|
|
Edward Harris
| Firmenname | Edward Harris |
| Ortssitz | Woonsocket (Rhode Island) |
| Art des Unternehmens | Textilfabrik |
| Anmerkungen | Verarbeitet Baumwolle und Wolle. Auch Textilunternehmer |
| Quellenangaben | [Bishop: History of American manufacturers 2 (1868) 520 + 3,535+540] |
| Zeit |
Ereignis |
| 10.1801 |
Geburt von Edward Harris bei Lime Rock. - Die Eltern ziehen wenige Jahre nach seiner Geburt zum Dutchess County, New York |
| 1818 |
Umzug vom Dutchess County, New York, zum Ashtabula County, Ohio |
| 1823 |
Harris zieht zu seiner Geburtsstätte zurück und beginnt im Kontor seines Onkels William Harris, einem bekannten Hersteller von Baumwollwaren. - Dort bleibt er 13 Monate. |
| 1824 |
Harris erhält eine Stelle als Angestellter in einer großen Textilfabrik in der Nähe von Lime Rock, die als "Albion" bekannt ist. Dort wird er später Betriebsleiter. |
| 1834 |
E. Harris hat $2.500 gespart, und er bekommt ein Darlehn von 1.000 von sienem Vater. Erkauft eine kleine Wollfabrik in Woonsocket, die nur einen Maschinensatz hat, und beginnt mit der Herstellung von Satinets. Hier geht er eine Teilhaberschaft mit Edward Seagraves und für eine kurze Zeit mit Willard B. Johnson ein, aber seine erste Erfahrung ist so entmutigend infolge des großen Niedergangs der Wollen- und Wollwarenindustrie, daß sein Kapital auf nur 1.000 reduziert wird. Er kerht in die Albion Mill als ihr Betriebsleiter zurrück. |
| 1836 |
Bau einer neuen Fabrik, ein fünfgeschossiges Steingebäude, die als "Mill No. 2" bezeichnet wird |
| 1837 |
Auflösung der Partnerschaft mit Seagraves. Seitdem agiert Harris allein. |
| 1844 |
Eine große Fabrik aus Ziegelmauerwerk mit fünf Stockwerken wird westlich der Straße errichtet. |
| 1845 |
Harris baut seine Fabrik No. 4 mit sechs Stockwerken |
| 1855 |
Harris eröffnet ein Geschäftshaus in New York City. |
| 1860 |
Harris legt den Grundstein für die am besten ausgestattete Wollfabrik in den USA. Sie ist winkelförmig und aus Ziegeln gebaut und hat fünf Stockwerke. |
| ZEIT | 1868 |
| THEMA | Firmenbeschreibung |
| TEXT | Whose name for many years has been identified with highest grade of American Cassimeres, was born in the State of Rhode Island, near Lime Rock, Octobers, 1801. Within a few years after his birth his parents removed to Dutchess county, New York, where they remained until 1818, when they again removed to Ashtabula county, Ohio. His youth and early manhood were spent in those hardy labors incident to agricultural pursuits, and in teaching school, and not until after be had attained his majority was he in any wise connected with manufacturing, in which he has since achieved a most distinguished success. In 1823, he returned to the place of his nativity, and entered the counting-house of his uncle, William Harris, then a prominent manufacturer of cotton goods. Here he remained thirteen months, when he obtained a clerkship in a large mill in the vicinity, known as the "Albion," of which he was subsequently manager or superintendent. In these and incidental pursuits his life passed until he had attained his thirtieth year, when having accumulated $2.500, and received a loan from his father of 1.000, he purchased a small woollen mill having one set of machinery, situated in Woonsocket, on the banks of the Blackstone river, and embarked in the manufacture of Satinets. Here he became associated with Edward Seagraves, and for a short period with Willard B. Johnson; but his first experience was so discouraging that, in consequence of a great decline in wool and woollen goods, he found his capital reduced to a single thousand dollars, and he returned to the Albion Mill as its superintendent, though retaining his interest in the Satinet manufactory, which was managed by his partner. In the subsequent year a great advance took place in the class of goods manufactured at his mill, and his profits were 5.000, which may be said to be the foundation of a fortune that is now princely. These details, that might be called trivial in the history of a manufacturer less eminent, are of value because encouraging to those who are struggling with difficulties and aspiring to success. In 1837, the partnership with Mr. Seagraves was dissolved, and since then Mr. Harris has had no partner, though it has been his practice to reward fidelity and long service with an interest in the profits of the concern. In the year 1836, he built a new stone mill, five stories high, which is distinguished as Mill No. 2, the original factory, or mill No. 1, being still operated by him, and now contains two sets of machinery and thirteen looms. About this time he engaged in the manufacture of what was called "Merino Cassimeres," with cotton warps and wool filling, finely finished, which, in their day, were quite popular, but which were soon superseded by the more substantial all wool figured or Fancy Cassimeres, first made in these mills in December, 1842. In 1844, the large brick factory on the west side of the street, fifty by one hundred feet, five stories high, was erected, and in the subsequent year he built No. 4, which is six stories in height, and to which additions have since been made. Both of these factories are propelled by the same power, which is transmitted by means of shafting under the pavement, and they are connected by a bridge that extends from the upper stories across the street. These four mills are now known as the "Old Works," and contain an equivalent of thirty-three sets of cards, one hundred and forty-six looms, fifty-four spinning jacks, with eleven thousand spindles, about thirty gigs, ten shearing machines, forty fulling hammers, and produce an average of twelve thousand yards of the best quality of Cassimeres each week. Adjacent to mill No. 4 is also a cotton factory, with seven thousand spindles, and employed in making sheetings and Domet flannels. In 