F 129 
 .C67 C5 
 Copy 1 
 
 THE 
 
 r^TTY OF COHOES 
 
 ITS 
 
 HISTORY, GROWTH AND PROSPECTS. 
 
 (JREAT MANUFACTORIES. 
 
 ALBANY: 
 
 CHARLES VAN BENTHUYSEN & SONS' PRINT. 
 
 1869. 
 
VIEW OF COHOES FALLS. 
 
THE 
 
 CITY OF COHOES 
 
 HISTORY, GROWTH AND PROSPECTS. 
 
 GREAT MANUFACTORIES. 
 
 ALBANY: 
 
 CHAKLBS VAN BESTHUYSEN & SONS' PRINT. 
 
 1869. 
 
\^Q^ 
 
 
 ADVERTISEMEXT. 
 
 The idea of perpetrating this pamphlet \ras suggested 
 by the piibUcation of certain articles on the " Manufactures 
 of Cohoes," which recently appeared in the Albany Morn- 
 ing Express, and which haye been revised and incorpo- 
 rated in the following pages. Such additional matter — 
 historical, descriptive and statistical — as may serve to 
 show how rapid has been the growth of this " City of 
 Mills," its present opulence and importance, and future 
 prospects, is also presented. 
 
 West Tkot, September, 1869. E. F. 
 
 1 1 ni^^ 9i- 
 
 fe : -Ji 
 

 CONTENTS, 
 
 Page. 
 
 ADVERTISEMENT 2 
 
 COHOES : ITS HISTORY 5 
 
 Moore's Poem on the Falls 6 
 
 Historical extracts 7 
 
 A Legend 8 
 
 THE FIRST MANUFACTORIES 10 
 
 THE COHOES COMPANY 12 
 
 THE GREAT ILVRMONY MILLS 15 
 
 THE KNITTING JULLS : THEIR HISTORY, ETC 25 
 
 Adams' MiU 28 
 
 Troy Manufacturing Company 2!) 
 
 Tivoli Hosiery Mill 30 
 
 Clitton Company 30 
 
 J. H. Parsons & Co 31 
 
 Halcyon Mill 31 
 
 Star Knitting Company 32 
 
 Ontario MiU 32 
 
 Erie Mill '^^ 
 
 Empire Mill 33 
 
 Riverside MiU -^ 
 
 Stark MiU '^l 
 
 American Hosiery Mill 36 
 
 Diamond Mill 35 
 
 Mohawk MiU 35 
 
 Victor MiU 36 
 
 Atlantic MiU 30 
 
 Alaska Knitting Company 3(5 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Page. 
 
 OTHER LARGE ESTABLISHMENTS 38 
 
 Cohoes RoUing Mill 38 
 
 Cohoes Paper Company 42 
 
 Burton's Veneering and Sawing Mill 43 
 
 John Land & Sons 44 
 
 Cohoes Iron Foundry and Machine Shop 46 
 
 Cohoes Nut Manufactory 47 
 
 Cohoes Knitting Needle Factory 47 
 
 Magnolia Tape Mills 48 
 
 Cohoes Straw Board MiU 48 
 
 I^nSCELLANEOUS CONCERNS 50 
 
 COHOES GAS LIGHT COMPANY 52 
 
 COHOES WATER WORKS 52 
 
 BUILDINGS IN COURSE OF ERECTION 53 
 
 A SUMMARY 54 
 
 A BIRD'S-EYE VIEW 56 
 
^ 
 
 ^ohojs: Jts listorg. 
 
 3>#<C 
 
 The City of Cohoes, which, by a recent act of the Legis- 
 lature of the State of New York, has been accorded the 
 municipal honors and privileges which its present corpo 
 rate title implies, may be briefly defined as one of the 
 first manufacturing cities of the United States, situated 
 at an eligible and picturesque point upon the banks 
 of that most romantic of streams, the Mohawk] river, 
 and blessed with greater natural advantages, more inhe- 
 rent vitality, and better prospects than any other manu- 
 facturing city upon the American continent. 
 
 To dehneate in a serious vein the relative location of the 
 place, by saying that it was a certain number of miles 
 from Troy and twice as far from Albany, might possibly 
 appear as facetious to the reader of twenty years hence — 
 in case such a description should meet his eye after 
 Cohoes has overshadowed its aforesaid neighbors and 
 approximated to its destined greatness — as if we essayed 
 to locate New York by observing that it stood directly 
 opposite the city of Hoboken ; and as we are not disposed 
 to enter into such unnecessary details, we find it con- 
 venient to assume that the inteUigent reader is sufficiently 
 well acquainted with the geography of a locality long 
 since world-renowned f )r the beauties of it surrounding 
 — _ ^^ 
 
CITY OF COHOES. 
 
 scenery — beauties which have given stimulus to the pen 
 of a prince of poets, and have been lavishly extolled by 
 the granddaughter of the Siddons. 
 
 The oldest historical records which we have been en- 
 abled to discover concerning this locality, have particular 
 reference to the Falls; and as the existence of these 
 falls — through the concomitant formation of the adjacent 
 surface, which admits of the application of the water 
 power to manufacturing purposes — has had everything 
 to do with the rise of Cohoes, we will give this feature 
 priority of place, by here appropriating such written 
 allusions as may be deemed interesting, commencing with 
 Moore's beautiful poem and its attendant note : 
 
 " WRITTEN AT THE COHOS, OR FALLS OF THE MOHAWK RIVER.'"^ 
 
 From rise of morn till set of sun 
 
 I have seen the mighty Mohawk run, 
 
 And as I marked the woods of pine 
 
 Along his mirror darldy shine, 
 
 Like tall and gloomy forms that pass 
 
 Before the wizard's midnight glass : 
 
 And as I viewed the hurrying pace 
 
 With which he ran his turbid race, 
 
 Riishing, alike imtir'd and wild, 
 
 Through shades that frowned and flowers that smiled. 
 
 Flying by every green recess 
 
 That woo'd him to its calm caress. 
 
 Yet, sometimes turning with the wind, 
 
 As if to leave one look behind ! 
 
 Oh I I have thought, and thinking sigh'd — 
 
 How like to thee, thou restless tide I 
 
 May be the lot, the life of him. 
 
 Who roams along thy water's brim I 
 
 Through what alternate shades of woe, 
 
 And flowers of joy my path may go ! 
 
 * " There is a dreary and savage character in the country imme- 
 diately above these Falls, which is more m harmonj^ with the wild- 
 ness of such a scene, than the cultivated hmds in the neighborhood 
 of Niagara. * * * The tine rainbow which is continually 
 foi'ming and dissolving as the spray rises with the light of the sun, 
 is perhaps the most interesting beauty which these wonderful 
 cataracts exhibit." 
 
CITY OF COHOES. 
 
 How many a humble, still retreat 
 May rise to court my weary feet, 
 While still pursviiiig, still uublest, 
 I wauder on, nor dare to rest I 
 But ui-gent as the doom that calls 
 Thy water to its destined falls, 
 I see the world's bewildering force 
 Hui-ry my heart's devoted course 
 From lapse to lapse, till life be done. 
 And the last ciUTent cease to run I 
 Oh, may my falls be bright as thine ! 
 May Heaven's forgiving rainbow shine 
 Upon the mist that circles me. 
 As soft, as now it hangs o'er thee I 
 
 It is said that the house at which Moore stopped during 
 his visit to Cohoes, now figures as a woodshed, and is 
 located upon the premises of Mr. Gabriel Cropsey, whose 
 residence is situated near the Cohoes bridge. 
 
 From an article contributed to the Troy Daily Times, 
 by Arthur H. Masten, of Cohoes, and pubUshe'i in that 
 paper May 29th of the present year, we glean the fol- 
 lowing : 
 
 " Rev. Johannes Megapolensis, the first minister of the gospel 
 in Albany, Avho resided there between H)42 and 1(J49, says : 
 
 " ' This river (the Mohawk), comes out of the Mahakas country, 
 about four miles north of us. There it flows between two high 
 rocky banks, and falls from a height ecxual to that of a church, with 
 such a noise that ^ye can sometimes hear it with us. * * * 
 I and another saw there in clear sunshine, when there was not a 
 cloud in the sky, as we stood above upon the rocks, directly oppo- . 
 site where the river falls in thegi-eat abyss, the half of a rambow, 
 or a quarter cii-cle of the same color with the rainbow in the sky. 
 * * * In the spring, in May, the perch are so plenty that 
 one man, with a hook and line, can catch in one hour as many as 
 ten ortoelve men can eat. There is also in the river a great plenty 
 of sturgeon, which we christians do not eat, but the Indians eat 
 them greedily.' 
 
 "The next account we have of the Falls, is from the journal of 
 
 Jasper Bankers and Peter Sluyter, members of the Society of Laba- 
 
 dists in Holland, who came here to procure an elegible site for a 
 
 colony of their sect. They visited the Falls on tlie 23d of April, 
 
 ) IGGO, and gave the following account of them ; 
 
CITY OF COHOES. 
 
 " 'Mr. Sandershavingprovidedus with horses, we rode out about 
 nine o'clock, to visit the Cahoos, which is the Falls of the great 
 Maquaskil (Mohawk river), which are the greatest falls not only in 
 NeAV Netherland, but in North America, and perhaps in the whole 
 new world. * * * As you come near the Falls, you can hear 
 the roaring which makes everything tremble, but on reaching them 
 and looking at them, you see something wonderful, a great mani- 
 festation of God's power and sovereignty, of his wisdom and glory.' 
 
 "A copy of the proceedings of the Common Council of Albany, 
 dated January 22d, 1771, recommends the construction of a bridge 
 across the Mohawk, near the Fall of the Cohoes, for the reason that 
 'M^e conceeive that the erecting of a bridge below the Cohoes will 
 greatly tend for the benefit and conveniency of the public, and 
 win in particular encourage the settlements to the northwards of 
 said bridge.' 
 
 " In the memories of Gen. Riedesel, by Stone, taken partly from 
 liis journal, we find that September 7th, 1777 : ' The main army of 
 the Americans was near Stillwater, while another corps of 0,000 
 men was at Halfmoon, at the junction of the Mohawk and Hudson 
 rivers,' meaning, of course, the Falls. 
 
 "In Spafford's Gazeteer of New York, 1821:, is the following con- 
 cerning Van Schaick's Island (now called Adams' Island) : 
 
 " ' V^an Schaick's Island is between the second and tliird branches 
 (of the Mohawk) opposite Lausingburgh, and extends one and 
 tln-ee-quarter miles in length, being a half mile broad. * * * 
 Tlie American army was stationed on this island immediately 
 before it advanced, under Gen. Gates, in 1777, to meet Burgoyne.' " 
 
 [The ruins of the earthworks thrown up by the army at 
 the period above referred to are still to be seen on this island.] 
 
 " The following Indian legend, concerning the Falls, is from the 
 Sentimental American Traveller-. 
 
