at this place is 30 feet, and the quantity of water never falls short of 2,000 cubic feet per second, and is very rarely so low as that. This quantity of water is estimated to carry 286,000 spindles, with all the preparatory machinery. There is therefore an unimproved water power at this place sufficient to capry eleven mills of the usual size, making.the whole number of mills 39, when all the water is improved.
There are 10-corporations, with a capital stock of $8,250,000 : 28 mills besides machine shops, print works,
&.C., all warmed in cold weather by hot air or steam.
There are 150,404. spindles, and 4,861 looms. There are 51,147,200 yards of cloth manufactured per an- num*!*^,220,000 yards dyed and pointed, and 16,161,600 lbs. of cot- ton used annually, besides a large quantity of wool.
There are annually used in these manufactories, 11,000 tons of An-, thracite coal, 4,810 cords of wood,
500,000 bushels of charcoal, 63,489 gallons of oil, 510,000 pounds of starch, and 3,800 barrels of flour for starch in the print works anck bleachery.
The number of females employ- ed in the mills, is 6,295: number of males, 2,047. Total number of hands, 8,342. The average wages of females per week, clear of board, is $1,75; of males, 80 cents per day, clear of board. The average amount of wages paid per month is $106,000.
The goods manufactured in these mills consist of sheetings, shirtings, drillings, calicoes, broadcloths, cas- simeres, carpets, rugs, negro cloth; machinery for mills, and for en- gines and cars for rail-roads. The quality of these goods is general- ly superior to those imported. The annual amount *of goods manu- factured by these mills is about $8,000,000.
The mills are built of brick, and are about 157 feet in length, 45 in breadth, and from 4 to 7 stories in height. |
The Locks and Canals Machine •Shop, included among the 28 mills, can furnish machinery complete for a mill of 5,000 spindles in four months, and lumber and materials are. always at command, with which to build or rebuild a mill in that' time, if required. When building mills, the Locks and Canals Com- pany employ directly and indirect- ly from a thousand to twelve'hun- dred hands.
There are also in Lowell 10 powder mills, a flour mill, glass works, the Lowell bleachery, flan- nel mills,and manufaetoriesof cards, whips, planing and reed machines, boots, shoes; brass, copper and tin wares, carriages, harnesses, iron castings, &.c. &.c.; the annual pro- ceeds of which amount to about $500,000, employing about 200 hands.
Lowellis finely situated in regard to health : it is surrounded by pleas- ant bills- and valleys, and seated on a rapid stream. We are enabled to state on good authority that 6 of the females out of 10 enjoy better health than before being employed in the mills, and that one half Of the males derive -the same advantage.
Lowell is very handsomely locat- ed : it is laid out into wide streets.; all the buildings-are of recent con- struction, and in a style of neatness and elegance.
With regard to the future pros- perity of this interesting city, nothr ing need be said to those who know that it was founded, and is princi- pally sustained, hy the most emi- nent capitalists of Boston; a city renowned for its enterprize, wealth, and public spirit.
To strangers we would say—visit it. It is a pleasant ride of about an hour from Boston, by the rail-road. Foreigners view Lowell with ad- miration ; and every American who sees it feels proud that such a city exists on this side of the Atlantic. |