Middle and Southern Districts, the
hours of labour in summer are from sunrise to sunset;
or from half-past four o’clock in the morning, till
half-past seven in the evening; being about 13%
hours per day, equal to 82, hours per week. In
these Factories the average hours of labour through-
out the year will be about 75% per week.
* The hours of labour on the first of March are less than in
February, even though the days are a little longer, because 30
minutes are allowed for breakfast from the first of March to the first
of September.
OF MANU FA CTU RING DISTRICTS. 175
As the days in this country are shorter in summer,
and longer in Winter, than in Britain, the following
Table is given to show the time of the sun's rising
and setting on the first and fifteenth days of each
month in the year. It is compiled from the Ameri-
can Almanack, and adapted to the latitude of Bos-
ton, viz. 42° 20' 23% North.
Sun rises. | Sun sets. Length of day.
H. M. H. M.I. H. M.
January 1. --~~~~~ 7 30 4; 38 9 8
Do. 15, --~~ * * 4, 51 9 23
February 1. --~~~~~~~ 7 14, 5 14, 10 “
Do. 15. --~~~~ * *7 5 32 || 1 0 35
March 1. --~~~| 0 35 5 50 || 1 || 15
Do. 15. 2…~~~~| 0 13 6 7 || 1 || 55
April 1. --~~~~ * * 6 26 || 1 2 43
Do. 15. …~~~~ * 19 6 4.0 | 13 21
May 1. --~~~~ * * 6 59 || 14, 5
D. 15.l. 4 39 || 7 is iſ 39
June 1. --~~~~ * * 7 29 || 15 4.
Do. 15..….' 4 22 7 38 | 15 16
July 1. --~~~~ * * 7 40 | 15 14
Do. 15. --~~~~ + 30 7 35 | 1.4 59
August 1. --~~~~ * 52 7 20 14, 28
Do. 15. --~~~~ * 6 7 2 | 13 56
Septem: 1. …~~~~| 5 26 6 35 | 13 9
Do. 15. --~~~~~ 5 39 6 12 || || 2 33
October 1. --~~~~| 5 56 5 43 || 1 || 47
Do. 15. --~~~~~| 6 12 5 20 || 1 || 8
Novem. l. ~~~~~~| 6 33 4, 55 | 10 22
Do. 15. --~~~~~~ | 6 51 4, 39 9 48
Decem. 1. --~~~~~| 7 10 4, 29 9 19
Do. 15. --~~~~~| 7 33 4, 28 9 5
Lowell being the largest and most important
manufacturing town in the United States, I have
176 STATISTICAL NOTICES
;
:
carefully collected the most authentic and gen-
eral statistical information regarding it, as the rate
of wages, and other regulations established at this
place, will always have a considerable influence on
other manufacturing establishments in America.
The notice taken of other manufacturing places will
be more brief. **
As much vague and contradictory information
has been circulated in Great Britain regarding the
hours of labour in the American Factories, I have
endeavoured to give as accurately as possible, both
the average hours per week for the year, and the
length of working hours at the different seasons.
From the preceding statements, it will be seen that
the average hours per week throughout the year,
are 73; in the Eastern, and part of the Middle and
Southern Districts, and 75% in a considerable num-
ber, probably four-fifths of the Factories in the
Middle and Southern Districts.
In Great Britain the hours of labour per week
are limited by Act of Parliament to 69, or 11, hours
per day, but the general regulation in all the Fac-
tories is 9 hours on Saturday, and 12 hours on each
of the other five days. It is also enacted, that there
shall be six holidays in the course of the year. In
the United States, there are only three holidays in
the year. The first is called a general fast, and is
entirely devoted to religious exercises. It is gen-
erally kept about the middle, or the 20th of April,
being about the time the battle of Lexington was
fought, near Boston, when the first blood was shed
by the Americans in the cause of Independence.
The second holiday is the 4th of July, called
OF MANU FACTURING DISTRICTS. 177
Independence Day, and is wholly devoted to public
rejoicings, being an anniversary intended to com-
memorate the memorable Declaration of Indepen-
dence, published at Washington on the 4th of July
1776, by the representatives of the then thirteen
confederated colonies. The third holiday is gen-
erally about the 1st or 2d of December, and de-
nominated Thanksgiving-day. It is partly devoted
to religious exercises in the morning, and social
intercourse in the afternoon. Upon this day, the
scattered members of each family endeavour to meet
at what may be called their home, for the purpose
of enjoying the social company of each other, and
gratifying their filial attachments.
In this country the time for breakfast is seven
o'clock, and for dinner half-past twelve : supper at
seven, or half-past seven in the evening. In Scot-
land the Mills begin work at six o'clock in the
morning throughout the year, and stop at nine
o'clock for breakfast, and at two o'clock for dinner,
45 minutes being allowed for each. In England the
Mills begin work in the morning at six o'clock,
and stop at eight o'clock for breakfast, and twelve
for dinner, and four o’clock in the afternoon for tea.
Those that do not stop for tea, allow the workers to
have it carried into the Mill at four o'clock. Thirty
minutes are allowed for breakfast, and an hour for
dinner. Thus each country has its own peculiar
regulations, and each will no doubt prefer their
own ; but certainly for three meals a day, the
Scotch proportion their time better than the others,
178 STATISTICAL NOTICES
RHODE ISLAN D.
THERE are no manufacturing towns in this State
equal to Lowell, yet there are a great number of
manufacturing villages, and in proportion to its ex-
tent, this State contains a much greater number of
Factories than that of Massachusetts.
The following notices of the various manufactur-
ing districts in this State are chiefly compiled from
White's Memoir of Slater. The first which claims
attention, is that of
NORTH PROVIDENCE.
THIS place was incorporated in 1767, and is now
distinguished for its manufactures. There are ten
Cotton Mills, one of which is the first that was built
in America; and in Pawtucket, S. Slater erected
the first water-frame spinning machinery. The
extent of this business having concentrated a large
capital, and an immense aggregate of industry has,
within the last thirty years, given rise to this large
flourishing village, which is situated on the North-
East section of the town, four miles North-East
of Providence, on the border of the Seekonk river,
which affords numerous natural sites for manufac-
turing establishments of almost every description.
The rapid march of manufacturing and mechanical
industry which the short annals of this place disclose,
has few examples in this country. The village is
built on both sides of the river, which, at this place,
divides Rhode Island from Massachusetts. That part
of it which is in Rhode Island, is principally built
on four streets, and comprises eighty-three dwelling-
houses, and twelve mercantile stores. There are
OF MANUFACTURING DISTRICTS. 179
six shops engaged in the manufacture of machinery,
having the advantage of water power; and various
other mechanical establishments, affording extensive
employment, and supporting a dense population.
Upon the Massachusetts side of the river, the village
is of nearly equal extent. Besides the Cotton Fac-
tories, there are in the town two Furnaces for
casting, one Slitting Mill, two Anchor Shops, Screw
Manufactories, Nail Factory, Flour Mills, and Ma-
chine Manufactories: here some very superior ma-
machinery is made, and sent to various parts of the
country.
SMITH FIELD.
At this place there are nine Cottom Factories, all of
which contain more than 11,000 spindles, one half
of which belong to Slaters & Co., whose establish-
ment is situated on a branch of the Pawtucket river,
about one mile and a half from its junction. At this
place there is a large and flourishing village, called
Slaterville, which is but of recent date, having grown
up with the cotton manufacturing business.
There is also a large establishment, containing
8000 spindles, owned by Butler, Wheaton & Co.
of Providence.
There are twenty public schools in Smithfield,
and several private ones, three incorporated acad-
demies, four social libraries, and four places of
worship.
18O STATISTIC.A.I., NOT ICES
WOONSOCKET FAILLS.
Upon the Pawtucket river there is a fall of water
called Woonsocket Falls, which is considered a great
curiosity. The fall is about 20 feet, not perpen-
dicular, but over a precipice of rocks for some
distance. The fall of the water upon these rocks
through a succession of ages, has occasioned numer-
ous excavations, all of which are smooth and cir-
cular, and some of them very large, being sufficient
to contain several hogsheads.
A writer in the New York Transcript, quoted by
Mr White, says, This is a delightful town. It is
the “bordershire” of the State, and joins the county
of Worcester, one of the richest, most healthful, and
enterprising sections of country to be found on the
facé of the globe. The town of Smithfield, for
many years, had devoted itself exclusively to agri-
cultural pursuits; but of late years, has become the
very focus of American industry. The Blackstone
river and canal runs through it, and the almost end-
less variety of scenery with which it abounds, gives
it many advantages over the ordinary inland towns
of New England. It largely participates in the in-
dustry of the day, and probably operates a greater
number of spindles than any town or village this
side of the Potomac.
The village of Woonsocket, which may be de-
nominated the capital of Smithfield, is at the fall of
the Blackstone river, and drives a very heavy, as well
as profitable business. It is said that there are up-
wards of 50,000 spindles in operation at this place,
besides an immense quantity of other machinery.
