Lawrence City (part 4 of 6)

Lawrence City Mission

The Lawrence City Mission, located on Jackson street, was organized in 1859, and incorporated in June, 1876. The purposes of the mission are to relieve distress, to pre\ent unwise giving, to encourage independence, to protect children, and to study social prob- lems. Rev. Clark Carter is the missionary in charge. The foundation of the present evening school system was laid by the Lawrence City Mission.

The Arlington Day Nursery, a nursery and permanent home for children whose parents are unable to give them care ; the Asrath Noshim, for the purpose of financially aiding the poor and needy of the Jewish race ; the German Ruth Society, a home for destitute men and women, and the Lawrence Boys' Club, for promoting good citizenship and morality, and providing a vacation centre, physical instruction and manual training, are included among the local charitable corporations, listed by the State Board of Charity. Besides these, there is a number of public benefit organizations working for the physical, mental and moral improvement of the community, outside of the regularly recognized institutions.

Street Railways

The growth and development of communities is largely dependent upon their transportation facilities. Usually the expansion of the former follows the extension of the latter. This is especially true in the case of street railways which are more closely identified with the communities they serve than are the steam roads.

I'he street railways have been a potent factor in the development of Lawrence and outlying districts. By making travel easy and rapid, they have brought all sections into closer touch, and incidentally have been of great benefit in encouraging building, lessening congestion and increasing property valuation, besides being a big help to general business.

Not only is every neighborhood in the city, with the adjoining towns, penetrated by the street railways, but the country for hundreds of miles about is traversed by the various lines. Nowhere in the United States is there a section so thoroughly netted with trolley lines as that of eastern Massachusetts, and Lawrence occupies a position where it is an important centre from which lines radiate in all directions and from which one may travel by trolley to practically any point in New England. Furthermore, if one were so disposed, he could go by trolley from Lawrence into New York state or Pennsylvania.

The days of the old stage coach are not so far back but that they are well remembered by many of Lawrence's citizens today. It seems hardly possible that that period of slow and uncomfortable travel is within a lifetime. Yet, notwithstanding the great state of development attained by the street railways, 50 years ago stage coaches were driven between Lawrence, Methuen, Andover and Lowell.

The Bay State

The Bay State road here is the outgrowth of the pioneer street railway in this locality. From a little horse road the Lawrence division of the Boston & Northern Street Railway, formerly the Merrimack Valley Horse Railroad and now known as the Bay State Street Railway, has become a network of 50 miles of track upon which are run over 75 cars. The entire system has about 960 miles of trackage.

Street Railways I39

following officers : - I^resident, William A. Russell ; treasurer, James H. Eaton ; secretary, Charles E. Goss ; board of directors, William A. Russell, A. W. Stearns, George A. Fuller, William R. Spalding, Charles E. Goss ; superintendent, Stephen Dockham. Ground was broken for the first line October 21, 1867, work being begun at the woolen mill in Methuen. When, on Christmas Day, 1867, two horse cars were run on Essex street from the depot to the Everett mills, it was made a day of general rejoicing. Everybody turned out and struggled for a chance to ride on those cars with the result that the first day's collection amounted to $130. The following day the first car was run to Methuen.

In the autumn of 1868 the road was extended to the Machine shop, North Andover. In 1876 the tracks were again extended by what was then called the South Lawrence branch, running to the depot. In 1887 the Newbury, East Haverhill and Berkeley streets line was built. The Belt line was constructed the same year, made necessary by the burning of the Union Street bridge and cutting otif of North Andover on the old location. The tracks on Water and Lawrence streets were built in 1888. Extension of local lines, one after another, gradually followed until it was deemed wise to experiment in wider fields, so that in 1893 a line was extended to Haverhill, and the next year to Lowell, thus connecting these three great factory cities of the Merrimack valley. Andover was connected before this, in 1891. The Middleton, Danvers & Salem line of the Lawrence division was opened in 1902.

From the early days of the old horse cars there has been a reaching out by the nianagement of this road for improvements. The most marked improvement in equipment came when the radical change from horse to electricity as motive power v;as made in 1890 and 1891. Attempts have been made several times to secure a franchise locally to carry freight by the operation of a so-called trolley express, but up to the present writing the City Government has deemed it advisable to refuse the petition of the street railway company.

The road was moderately successful until a few years preceding 1918 when the expenses had increased in such proportion and the receipts had declined to such extent that the company went into the hands of a receiver. The decrease in the receipts was largely due to the competition of the so-called "Jitneys", automobiles which gave quicker transportation, whose routes of travel were more mobile, and which could be more readily adapted to the demands of the public. To meet the increased cost of operation and the falling off in revenue, the Public Service Commission approved an increase in fares on the street railway of one cent for every five-cent fare. At this writing- the road is still in the hands of a receiver.