1860, Mr. Harris laid the foundations of what will undoubtedly be the most complete and superb woollen manufactory in the United States. It is built of brick, in the form of an L, and if extended in one line, its length would be four hundred and forty-two feet, its width sixty feet, and five stories in height. The aggregate floor superficies is one hundred and fifty thousand square feet. There is in the engine house one Corliss engine of one hundred and seventy-five horse-power, and an immense water-wheel twenty-eight feet in breast and forty feet in diameter, constructed without a central shaft, being supported by gudgeons. The foundations, as well as the whole structure, are of the most substantial character, and the walls of the first story, which is fifteen feet high, are three feet in thickness and faced with granite. This mill now contains eight self-operating mules, of three hundred and thirty-six spindlea each, which were imported from Europe, and when completely furnished will have thirty-five sets of forty-eight inch cards, one hundred and forty broad looms, equal to two hundred and eighty narrow, forty fulling hammers and other equivalent machinery, of the most approved construction. Connected with this mill is a brick Dye-house, surmounted with ventilators and a Boiler and Engine House, and in the immediate vicinity on the estate is a Foundry, a Blind and Sash manufactory, boarding houses for operatives, and forty tenement houses. The monthly wages paid to those employed in the various factories now exceeds 25.000, and when the new mill is in full operation this will be largely increased. One distinguishing characteristic of Mr. Harris's mind, is its just appreciation of the practical, or preference for substance to show. This is apparent alike in his buildings, his machinery, and his manufactured fabrics. It is a trait that was developed early, for his Satinets and Merino Cassimeres were in their day, as his Fancy Cassimeres are now, the most substantial of their class. His instructions to those in his employ have always been to make the best goods possible, without regard to cost. It is generally supposed that Mr. Harris has monopolized secrets in dyeing fast colors, and processes of manufacturing not known to others; but this may be classed among doubtful rumors. Care, attention, time, are the levers with which he achieves success. Five and six weeks are invariably taken to convert the raw material into cloth, and two and three weeks are consumed in finishing the fabric after it leaves the loom. Probably no woollen factory has so large a proportion of double and twist spindles as these mills. Every yard of cloth undergoes careful inspection, and the organs of smell and feeling as well as of sight are employed to detect defects. Many thousands of pieces of cloth are annually sold in the markets as "Harris's Cassimeres" that never were in his mills, and though he makes from two hundred and fifty to three hundred different styles, and it is always possible for accidents to occur in large establishments, through the negligence of subordinates, it is safe to assert that no imperfect goods are ever knowingly sent to the warehouses. Another mental characteristic of Mr. Harris is his originality, manifested especially in frequent innovations upon the established customs of trade. When his fabrics were sold through commission houses, a highly respectable and responsible merchant in New York solicited the exclusive agency for that city. Consent was given, but only on condition that the merchant would agree, in writing, to place all notes received for the sale of Harris's goods in a separate package, and hold them as a special deposit, not to be used without his consent first obtained, under penalty of punishment in the "State's Prison," and, further stipulating, that no notes of those who held or dealt in slaves should be deposited in that package. In 1855, Mr. Harris opened a warehouse in the city of New York for the sale of his fabrics, and though it was then customary for manufacturers and their agents to allow a credit of eight months, he announced six months as his limit, with an allowance of two and a half per cent., and when others adopted his rule, he reduced his credit to four months, with an allowance of five per cent.; consequently his Bills-Receivable, maturing two months in advance of others, were generally paid, an advantage that those who suffered in the commercial crisis of 1857 will best appreciate. But when the late Rebellion commenced, and others declined all credits, demanding cash invariably, he reversed his former practice, and allowed a credit of three months, believing that the system of short credits thus established, could be maintained ever afterward through force of custom, even if the old rule of long credits should again become general. As a man, Mr. Harris is no less estimable than he is sagacious as a manufacturer. Radical in his opinions on questions involving public and national morality, he has not hesitated to sacrifice his pecuniary interests whenever they conflicted with his conscientious convictions of duty. As a Senator and politician he has always co-operated with those actuated by sympathy with humanity, and though a millionaire, he has never allowed the fascination of acquisition to canker or check the genial impulses of a naturally kind heart. Among his numerous charities is the munificent gift to the town of Woonsocket of a block of buildings, worth perhaps 75.000, for the establishment of a Free Library and Lyceum. But the subject, too comprehensive for these pages, is reluctantly transferred to others, who, we trust, will prepare a suitable memoir of one who deservedly ranks among the foremost of American Manufacturers. |
| QUELLE | [Bishop: History of American manufacturers 2 (1868) 520 + 3,535+540] |
|