OF MANU FACTURING D1STRICTS. 181
The village partakes of all the variety of pastoral
beauty, and its cliffs, and waterfalls, and bubbling
streams, are pre-eminently calculated to give inspi-
ration to the poet.
The Mill sites at Woonsocket are very valuable,
and it is said they could not be purchased for half a
million of dollars. The village and most of its de-
pendencies belong to capitalists of Providence.
Doug LAs.—At this town, on the Mumford river,
the Douglas Manufacturing Co. have two Mills,
both five stories in height. They have in operation
4,000 spindles, 119 looms, and employ about 200
hands: the cloth manufactured is generally for
printed goods.
SLATERVILLE embraces a part of Douglas and a
part of Dudley. This place derived its name from
Samuel Slater, who generally resided here, and
here he had several Mills, (said to be seven in all,)
part of which derive their power from French River,
and part from a large pond called Slater's Lake,
about four miles long, which is a never-failing
source of supply.
Besides the above-named villages, there are many
others of equal, and some of greater extent and im-
portance, in various parts of the State, such as
Cranston, Warwick, Scituate, New-Port, Lonsdale,
Coventry, Cumberland, Johnston, &c. At New-
Port, there are four Cotton Factories all moved by
Steam. There is also a large Steam Mill at Pro-
vidence, owned by the heirs of Samuel Slater. At
Lonsdale, there are three elegant Factories, and
here, too, Nankeens are manufactured from cotton
of a very deep dirty cream colour, a small quantity
182 STATISTICAL NOTICES
of which is raised annually in Georgia of an inferior
quality.
Passing from Rhode Island into the State of
Connecticut, the traveller is greatly delighted with
the site of a number of beautiful and handsome man-
ufacturing villages. Indeed, this State is famed for
its meat villages and beautiful landscapes.
“The pleasant village of Cabotsville,” says Mr
White, “ has grown up with astonishing rapidity,
and bids fair to become, at no very distant day, a
second Lowell.”
“The water power at this place is immense, and
as yet scarcely begun to be occupied. There is a
neatness, too, and good taste, in the location of the
streets, and the arrangement of the buildings, which
is not common in manufacturing villages. The
Cotton Factories are extensive, and in appearance
resembling those at Lowell.”
Another flourishing village in this State, called
Williamantic, is situated in Windham county, on
the Williamantic river, near its confluence with
another small river called the Natchang. It extends
about a mile along the former stream. Twelve
years ago there were less than a dozen houses, and
those very indifferent ones, on the site of the pres-
ent village. Now there are four manufacturing
establishments, containing 12,800 spindles, and mak-
ing annually about 2,915,000 yards of cotton cloth.
There is also a Paper Mill and a small Sattinet Fac-
tory. The village, as well as the surrounding coun-
try, seems to be prospering, and advancing in moral
and intellectual improvement. It contains three
places of public worship, two free, and three private
schools, and a public library.
OF MANU FA CTURING DISTRICTS. 183
Greeneville is another beautiful village, situated
on the West bank of Shetucket river, a little below
its junction with the Quinebaug, and five hundred
rods above steam and packet navigation. This vil-
lage has had almost as rapid a growth as the vil-
lages of the West. The General Assembly of Con-
necticut granted a charter in 1828, to a Company
under the name of the “ Norwich Water Power
Company,” the object of which was the construction
of works to bring into use the immense water power
at this place, then wholly unoccupied. The capital
of the Company was 40,000 dollars; and having
purchased a large tract of land lying on both sides
of the river, they proceeded to erect a dam, and dig
a canal, through which the water of the river neces-
sary for manufacturing purposes might flow. The
dam is built of stone, in length 280 feet, and is both
solid and substantial, so that there is little reason to
apprehend that it will be carried away, although the
river is subject to great annual freshets. The abut-
ments are very handsome and durable specimens of
stone masonry. The canal is about a mile in length,
forty-six feet wide at the surface, and ten feet deep.
These works were completed in 1830.
There are several manufacturing establishments
at this place, the largest of which is that of the
Thames Company, for the manufacture of cotton
cloth. This is one of the finest edifices of the kind
in New England, being built of brick, five stories
high, 138 feet in length by 44 in width. There are
employed in it about 180 persons of different ages
and sexes, and about 42,000 lbs. of cotton are con-
sumed monthly, while, in the same space of time,
about 182,000 yards of cloth are produced.
184, STATISTICAL NOTICES
The Shetucket Factory for the manufacture of
bed ticking, contains 1,650 spindles, employs about
70 persons, and consumes about 14,000 lbs. of cot-
ton, producing about 28,000 yards of cloth per
month.
The Greeneville Manufacturing Company employ
about 50 persons, and produce about 12,000 yards
of flannel monthly, using for that purpose about
4,800 lbs. of wool.
There are also two Carpet Factories, a Paper
Manufactory, a Machine Shop, and other small Fac-
tories at this place, which is still increasing. A
number of very eligible sites for Manufactories are
yet unoccupied, and a large amount of water power
unemployed.
The village is situated in a delightful tract of
country. The dwellings are very meat and attrac-
tive, being all painted white; they have a uniform
and handsome appearance, and seem to be the abode
of industry and contentment.
There are various other manufacturing villages
about this part of the Union, of which I have not as
yet been able to obtain any correct information. A
vast number of small Factories and manufacturing
villages are scattered over the State of New York,
which I have not yet had the opportunity of visiting,
neither have I been able to obtain any written ac-
count of them.
OF MANU FA CTU RING DISTRICTS. | 85
PATERSON, NEW JERSEY.
THIs town, next to Lowell, is one of the greatest
manufacturing towns in America. The Mills here
are not so large and splendid, nor is the business
conducted with the same life and spirit as at Lowell;
yet there are some very superior goods manufac-
tured, and machinery made, at this place, in every
respect equal, and some of it superior to any thing
of the kind made at the other.
The cotton manufacture commenced at Paterson
at a very early period. A society was formed in
the early part of 1791, denominated “The Society
for the Establishment of Useful Manufactures;”
the immediate object of which was the manufacture
of cotton cloths. At this period no cotton had been
spun by machinery in America, except at Pawtucket
in Rhode Island. The number of shares originally
subscribed was 5000 at 100 dollars a share, but
2267 shares only were fully paid up. It was ascer-
tained by this Society, that the Great Falls of the
Passaic river in New Jersey, had an elevation of
104 feet above tide water, and were calculated to
be capable, by their elevation and volume of water,
of driving 247 undershot water wheels. And at
Little Falls, four miles higher up, a thirty-six feet
Fall was deemed capable of driving 78 water wheels.
Becoming thus satisfied, from various sources of in-
formation, regarding the superiority of this situation,
they selected the Passaic as the principal site of their
proposed operations, and gave to the town the name
of Paterson after the Governor of New Jersey, who
I S6 STATISTICAL NOT ICES
signed their charter, vesting them with power over,
and possession of, the waters of the Passaic river at
this place. The Society, soon after the grant of its
charter and purchase of the ground, proceeded to
establish their first Cotton Factory and printing
house ; which were attended however with consider-
able loss. They invited and encouraged skill by leas-
ing privileges and aiding manufacturers with capital.
This was well calculated to induce numbers to come
and share in the advantages of the vast water power.
Experienced Mill owners from various parts came
hither, bringing wealth even from England; arti-
sans of various descriptions from Britain, were in-
vited and encouraged to settle in the place. A race-
way and canal was commenced by the direction of
the Company, designed to unite the Upper Passaic
with the Lower, at the head of tide, near the pres-
ent village of Acquackanonck; the engineer to
whom the execution of this work was committed,
spent vast sums of money to little purpose: latterly,
a Mr Colt from Connecticut, was appointed super-
intendent of the affairs of the Company, with full
powers to manage the concerns of the Society: he
completed the race-way, but the canal to tide was
abandoned. The first Factory, 90 feet long by 40
wide, and four stories high, was finished in 1794,
when cotton yarn was spun in the Mill; but yarn
had been spun the preceding year by machinery
moved with oxen. Calico shawls and other cotton
goods, were printed the same year; the bleached
and unbleached muslims being purchased in New
York. But the concerns of the Company became
involved in difficulty; yet they persevered in their
OF MANUFA CTURING ID ISTRICTS. 1S7.
enterprise, and in the years 1795 and 1796, much
yarn of various sizes was spun, and several pieces of
cotton goods manufactured. At length, however,
they were forced to abandon the manufacture, and
discharge their workmen. This result was pro-
duced by a combination of causes. Nearly 50,000
dollars had been lost by the failure of parties, to
certain bills of exchange purchased by the Company,
to buy in England plain cloths for printing: large
sums had been wasted by the engineer and the ma-
chinists, and the manufacturers brought from other
countries, were presumptuous and ignorant of many
branches of the business they engaged to conduct;
the Company was inexperienced in the business, and
the country unprepared for manufactures. The
Cotton Mill belonging to the Company was subse-
quently leased to individuals, who continued to spin
candle-wick and coarse yarn, until 1807, when it
was accidentally burned, and never rebuilt.
