from
History of the State of Rhode Island with Illustrations
Albert J. Wright, Printer
No. 79 Mille Street, corner of Federal, Boston.
Hong, Wade & Co., Philadelphia
1878.
pp. 224 - 252. (part 39)
"COTTON GOODS.
The Slater Cotton Co. Some of the members of this company are direct
descendants of John Slater, brother to Samuel Slater. It is a stock
company, chartered, in 1869, under the name of the Slater Cotton Co., with
four hundred thousand dollars capital. President, William
Slater; Treasurer and general Business Manager, S. W. Mowry. Their main
mill-edifice was erected, in 1863, for a file factory; but was purchased by
the above company in 1868, and materially enlarged. The mill contains
twenty thousand spindles, and four hundred and fifty-five looms. Number of
operatives employed is some three hundred and fifty, and the kind of goods
manufactured is fine shirtings.
Messrs. Thurber, Horton & Wood, in the old stone mill, are engaged in the
manufacture of light sheetings. They are also interested in a factory at
Central Falls. They occupy only about one-fourth of the mill at Pawtucket,
and operate two thousand four hundred spindles, and fifty-odd
looms. Employ about thirty hands.
Bridge Mill Manufacturing Co. This company is located in a mill familiarly
known as the yellow mill. The company was incorporated, in 1867, with a
capital of one hundred thousand dollars. They operate five thousand
spindles, and one hundred looms. In times of business activity they employ
some sixty to seventy operatives. They manufacture cotton cloth for
linings, shirtings, &c. Another mill, formerly occupied by the Pawtucket
Manufacturing Co., was located on the site of the old Buffington mill,
burned in 1844. It has of late been disused, and the machinery removed,
and is now being converted into stores."
continued in part 40.