 '• 'Many years since, an Indian and a squaw having made too 
 free with the bottle, were carelessly paddling along the Mohawk 
 in their canoe. On a sudden, perceiving tlieraselves drawn by the 
 current and hurried down the stream to the dreadful cataract, 
 looking upon their fate as inevitable, they composed themselves 
 to die with resolution, in a manner worthy tlieir ancestors. They 
 drank the last dregs of the intoxicating cup and began the melan- 
 choly death song. Occuna was dashed into pieces against the 
 rocks; his faitliful consort escaped, but by what miracle has never 
 been known. Tlie Indians of their tribe have preserved tliis inci- 
 dent by faithful tradition, and as often as any of them pass the 
 fatal spot they make a solemn halt and commemorate the death of 
 Occuna.' " 
 
CITY OF COHOES. 
 
 It is asserted that the name Cahoos — since modified 
 into Cohoes — which, in the Indian language, signifies the 
 fall-of-the-canoe is founded upon the foregoing incident. 
 
 As early as the year 1750 there was an Indian settle- 
 ment of considerable size in the vicinity of the Falls. The 
 history of the old French and Indian wars makes fre- 
 quent mention of the Indians ascending the Mohawk in 
 canoes as far as the Cataract. The first bridge across the 
 Mohawk, which was built in pursuance of the resolutions 
 of the Albany Common Council, heretofore alluded to, 
 was erected in the year 1795, and stood a short distance 
 west of the present railroad bridge. It disappeared after 
 it had been decided to build a new bridge mainly for 
 Champlain canal purposes. This last named structure 
 was destroyed by fire in the year 1853, and in the follow- 
 ing year the present free bridge was erected on the same 
 site. 
 
10 
 
 CITY OF COHOES. 
 
 THE FIRST MANUFACTORIES AND MORE OF 
 HISTORY. 
 
 The first extensive attempt at manufacturing was made 
 by the " Cohoes Manufacturing Co.," in the year 1811, 
 which was incorporated "for the purpose of manufactur- 
 ing cotton, woolen and linen goods, bar iron, nail rods, 
 hoop iron and ironmongery." After purchasing sixty 
 acres of land, the company proceeded to build a factory 
 and several dwellings at the present junction of the Champ- 
 lain canal and Mohawk river. The water power for the 
 factory was supphed by a wing dam extending into the 
 river. (Five or six of these old wooden dwellings are 
 still standing on the east side of the Rensselaer and Sara- 
 toga Railroad, between Oneida and Pine streets.) 
 
 The programme was too extensive for the company to 
 survive; the factory was burned in 1827, the corporation 
 failed, and the property was sold to the Cohoes Company, 
 of which we shall hereafter speak. 
 
 In 1830, in what now constitutes the principal manu- 
 facturing portion of Cohoes, there were not fifty inhabi- 
 tants, and in the entire present corporate limits there 
 were not more than one hundred and fifty, and these were 
 mostly located at what was the "junction" of the Erie 
 and Champlain canals. At this point the Crowners, 
 Watermans, Pbelpses and others had previously did a 
 flourishing grocery, liquor and stable business in conse- 
 quence of the detentions caused there for want of adequate 
 lockage facihties. In the year 1831 Mr. Hugh White 
 built a mill, which was one of the first that drew its power 
 
CITY OF COHOES. 11 
 
 from above the Falls. In that year he built a saw mill 
 upon the present site of one of the Harmony Company's 
 buildings. In 1831 there was not in what now consti- 
 tutes the principal manufacturing portion of Cohoes either 
 post office, church, tavern or store. The nearest post 
 office was at Waterford and the nearest church was at the 
 "Boght," where Father Bogardus preached in his pecu- 
 liarly forcible style. Said he in one of his efforts : " It is 
 so because it is so, and that is enough to satisfy anybody." 
 There was at one time previous to 1881 a small Methodist 
 church, but at that date it had been converted to private 
 purposes. Such public religious services as were held 
 took place at the " Old School House," near which the 
 railroad freight house now stands. The best preserved 
 of the private buildings erected shortly after this period is 
 the pleasant residence of Mr. Root, corner of Oneida and 
 Mohawk streets, which was built by Mr. David Wilkin- 
 son in the year 1832. Mr. Wilkinson, who hailed from 
 Pawtucket, Rhode Island, was one of the pioneer manu- 
 facturers of Cohoes. At one time this gentleman was the 
 largest manufacturer in the place, but, becoming dis- 
 couraged by business difficulties, he wound up his affairs 
 and moved away. In a letter written by him in 1829 he 
 deprecates the suicidal free trade system '' and such other 
 abominations as killed the new village just made." For 
 a few years subsequent to 1831 the place made but little 
 progress, in consequence of the causes alluded to in Mr. 
 Wilkinson's letter ; and a number of English capitalists 
 who were at first inclined to avail themselves of the great 
 natural advantages of the locality, were thereby deterred 
 from risking an investment. The grand initial movement 
 for making Cohoes a great manufacturing town was the 
 organization by charter of 
 
CITY OF COHOES. 
 
 The Cohoes Coiipany. 
 
 This association was incorporated as a hydraulic manu- 
 facturing company March 28, 1826. Its original incorpo- 
 rated capital was $250,000, which was increased April 26, 
 1833, to f 500,000. The first trustees were Peter Rem- 
 sen, Charles E. Dudley, Stephen Van Rensselaer, Jr., 
 Francis Olmstead, Canvass White, Henry J. Wycoff and 
 David Wilkinson. The company's property at that time 
 embraced a strip of* land bordering on the north side of 
 the stream, and a great part of that which they now hold 
 or have leased on the south side. The strip on the north 
 side was purchased, as will be readily understood, to 
 enable the company to obtain the entire control of the 
 volume of the Mohawk not taken by the State for canal 
 uses. The company now owns the entire water power of 
 the river from half a mile above to one mile below the 
 Falls, with a total fall of 120 feet. 
 
 In the year 1831 the company built a wooden dam 
 across the river above the Falls, which was carried away 
 by ice on January 10, 1832. Another was immediately 
 constructed below the site of the first, which was partially 
 destroyed by ice in 1839, and rebuilt the same year. The 
 present stone dam, which is the most costly and substan- 
 tial structure of its kind in the world, was built in 1865. 
 The Gate House, with its head gates, was completed the 
 year following. This latter edifice is substantially built 
 of brick, and measures 218 feet in length, including its 
 wings and towers. The fi-ont tower measures 31 feet in 
 height and the main tower 43 feet. The dam is 1,443 feet 
 in length, and cost, with its appurtenances, $180,000. 
 The engineer of this great work was Wm, E. Worden, 
 who was ably assisted by Mr. D. H. Van Auken. The 
 contract for its construction was fulfilled by Mr. John 
 Bridgeford, the entire work being under the supervision 
 
CITY OF COHOES. 
 
 of Mr. T. G. Younglove, the agent and secretary of the 
 company. By means of this dam the entire waters of tlie 
 Mohawk can be diverted from their natural channel and 
 impressed into the service of the manufacturers. The 
 water runs into and is used from five successive canals, 
 and is again used from the level of the State dam. The 
 first of these canals was constructed in 1834, and is one 
 and three-quarter miles long, with a fall of 18 feet. The 
 second, which consists in part of a portion of the old Erie 
 canal, was excavated in 1843, is one-third of a mile long, 
 and has a fall of 25 feet. The third is half a mile in length, 
 with a fall of 23 feet, and was in part constructed in 1843, 
 and part taken from the old Erie canal and brought into 
 use in 1843, The fourth and fifth canals are each 20 feet 
 fall, and are only partially constructed. The sixth fall, 
 as we have before stated, is fi:'om the level of the State 
 dam. 
 
 As these several canals, occupying different levels are 
 all connected together, it will be seen that the same water 
 is used six different times. The water is leased by the 
 company at ^20.00 per horse power per annum, with a 
 quantity of land proportioned to the power taken. That 
 the price charged here is much less than in any other large 
 manufacturing district is evidenced by the fact that the 
 expenses from this source of some of the largest knitting 
 mills scarcely exceeds ^1,000 per year. 
 
 The company purpose enlarging, extending and multi- 
 plying their canals until the entire available power, which 
 is estimated at 10,000 horse power, and only one half of 
 which is now utilized, is rendered subservient to their pur- 
 poses. All the manufactories of Cohoes are supplied with 
 water power by the Cohoes Company, this being the only 
 motor used in the city. 
 
 For some time after its organization this company manu- 
 factured extensively in addition to supplying power to 
 
CITY OF COHOES. 
 
 others ; but as the industrial interests of the place com- 
 menced to develop the association gradually relinquished 
 manufacturing, and finally confined itself entirely to the 
 furnishing of power. Previous to the advent of Mr. 
 Younglove, the present agent and secretary, who assumed 
 that position about the year 1850, the company had failed 
 to realize that great success which the possession of a 
 grand monopoly would seem to warrant ; but under his 
 regime a new order of things has prevailed and the affairs 
 of the corporation have steadily and rapidly prospered 
 until it now stands, in wealth, power and importance 
 second to no like institution in the United States. 
 
 Among the notable improvements perfected and applied 
 by Mr. Younglove is the accurate and scientific system of 
 water measurement now employed by him. By means of 
 this method, the application of which involves the use of a 
 very ingenious set of instruments, the quantity of water 
 flowing past a given point is determined to a nicety, and 
 the amount of power used by each manufacturer is thus 
 infalhbly decided. 
 
 When we consider the great inducements held out to 
 capitalists by this company, possessing, as it does, very 
 many eligible manufacturing sites yet unoccupied and con- 
 trolling an inexhaustible supply of cheap water power, we 
 may form a faint idea — taking as a criterion, the late 
 unparalelled development of the manufacturing interests 
 of the place, and the contingent increase of the business 
 of the corporation in question — of the magnitude which 
 the operations of the Oohoes Company will necessarily 
 assume within the next ten years. Its present officers 
 are Wm. T. Garner, president ; Truman G. Younglove, 
 secretary and agent, and a board of directors, composed 
 of Wm. T. Garner, Wm, W. Niles, Samuel W. Johnson 
 and John C. Brown, severally of New York city; David 
 
— — ^ 
 
 CITY OF CO HOES. 15 ©)• 
 
 J. Johnston and Wm. E. Thorn, of Cohoes, and Truman 
 G. Younglove, of Crescent. 
 
 The Great Harmony Mills. 
 
 During the year 1835 an association of gentlemen, from 
 Albany and New York, became incorporated under the , 
 title of the " Harmony ;Mauufacturing Company," with 
 a view to engage extensively in the manufacture of cotton 
 goods. The gentlemen composing this corporation were 
 Jacob H. Ten Eyck, Tuenis Van Vechten and James 
 
 Stevenson, of Albany, and Peter Harmony and 
 
 Schenck, of New York city. Harmony was a Spaniard of 
 great wealth and enterprise, and from him the company 
 derived its name. 
 