The water power of the Company, however, was
not wholly unemployed. In 1801, a Mill site was
leased to Messrs. Kinsey & Co.; in 1807, a second ;
and in 1811, a third to other persons; between 1812
and 1814, several others were sold or leased. In
1814, Mr Colt purchased, at a depreciated price, a
large proportion of the shares, and re-animated the
association. From this date the growth of Paterson
has been steady, except during the three or four
years that followed the peace of 1815. The advan-
tages derivable from the great fall in the river, have
been improved ; a dam of four and a half feet high,
strongly framed and bolted to the rock, in the bed
of the river above the falls, turns the stream through
1 SS STATISTICAL NOTICES
a canal excavated in the trap rock of the bank, into
a basin, whence, through strong guard-gates, it Sup-
plies in succession, three canals on separate plains,
each below the other, giving to the Mills on each
head, a fall of about 22 feet. By means of the
guard-gate the volume of water is regulated at plea-
sure, and a uniform height preserved, avoiding the
inconvenience of back water. 40,000 dollars have
been expended to complete this privilege.
When the Company first commenced operations,
there were not more than ten houses at Paterson.
In 1827 there were 6,236 inhabitants; 1,046 heads
of families; 7 houses for public worship; 17 Schools;
a Philosophical Society; 15 Cotton Factories, in
which 24,000 spindles operate ; 2 Factories of can-
vas; 1,644 spindles, employing 1,453 persons, whose
wages are 224,123 dollars a year; extensive Ma-
chine Shops and Iron Works; there were 620,000
lbs. of flax ; 6,000 bales of cotton consumed an-
nually, and 1,630,000 lbs. of cotton yarn; 430,000
lbs. of linen yarn spun in the same time ; besides
630,000 yards of linen and duck; 3,354,500 yards
of cotton cloth ; and at that time, new Factories
were still being built.
The cotton manufacture is carried on to some
extent near to Philadelphia, but I have not been
able to obtain correct information regarding the
number or extent of the Factories, either at this
place or Baltimore. Cotton Factories are also ex-
tending rapidly in various parts of the Southern
States, in Virginia, North Carolina, Tenesse, and
in towns along the Ohio. “At a fine water privi-
lege in Athens, Georgia, there was established a
OF MANUFACTURING DISTIRICTS. 180
Cotton Mill, with machinery from England, by
Dearing & Co.; it is still in operation, and one also
in Columbus.” The time, indeed, seems to be fast
approaching, when Cotton Factories will be estab-
lished at the South, the North, East, and far West
of America. And there can be no doubt but this
country is destined, at no very remote period, to be
the great emporium of the cotton manufacture of the
world, as it possesses all the necessary requisites for
that purpose, viz. extensive available water power,
an intelligent and enterprising population, and hav-
ing within itself an abundant supply of the raw ma-
terial. Those Factories established in the South,
must possess decided advantages over all others, as
the manufacturers there will also be the cultivators
of their own cotton, which may be brought from the
fields where it is raised, to store-houses connected
with the Factory in which it is to be cleaned and spun
into yarn, and thereby all the expenses of baling
and transporting saved. And if the experiment of
slave labour succeed in the Factories, as is con-
fidently expected, the cost of manufacturing the cot-
ton into cloth, will be much less there than any
where else; so that it will not be surprising if, in the
course of a few years, those Southern Factories
should manufacture coarse cotton goods, and sell
them in the public markets at one half the price at
which they can be manufactured in England. There
are several Cotton Factories in Tennessee operated
entirely by slave labour, there not being a white man
in the Mill but the Superintendent; and according
to a letter lately received from the Superintendent
of one of these Factories, it appears that the blacks
N
190 STATISTICAI, NOT ICES
do their work in every respect as well as could be
expected from the whites.
“Cotton Factories are rapidly springing up in
North Carolina; but with two or three exceptions
they are chiefly employed only in spinning cotton
yarn. The two oldest Factories in this State are
one at the Falls of Tar River in Edgecombe county,
established in 1818; and another near Lincolnton,
in 1822. Factories have since been established at
Mocksville, Greinsborough, Faetteville, Lexington,
Salem, Milton, and in the counties of Orange and
Randolph ; there are eleven Factories in all. Ar-
rangements are in progress for establishing similar
works in various other parts of the State.”
“ Cincinati,” says Mr White, “ is the great
commercial emporium of Ohio, and, next to New
Orleans, the largest city in the valley of the Mis-
sissipi. The value of its manufactures is about
2,500,000 dollars annually. There are ten foundries,
including a brass and bell foundry, and one for cast-
ing types. There are four Cotton Factories, fifteen
Rolling Mills, Steam Engine Factories and Shops,
three Breweries, Button Factory, Steam Coopering
Establishment, five or six Saw Mills, two Flour
Mills, and one Chemical Laboratory. There are not
less than forty different Manufacturing Establish-
ments driven by steam power.”
A writer quoted by Mr White, visited the Cotton
Works of one company situated at Matoaca, on the
North bank of the Appomattox, about four miles
from Petersburgh, and “was no less gratified by the
beauty and substantial appearance of the buildings,
than surprised at the expedition with which they
OF MANUFACTURING DISTRICTS. 191
have been erected.” The works here referred to
consist of two Cotton Mills, three stories high ; a
Machine Shop and Sizing House, built of granite of
a superior quality, obtained from a quarry on the
Company's land. The principal Mill is 118 feet
long by 44 wide; the other 90 feet long by 40 wide.
They contain about 4000 spindles, and 170 looms.
“The manufactures of Virginia, like her coal mines,
are just beginning to rise into importance. But re-
cently the attention of her citizens has been directed
to the subject, and few out of the State are aware .
how far she has already advanced, and how rapidly
she continues to advance in this branch of industry.”
In Richmond and Manchester, Virginia, there are
in full operation two Cotton Factories, and three
Iron Foundries, to one of which a Steam Engine
Manufactory is attached. There are also a number
of other Establishments, and few places can boast of
such large or superior Flour Mills. The Galego
Mill, which is, perhaps, the largest in the world,
runs 22 pairs of stones, and makes 500 barrels of
flour daily. Haxal's Mill is but little inferior to
this, and Rutherford's and Clark’s, though less than
the others, are considerable Mills.
“The water power at and near Richmond, is
immense, and easily available; it is the entire James
River, which is nearly half a mile wide, and falls
more than a hundred feet in a few miles. The ad-
vantages of its position are many and great; situated
at the head of good navigation,-open nearly all the
year, adjacent to a rich coal field,—connected with
the interior, as it soon will be, by a canal leading
through a fine iron district, with a healthy and
192 STATISTICAL NOT ICES
pleasant climate, surrounded by a good soil, nothing
can prevent its becoming one of the greatest manu-
facturing cities in the Union.
“Next to Richmond in importance, and in some
respects in advance of it, is Petersburgh, at the head
of the tide water of the Appomattox. Here Cotton
Factories grow up and flourish as if by magic; there
are now five or six all in full operation, and all of
them extensive establishments. One of them, a
short distance from Petersburgh, is inferior to few,
if any, in the Northern States, and with the houses
built for the workmen, forms quite a village. All
these Manufactories employ white labourers. The
experiment, however, of negro or slave labour, has
been made in one of the Factories at Richmond, and
has proved fully successful. Other Manufactories
are about to be erected near Petersburgh, in some
of which it is expected that negro labour will be
introduced generally, if not exclusively. Indeed,
there is every reason to believe that it is better
adapted to the manufactory than to the field, and
that the negro character is susceptible of a high de-
gree of manufacturing cultivation. Should this kind
of labour be found to succeed, of which I think from
some years acquaintance with it, there can be no
doubt, it will give a decided advantage to the South-
ern over the Northern or European manufacturer.
This kind of labour will be much cheaper, and far
more certain and controllable. The manufacturer
will have nothing to do with strikes, or other inter-
ruptions that frequently produce serious delay and
loss to the employer. Before the present year,
[1835, the average expense for a good negro
|
OF MANUFACTURING DISTRICTS. 193
man per year, might be estimated at 100 dollars,
= £20 - 16 . 8 for field labour. Some superior
hands, well acquainted with tobacco manufacturing,
or good mechanics would, perhaps, go to 150 dol-
lars; these prices include hire, food, clothing, &c.
They are now, in consequence of the great demand
for labourers on the rail-roads, at least 20 dollars
higher; that is, about 170 dollars, = £35. 8.4 for
a good negro man for a whole year; of course,
females and young men will be much cheaper.
“The water power of Petersburgh, though in-
ferior to that of Richmond, is yet very considerable.
It is also without the advantages of an immediate
connection with the coal and iron regions; nor has
it so good a navigation as the latter, as vessels only
of six feet draught of water can come to it, while
those drawing eleven may go to Richmond. Yet
Petersburgh is as well, if not better situated for the
cotton manufacture, than Richmond. A rail-road
of sixty miles in length connects it with the Roan-
oke, and brings to it daily large quantities of cotton,
from which it can have the first and best selections.
