Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 5.djvu/298

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2 70 THE GRANITE MONTHLY.

machines which rub and separate the fibers. When fine enough, the stock is bleached in the engine, or let down into tanks for bleaching, or stock chests for use. It is then pumped upon a wet machine, such as is used for making pasteboard, or upon a machine for making paper. This mill runs three pulp engines, with four foot rolls, each weighing about four tons, with six foot pulleys, and tubes twenty feet long, and a seventy-two inch wet machine for making pulp into sheets. About fifteen hands are employed. The capacity of the mill is three tons of pulp per day.

The strawboard manufacturing establishment of Ames & Mason (B. M. Ames and R. Mason), located a short distance below Mason, Perkins & Co.'s paper mill, employs the steam dried process of manufacture, and is, therefore, in operation throughout the year. This mill has a capacity of two tons per day; is furnished with an eighty horse boiler for drying purposes, and employs ten men. The straw used is largely brought from Canada, as is that used by Mason, Perkins & Co., but all that the farmers in the vicinity have to sell is purchased for use. The goods manufactured are sold mostly in Boston, Springfield, and Worcester.

The woolen mill of Holden & Co. (B. F. and S. E. Holden), of which B. F. Holden is the resident manager, employs about thirty hands — one third men — running two sets of machinery, in the manufacture of fine grade flannels and suitings which are marketed in New York. The firm commenced operations in 1865, and long since established a first class reputation for excellence of goods.

Another prominent manufacturing establishment in this town, and one which has attained perhaps as great celebrity as any other, is that of Crosby & Co. (E. D. and M. H. Crosby), long engaged in the manufacture of bedsteads, but which has, for some years past, been manufacturing croquet sets, ten pins, and various other articles. Among other work, this firm manufactures about a car load of oak dowels each month for the Wakefield Rattan Company. About 6000 croquet sets were made the past season. Twenty hands are employed. This firm also operates an extensive lumber mill, located above Mason, Perkins & Co.'s paper mill. Another lumber mill, located at the outlet of the lake, is owned and operated by the Lake Company.

At the Bristol Carriage Manufactory, operated by O. K. Bucklin, about fifteen hands are employed, and fifty carriages of all kinds, and as many sleighs, are produced each year.

The Bristol flouring mill, operated by Taylor & Co. (Cyrus Taylor and P. C. Shaw), has three run of stone, one for making flour for country customers, for whom from five to forty bushels of wheat are ground per day during the winter season, and the others for corn and other coarse grinding. From 30,000 to 35,000 bushels of corn per annum is bought by this firm, ground and sold to customers for many miles about, one advantage being found that Bristol is a billing point for grain from the West. G. G. Brown is also engaged in milling, and grinds about twenty thousand bushels per annum. He also sells corn meal and flour. Still another grist mill, principally devoted to custom grinding, is that of Ariel H. George, which is also supplied with three run of stones, and has a capacity for seventy-five bushels per day.

Among other important manufacturing industries is the tannery of E. K. Pray, manufacturer of wax leather, who produces annually eight thousand sides and splits, employing eight men and using 400 cords of bark. Also the foundery and machine shop of Geo. A. Robie, where about ten men are employed. A. M. Draper & Co. do quite a business in the manufacture of Plymouth buck gloves and mittens. E. M. Drake manufactures piano stool stock to a considerable extent. Geo. B. Sanborn has established a fine business in the manu-