 After purchasing a tract of land, which now constitutes 
 a small portion of that owned and occupied by the ''Har- 
 mony Mills Company," they proceeded to erect a mill, 
 which was completed in the year 1837, and now stands 
 south adjoining the mammoth edifice, designated in the 
 nomenclature of the present association, as "Mill No. 1." 
 Although the practical operations of the concern were 
 apparently inaugurated under the most auspicious circum- 
 stances, the rosy visions of the original proprietors — either 
 from inadequacy in the management, or from equally 
 potent cause — were soon dissipated by the palpable fact 
 that the venture was a losing investment. After strug- 
 gling against hope for a few years, until the association 
 became almost bankrupt, the ownership changed hands, 
 repeated its past history, and again was assumed by anew 
 company. From this period until the year 1850, several 
 changes occurred in the proprietorship, and the destinies 
 of the concern continued to grow darker, until, by com- 
 pulsory sale, in the year above mentioned, the property 
 fell into the hands of the present corporation. 
 
CITY OF COHOES. 
 
 Although this company was organized at the outset 
 under the title of the " Harmony Mills Compan}^," it was 
 not incorporated as such until the year 1853. 
 
 In the meantime the concern had been rapidly thriv- 
 ing — under the direction of Mr. Robert Johnston, who 
 had assumed and still retains the position of general 
 manager — and the manufacturing facilities having been 
 found inadequate, the structure known as " Mill No. 1 " 
 was erected and supplied with the most approved cotton 
 machinery. 
 
 The causes which dictated this increase of facilities have 
 since continued to multiply, and the present extensive 
 possessions of the company include six distinct and inde- 
 pendent mammoth factories in Cohoes alone, representing 
 a fabulous amount of legal tender. These manufactories 
 consist of the mills known as Nos. 1, 2 and 3, together 
 with the " Old Elarmony," the "Ogden" and the " Strong" 
 mills. No. 1 is 550 by 70 feet, four stories high, and was 
 built in the year 1852. No. 2, which is 660 by 75 feet, 
 and three stories high, was built in 1857, and enlarged in 
 1866. No. 3 is 675 by 70 feet, five stories high and was 
 commenced in 1866 and finished the present year. The 
 "Old Harmony" is 150 by 50 feet, four stories high. 
 The "Ogden" is 500 by 50 feet, five stories high. The 
 " Strong " mill is 200 by 50 feet, four stoiies high. These 
 two latter mills, which were the only cotton manufactories 
 in Cohoes outside of the Harmony mills, were purchased 
 by the company respectively in the years 1862 and 1864, 
 thereby securing a local monopoly of the cotton manufac- 
 ture. The aggregate number of spindles now running is 
 203,000. No other single firm or corporation in the 
 United States runs this number in any one locality. The 
 total number of looms in operation is 4,400. The number of 
 employees is 3,100, of which two-thirds are females. Each 
 mill has a repair shop for repairing the machinery. In 
 
 IVf, 
 
 ^-^:©- 
 
CITY OF COHOES. 
 
 mill No. 2 a general supply store room is located, the 
 affairs of which are conducted by a store keeper employed 
 at a good salary. Among the subsidiary buildings are 
 three large brick store houses with a joint capacity for 
 storing 10,000 bales of cotton. The combined motive 
 power of the different mills, which are all run by turbine 
 water wheels, is over 4,000 horse power. We will here 
 endeavor to give a slight idea of the appearance and internal 
 arrangements of that model manufactory called "Mill 
 No. 3," and popularly known as 
 
 The Mastodon Mill. 
 The details relating to the discovery of the mastodon 
 on the 27th of September, 1866, which created an intense 
 sensation among lovers of the marvellous in general, and 
 chronic antiquarians in particular, are still fresh in the 
 mind of the local reader. If the animal could express him- 
 self there is no doubt but that his preference would be to 
 still lie in his cozy bed beneath the grand and costly 
 monument Avhich commemorates the incident, and which 
 was erected at an expense of over §'1^000,000, mstead of 
 occupying his present ornamental position in the INIuseum 
 of the State Agricultural Society in Albany. The outside 
 appearance of this highly embellished and imposing edifice, 
 with its elegant French roof, its stately twin towers and 
 beautiful surroundings would suggest to the visitor the 
 idea of a gigantic oriental palace, rather than of an indus- 
 trial establishment where — 
 
 " With wiiy teeth revolving cai'ds release 
 
 The tauglecl kuots aud smooth the raveU'd fleece." 
 
 It is situated on the western banks of the Mohawk, in 
 close proximity to the other mills, and within a few hun- 
 dred feet of the Cohoes Falls — that charming locality, 
 which the Celtic bard honored with a visit some years 
 
18 CITY OF COHOES. ^ 
 
 subsequent to the time when water nymphs and things 
 were supposed to " hold high carnival" behind the veil of 
 the cataract, it is substantially constructed of brick, with 
 ornamental iron window sills and caps, and in its graceful 
 outlines presents a perfect model of architectural beauty. 
 The southwestern portion of the first story is occupied by 
 
 The "Wheel Pit, 
 where are located three immense turbine water wheels, 
 from the "Ames" manufactory, Chicopee, Mass., which 
 operate the main shaft and possess an aggregate driving 
 capacity of over 1,100 horse power. This pit, having an 
 extreme depth of forty feet, with a floor twenty-five feet 
 from the surface, which hides the water wheels from a top 
 view, is in realty an underground two story building. 
 Three mammoth cast iron cylinders, eight feet each in 
 diameter, convey the water from the canal on the west 
 side of the building to the wheels ; the volume of water 
 being regulated by a sort of tiller located in the pit and 
 connected with the flood gates. The perpendicular shaft 
 of each turbine is connected with the main shaft by bevel 
 gear ; and the united power exerted, if so applied, would 
 reverse the motion of the great Burden water wheel at 
 Troy and drive the machinery of a good sized manufactory 
 besides. The shaft to which this wondrous power is 
 applied, is supported by three granite abutments and form.s 
 the axis of six ponderous driving pulleys twelve feet each 
 in diameter. The immense belts which radiate to all 
 parts of the building are in keeping with the massive pul- 
 leys and gearing. These are each two feet wide; and the 
 longest one, reaching to the fifth story, measures nearly 
 200 feet. At the north end of the pit, two rotary force 
 pumps are located, which in case of fire, can be instantly 
 geared to the main shaft by means of a sliding cog-wheel 
 and are jointly capable of throwing 6,000 gallons of water 
 
CITY OF COHOES. 
 
 per hour. The balance of this vast apartment, which 
 
 occupies the entire length and width of the building, is 
 devoted to repairing machinery and Aveaving, cleaning, 
 folding and baling the "print cloths" which are the only 
 product of the Harmony Mills. 
 
 The cloth is baled by means of a machine similar in 
 operation to a hay press ; the contents of each bale mea- 
 suring 1,800 yards. A wing running eastward from the 
 rear of the building constitutes the "Picker Room," 
 where the primary operations of cleaning and mixing the 
 cotton are conducted. After sufficiently admiring the 
 animated panorama presented to our view, as we stand 
 near the wheel pit and scan the long lines of machines and 
 their attendants, which seem to fade away in the distance, 
 we retrace our steps towards the entrance and ascending 
 to the second story, enter 
 
 The "Weave Room. 
 The noise in this vast apartment — with its generous 
 lineal extent of 600 feet, its 900 looms and 300 operatives — 
 is perlectly deafening; and the visitor unaccustomed to 
 such a violent tax upon his sense of hearing involuntarily 
 places his hands upon his auricular appendages to shut 
 out the monotonous did. A remarkable feature here is 
 the absence of all visible shafting; the intricate machinery 
 of the looms receiving motion from the shafting on the first 
 floor underneath. The weavers, nearly all of whom are 
 females, tend from three to five machines each, according 
 to experience and capacity. The walls of the room at 
 their line of junction with the ceihng are ornamented by 
 a plain gilt border and the air of neatness and taste which 
 pervades the entire department would do credit to a well 
 appointed parlor. The entire number of looms in this 
 mill is 1,486, of which 500 are located on the first floor. 
 Leaving this apartment we ascend to (^ 
 
 '-- m 
 
CITY OF COHOES. 
 
 The Card Room. 
 
 This room which like all the others, extends the entire 
 length and width of the building, is occupied by the 
 ingenious and complicated carding machines and accessory 
 contrivances. Here we see hundreds of busy operatives — 
 men and women, girls and boys — employed in directing 
 the multifarious operations of this particular department. 
 After the cotton has been cleaned and mixed m the "Picker 
 Room " it is fiubjected to the carding process in order that 
 its fibres may be disentangled, sti-aightened and laid 
 parallel with each other so as to admit of being spun. The 
 wonderful machine which performs this operation is one 
 of the most important inventions — or rather combination 
 of inventions, for it consists of many ingenious inventions 
 consolidated — which is connected with the manufacture of 
 cotton. 
 
 The material is placed upon a revolving apron, an en- 
 tangled and knotted mass, with the fibres lying in every 
 conceivable direction and comes out at the other end of the 
 machine, a triangular shaped transparent gossamer fleece ; 
 as this delicate film i ecedes from the machine it is drawn 
 together and compressed into a continuous roll by the 
 action of the " railroad " which also draws the consoli- 
 dated mass along and deposits it in a large metal can, 
 ready for the spinner. The admirable neatness and order 
 which characterizes the weave room is equally apparent 
 here. Now we ascend another flight of stairs and enter 
 
 The Mule Room. 
 This apartment is occupied by sixty self-operating 
 mules, each sixty-five feet long. The magical scene here 
 presented, rivets the gaze and commands the admiration 
 of the spectator. These sixty tractable educated mules — 
 rather more highly trained than those which entertain 
 
 )A. 
 
CITY OF COHOES. 
 
 with their quaint antics the motley crowd of circus-goers — 
 with their thousands upon thousands of rapidly revolving 
 spindles, drawing out twisting and winding up myriads of 
 slender threads, with infallible precision, and with no 
 hand to direct their operations, affords a sight which none 
 but the most incorrigible stoic could look upon for the 
 first time without feelings of undisguised amazement and 
 inexpressible delight. Each operative tends two mules, or 
 rather — as they are technically called — a pair of mules. 
 One single slender line of shafting, running along the east 
 side of the room imparts motion to the entire machinery. 
 The number of spindles running in this mill alone reaches 
 the enormous figure of 70,000. Leaving this apartment 
 we ascend to the fifth story, or the 
 
 Spinning, Spooling and Warping Room. 
 