This, together with the cheapness of water power,
building materials, and all other articles that enter
into the consumption of those who labour, give to it
great advantages.
“ Besides these two prominent places, many
others might be found in Eastern Virginia, Georgia,
Carolina, Tennessee, &c. equally favourably situated
for Manufactories. At Fredricksburgh, on the Rap-
pahannock, is a considerable water power, and on
nearly all the rivers that empty into the Chesa-
peake, there are more or less sites. On the James
& -
194, STATISTICAL NOTICES
River, between Richmond and the mountains, they
are almost innumerable; and when the State im-
provements are completed, they will be in good
location.
“Manufacturing is carried on at Wheeling on the
Ohio, but Western Virginia is identified with the
great valley of the Mississippi; the future greatness
or prosperity of which, no imagination can reach ;
it is a world in itself, and the world beyond it can-
not change its destinies.”
From the above extracts, it appears that the
Southern States possess many facilities for extend-
ing the cotton manufacture, such as cheap labour,
materials, &c. with an abundant water power, land
and water carriage, &c. However, although the
manufacturers in the Northern States cannot pro-
vide the raw material so cheap as those in the
Southern, they have the advantage of the manufac-
ture being already established, with mechanics and
artizans of every description intimately acquainted
with the business in all its details. The standing
which the cotton manufacture has acquired in the
North, and the uncongenial nature of the Southern
climate, render it a matter of doubt to many, whether
the South will ever outrival the North in this
business. ...”
At present the Northern States are still progres-
sing in the manufacture of cotton goods; the greater
part of which, however, has hitherto been made for
home consumption. A considerable quantity, how-
ever, has been exported to South America and In-
dia, in both of which markets it has been ascertained, -
that the American manufacturers were able to com-
gº
OF MANUFACTURING DISTRICTS. 19.5 -
pete successfully with the British. At present, the
attention of manufacturers in this country, is par-
ticularly directed to exporting cotton yarn in the
bundle; and should this business succeed, I have
no doubt but the British will find them rather for-
midable rivals, as whatever yarns may be exported
from this country will, (like the cloth,) maintain its
character in any market where it may be sold, and
this, I know, is not always the case with much that
is exported from Great Britain.
There is yet much unoccupied water privilege in
the Northern States. A dam has lately been coln-
pleted across the Kennebec River, in the State of
Maine, by means of which the whole of the water of
that river may be directed into canals, and thereby
furnish valuable sites for, it is said, nearly one
hundred Cotton Factories. At Brunswick, in the
same State, there is abundance of unemployed water
power, where one Factory has lately been put
in operation, and others are expected soon. At
Saco there are three Mills in operation, and suffi-
cient water power for ten more. At Amoskeag,
about 40 miles from Lowell, a canal is just now be-
ing cut, which, it is said, may take in the whole of
the Merrimack River, and supply water power for
upwards of fifty Factories. But instead of availing
themselves of these water privileges, the attention of
manufacturers has been for some time directed to
the advantages of steam, as a means of propelling
machinery; the advantages of a good location being
considered equal to the extra expense of steam
power. Mills propelled by steam may be situated
in seaport towns, where there will be no expense
*
I96 STATISTICAL NOTICES
for land carriage, and being in a thickly populated
neighbourhood, are likely to have generally a good
supply of helps; whereas those driven by water, are
subject to interruptions in winter, in consequence of
the canals freezing up, and a deficiency of water in
the drought of summer, besides the expense of land
carriage; although the latter, no doubt, depends
upon the location of the Mills.
Three large Mills driven by steam are in operation
at Newburyport in Massachusetts, and another is
soon to be erected ; it is likewise probable that so
soon as coals become a little cheaper, there will be a
number of Mills with steam power erected in vari-
ous parts of the country.
There are several manufacturing towns and vil-
lages to the Eastward of Massachusetts which are
worthy of a passing notice before leaving this part of
the subject. In New Hampshire there are New Mar-
ket, Dover, and Great Falls, at each of which there
are extensive Manufactories. At New Market there
are three large Cotton Factories, in which goods of a
very superior quality are manufactured, chiefly shirt-
ings and sheetings. These works bear a very high
character, and it is said, they have always been well
conducted, and have paid the proprietors a very hand-
some profit, at least until the depression of 1837.
At Dover there are also three large and respectable
Cotton Factories, situated so as to form three sides
of a solid square, the fourth side being entirely oc-
cupied as a printing establishment; and this, together
with Lowell and Fall River, in the State of Massa-
chussetts; Providence, in Rhode Island; and Hudson
in New York, are the principle printing establish-
OF MANU FACTURING DISTRICTS. 197
ments in the United States: at all of these places
printed goods are produced equal to any in England.
Great Falls is about four miles from Dover, and
situated on the same river; at this place, there are
four large elegant Cotton Factories, containing in all
about 39,840 spindles, (16,000 of which are mules)
and 1132 looms. This is one of the pleasantest and
most beautiful maufacturing villages I have ever
seen. There are four large Mills, but two of them
form one connected building. These are situated in
a straight line, at the distance of about one hundred
yards from each other; the canal which supplies them
with water runs in front of the Mills, leaving a level
space between them about 30 or 40 yards broad; on
each side of this there is a row of young trees plant-
ed so as to form a delightful promenade in front
of the Mills; on the opposite side of the canal
from the Factories, there is a large open space of
ground rising with a gentle acclivity, about 100
yards broad, on the outer verge of which, is the
main street of the village: this open ground between
the canal and the Main Street, is entirely appro-
priated as a common, and may be used by the inhab-
itants as a play ground, bleaching green, or for pas-
ture. Along the outside of the Main Street are the
boarding or dwelling-houses for the Mill workers 5
these are neat brick buildings, three stories in height,
and each building contains four tenements: there are
seven of these boarding houses, set at equal distances
from each other, which gives to the whole an appear-
ance of neatness and uniformity. The Main Street,
the Canal, and the Mills, all running in parallel lines
with a large open area between them, have a most
198 STATISTICAL NOTICFS
delightful effect upon the mind of a stranger when
he first enters the village. The whole plan of the
village displays good taste, and its general appear-
ance is delightful and beautiful in the highest degree.
A great sum of money has been sunk in this place;
and it is said that the proprietors have never realized -
the interest of the money advanced. Yet judging
from the general appearance of the inside of the
Factories, I do not see how they cannot be turned
to very good account. The goods made are shirtings,
sheetings, and printing cloth.
SACo.—The last of the manufacturing villages
which we shall notice, though not the least in impor-
tance, is that of Saco, in the State of Maine. This
village takes its name from the river Saco, which
runs through it, and is one of the largest rivers in
New England: it rises in the White Mountains of
New Hampshire, the summits of which are so ele-
wated as to be covered with snow throughout the
greater part of the year; and the melting of this snow
in summer is a never-failing source of supply to the
river, so that in the greatest drought of summer there
is water sufficient for driving ten or twelve large Fac-
tories. The river is about 160 miles in length; but
being much broken by falls, it is not navigable to any
considerable extent. There are four principal Falls;
first, Great Falls at Hixam, the height of which is
about 72 feet; second, Steep Falls at Lymington,
about 20 feet; third, Salmon Falls at Holles and
Buxton, about 30 feet; and fourth, Saco Falls, about
34 feet: the latter are about four miles from the
mouth of the river, which is navigable for vessels of
nearly 200 tons, till within one hundred yards of
OF MANU FA CTURING DISTRICTS. 199
the Falls. From the mouth of the river a most
beautiful beach of smooth level sand stretches along
about ten or twelve miles to the Eastward: this is
a place of great resort for pleasure parties in the
summer season, and it is said this beach is unequalled
by any on the whole American coast. It is only a-
bout four miles from the village of Saco, and as the
population of the place increases, its close vicinity
to the sea cannot fail to add to its value and impor-
tance.
The river at this place may be about one hun-
dred yards broad, and as it approaches the village,
it divides into two branches, and forms three separ-
ate Islands, the largest of which is called Factory
Island, and contains about thirty acres of ground;
on each side of this Island there are large water-
falls of about thirty-four feet; that on the North
side is perpendicular, but on the South, the water
rolls over several ledges of huge rocks; and in the
spring, when the river is swollen by the melting of
the snow, as it tumbles over these Falls it presents
a scene of the most terrific grandeur. This river,
however, is not like the rivers in Britain, which
swell with every heavy rain, and again subside as
soon as the rain is over. The Saco swells a little
in the fall of the year in consequence of the conti-
nued rains at that season, but it gradually subsides
during the frost in winter; and again, when the
snow melts in the spring, it rises, perhaps, two or
three feet, and afterwards gradually and slowly sub-
sides during the summer; but a heavy rain continued
for a whole day, will scarcely affect the river, unless
such days occur frequently during some weeks.
200 STATISTICAL NOTICES
Factory Island belonged to a family of the name
of Cutts, some of whose ancestors purchased it from
the Indians, who, it is said, resorted to this place in
considerable numbers, as well for the purpose of
fishing at the Falls, as to obtain a secure retreat
from their enemies. In 1825 it was purchased by a
Company, principally from Boston, for the purpose
of erecting a Cotton Factory. The whole cost to the
Company was 110,000 dollars; they, at the same
time, bought a considerable part of the privileges on
the opposite side of the river for 10,000 dollars. A
Mill was erected in 1826, and a canal cut from the
head of the Falls to the Mill site. The length of
the Mill was 210 feet, the breadth 47, and it was
seven stories in height. This was the largest Factory
ever attempted in America; it was calculated to oper-
ate about 12,000 spindles and 300 looms. In 1829
there were about 500 workers employed about the
establishment, the greater part of whom occupied
the Company’s tenements, which were erected upon
the Island. The whole machinery, on which the
sum of 200,000 dollars had been expended, was com-
pleted in the early part of 1830. This Mill, however,
was no sooner completed, than it was burned down
to the foundation, and the Company lost all their
stock. The wreck of the Mill, with all the other
property, was sold at a very low price to another
Boston Company, who obtained a charter under
the name of the “York Manufacturing Company
of Saco.” This Company immediately commenced
building their first Factory on the foundation of
the one which had been burned, the length and
breadth of which is the same as the former, but the
OF MANUFACTURING DISTRICTS. 2O1
height is only four stories and an attic; this Factory
was completed in 1833. Afterwards the canal was
lengthened so as to convey water to other two Mills,
which have since been erected, one of which was
completed in 1885, the other in 1837. (See View
of York Factories facing title page.) These are
both 142 feet in length by 42 in breadth within the
walls, and four stories in height besides the attics.
There are in the three Mills 17,856 throstle spin-
dles, and 568 looms in operation, consuming 39,000
lbs. of cotton, and producing upwards of 105,000
yards of cloth per week. The goods manufactured at
these works are Drillings, Jeans, and a variety of
striped and coloured goods; the latter are dyed partly
in the wool, and partly in the yarn. This method, of
dying in the wool, or the cotton, is the simplest and
cheapest mode of colouring goods; and I am not aware
that it has ever been tried in Great Britain. By mix-
ing together two or three different colours of cotton,
they become perfectly incorporated ; and this com-
bination of colours produces a shade which no dyer
can give to yarn : a variety of superior grounds for
striped cloths are obtained in this way, which could
not be obtained when the whole has been dyed in
the yarn. There are three Companies in this coun-
try which make these kinds of goods. They are
made by the Hamilton Corporation in Lowell, and
by another Company in Philadelphia; but those made
by the York Manufacturing Company at Saco, are
the best that are made in the United States. The
best and finest Jeans manufactured in America are
also made at these works: there are likewise two
qualities of bed ticking manufactured by this Com-
202 STATISTIC AI, NOTICES
pany; the first quality is decidedly superior to any-
thing of the kind in the Boston market. Indeed
there are no cotton goods manufactured in this
country that stand higher in the public markets than
those of the York Manufacturing Company. Samuel
Batchelder, Esq. is the Company's Agent, under
whose able superintendence the whole concern has
been got up, and to their first purchase they have
since added a great deal of real estate, besides secur-
ing the whole water privileges on both sides of the
river. Their capital stock is 1,000,000 dollars =
£208,333. 6. 8 Sterling. They have some very
valuable Mill sites, which they are willing to sell to
other Companies; and few places in the United
States possess equal advantages for manufacturing.
Situated at the head of tide water, which flows up to
the Falls, cotton may be landed from vessels within
one hundred yards of the Mill, and goods immediately
shipped in its place, the whole cost of the carriage
to and from Boston, being only one dollar per ton;"
* In reference to cost of transportation, a correspondent of the
Portland Advertisers has the following calculations:
“The article lately published in your paper respecting manufac-
turing, induces me to send you some calculations on the subject.
“ In yours of the 13th you remark, that the contiguity of Man-
ufacturing Establishments to the sea board, by which the expense of
transportation is saved, is an important item in the calculation of
profits.
“The full importance of this item of expense is seldom taken into
consideration.
“A Cotton Mill of 5,000 spindles will, at a moderate estimate,
manufacture one ton of goods per day, such as are usually made in
this country, requiring the transportation of 300 tons per annum of
cotton to the Mill, and the same amount of goods to market. A
OF MANUFACTURING DISTRICTS. 2O3
building materials are inexhaustible—vast quan-
tities of bricks are made for exportation, and there
are valuable granite quarries, together with abun-
fair estimate of the cost of land transportation is 7 dollars per ton
per 50 miles. Suppose such a Mill to be situated 50 miles from
market, or from water communication, there would be 600 tons per
year, requiring transportation at an expense of 4,200 dollars.
“Or suppose the situation to be such as to require a transporta-
tion of 50 miles by rail-road or canal, the expense cannot be estimated
at less than 3 dollars per ton, amounting to 1800, and this is the
cost of the transportation of the cotton and goods only, without tak-
ing into view any other materials, such as oil, iron, flour, starch,
and various other articles necessary in the business.
“The cost of transportation from Boston to such Mills as are
situated on or near the tide waters in the State of Maine, is one
dollar per ton, and if you allow something more for insurance, as
much may fairly be deducted for saving in the transportation of other
materials, and for bringing the cotton or part of it directly from
Mobile, Charleston, &c., without the expense of transhipment at
Boston.
“The annual cost of transportation, therefore, for such a Mill
situated on the tide waters in this State, would be 600 dollars, mak-
ing a difference against a Mill, requiring 50 miles transportation by
canal or rail-road, of 1,200 dollars per annum, or compared with
one requiring 50 miles land transportation of 3,600 dollars. This
sum, it must be recollected, is a permanent annual expenditure, and
is therefore equivalent to a capital of which this would be the inter-
est, which, in one of the cases above-mentioned, would be 20,000
dollars, and in the other 60,000. The result would therefore be,
that it would be better to pay 60,000 dollars for the water power
and Mill site for such a Factory at some of the Falls in this State in
the tide water, rather than to establish the business 50 miles in the
interior, if the Mill site could be had for nothing. And that it would
be good economy to pay 20,000 dollars more for such a Mill site
here, than the cost of one similar in all other respects, which should
require 50 miles of rail-road or canal transportation.”
204 STATISTICAL NoTICEs, &c.
dance of lumber, all of which offer a rare com-
bination of facilities for building extensive works.
The Eastern Mail Stage passes daily over the Island,
and the Eastern Railway is intended to pass through
the village, which will greatly facilitate the inter-
course between this and Boston: the distance being
100 miles, it is expected the rail-road cars will
travel that length in five hours; so that leaving this
place early in the morning, a person may go to Bos-
ton and do business for four or five hours, and re-
turn again in the evening.
The population of Saco is upwards of 4000 souls,
and Biddeford, on the opposite side of the river,
contains above 3000. There are in the village six
places of public worship, four Free Schools, besides
a number of private ones, and an Academy, where
the various branches of useful education are taught:
also, a Circulating Library, Public Reading-room,
three large Hotels, and two Banks; and there
are two Newspapers published weekly. The place
is still increasing in wealth and extent, as every
new Factory that is started adds about 500 to the
population. w
MIS C E L L A N I E S.
—(?–
DYNAMOMETER.
A MACHINE has been used at Lowell, called a Dy-
namometer, for the purpose of ascertaining the
power required to move any of the different machines
used in Cotton Factories, but having never seen it,
I cannot give any description either of its construc-
tion, or of the mode of applying it. It is said, how-
ever, to be rather complex, and that the results given
by it cannot be entirely relied on. My design at pres-
ent is merely to describe a very simple one lately con-
structed by Samuel Batchelder, Esq., Agent of the
York Manufacturing Co. Saco.
Plate VIII. figures 1st and 2d, gives two views
of this machine, which is constructed on the principle
of what is called the “differential box,” and consists
of the two pairs of belt pullies A A, B B, mounted
on the shaft CC: one of these pullies on each side is
loose, while the other is fast. The fast pulley on
the side A A, and the bevel wheel D, are both
fastefied to the shaft C C. The bevel wheel F is
fastened on a small tube connected with the pulley
B. The wheels E E, are connected by G, which
is constructed so as to revolve round the shaft
C C. To apply this simple machine, a belt from a
drum on the main driving shaft is brought to the
pullies A A, whilst another belt is carried from the
O
Q06 MISCELLANIES,
pullies B B, to the machine or machinery, the
Weight of which is to be ascertained. And it
is plain, that if the pullies A A, and the wheel D,
are once put in motion, the wheels E E will also re-
volve on their axis, and at the same time the connec-
tion shaft G will revolve round the shaft C C, thus
leaving the wheel F and the pullies B B, standing
still ; but, if the wheels E E are kept in their pres-
ent horizontal position, and prevented from revolv-
ing round the shaft C C, it is equally obvious, that
the wheel F and the pullies B B will then be moved
at the same speed as the wheel D and the pullies
A A; hence the weight required to keep the wheels
E E in their present position, is equal to the weight
required to move the pullies B. B. The weight thus
required, is found by means of the lever H. J. The
arm H is attached to the centre of the wheels E E,
by the straps a a, fig. 1st. The arm J is divided
upon the principle of the Roman steel yard. The
weight M is merely intended to balance the arm J,
and being fastened with a set screw, can easily be
shifted on the arm H, as may be found requisite.