 The operatives here seem to be mostly boys and girls. 
 One set of hands are buisily engaged winding the thread 
 from the " cop," as it comes from the mule room, upon 
 spools by means of a winding apparatus. Others are 
 making the **warp," which process combines the opera- 
 tions of sizing, drying, &c. The machinery of this room, 
 although less intricate than the "mule" or carding ma- 
 chine is a very admirable and effective combination of 
 mechanisms. Throughout the entire extent of this spaci- 
 ous apartment, not a single supporting column obstructs 
 the view as the self-sustaining properties of the French 
 roof, which forms the sides and ceiling of the room, render 
 such appliances unnecessary. 
 
 The beautiful and ingenious machinery of the " Masto- 
 don mill," the model cotton manufactory of the world, 
 receives motion through the medium of three miles of 
 shafting and 3,000 belts and pulleys; the whole being 
 driven by the three monster turbine wheels before alluded 
 to. 
 
CITY OF COHOES. 
 
 The appurtenances of gas and water pipes in this mill 
 alone, if placed in a continuous line, would reach from 
 Cohoes to Albany, or a distance of over ten miles. 
 
 Miscellaneous Observations. 
 
 As each and all of the other mills, in their internal and 
 external embellishments and appointments, as well as in 
 the notable features of elegance, taste and neatness, are 
 simply duplicates of that which we have just now made 
 the subject of a superficial review, it is unnecessary to 
 expatiate upon their merits . The machinery used is mostly 
 of English make. 
 
 The general manager who, as we have before stated, has 
 occupied that position since the first organization of the 
 company, and to whose unremitting efforts the unbounded 
 success of the establishment is mainly due, has twice 
 visited England, where he spent several months in 
 thoroughly reviewing the mammoth mills of Manchester, 
 Leeds and the other great English " hot-beds " of the cotton 
 manufacture, and has availed himself of the valuable infor- 
 mation there obtained, for the benefit of the Harmony 
 Mills Company. 
 
 In addition to many other outside improvements, four 
 miles of " concrete " sidewalk have been laid ; and the 
 splendid roads in the vicinity of the concern are kept in 
 order without any expense to the city. 
 
 Although the association is a stock company, the pro- 
 perty is entirely owned by a very few individuals. It is 
 in fact a "private corporation," if such a term is admis- 
 sible. 
 
 We may reasonably infer that the operations of the 
 Harmony MiUs exert a leading influence over the affairs of 
 the mercantile, professional and laboring classes of* Cohoes 
 when we consider that the annual pay-roll foots up nearly 
 
 [,000,000. 
 
CITY OF COnOES. 
 
 The Office Building. 
 
 This building is a large two story brick structure, the 
 first floor of which is divided into the offices of the 
 manager, superintendent, agent, paymaster and clerks. 
 
 These offices are elaborately fitted up, in keeping with 
 the general tone of the establishment. 
 
 The superintendent, who has occupied that position for 
 the past ten years, is Mr. David J. Johnston, son of the 
 general manager. Mr. Wm. E. Thorn is agent. 
 
 Mr. Wm. S. Smith occupies the highly responsible posi- 
 tion of paymaster, and also supervises the manifold affairs 
 of the clerical department. 
 
 The manager, superintendent and agent are each heavy 
 stockholders in the concern. The upper story of this 
 building is used by the members of the " Union Sunday 
 School," composed principally of the children of the oper- 
 atives. This large apartment contains a splendid organ, 
 together with a well selected Ubrary comprising over one 
 thousand volumes, and is appropriately fitted up and 
 chiefly maintained by the Harmony Company. It is fre- 
 quently used as place of meeting for temperance societies 
 and similar organizations. The Sunday School superin- 
 tendent is Mr. David J. Johnston. It is unnecessary to 
 comment upon the evident solicitude evinced by the exe- 
 cutive members of the Harmony Mills Company for 
 the moral and intellectual improvement of their em- 
 ployes. North of this building and flanking " Mill No. 1 " 
 upon the east, we see a beautiful lawn, bisected by a 
 smooth gravel road and ornamented by a row of luxuriant 
 weeping willows. 
 
24 
 
 CITY OF COHOES. 
 
 The Tenements. 
 The Company own 670 tenements, which are occupied 
 by the operatives, at a rent much lower than the same 
 accommodations can be procured for in any other portion 
 of the city. In addition to these are five large and commodi- 
 ous boarding houses for the accommodation of the unmar- 
 ried employes. The principal portion of these buildings 
 are located on the west side of the Erie canal, where a 
 little Harmony city has been developed within the last 
 three years. The cottages are surrounded by spacious 
 gardens and laid out in broad streets. The business of 
 superintending the tenements devolves upon Mr. Silas 
 Owen. 
 
CITY OF CO HOES. 
 
 THE KNITTING MILLS — THEIR HISTORY, 
 GROWTH AND PROGRESS. 
 
 Nothwithstanding the present grand proportions which 
 the knitting interests of Cohoes exhibit, through the repre- 
 sentation of eighteen extensive and flourishing hosiery 
 estabhshments, the short and successful history of this 
 branch of manufacture might almost be summed up within 
 the most limits of a ten line paragraph. One unbroken 
 record of prosperity, as the immense fortunes which have 
 invariably accrued to its thorough prosecution can best 
 testify, marks its growth from the moment when the class 
 of goods alluded to first gained a place in the affections of 
 the Amercian consumer. We admit that this industiial 
 pursuit, during its initiation, experienced darker days 
 covering a limited period; but after the infant had been 
 generally introduced to the public, the latter suddenly 
 learned to realize the indispensability of the product and 
 accordingly responded by unhesitatingly extending its 
 liberal patronage. 
 
 In an extract from an address delivered on May 2d, 
 18G6, before the National Association of knit goods manu- 
 facturers, by Mr. Charles H. Adams, who was then Pre- 
 sident of that body, the tribulations of its infancy and the 
 subsequent status of the business are thus pithily and sug- 
 gestively "compared : 
 
 " In speaking as 1 have done of the infancy of the hosieiy busi- 
 ness, it may be proper to remark that it has scarcely attained the 
 age of manhood. The manufacture of knit goods in this country 
 
 5^^ ,T^1 
 
 3 
 
CITY OF COHOES. 
 
 is not so old an industrial interest as is generally supposed. I can 
 remember among the recollections of my boyish days, Avhen the 
 principle of knitting by power was first successfully applied in 
 this country. It was first attained in 1832, although nothing of 
 importance was accomplished iiutil 1841. In those days the inven- 
 tor and manufacturer, now one of our honorary members, was 
 wont to wander through the streets of New York, urging the mer- 
 chants to permit him to leave a sample of goods for sale. The 
 whole production ot that time did not exceed $40,000, now we esti- 
 mate our production at half as many millions. 
 
 The times have wonderfully changed and we have changed with 
 them; then the producer almost begged the privilege of leaving 
 his goods where they might possibly be seen without being sho^vn ; 
 but now in the season, we find it difficult to decline the pertinaci- 
 ous solicitations of gentlemen (they are so polite and full of pro- 
 mises) who are anxious to receive for sale all the goods we can 
 possibly make at a commission and guarantee of six or seven per 
 cent." 
 
 Colioes not only inaugurated the knitting business in 
 this country, but also has since maintained the lead \ and 
 now produces one-third of all the hosiery manufactured in 
 the United States. Her reputation as to the quality of 
 this class of wares, also stand higher than that of any 
 other native locality. 
 
 The father of the knitting business in this country was 
 the late Mr. Egbert Egberts, who was the first to apply 
 power in operating the knitting frame and was closely 
 identified with this industrial interest up to within a few 
 years of his decease. Previous to his advent in the pre- 
 sent " City of the Mills," the city of Albany claimed him as 
 a resident. Here it was that his primary experiments, in 
 the construction of a knitting frame to be operated 
 by power, were conducted. After conceiving the pro- 
 per combinations of the several mechanical movements 
 requisite to the practical working of the projected 
 machine, Mr. Egberts found it necessary to avail himself 
 of the services of a skilled mechanic to assist in giving 
 tangibility to his ideas. While seeking such an auxiliary 
 he was referred to Mr. Timothy Bailey, who was then 
 
 3^ 
 
CITY OF COHOES. 27^® 
 
 engaged as an engineer in one of the Albany manufac- 
 tories. A short interview satisfied the inventor that he 
 had found his man ; and pursuant to such conclusion Mr. 
 Bailey was hired by him and speedily constructed, accord- 
 ing to directions, a wooden frame, which, when turned by 
 hand, exhibited the proper combinations and motions. 
 
 The next step was to remove to a locality where the 
 machine, under favorable circumstances, might be sub- 
 jected to a practical test ; and with that object in view, Mr. 
 Egberts came to Cohoes, still retaining the service of Mr. 
 Bailey, and hired the building now known as Luther 
 Greenman's bedstead factory. This event occurred in the 
 year 1832. While Timothy Bailey was here engaged in 
 constructing the first iron jack and sinker frame, in con- 
 formity with the wooden model, Mr. Joshua Bailey, 
 brother of the former, made his appearance in Cohoes and 
 assisted Timothy in perfecting the machine. The execu- 
 tion of the apparatus fully met the sanguine expectations 
 of the inventor, and, during the year above mentioned, 
 the first knitting mill ever established in the United 
 States was successfully inaugurated. 
 
 Mr, Egberts now associated with him the Bailey 
 brothers, under the firm name of Egberts & Bailey, and 
 the knitting business was pursued by them in this build- 
 ing until the year 1836. By this time the increasing 
 demands of the trade called for greater manufacturing 
 accommodations than the mill then occupied afforded, and 
 a building now owned and used by the Troy Manufactur- 
 ing Co., was erected and furnished with new and im- 
 proved machinery. Shortly after taking possession of 
 this building, the interest of Timothy Bailey Avas purchased 
 by Mr. Egberts, who now owned two-thirds of the con- 
 cern. He continued in business with jNIr. Joshua Bailey 
 until the year 1852, when the partnership was dissolved 
 and Mr. Bailey was left sole owner of the mill. Previous 
 
 <5> _— 
 
(()'^28 CITY OF CO HOES. '^ 
 
 to this dissolution (in the year 1850) the firm had erected 
 the splendid structure named the " Watervliet Mill" 
 which, upon the separation of the partners, fell to the lot 
 of Mr. Egberts, and which he shortly -ifterwards presented 
 as a Christmas gift to Mr. C. H. i^dams. Mr. Egberts 
 then retired from business and devoted the balance of 
 his life to such quiet pursuits, as the advantages of a 
 large foitune, in connexion with a cultivated mind and 
 taste, conduce to render enjoyable. Mr. Adams occupied 
 the " Watervliet Mill " until the year 1862, when he dis- 
 posed of the machinery and leased the building to Alden, 
 Frink & Weston. 
 
 Abatis' Mill. 
 
 After vacating the Watervliet Mill, Mr. Adams pro- 
 ceeded to erect the magnificent building now occupied by 
 him as a knitting mill, which was completed in the year 
 1863. 
 