Therefore, when the wheels E E are kept in their
present position by means of the lever J H, it is
evident that a weight of 20 lbs. acting upon the pul-
lies A A at P, will balance another of the same
weight at N, of the pullies B. B. Now the distance
from the centre of the shaft C C to the division
on the lever J marked 1, is equal to the radius of
the belt pullies; hence a weight of 20 lbs. at 1 will
counterbalance the same weight at P, that is making
no allowance for friction, the amount of which is as-
certained by the additional weight required to balance
MISCELLANIES. 207
the given weight at P; and having once ascertained
the proper allowance for friction, the machine is put
in motion by shifting both belts on to the fast pullies,
and moving the balance weight along the lever J
from 1 to 4, 8, 12, or to whatever number will
balance the wheels E E, and the weight thus indi-
cated on J, is the weight required to move the ma-
chine or machines, from which deduct the allowance
for friction. A worm at y on the end of the shaft
C C, works into a wheel with an index and pointer,
in order to show the speed at which the machine is
driven, and also to determine the difference of the
weight of any machine at different speeds. From
the above description it is presumed that the prin-
ciple upon which this dynamometer is constructed,
as well as the mode of applying it, will be easily
understood.
2O8 MISCELLAN HES.
PRICES OF MACHINERY AND VARIOUS other AR-
TICLES USED IN CoTTON FACTORIES, Both IN
GREAT BRITAIN AND AMERICA.
Prices of Machinery, &c. at Lowell, Massachusetts.
Dols.
Conical Willow, tº o tº . I 10
Whipper used, instead of a Willow, for
beating Cotton, & * tº . 95
Picker or Spreading Machine (two beaters) 550
Carding Engine, 37 inches broad, and 36
inches diameter, clothed, . tº 260
Lap Winder or Lapping Machime, . 240
Drawing Frame of three heads, . . 165
Speeder containing 24 spindles, . . 850
Stretcher or Extenser, 36 do. & 1,000
Spinning Frame, 128 do. (dead spindle) 575
Warping Machine, complete, e . 135
Dressing Machine, do. e . 500
Loom, do. . tº . 75
Belt Leather, tº pound, . º º O
Lacing or thong Leather for sewing belts,
tº side, about tº e Q º I
Sheep skins for covering rollers, cut into
strips to suit the rollers, tº dozen, .. 8
Calf skins for covering rollers, tº dozen, 22
Picker Leather, cut into strips for shuttle
cords, tº side, tº © gº 6
Shuttle Drivers, made of Buffalo hide, tº doz. 0
Sperm Oil, tº gallon, © ſº ſº 0
Tallow, tº lb. g 0
Dust or hand Brushes, tº dozen, 4.
Floor Brushes, tº dozen, • & 10
Reeds, (Steel) tº beer, or 20 dents, O
Do. (Brass) do. do. 0
Cts.
0
0
0
2
6
0
0
0
0
67
90
:
=
=
i
28
22
19
I 14
54
50
34
177
208
119
28
104.
15
!
S.
l
1
5
I
l
l
l
l
8
l
d.
4.
10
8
I
I
MISCELLANIES,
Dols. Cts. =5
Reeds, (Cane) tº beer, or 20 dents, 0 3} = 0
Card Sheets and Fillets, tº square foot, 1 12} = O
Shuttles, (Apple tree) tº dozen, 5 0 = 1
Bobbins for Speeder, 6 inches by 4, each 0 6 = 0
Do. for Spinning Frame, (Birch) do. 0 1 = 0
Do. for do. (Apple tree)
tº 1,000, . . . . . 12 50 = 2
Potato Starch for dressing, {* lb. 0 5 = 0
Brass Castings, tº lb. . o º 0 30 = 0
Iron do. do. 5 cents to 0 6 = 0
At Pawtucket, Rhode Island.
Dols. Cts. 25.
Looms, tº- o • º each, 75 0 = 15
Dressing Machines, . e ... do. 425 0 = 88
The Providence Machine Company
Make very superior Mules for tº spindle, 2 75 = 0
At Andover, in Massachusetts.
Dols. Cts. :8
Speeders containing 18 spindles, . 666 0 = 138
Stretchers or Extensers, containing
36 spindles, e e tº . 1,080 0 = 225
Spinning Frames, tº spindle, . e 4 0 = 0
12
10
1 I
I6
:
#
O
8
According to the statements of some experienced
machine makers, a Mill containing 4,000 spindles,
with all the necessary machinery for weaving, &c.
might be filled with machinery ready for operation,
for about 55,000 dollars, equal to 13 dollars 75
cents, or £2 . 17. 3% per spindle; and including
buildings, gearing, &c. for 20 dollars, or £4. 3.4
per spindle.
21 O MISCELLANIES.
Prices of Machinery, &c. in Glasgow, Scotland.
36 s. d Dols. Cts.
Cylindrical Willow, © º o 20 0 0 – 96 0
Scutching Machine, with two beaters, 58 0 0 = 278 40
Spreading Machine for 24 inch cards, 52 0 0 = 249 60
Do. do. 36 do. 58 0 0 – 278 40
Carding Engine, 24 inches broad, and
36 in diameter, clothed and ready for
operation, © º f 28 to £30 0 0 – 144 0
Carding Engine, 36 inches broad, and
36 in diameter, clothed, &c. º 44 - 0 0 = 211 20
Lapping Machine or Lap Winder, 24
inches, with 4 calender rollers, º 25 0 0 – 120 0
Fly Frames, per spindle, 1 18 0 = 9 12
Drawing Frames, per head, 9 0 0 = 4.3 20
Mules, per spindle, e ſe . 0 6 0 = 1 44
Spinning Frames, (live spindle) per spindle, 0 10 6 = 2 52
Looms, o º º e e . 9 0 0 – 43 20
Dressing Machine, . © © . 40 0 0 – 192 0
Warping Machine, . © & . 17 0 0 – 81 60
Winding Machine, © & © 10 0 0 – 48 0
Belt Leather, per lb. º º º 0 l 6 – 0 36
Lacing or Thong Leather, per skin, . 0 l 6 = 0 36
Sheep Skins for covering rollers, per dozen,* 1 2 0 = 5 28
Shuttles, (Boxwood) with wheels, per doz. 1 14 0 = 8 16
Do. do. with iron slides do. 1 10 0 = 7 20
Shuttle Drivers, (Birch) do. 0 0 7 = 0 14
Reeds, (Brass) per hundred splits, . 0 0 3} = 0 7
Do. (Steel) do. 0 0 3 – 0 6
Dust brushes, per dozen, 0 1 1 0 – 2 64,
Floor do. do. I 10 0 – 7 20
* The Sheep Skins used in Great Britain are equal in quality to the Calf
Skins used in America, and are fully double the size.
MISCELLANIES. 211
36 s. d. Dols. Cts,
Sperm Oil, per gallon, • * . 0 7 0 = 1 68
Tallow, per lb. ſº * 0 0 5} = 0 1 1
Bobbins for Fly Frames, 6 inches by 3,
per dozen, * > 0 1 9} = 0 43
Bobbins for Spinning Frames, per dozen, 0 0 8 = 0 16
Flour for Dressing, per barrel, (1839) I 17 0 – 8 88
Brass Castings, per lb. . tº e 0 1 2 – 0 28
Iron do. do. * * . 0 0 13 = 0 3
Card Sheets, (Breakers) 24 inches by 34 -
per sheet, cº tº e tº 0 3 3 – 0 78
Card Sheets, (Finishers) 24 inches by 3},
per sheet, * > sº sº e 0 3 54 = 0 83
Filleting, (Breaker) 14 inches broad,
per foot, * ( * * * & 0 0 1 0 = 0 20
Filleting, (Finisher) 13, inches broad,
per foot, º * G * 0 0 10} = 0 21
Prices of various Machines in Manchester, Eng-
land, from Dr. Ure's Work on the Cotton Man-
wfacture of Great Britain.
38 s. d. Dols. Cts.
Conical Willow, ſº * > * . 70 0 0 – 336 O
Scutching Machine, (two beaters) . 70 0 0 = 336 0
Spreading Machine, do. * 70 0 0 – 336 O
Carding Engine, 37 inches broad, and
42 inches diameter, unclothed, 42 0 0 = 20 l 60
Clothing Furniture of do. e 24 0 0 = 1 15 20
Drawing Frame of six heads, . . 37 10 0 = 180 0
Fly Frame, (coarse) per spindle, . 2 6 0 = l l 4,
Do. (fine) do. g . l l l 10 = 7 64,
Mules, per spindle, tº tº de 0 4, 9 = l 14,
Self-acting Mule, per spindle, . . 0 8 0 = 1 92
0 6 = 2 52
Spinning Frame, (live spindle) per spindle, 0 1
2I Gy
Aº
MISCELLANIES.