 As we were desirous of obtaining an idea of the internal 
 arrangements of a first class establishment of this kind, 
 we were granted the privilege of looking through this 
 extensive concern and herewith briefly give the result of 
 our hurried observations : The southwestern portion of 
 the first floor is used for pressing and packing the goods ; 
 the former operation being performed by means of a 
 large and powerful hydraulic press, which, we are informed 
 is the only one of the kind in the city. The eastern divi- 
 sion of this floor is used as a machine shop ; and a room 
 on the northwest is occupied by one of those marvels of 
 beautiful mechanism — an English lapper. This machine, 
 as far as the knitting mills of the city are concerned, is 
 also peculiar to this estabhshment. The second floor is 
 used for winding the yarn and knitting and making up the 
 goods. The third floor is exclusively occupied by the 
 carding machines. The fourth floor is the mule room, 
 
^) CITY OF COHOES. 29 "^(f) 
 
 and the fifth is devoted to the operations of sorting the 
 wool and drying the manufactured goods. Everything in 
 and around this palatial and well ordered establishment is 
 suggestive of convenience, adaptability and taste. 
 
 The Troy Manufacturing Co. 
 
 The history of the splendid mill at present owned and 
 occupied by this company involves an important era in the 
 early history of the knitting business of Cohoes. A build- 
 ing which now constitutes a portion of this large establish- 
 ment and which, as we have before stated, was built by 
 Egbert & Bailey in 1836, was the first structure specially 
 erected for knitting purposes in the place. After the above 
 named firm had dissolved and Mr. Bailey took possession 
 of the mill, he organized a stock company entitled the 
 " Bailey Manufacturing Co." In 1863, Mr. Bailey dis- 
 posed of his interest and the company was reorganized, 
 taking the title of the " Troy Manufacturing Co." This 
 corporation has since doubled the capacity of the concern 
 which is now one of the largest in Cohoes. The building 
 is a four story brick structure fronting on Ontario street 
 and running southward a distance of 1221 feet. It con- 
 tains eleven sets of machinery and employes 260 hands. 
 Thirty -six thousand dozen of shirts and drawers, worth 
 ^'300,000, are annually produced. In one year during the 
 late war, the sales of this establishment reached the hand- 
 some figure of ^"760,000. The company consists of the 
 President, Treasurer and Secretary, those positions being 
 filled respectively by Messrs. James S. Knowlton, John 
 V. S. Lansing and A. B Morgan. Mr. Lansing is prin- 
 cipal manager of the concern. 
 
CITY OF COHOES. 
 
 The Tivoli Hosiery Mills. 
 
 These mills were established by Josiah G. Root of 
 Albany, in the year 1855. In the year 1860, by the 
 admission to partnership of his sons, Messrs. A. J. and 
 S. G. Root, the firm name became J. G. Root & Sons. 
 This business alliance continued until the year 1869 when 
 Mr. Josiah Root retired from active business and the firm 
 style was changed to J. G. Roots' Sons. Among the 
 knitting mills of Cohoes this institution stands third in 
 order of establishment, and in its capacity, appointments 
 and appurtenances, ranks with the best in the United 
 States. The firm operates eleven sets of machinery and 
 employs 250 hands, whose wages aggregate ^5,500 per 
 month. All kinds of ladies', gents' and children's knit 
 goods are made here. The annual product is 40,000 
 dozen of goods and the yearly sales reach f 350,000. 
 
 The Clifton Go. 
 
 The mill owned and occupied by this company is a 
 very large and commodious brick building, four stories and 
 attic high, with a frontage on Remsen street of 75 feet, 
 and an extreme depth of 350. It was erected in the year 
 1852, by an incorporated association entitled the "Mohawk 
 River Co.," which immediately engaged extensively in the 
 knitting business and continued until the panic of 1857, 
 when the operations were suspended. In 1860, the pro- 
 perty was purchased by Mr. A. E. Stimson of Albany, who 
 organized the Clifton Co., which was incorporated in 
 1861. Thirteen sets of machinery are in operation in this 
 establishment and two hundred and seventy-five hands 
 find profitable employment. All kinds of gents' and 
 ladies' knit goods are made here, and the producing capa- 
 city is equal to the manufacture of 40,000 dozen of shirts (c 
 
CITY OF COHOES. 
 
 and drawers and 40,000 dozen of hose annually. The 
 pay roll foots up ^6,000 per month. The executive offi- 
 cers are as follows: J. G. Youugiove, president; S. E. 
 Stimson, Secretary, and E. L. Stimson, Treasurer and 
 managing trustee. 
 
 J. H. Parsons & Co. 
 
 The large and commodious building now occupied by 
 this firm was erected and first established as a knitting 
 mill in the year 1850, by Egberts & Bailey. Its height is 
 five stories and it is constructed in three distinct fire com- 
 partments. The building is now numbered among the 
 possessions of Mr. Charles H. Adams, by whom it is 
 rented to the present occupants. The firm of J. H. Par- 
 sons & Co. consists of J. H. Parsons, L. S. Parsons and 
 W. S. Gilbert. The first named gentleman has long been 
 connected with this branch of industry in Cohoes. The 
 mill contains twelve sets of machinery and employs 300 
 hands, whose monthly wages amount to ^6,500. The 
 annual product is 45,000 dozen of sliirts and drawers, 
 valued at ^400,000. 
 
 The Halcyon Mill. 
 
 This mill is a large four story brick building, located on 
 Erie street, and occupied by the " Ranken Knitting Com- 
 pany," which was organized by Mr. Hugh Ranken of 
 Troy, and became incorporated in the year 1867. Six 
 sets of machinery are in operation here, and 150 hands 
 find employment. The principal manufactures of the con- 
 cern are fine merino shirts and drawers, of which 20,000 
 dozen are annually produced. The annual sales amount 
 to ^250,000, and the pay roll foots up S'48,000 yearly. 
 
 The President of the company is Mr. Hugh Ranken of 
 the extensive Troy wool-dealing fiim of Ranken & Co. re 
 
CITY OF COHOES. 
 
 Mr. Giles B. Kellogg is Secretary, and Mr. H. S. Ranken 
 Treasurer. The manufacturing affairs of this establish- 
 ment are exclusively conducted by Mr. George W. Chap- 
 man, who occupies the position of superintendent, and is 
 also a stockholder. 
 
 The Star Knitting Company. 
 
 The building now owned and occupied by this company 
 was erected and established as a knitting mill in the year 
 1862, by Mr. Richard Hurst. Its dimensions are 140 by 
 63 feet, four stories high. The present company pur- 
 chased the property, and became incorporated in the year 
 1866. This corporation operates eight sets of machinery 
 and employs 140 hands. The production, which embraces 
 the best qualities of knit goods for gents' and ladies' wear, 
 amounts to 25,000 dozen annually, and the yearly sales 
 reach f 250,000. The pay roll foots up ?^^5,000 per month. 
 
 The President of the company is Mr. Thomas Coleman, 
 of Troy. Mr. R. H. Thurman is Secretary and Treasurer. 
 The agent, Mr. Otis G. Clark, is principal manager of the 
 concern. 
 
 The Ontario Mill. 
 
 The building now known as the "Ontario Knitting 
 Mill " was formerly occupied as a sash and blind factory 
 and machine shop, and was erected by Mr. Samuel Bald- 
 win. It was first established as a knitting mill in 1862, 
 by Chad wick & Warhurst. The interest of the latter 
 partner was subsequently purchased by the present pro- 
 prietors, and the firm name was changed to Chadwick & 
 Co. This firm consists of Wm. N. Chadwick, Joseph 
 Chadwick and P. R. Chadwick. 
 
 Four sets of machinery are now in operation in this 
 mill, and employment is furnished for sixty hands, who 
 
 ^*-> 
 ^^- 
 
CITY OF COHOES. 
 
 receive in the aggregate ^1,200 per month. The yearly 
 product is 15,000 dozen of shirts and drawers. The build- 
 ing has recently been remodeled and greatl}' enlarged, and 
 the proprietors contemplate adding two sets of machinery 
 during the present year, which addition will make the 
 concern a six set mill. 
 
 The Erie Mills. 
 
 The firm of jMoore & lliller, the present proprietors of 
 these mills, was established in 1865, when they commenced 
 business in the present " Empire Mill," now occupied by 
 Mr. William Nuttall. In the year 1866, the firm erected 
 the Erie jNIill and removed their business thereto. Three 
 sets of machiner}^ are operated in this mill, and 75 hands 
 are furnished with remunerative employment. The pro- 
 duction embraces a fine quahty of gentlemen's and ladies' 
 knit goods, of which 15,000 dozen, valued at ^125,000, are 
 annually produced. The monthly wages paid to the 
 operatives aggregate ^2,200. 
 
 The Empire Mill. 
 
 This concern was originally established, in 1864, by Mr. 
 L. W. Mansfield. In the year 1807, Mr. William Nuttall 
 purchased the property, and now conducts the knitting 
 business in connection with Mr. John Nuttall as silent 
 partner, who has been engaged in the knitting business, 
 in different capacities in Cohoes, for the last twelve years. 
 The dimensions of the building (the two upper stories of 
 which are occupied by the Cohoes Pin Factory) are 100 
 by 40 feet, and five stories high. Three sets of machinery 
 are operated in this mill, and 55 hands, Avhose wages 
 amount to ^1,700 per month, are employed. The opera- 
 tions of the concern are mainly confined to manufacturing 
 the best quality of gentlemen's shirts and drawers, of 
 
 1U 
 
^g 
 
 CITY OF COHOES. ^® 
 
 which 12,000 dozen, valued at ^100,000, are annually 
 produced. The agents of the Empire Mill are Vietor & 
 Achelis, 118 Duane street. New York. 
 
 The Riverside Mill. 
 
 This mill was erected by Messrs. H. S. Bogue and 
 George H. Wager, and established by them as a knitting 
 mill in 1866, under the firm name of Bogue & Wager. 
 The building, which is substantially constructed of brick 
 and particularly well adapted to the purpose, is 100 feet 
 long by 50 feet wide, and five stories high. The number 
 of sets of machinery now in operation here is only six, 
 although the building is sufficiently capacious to accom- 
 modate eight sets. The number of employes is one hun- 
 dred, and the monthly pay roll foots up ^3,000. This 
 firm confine themselves to the manufacture of gentlemen's 
 knit shirts and drawers, a portion of which are all wool 
 goods. 
 
 The Stark Mill. 
 
 This concern was first established as a knitting mill 
 by Mr. L. W. Mansfield, now of Waterford. The premises 
 have since been occupied successively by Alden, Frink & 
 Co., and Ward & Robinson, the latter of whom held pos- 
 session until the year 1867, when John Scott and Joseph 
 Stuart — the present proprietors — purchased the property 
 and have since continued to successfully conduct the mill 
 as a knitting factory. Two sets of machinery are operated 
 here and thirty hands are constantly employed whose 
 monthly wages aggregate ^950. This firm makes gent's 
 wear exclusively, and their annual product is about 12,000 
 dozen of shirts and drawers. 
 