From the preceding statements it will be seen,
that the prices of machines used in the cotton man-
ufacture, are much higher in this country than in
Great Britain : besides, the British machinery gen-
erally contains a greater number of improvements,
or those little contrivances by which they can be
more easily adjusted, and operated to the best
advantage.
Mr White, in his Memoir of Slater, gives the fol-
lowing Extract from Baine's History of the Cottom
Manufacture in England.


T Prices of machinery in Prices of machinery in the Actual prices
England, 1834. United States, 1834. sold in U. S.
D. C. D. C. D. C. D. C.|D. C. D. C.
Carding Engines, £30 to #40 ||144 to 192 £40 to £50 192 to 240 100 to 250
Throstles, #3 spindle, 8s. to 9s. 1.92 to 2. 16 || 24s. to 26s. 5. 76 to 6. 24 || 4.25 to 6
Mules, 43' do. 4s. 6d. to 5s. l. 8 to 1. 20 | 13s. to 14s. 3. 12 to 3.36| 2.12 to 2.25
Dressing Machines, ºf 30 to £35 |144 to 168 :f80 to £90 (384 to 432 |400
Power Looms, f7% to £8% 36 to 40.80 ºf 12 to £16 || 57.60 to 76.80 50 to 75
On the above Extract Mr White has the following
note :-
“The fact respecting the higher prices of Ameri-
can machinery, arises from their ornamental work,
which the English think unnecessary; as they re-
gard only the utility and durability of the machine.
This circumstance may be worthy the attention of
our machinists; whether it is best to spend so much
for polishing the appearance of the works.”
In the preceding statement Mr White is greatly
mistaken, as the English machinery in general, is
more highly polished than any that I have yet seen
in America. A great part of the framing of ma-
chinery in this country is made of wood, painted
green, which is the prevailing colour for the wooden
MISCEI,LANIES, 213
part of all the machinery here; but this can never
have so good an appearance as bright polished iron,
with which all the machinery made in Glasgow and
Manchester is mounted. Let any one who supposes
that the British do not expend labour and expense in
polishing or ornamenting their machinery, only visit
Mr Orrell's Mill at Stockport, England, and he will
find there a Factory fitted up like a palace. Indeed,
all the Factories lately built in England and Scotland
have a splendid and elegant appearance, at least
much more so than those of this country.
214, MISCELLANIES.
Cost OF STEAM Power. IN THE UNITED STATEs.
The following estimate of the cost of steam power
is taken from a Mill in Massachusetts containing
One Willow and Spreading Machine, with three beaters.
26 Carding Engines, 18 inches broad, and 36 inches diameter.
One Drawing Frame of three double heads.
Six Mules containing 264 spindles each = 1,584 spindles.
Spinning Frames, (dead spindle) . = 2,116 do.
3,700 spindles.
Three Warping Machines.
Three Dressing Machines dressing 35 pieces of 30 yards,
= 1050 yards each, or 3,150 yards in all, per day.
100 Looms, making 112 picks per minute, yarn No. 30, for
printing Cloth.
The Mill is driven by two large belts, from a
high pressure steam engine of 40 horses’ power—
length of stroke, 4 feet—diameter of cylinder, 1
foot—makes 20 double, or 40 single strokes per
minute. There are four round boilers, each 15 feet
long by 2% in diameter—requiring 300 gallons of
water, and consuming 1% chaldrons of bituminous
coal per day—pressure of steam, 68 lbs. to the
square inch.
Dols. Cts,
14 chaldrons of bituminous coal (3) 8 dol, tº chald. 10 0 tº day.
Wages of Engineer, © © * > e e 1 33 do.
Do. Fireman, . e © e º . 0 87 do.
12 20
Thus, the daily cost of the above engine is 12 dollars
20 cents, – £2.10. 10 Sterling, besides oil, tallow,
stuffing, &c. This is about double the cost of the
same power in Glasgow.
MISCELL ANIES, 215
CALCULATIONs of THE Cost of WATER Power
AT Lowell, MAssachusetts; AND MANAYUNK,
PHILADELPHIA.
These calculations are entirely for breast wheels, all those at
Lowell being of that description.
At Lowell 3,584 throstle spindles, with all the
necessary machinery for preparing the cotton, and
manufacturing the cloth, are considered a Mill
power, and sold at 4 dollars per spindle, or 14,336
dollars in all, with about four acres of land. In
conveying the Property, the Company give a right
on the fall of 13 feet, to draw 60 cubic feet of water
per second for 24 hours; and 24 cubic feet on the
fall of 30 feet. On the fall of 13 feet, one foot is
deducted, leaving 12 feet for effective fall.
Cubic feet. Feet. lbs.
60 × 12 × 624 (weight of one cubic foot) = 45,000 Ibs.
per second. -
45,000 lbs. x 60" = 2,700,000 lbs. of power expended per minute:
from which deduct # for the difference between the power ex-
pended and the effect produced; 2,700,000 lbs.—A = 1,800,000
lbs. being the effective force of 60 cubic feet per second, on a fall
of 13 feet; which, if divided by 33,000 lbs. (Watt's estimate of one
horse power,) will give the number of horses' power on the above
fall.
1,800,000 -- 33,000 = 54.54 horses' power.
Therefore 54% horses’ power, (together with four
acres of land,) are sold for 14,336 dollars, and are
estimated as sufficient to propel 3,584 spindles, with
all the other machinery connected.
216 MISCELLANIES.
The whole cost divided by the number of horses’
power gives the cost of each.
Dols. Horses’ power. Dols.
14,336 -- 54.54 = 262.85. The interest on this at 6 per cent.,
15 dollars 77 cents = £3.5. 8%. Sterling, being the annual cost
of each horse power.
If we suppose the land worth 857 dollars per
acre, being a little over 17 cents to the square yard,
(and it is known that much of the Company’s ground
brings as much for the square foot,) then four acres
will cost 3,428 dollars, leaving 10,908 dollars for
the water power, i. e. 200 dollars for each horse
power; the interest of which is 12 dollars, the
annual cost of each horse power to the different
manufacturing corporations.
At Manayunk, near Philadelphia, the water is
leased or sold by the square inch of the gates, under
a head of 3 feet. The whole fall is 23 feet, from
which 3 feet is deducted; leaving 20 feet for effective
fall.
“The square root of the head or depth of water
multiplied by 5.4, gives the velocity of feet per
second: this multiplied by the area of the orifice in
feet, gives the number of cubic feet which flows out
in one second.” See Brunton’s Compendium of
Mechanics, seventh edition, page 147.
w/ 3 = 1,732 × 5.4 = 9.3528, velocity per second, or the
number of cubic feet per second, running through an orifice of
one square foot.
9,3528 × 20 feet, height of effective fall = 187.056 feet x 62%
feet, weight of cubic foot = 11,691 lbs. per second x 60
seconds = 701,460 lbs. power expended per minute, from which
MISCELLANIES. 217
deduct # for the difference between the power expended and the
effect produced.
701,460 lbs. – # = 467,640 lbs. effect produced -- 33,000 lbs.
= 14.17 horses' power for each square foot of the gates on the
above fall of 23 feet, and under a head of 3 feet.
The above water power is sold at 100 dollars per
square inch of gate.
Square inch. Inches in a foot. Dollars. Dollars.
1 : 144 : : 100 : 14,400 cost of square foot.
14,400 dollars -- 14.17 horses' power = 1,016 dollars for each
horse power. The interest of which at 6 per cent, is 60 dollars
96 cents = £12. 14s. Sterling, the annual cost of each horse
power; being about equal to 6 dollars for each square inch of
gates on the above fall and head of water.
RESULT of AN EXPERIMENT To AscERTAIN THE
weight OF ANTHRACITE COALs CoNSUMED IN
HEATING A Cotto N FACTORY FOR ONE WEEK, IN
WINTER, BY JOHN M. BATCHELDER, SAco.
The Mill in which the following experiment was
made, consists of four stories, with an attic, and is 42
feet in width by 142 in length; the average height of
each story about 10 feet. The attic is about 29 feet
in width, and between 8 and 9 in height.
The basement story contains the water wheels;
second, the carding; third, the spinning; fourth and
attic, the weaving and dressing. The Mill is warmed
by means of two upright steam boilers, one at each
end of the Factory. One of these boilers is 6 feet
in height, by 3 feet in diameter; the other is of the
21S MISC ELLAN IF.S.
same height, and 2 feet in diameter. The temper-
ature of each room, as well as of the external air, was
observed each hour of the 24 on the first day; dur-
ing the remainder of the week it was observed four
times each day, at such times as would give a
correct average.
The water supplied to the boilers was of the
temperature of 32°.
The average temperature of
The wheel room or basement story, was te 44.240
— external air, . wº © © • . 14.05
Temperature of wheel room was raised o 30, 190
Average temperature of carding room, was 64.72°
Do. do. spinning room, (35.94
Do. do. weaving room, 66.57
Do. do. attic, e , 7 l.04.
Average temperature of the four rooms, 268.27° -- 4 = 67.07%
Average temperature in the Mill, º e 67 07
Do. do. of external air, e . 14.05
Temperature of the four rooms was raised, . 53,02°
The temperature was taken night and day, there-
fore the above was the average of the whole 24
hours of each day during the week.
The lowest temperature of the external air ob-
served during the week, was 8 degrees below, and
the highest range 38 degrees above zero; yet the
temperature of the several rooms was quite uniform,
not varying at any time above four degrees from the
average given.
MISCELL ANIES. 219
The quantity of fuel consumed in the six days,
was 7,484 lbs. of anthracite coal.
7,484 -- 6 = 1,247 lbs. of coal per day.
Cost of 7,484 lbs. anthracite coals at 7 dollars
per ton.
Lbs. Dols. Lbs. Dols. Cts.
2,240 : 7 : : 7,484 : 23 . 39
Thus, the cost of coals to heat a Mill of the above
extent for one week or six days, during the cold-
est month in winter, was 23 dollars 39 cents =
£4.17. 5%, Sterling.
In order to ascertain the annual cost, we may
fairly estimate ten weeks in the coldest part of
winter equal to the above, and twenty weeks in
spring and autumn at one half the above cost. The
annual cost would therefore stand as follows:—
Weeks. Dols. Cts. Dols. Cts. Weeks. Dols. Cts. Dols. Cts.
10 × 23 . 39 = 233 . 90 + 20 × 11 . 69% = 467. 80
– f 97 . 9 . 2.
The above may be regarded as the fair average
annual cost of heating a large Factory in this coun-
try by steam. I have not had an opportunity of
ascertaining the cost of heating by hot air, as those
that heat by the latter use a considerable quantity
of wood for fuel.
J. NIVEN AND SON, PRINTERS,
35, GLASS FORD STREET.
UNIV. OF jºiºſº [GAN,
APR 3 1913
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W O R. K. S
PUBLISHED BY JOHN NIVEN, JUN.
158, TRONGATE, GLASGOW.
In one Volume 8vo, Price 9/6, THIRD EDITION, greatly enlarged and improved, and
Illustrated by numerous APPROPRIATE ENGRAVINGS,
THE
THEORY AND PRACTICE OF COTTON SPINNING;
OR THE
CARDING AND SPINNING MASTER’S ASSISTANT:
Showing the use of each Machine employed in the whole process—how to adjust and adapt
them to suit the various kinds of Cotton, and the different qualities of Yarn. And how
to perform the various Calculations connected with the different departments of COTTON
SPINNING..—Also, an Historical Sketch of the Rise and Progress of COTTON SPINNING ;
and a short account of the cultivation of Cotton, quantities imported and consumed,
different growths, &c.
IBY JAMIES MIONTGOMIERY.
EXTRACTS FROM REVIEWS.
“To those engaged in the cotton trade, this must be a very valuable publication; for it
ably expounds the principles of the art, and as ably goes through all its practical details,
with engravings of machinery, improvements, &c. and suggestions, which, we daresay, may
be turned to future advantage.” Literary Gazette.
“It will be found to contain much valuable information for those engaged in the process
of cotton spinning.” Manchester Courier.
“The details are given with equal precision and skill, while the clearness and accuracy
of his illustrations demonstrate his theoretical knowledge as well as practical experience.
Altogether, the work is exceedingly worthy of public patronage.” Scots Times.
“How well he has executed his task, a discerning public, we think, will appreciate, when
the work has had time to work its way, not only into the hands of men of like occupation,
or even those of the curious in books, but when it becomes (as we think it will) a book that
will be found generally read by all who desire information, or rather we would say, a book
that will be found necessary to every man who desires to become acquainted with the re-
sources and capabilities of our country.” Glasgow Herald.
“No cotton spinnér should neglect to provide himself with the work. lt will soon save
him many times over the cost of it. It is but right to state that the work is most splendidly
got up—and though sold at a moderate price, contains no fewer than mine beautiful
engravings.” Glasgow Free Press.
“It contains much valuable information on a subject of vital importance to this district.”
Manchester Guardian.
“It presents the mechanic and the man of science with a complete analysis of every
branch in the manufacture, and it cannot fail to be most extensively useful.”
Edinburgh Evening Post.
“To those about to commence dealing in cotton goods, whether as manufacturers or simple
traders, we should think it altogether invaluable. Every particular regarding this valuable
plant from its growth in the field to its most finished state of manufacture, is here given—
full instructions for judging of the respective qualities of the different sorts and growths—the
art of mixing them properly, &c. &c.—with minute and elaborate details of every stage in
the spinning process—descriptions of the machinery—rules for calculating the speed of the
different wheels, cylinders, &c.—in short, the author has completely exhausted his subject,
and left nothing to be wished for. Not the least valuable portion of the work are the plates,
giving a plan of the proper construction of a cotton mill; views of internal structure of the
Jmachinery,” &c. Scotsman.
“It is at once a most interesting and valuable work.” Chambers’ Historical Newspaper,
Price Two Shillings,
THE COTTON SPINNER's MANUAL,
OR A
Compendium of the Principles of Cotton Spinning,
Exemplifying the Method of Adjusting the Speeds, Calculating the Draughts, and perform-
ing the other Calculations required in a Cotton Spinning Factory.—Also, how to find the
Aggregate Price of the various Mixtures of Cottoms, and copious Tables by which the
wages of Operative Spinners are regulated.
WORKS PUBLISHED BY JOHN NIVEN, JUN,
In One Volume 12mo, Price 5s., SEVENTH EDITION, carefully Revised and
Enlarged, with Plates,
A COMPENDIUM of MECHANICs;
OR TEXT BOOK FOR.
Engineers, Mill-Wrights, Machine-Makers, Smiths, &c.
Containing Practical Rules and Tables connected with the Steam Engine, Water Wheel, Pump,
and Mechanics in general; also, Examples for each Rule, calculated in Decimal Arithmetic,
which renders this Treatise particularly adapted for the use of Operative Mechanics.
BY ROBERT BRUNTON.
EXTRACTS FROM REVIEWS,
“A recent little work published at Glasgow, which is so replete with useful information,
that no working mechanic should be without it.” Library of Useful Knowledge.
“We recommend to all who have ever felt the want of a cheap text-book for operative
mechanics, a little volume, entitled, ‘A Compendium of Mechanics,’ compiled by a mechanic
of Glasgow, and modestly dedicated to his brethren of that city. It comprehends a great
variety of most useful practical rules and tables, derived from the best sources, with examples
of each rule, calculated in decimal arithmetic, so as to be universally intelligible. Upon the
whole, the work does great credit to Mr. Brunton’s industry, intelligence, and dis-
crimination.” London Mechanics’ Magazine.
“This is a very useful publication, and is calculated to supply a great desideratum amongst
Operative Mechanics. The explanation of the Mechanical Powers are given shortly, but
distinctly, and the rules for calculating their effects are expressed in the same manner. Very
appropriate examples are given under each head, and the calculations are exhibited in the
most concise form, at the same time that they are sufficiently obvious to any person who is
acquainted with common arithmetic. The work is most respectable, and does infinite credit
to the industry and intelligence of Mr. Brunton,” Glasgow Mechanics’ Magazine.
“We formerly expressed our opinion respecting its merits, and we have only further to
add, that very considerable improvements and additions have been made to the work.”
Scots Mechanics’ Magazine.
AN ANALYTICAL TABLE OF MECHANICAL MOVEMENTS,
Consisting of Views and Sections of various Mechanical Arrangements divided into Direct
and Alternate Motions of Variable and Uniform Velocities.— Price 2s. 6d.
BY WILLIAM NICHOLSON.
REY to the above—Price ls.
A TABULAR VIEW OF THE PROGRESS OF THE STEAM ENGINE,
From the Time of Hero to the Present Period.
BY WILLIAM NICHOLSON.
Price 2s. 6d.
In One Volume 12mo., Price 3s. 6d.
A v I E W OF INSPIRATION,
Comprehending the Nature and Distinctions of the Spiritual Gifts and Offices of the Apos-
tolic Age. -
By ALEX. M'LEO D.
“ The subject” (of miraculous gifts) “is one of primary interest; and we are glad to
take this occasion of bringing under the notice of our readers, a volume in which it is
treated at large, with great sobriety, and highly respectable ability.”—Eclectic Review.
“ This book will long continue to be a Standard Work on the subject to which it relates.
Mr Macleod possesses the qualifications which are requisite to the undertaking. To a mind
naturally capacious and vigorous, he has united a spirit of ardent piety, correct views of di-
vine truth, considerable learning, and an independence of mind which, while it accepts the
assistance of former writers on the subject (which indeed have been Very few,) is a slave to
none of their hypotheses.”—Baptist Magazine.
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