 Both of the gentlemen composing the firm are thoroughly 
 versed in the mysteries of their business and devote their 
 entire time and attention to its interests. 
 
at® ^ 
 
 (i\ CITY OF COHOES. 
 
 The American Hosiery Mill. 
 
 This mill was erected and established as a knitting 
 factory by Smith Gregory & Co., in the year 1857. The 
 firm consisted of WiUiam Smith (lately deceased), Mr. 
 Wm. M. Gregory and Alexander M. Gregory, all of 
 Albany. Six sets of machinery are operated in this mill 
 and 180 hands are employed. The building is a four story 
 brick structure, 100 feet long by 45 feet in width. The 
 productions embrace gentlemen's shirts and drawers, 
 jackets, half hose, &c. 
 
 The Diamond Mill. 
 
 This knitting mill was first established by Josiah G. 
 Root and L. S. Parsons, who took the firm name of Root 
 & Parsons. Mr. Root subsequently withdrew and Mr. 
 J. H. Parsons became a partner in the business, when the 
 firm style was changed to L. S. and J. H. Parsons. This 
 was again altered to J. H. Parsons & Co. 
 
 The building is now owned by Mr. C. H. Adams and 
 occupied as a knitting mill by Mr. J. W. Himes. 
 
 It operates four sets of machinery and employs sixty 
 hands. Men's wear principally is manufactured here. 
 
 The Mohawk Mill. 
 
 The building known as the " Mohawk Mill " is owned- 
 by the Cohoes Company and occupied by Mr. Samuel 
 Bilbrough as a knitting mill and yarn manufactory. Mr. 
 Bilbrough first commenced business in the concern as a 
 manufacturer of tickings and other cotton goods, about 
 the year 1854 . In 1864, having previously relinquished his 
 original business, he engaged in the manufacture of knit 
 goods and cotton yarns, which he still continues to pro- 
 duce extensively. In addition to running four sets of 
 
CITY OF COHOES. (^ 
 
 knitting machinery, Mr. Bilbrough is required to employ- 
 several machines and operatives in the manufacture of his 
 cotton yarns, which find a ready market among manu- 
 facturers in New York, Philadelphia and other cities. One 
 hundred and twenty hands are employed in the concern. 
 
 The Victor Mill. 
 
 This mill was formerly owned by Mr. Joshua Bailey 
 and occupied by the firm of Barber & Lackey as a knit- 
 ting factory. After the removal of this firm, Mr. Henry 
 Brockway, the present proprietor, became the occupant 
 and pursued the knitting business until the breaking out 
 of the late war, when he disposed of his interest to the 
 Troy Manufacturing Company. Subsequently he bought 
 out the owners of both building and machinery and enlarged 
 the concern to the capacity of a six set mill, although he 
 now operates but four sets. 
 
 The Atlantic Mill. 
 
 This concern was originally established as a knitting 
 mill by Alden & Frink, about the year 1857. The premises 
 were vacated by this firm in the year 1866, when Mr. 
 George Warhurst, the present proprietor, purchased the 
 property. The dimensions of the building are 100 by 25 
 feet, four stories and attic high. Three sets of machinery 
 are here operated and fifty-five hands are employed, whose 
 monthly wages foot up ^'1,700. 
 
 Mr. Warhurst manufactures all kinds of knit goods for 
 gentlemen's wear and produces annually 12,000 dozen of 
 goods, worth ^100,000. 
 
 The Alaska Knitting Company. 
 
 This company, which has but recently become incorpo- 
 rated, occupies portions of the first, third and fourth stories 
 of Fuller & Safely's magnificent new building. All grades 
 
 )t!^ 
 
CITY OF COHOES. 
 
 and kinds of knit goods will be manufactured by this cor- 
 poration, including the finest qualities of all-wool hosiery. 
 The machinery is all new, of the most approved kind, and 
 from the most popular makers. A large number of the 
 celebrated Grover & Baker sewing machines — the kind 
 best adapted to the requirements of a knitting mill — have 
 been added to the other appurtenances of the establish- 
 ment, and neither pains nor expense have been spared in 
 fitting it up to the standard of a first class concern. Mr. 
 Simeon Holroyd is Secretary and Mr. Robert Safely Trea- 
 surer. The agent is Mr. Horace Fisher. The concern 
 will commence active operations immediately, and will 
 make the eighteenth extensive knitting establishment in 
 this industrious " City of the Mills." 
 
CITY OF COHOES. 
 
 OTHER LARGE ESTABLISHMENTS. 
 
 The Cohoes Rolling Mill. 
 
 The building now occupied as the Cohoes Rolling Mill 
 was erected about the year 1856, and was carried on as a 
 manufactory of iron and steel for the extensive ax 
 factories of D. Simmons & Co. In the year 1863, Mr. 
 Edward N. Paige — v/ho had been thoroughly educated to 
 the rolling mill business, having had extensive experience, 
 not only in this country, but also in that great iron manu- 
 facturing district. South Staffordshire, England — entered 
 into partnership with Mr. Simmons, and the firm, which 
 took the title of Simmons & Paige, established the concer 
 as a rolling mill. During the following year (1864) 
 Messrs. James Morrison and Thomas Col well purchased 
 the establishment and associated with them Mr. Paige, the 
 firm name assuming the style of Morrison, Colwell & 
 Paige. 
 
 The mill and auxiliary buildings cover an area of ground 
 measuring 500 by 160 feet. The firm produces shafting, 
 bar and band iron, iron for making gas and steam pipe, 
 trestle work for buildings and bridges, together with a 
 superior quality of ax, pick and mattock poles — the poles 
 being made by means of a patented machine, of which we 
 shall speak more fully hereafter. 
 
 It is eligibly located on the bank of the Mohawk, 
 and consists of several buildings so connected as to form 
 one vast apartment, 175 by 150 feet. This apartment 
 contains five double puddling and two double heating 
 furnaces, three pole punching machines, with all the acces- 
 
CITY OF COHOES. 39 ( 
 
 series of i-oll-trains, shears, squeezers, &c., to be found in 
 a first class establishment of this kind. 
 
 The machine used to reduce the " bloom " and prepare 
 it for the roll-trains is the celebrated "Crocodile" 
 squeezer, which is admitted by all iron manufacturers to 
 be far superior to any other in use, as it produces a quality 
 of iron scarcely second to that which is reduced by the 
 hammer. The machinery is driven by two powerful 
 turbine wheels which have a united capacity of 200 horse 
 power. 
 
 Five sets of roll-trains are now employed in the con- 
 cern, and the fii'm are about adding another set for mak- 
 ing wire, horse-shoe bars, and all other descriptions of 
 small iron. All the h^on made here is thoroughly tested 
 before being furnished to the trade. The product of the 
 concern has lately acquired a reputation so enviable 
 throughout the country that the majority of edge tool 
 makers, who formerly could not be induced to use any- 
 thing but the best Norwaj^ iron, now give an unqualified 
 preference to that hei-e manufactured. The operations of 
 the establishment are principally confined to the produc- 
 tion of iron made to order, which is of the best quality 
 and requires a high grade of material. In addition to 
 their extensive general trade, which extends all over the 
 United States, the firm monopolize the local trade, and 
 supply the great mills of Oohoes, and all other large 
 establishments, with everj^thing required in their line. 
 The manufacture of solid ax, pick and mattock poles, in 
 which the firm has been engaged for the past two years, 
 has already become a very prominent feature of their 
 flourishing business. The superiority of these poles con- 
 sists in the fact that they are formed, and the eye punched, 
 by machinery from a solid bar of iron. By the old 
 method the pole is formed of a flat bar of iron bent in the 
 center until the remote ends of the same side meet, when 
 
CITY OF COHOES. 
 
 the operation is finished by welding- The vast difference 
 between the strength and durability of the solid pole and 
 that formed with a weld, is too obvious to need further ex- 
 planation. The ingenious machine which deals so sum- 
 marily with the iron bars, producing twenty perfect axe 
 poles (each machine) per minute, was invented and 
 patented a few years ago by Mr. Levi Dodge, of Water- 
 ford, who sold the patent to David Blake & Co., of Scran- 
 ton, Penn. Before the merits of the machine and its pro- 
 duct became generally known the concern belonging to 
 the first purchasers was destroyed by fire, and the right 
 to make and use the machine being offered for sale, was 
 purchased by Morrison, Colwell & Paige. 
 
 Asa brief description of this ponderous apparatus may 
 not be out of place in this connexion we will here endeavor 
 to give a slight idea of its contruction and operation : 
 Two heavy cast iron standards form the sides of the ma- 
 chine. Between these a massive crosshead moves per- 
 pendicularly, to the under side of which are attached two 
 pair of movable iron jaws which hold upon their con- 
 tiguous sides the dies for forming the pole. A shaft run- 
 ning through journals in the top of the standards holds on 
 its periphery two eccentric cams, which, when revolved, 
 give a reciprocal motion to the crosshead and its connex- 
 ions. A sliding clutch upon the shaft is brought in con- 
 tact, at the proper moment, with a corresponding clutch 
 upon the side of a large cog-wheel, which imparts direct 
 motion to the machine. The two punches which form 
 the eye are permanently fastened in an upright position to 
 the bed-plate — one underneath each pair of dies. At one 
 end of the machine — the "edge former" — also moving 
 with the crosshead, cuts the pole from the bar and forms 
 the edge or " bit." 
 
 The jaws, as they descend with the crosshead, are 
 forced together by means of inclined planes also attached 
 
 fr^. 
 
CITY OF COHOES. 41 
 
 to the bed-plate. Four movements of the crosshead com- 
 pletes the pole — the process bemg conducted as follows : 
 The operative di'aws the red hot bar from a heating fur- 
 nace, situated conveniently near, and places one end 
 between the first pair of dies. Then pressing with his 
 foot upon a treadle connected with the sliding clutch, the 
 latter comes in contact with the side of the large cog- 
 wheel, the clutch and shaft revolve, the eccentric cams 
 drive down the crosshead, the jaws are forced together by 
 the inclined planes, the dies close on the bar carrying the 
 latter downwards until descending upon the punch the 
 eye of the pole is partially formed. Now the crosshead 
 ascends, the jaws open seperating the dies, and the bar, 
 the manipulated end of which represents an unfinished 
 pole, is drawn out to undergo the second operation, which 
 is simply a repetition of the first. After being withdrawn 
 from the second pair of dies, the pole, which is now punched 
 entirely through and otherwise finished, is presented to 
 the edge-former which cuts it from the bar and forms the 
 edge or "bit" at one operation. 
 
 To manufacture poles for different kinds of tools, it is 
 simply necessary to change the dies. The operation of 
 the machine is so perfect that the " bit," after the pole 
 leaves the machine, requires no trimming as in the old 
 process, and, in consequence, a great saving of iron is 
 effected. 
 
 The yearly product of the Cohoes Rolling Mill is 7,000 
 tons of bar iron. The yearly consumption of coal is 8,000 
 tons and of ore 1,200 tons. The concern furnishes lucra- 
 tive employment for 200 hands. The present superior 
 facilities for transporation which the location of this estab- 
 lishment affords, situated as it is directly upon the bank 
 of the Mohawk, will be greatly enhanced upon the con- 
 struction of a projected canal which is to be built by the 
 Cohoes Company, and will occupy a portion of the bed of 
 
 ^i 
 
CITY OF COHOES. 
 
 the river on the Cohoes side. Then the iron and coal con- 
 sumed, and the goods to be shipped, can be unloaded and 
 loaded directly into and from the buildings without the 
 expense and inconvenience of cartage. 
 
 Cohoes Paper Company. 
 
 The paper manufacturing interest of the country is 
 represented in Cohoes by the Cohoes Paper Company, 
 owned and run by Messrs. Charles Van Benthuysen & 
 Sons, of Albany, in connection with their mammoth 
 printing establishment in the latter city. 
 
 The mills were first built in 1861, making their first 
 sheet of paper in December of that year. On the morn- 
 ing of Saturday, February 15, 1862, they were destroyed 
 by fire, involving a large loss. With characteristic enter- 
 prise, clearing of the debris was commenced the same 
 afternoon, and the work of rebuilding on the Monday 
 morning following, paper being again made in October of 
 the same year. 
 
 The present mills are situated east of the Harmony 
 Mills, having a front on Mohawk street of 276 feet, and 
 a width of 60 feet, with wings on either end of 50 by 60, 
 and 60 by 60 feet. 
 
 The motive power is furnished by tw^o turbine wheels. 
 The machinery has mostly been constructed by the 
 Messrs. Van Benthuysen in their own machine shop, 
 and is unequaled for solidity and finish. The engines 
 are the largest and of the most improved style of any run 
 in this country, with three times the capacity of the size 
 ordinarily used in similar manufactories. 
 
 The present daily production of the mills is about 4,000 
 pounds of paper, but the machinery necessary to make 
 double this quantity per diem is on the ground in an 
 advanced state of completion. The materials used 
 
 5V^ 
 
CITY OF COHOES. 
 
 manufacturing are mostly imported from France, England, 
 Prussia, Belgium, Germany, Italy, and even the "llowery 
 land " of JajDan has been put under contribution for sup- 
 plies of rag stock. To the unsophisticated, the rags seem 
 dirty beyond use, and the transition made in their journey 
 from the " rag room " through the various stages to their 
 exit from the "finishing room," in the form of clear white 
 paper, seems little short of a marvel. The paper produced, 
 for its grades, stands second to none made in the country. 
 For the purpose of obtaining a clearer water than can 
 be had at present, an artesian well is being bored upon 
 the premises. Commencing in 1867, with the best of 
 geological information, that the Hudson river shale — the 
 top strata through which it is necessary to go to reach 
 the limestone — would be found about 600 feet in depth, 
 the 1st of August, 1869, finds the well bored to the 
 depth of 1,616 feet. The entire distance has proved to be 
 the Hudson river shale, but the latest specimens taken up, 
 bear traces of the limestone formation, showing that the 
 lime rock must be nearly reached. There seems to be 
 no reason to doubt but that it will produce an abundant 
 and unfailing supply of water when "tapped." Such a 
 consummation cannot but be a benefit to the varied and 
 extended manufacturing interests of Cohoes. 
 
 Burton's Veneering and Sawing Mill. 
 
 This flourishing establishment, which is located on Erie 
 street, was founded by Hawes & Baker in the year 1836. 
 A similar enterprise was soon afterwards inaugurated by 
 Messrs. Mills & Tremain. In the year 1840, Mr. William 
 Burton entered into partnership with Mr. Tremain, sub- 
 sequently became sole owner of both concerns, and has 
 since monopolized this branch of manufacture in Cohoes. 
 
 The operations of the establishment comprise the manu- 
 facture of veneering and lumber from foreign and domestic 
 
_ ^^ 
 
 CITY OF COHOES. 
 
 woods, and the fabrication of looking-glass backboards, 
 brushbacks, stair-rails, newels, &c. 
 
 The woods used are mahogany, rosewood, satinwood, 
 red and Spanish cedar, lignumvitae, ebony, holly, black 
 walnut, maple, birch, cherry, white wood, poplar, bass- 
 wood, pine and others. 
 
 Over two million feet of backboards for looking-glasses, 
 picture frames, &c., were manufactured and sold b}^ the 
 proprietor of this establishment during the past year. 
 
 The reputation of the work produced, and the patron- 
 age of the concern, extend all over the United States and 
 Canadas, and the superiority of its manufactures is as 
 unequivocally conceded in California and other distant 
 localities as at home. Mr. Burton has prosecuted this 
 business with unbounded success for the last twenty-five 
 years, and is, we believe, the oldest Oohoes manufacturer 
 still actively engaged in business, in the city. His estab- 
 lishment is furnished with all the latest and most approved 
 wood-working machinery, comprising three veneer saws, 
 two upright mill saws, six circular saws, one turning 
 lathe, two planers, one "Novelty" machine, and many 
 other intricate and efficient mechanical devices. Twenty 
 men on an average are employed here. The yearly pro- 
 duction is very large, and the goods find a ready and 
 profitable market. 
 
 John Land ^ Sons. 
 
 This firm have recently erected a splendid brick build- 
 ing on Canvas street, which they now occupy as a planing 
 mill and general jobbing establishment. 
 
 Mr. John Land, the senior partner, came to Cohoes in 
 the year 1856, and commenced business as a carpenter and 
 builder. He immediately contracted to build the No. 2 
 Harmony Mill, No. 1 Picker building and thirty tene- 
 
CITY OF C0H0E8. 
 
 ments for the Harmony Company, which were shortly 
 afterwards completed. At this time he occupied a shop 
 opposite the old Cohoes iron foundry and machine shop, 
 which was once used as a bedstead factory. After fulfill- 
 ing the contract before spoken of, he moved from Cohoes, 
 and remained away until 1859, when returning he estab- 
 lished a shop on Oneida street, which he occupied for 
 eight years. In the year 1867, he erected a shop on 
 Garner street, became associated with his two sons, Lewis 
 W. and John E. Land, under the pi'esent firm name, and 
 the firm took building contracts to the amount of ^'250,000 
 for the Harmony Company. The transition from the old 
 shop of 1856 to the present large and commodious build- 
 ing, tells its own story of enviable prosperity. 
 
 The building, which is 50 by 100 feet, three stories and 
 basement high, is a model structure, and the establishment 
 is one of the most perfect of its kind in the State of New 
 York. Its entire capacity will be devoted exclusively to 
 the business of the firm, which comprises carpenter and 
 builder work, lumber manufacture and general jobbing. 
 
 The different apartments are furnished throughout with 
 intricate and ingenious machineiy, including an immense 
 '' Gray & Wood's " planer, which planes timber 50 feet in 
 length, and sixteen inches square, with marvelous celerit}^ 
 The firm is about constructing a branch track from the 
 Rensselaer and Saratoga railroad to their building, the 
 use of which will dispense with all cartage in the loading 
 and unloading of lumber, and will greatly facilitate the 
 prosecution of the business. 
 
 Although enjoying an enviable reputation and an exten- 
 sive patronage in Cohoes, their trade is by no means exclu- 
 sively local, but extends from Canada to New York cit}^ 
 and from Vermont to Buffalo. 
 
CITY OF COHOES. 
 
 GoHOES Iron Foundry and Machine Shop. 
 
 This establishment, which is one of the oldest manu- 
 factories in Cohoes, was founded by Mr. David Wilkinson 
 in the year 1832, in a building which was located near the 
 present site of the Harmony Mills. It was afterwards 
 carried on successively by Olmstead and McGill, and the 
 Cohoes Company, from the latter of which it was rented 
 by Messrs. H. D. Fuller and Robert Safely m the year 
 1858. These gentlemen conducted the foundry and 
 machine shop business in this building, under the firm 
 name of Fuller & Safely until the year 1867, when after 
 purchasing the machinery, flasks and other appurtenances 
 of the concern from the Cohoes Company, they removed 
 to the lai'ge and elegant structure now owned and occu- 
 pied by them, the erection of which was completed in 
 that year. The buildings of the new establishment — 
 which are substantially constructed of brick, and taste- 
 fully adorned with ornamental iron window caps and sills — 
 consist of the machine shop and foundry ; the former of 
 which is 100 by 50 feet, five stories high, and the latter 
 120 by 60 feet, one storj^ high. The establishment is 
 located on the bank of the Mohawk, and is bounded on 
 the east, west and south respectively, by Rensselaer, 
 Canvas and Cortland streets. 
 
 Messrs. Fuller & Safely only occupy the second and 
 third stories of the machine shop in connection with the 
 foundry — the balance of the former building being rented 
 to different manufacturers, whom they also supply with 
 power. This concern is furnished with all imaginary 
 vai'ieties of expensive machines, some of which are of 
 enormous size and marvelous capability. By means of a 
 mammoth vertical lathe, situated in the foundry, a cylinder 
 measuring thirteen feet in diameter and the same in length, 
 can be conveniently and expeditiously bored and finished. 
 
CITY OF COHOES. 
 
 An immense pump for the Cohoes Water Works, which, 
 with its attachments, will cost $"10,000, is now being- 
 built here. This colossal apparatus will weigh, when 
 finished, 40 tons. The au' chamber alone weighs three 
 tons and a half. The two water chests will weigh two 
 tons each. The cy Under will be 16 inches in diameter, 
 and 33 inches stroke. The firm manufactures all kinds 
 of heavy castings, and builds knitting machines, turbine 
 wheels, engines, lathes, and all varieties of light and heavy 
 machinery. 
 
 The Cohoes Iron Foundry and Machine Shop is one of 
 the first establishments of its kind in this section of the 
 country. Together with the extensive business of Messrs. 
 Fuller & Safely, no less than four additional branches of 
 industry are represented in these buildings. 
 
 The Cohoes Nut Manufactory. 
 
 A portion of the first tioor of Fuller & Safely 's splendid 
 buildmg is occupied by George and Thomas Brooks, who 
 are largely engaged in the manufacture of wrought iron 
 nuts. The Brooks Brothers first commenced this busi- 
 ness in the year 1858 in the old Cohoes Iron Foundry and 
 Machine Shop building before alluded to, where they con- 
 tinued until the erection of Fuller .& Safely 's new building, 
 when they removed thereto, and where they have since 
 continued to do a large and rapidly increasing business. 
 Ten nut presses are in constant operation here. The 
 brothers, although jointly occupying the same apartment, 
 pursue their business each independent of the other. 
 
 The Cohoes Knitting Needle Factory. 
 
 This concern, which is carried on by Mr. Henry Daw- 
 son, was established in the year 1856, in an old wooden 
 building, which occupied the present site of Egberts- 
 
CITY OF COHOES. 
 
 Hall. It was removed to " Wood's Grist Mill » in 1857, 
 and in the same year to the old Cohoes Iron Foundry and 
 Machine Shop building. When Messrs. Fuller & Safely 
 removed to the new foundry and machine shop building 
 (1867), Mr. Dawson also transferred his business thereto, 
 and now occupies a portion of the fourth story of this 
 splendid edifice. Mr. Dawson has estabhshed an enviable 
 reputation for the quality of the "Spring" knitting 
 needles made by him, and his patronage extends all over 
 the United States and Canadas. A large number of hands 
 are employed here. 
 
 The Magnolia Tape Mills. 
 
 This establishment, which occupies a part of the fifth 
 story of Messrs. Fuller & Safely 's building, was founded 
 
 by Mr. Duncan in the year 1867, who was shortly 
 
 afterwards relieved of the proprietorship by Messrs. 
 Clancy & Co., the present firm. 
 
 The principal manufactures of this concern are tape 
 and stay-bindings, the trade in which has almost doubled 
 under the present management. The goods are shipped 
 principally to New York, Chicago and other large cities. 
 The wares produced at this establishment are always in 
 demand inconsequence of their superior quality. 
 
 The Cohoes Straw Bo abb Mill, 
 
 This establishment is located above the Falls, near the 
 Cohoes Company's dam. As early as the year 1789 a grist 
 mill was erected by Mr. Robert Lansing, on the present 
 site of this concern — a portion of the old building still 
 remaining. This was subsequently converted into a paper 
 mill, and more recently into a straw board mill, and as 
 such has been conducted for twenty-five years. The 
 establishment consists of two large buildings, one of which 
 
CITY OF COBOES. 
 
 is a substantial brick structure. These buildings are sup- 
 plied with the latest and most approved machinery for the 
 manufacture of straw board, which is produced in very- 
 large quantities and finds a ready market. The present 
 proprietors are T. G. Younglove & Co. 
 
CITY OF COHOES. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS CONCERNS. 
 
 The ax factories of Weed, Becker & Co., and of the 
 Ten Eyck Ax Manufacturing Co., occupy a very prominent 
 position among the great manufactories of Cohoes. Both 
 these concerns were established by the late Daniel Sim- 
 mons, who was one of the pioneer manufacturers of 
 Cohoes, having commenced business here as early as the 
 year 1834. 
 
 Mr. Simmons started his first factory — the present con- 
 cern of Weed, Becker & Co. — at that point which is now 
 defined by the junction of the Champlain canal and Mo- 
 hawk river, where the unfortunate " Cohoes Manufactur- 
 ing Co." inaugurated its short and unsuccessful career. 
 His second factory — that now occupied by the Ten Eyck 
 Manufacturing Co. — was established in 1845. The palm 
 of superiority, which had been conceded to Cohoes axes, 
 during the life of Mr. Simmons, still accrues to the exten- 
 sive establishments of which he was the founder, and this 
 branch of manufacture has almost demonstrated itself as 
 the grand speciality of the city. 
 
 The " Empire Pin Company " conducts a very exten- 
 sive and rapidly increasing business. This concern was 
 first established in Albany by an incorporated company, 
 who removed their business to Cohoes about the year 
 1857. Shortly afterwards the corporation was dissolved, 
 and the property sold to Louis Spanier and C. A¥. Bender. 
 These gentlemen subsequently transferred the concern to 
 Mr. T. G. Younglove, who was the owner of the building 
 in which the business was conducted. The business has 
 
^^:^- 
 9¥^ 
 
 CITY OF COHOES. 51 
 
 since been carried on by two different parties, and is now 
 in the hands of E. S. & W. H. Harris, of Albany. 
 
 Bogue & Clark carry on a bobbin factory on a very 
 extensive scale. 
 
 Mr. A. J. Griffin conducts a large sash and blind fac- 
 tory, and does a wide-spread and profitable business. 
 
 Mr. P. S. Holsapples prosecutes the bedstead manufac- 
 turing business, in which he employs a large number of 
 hands. His sales are large, and his business lucrative. 
 
 The firm of Brown & Scovel is extensively engaged in 
 the manufacture of cotton batts. 
 
 Campbell & Clute conduct a large machine shop, and 
 emplo}'- a corresponding number of hands. 
 
 The Cohoes Flour Mill, conducted by Mills, McMartin 
 & Cropsey is a very large and flourishing concern. 
 
 The Hon. John Tighe, who represents the Fourth 
 Assembly district in our State Legislature, prosecutes the 
 brewing business very extensively. 
 
 A great many other minor manufactories, the operations 
 of which tend materially to swell the aggregate market- 
 able production of this flourishing city, are located at dif- 
 ferent points within its limits. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 THE COHOES GAS LIGHT COMPANY. 
 
 This company was incorporated in 1853, with a capital 
 of $50,000. The first president was Mr. T. G. Young- 
 love. The works were then located on Sargent street, and 
 the capacity was only equal to the production of 50,000 
 cubic feet of gas daily. 
 
 The present works are located on the Champlain canal, 
 and have a producing capacity of 250,000 cubic feet per 
 day. The officers are D. J. Johnston, President; Wm. 
 E. Thorn, Secretary and Treasurer; and D. H. Van 
 Auken, Superintendent and Engineer. 
 
 5>®<C 
 
 THE COHOES WATER WORKS. 
 
 This institution, which was incorporated in 1856, is 
 controlled by a board of water commissioners, the mem- 
 bers of which are appointed by the City Board of Alder- 
 men. The water is elevated to the reservoir from the 
 upper canal of the Cohoes Company. The reservoir 
 heretofore in use having been found inadequate to the 
 wants of the city, an additional one is in course of con- 
 struction, which will cover an area of six acres. The 
 present officers are William E. Thorn, President; John 
 Land, Treasurer ; and H. R. Grant, Superintendent. 
 
CITY OF COnOES. 53 
 
 BUILDINGS IN COURSE OF ERECTION. 
 
 ^i 
 
 Of the manufactories now being erected, the machine 
 shop and foundry buildings of W. T. Horobin are the 
 most prominent. Both of these are substantial and 
 imposing brick structures, admirably located, and owned 
 by a gentleman of large capital and unbounded enterprise. 
 
 A large number of stores and dwellings are daily 
 approaching completion, among the latter of which are 
 several elegant and costly residences. 
 
 The splendid building on Remsen street, near Ontario, 
 owned by Mr. Charles Adams, the erection of which is 
 rapidly progressing, will be one of the finest structures in 
 the State. 
 
 Tills edifice will be built of Philadelphia brick, with 
 an ornamental iron front of new and unique design, 
 from the Architectural Iron Works of New York city. 
 It will be three stories in heighth. The first story will be 
 divided into four large stores, each show window of which 
 will present a solid front of heavy plate glass, measuring 
 ten by five feet. Only two buildings of the same elegant 
 design have been previously erected in the United States. 
 
CITY OF COHOES. 
 
 A SUMMARY. 
 
 Previous to the year 1811, the present site of the city of 
 Cohoes was simply a barren tract of waste land, skirted 
 by a vast unappropriated water power and known only 
 to the world at large through the wonders and beauties 
 of its surrounding scenery, as depicted by such travelers 
 and tourists as had been compelled by cirumstances, or 
 prompted by curiosity, to visit the vicinity. 
 
 As late as 1830, there were not fifty inhabitants in what 
 is now the principal manufacturing portion of the city. 
 In 1845, the population had increased to 2,000, and in 1847 
 to 4,000 persons. The first newspaper was the Cohoes 
 u^dvertiser, which presented its salutatory on February 
 9th, 1847. (In 1849 the name of this paper was changed 
 to the Cohoes Cataract, and in 1851, its proprietorship 
 was assumed by Mr. J. H. Hasten, the present Post- 
 master of the city.) The place was incorporated as a vil- 
 lage in 1848. In 1866 the population was 10,000; at 
 present the city numbers over 16,000 inhabitants. Its 
 incorporation as a city was confirmed by the signature of 
 the Governor of the State of New York in May of the 
 present year (1869). Its manufactories comprise six 
 extensive cotton mills, running 203,000 spindles, eighteen 
 large knitting mills, two foundries, three machine shops, 
 a rolling mill, two ax factories, a planing mill, a sawing 
 and veneering establishment, and many other large and 
 flourishing industrial concerns. The aggregate capital 
 invested in manufacturing operations is estimated at 
 ^20,000,000. The mercantile interests of the city are 
 
CITY OF COHOES. 
 
 represented by over 300 large and prosperous retail estab- 
 lishments. The religious wants of the community are 
 supplied by six large and magnificent churches. Two 
 splendid steam fire engines of great power are at the ser- 
 vice of the Fire Department. 
 
 Cohoes enjoys facilities for transportation by river, canal 
 and railroad, which are unsurpassed by those of any other 
 manufactm^ng city in the Union. The Erie canal affords 
 direct communication with the western country and the 
 great lakes ', the Champlain canal opens easy access to all 
 parts of Canada, and the Hudson river to New York and 
 the Ocean. The additional advantages for travel and for 
 the rapid transit of goods to and from all parts of the 
 United States, afforded by the New York Central and the 
 Rensselaer and Saratoga Railroads, leave nothing to be 
 desired in this particular. 
 
CITY OF COHOES. 
 
 A BIRD'S-EYE VIEW. 
 
 The elevated plateau, a short distance southwest of the 
 Harmony Mills, upon which the magnificent residence of 
 Mr. David J. Johnston is located, is an eligible point from 
 which to enjoy a charming bird's-eye view of Cohoes and 
 the surrounding country Standing upon this elevation — 
 which is the most commanding within the limits of the 
 city — and looking northward, the winding Mohawk with 
 romantic scenery is plainly visible for miles ; and presents 
 a picture from nature's portfoho which laughs to scorn 
 the most studied and highly colored effort of the artist. 
 Cohoes with its noisy manufactories lies directly at your 
 feet. Then you take in Troy, Lansingburgh and Water- 
 ford at a glance, while a southerly view reveals the tall 
 and glistening spires of Albany, with the dimly defined 
 Catskill Mountains for a background. Of course the ele- 
 gant residence alluded to, with its beautiful conservatories 
 and general adornments, will not escape your scrutiny. 
 
ER RATA. 
 
 Page 19, twenty-third line, for " did" read " din." 
 
 Page 25, first paragraph, sixth line, for '* most " read " modest." 
 
 Page 29, third line from the bottom, for ''Knowlton" read 
 
 Knowlson." 
 
LiBKHRY OF CONGRESS 
 
 014 222 359 4 4 
 
 1