The Massachusetts Northeastern

Although the Massachusetts Northeastern Street Railway, formerly known as the Southern New Hampshire, has a smaller amount of trackage in the city than has the Bay State, the company has extensive lines through the surrounding country. The local terminal of the road is at Hampshire and Essex streets, from which it runs into southern New Hampshire and Haverhill. Its lines run through much open country which, until the heavy rails of this fast growing corporation were laid, was sparsely inhabited.

Between its interurban and transfer points this road courses through largely private land, and the speed attained by the high powered trolley cars is exceeded in few places in the country.

From the Hampshire street terminus cars run to Haverhill direct and via Point A in Salem, N. H., also to Lowell and Pelham, Nashua, Hudson and Goffs Falls, N. H., where connections can be made for Manchester, N. H.

Canobie Lake Park, one of the most beautiful inland pleasure resorts in this section of the country, and which is owned by the Massachusetts Northeastern, is in the radius of these lines. It was opened to the public in 1903.

The first franchise granted this road in Lawrence was in 1899, when on December 26th of that year the Municipal Council gave the Lawrence & Methuen Street Railway Company the privilege of laying a track on Hampshire and Centre streets. The Lawrence & Methuen road was later absorbed by the Southern New Hampshire.

The power station from which the various lines of the Massachusetts Northeastern are operated is located at Portsmouth, N. H. The main offices of the company are in Haverhill. David A. Belden of Haverhill is the president of the road and Franklin Woodman of Haverhill, its general manager.

Practically all streets in Lawrence, traversed by trolley cars, are paved with granite blocks, and as these thoroughfares are kept well cleaned and sprinkled in the open season there is little annoyance from dust. Both street railways have franchises granted by the municipal government for an indefinite period.

Besides the street railway transportation facilities, there is the steam railroad, Lawrence being on the main line of the Portland division of the Boston & Maine system. There are 150 passenger trains coming into and leaving the city daily. The demand for freighting facilities can be imagined from the fact that Lawrence is the third city in Massachusetts in value of general manufactured products.

The lighting system of Lawrence will compare favorably with that of any other city of its size in the country. Plenty of lights of the arc variety and the incandescent are so well distributed on all the thoroughfares that on the darkest night there is no trouble in finding one's way in the most remote neighborhoods, while on the principal thoroughfares, where the most powerful arcs are used, there is hardly a stretch that the luminating rays of the street lamps do not penetrate.

The public of today is so accustomed to good lighting facilities, that there is little reflection on the vast improvement in the system during the last 50 years. It is only when a bad storm puts a circuit out of commission and a section is plunged into darkness that one realizes what conditions must have been in the early days.

Before the introduction of electricity and its general adoption by the public, in conjunction with gas, the gas lighting companies had a keen competitor in kerosene as an illuminant. At that time the city was lighted by both oil and gas lamps, and the service was feeble as compared to the modern lighting system of today. The lamps were few and, consequently, the distribution was such as to make the lights appear as widely separated dots in the blanket of darkness. In time the oil lamps lost their popularity, and gas was used almost universally.

The street department had charge of the street lighting in those days, and a force of lamp lighters was employed to light the lamps and keep the globes clean, while police ofificers were always provided with matches for the purpose of igniting lamps that had gone out or been overlooked by the lamp lighters. The policemen had also the duty of turning ofif the lights, and at 1 1 o'clock all lights, except those on the principal streets, were extinguished. The latter burned all night. When the moon shone brightly the lights were not lit, a bit of economy that is not practiced in these days of modern lighting methods. Prowlers, after 11 o'clock, were always in danger of arrest.

In 1880 the first electric lights were installed in the city, large arcs being placed on the common. The Lawrence Electric Light Company had begun to manufacture electricity in the old fish line mill building of the Essex Company, now a part of the Farwell Bleachery plant, and provided service chiefly for street lighting. This was the beginning of the present extensive system, Lawrence's streets being now lighted by electricity exclusively.

Today the city spends over $6i,coo a year for street lighting, an amount that is constantly growing as the service is extended. There are distributed over the numerous thoroughfares 1240 lights, of which 642 are incandescent, and 598 of the arc variety. The lamps are well divided, being placed to the bfst advantage. On the principal streets high powered arc lights are used, while on the residential thoroughfares there are both arc and the less luminous incandescent.

As soon as electricity became a serviceable medium and the inventions made for its perfection became of commercial value, the majority of the old-line gas companies combined their gas business with that of the new discovery. In this movement the Lawrence Gas Company was among the first, having at once seen the advantage of such a departure. The concern from the start has aimed to improve its service, and it has been ever ready to adoj)t innovations tending to that end. A vast amount of capital invested in this line of commercial activity stands out nowhere with greater prominence than in Lawrence, where since 1848 this company has given a service which has worked for public and private good.

The story of the development of the city's lighting system is in reality the history of the growth of the Lawrence Gas Company which concern serves the adjacent towns of ^lethuen, Andover and North Andover, as well as Lawrence. The company is a Massachusetts corporation with a capital of $2,500,000. Bonds to the extent of $30C',G00 have been issued.

The gas works on Marston street were established in 1848 by the Essex Company, the Bay State Mills and the Atlantic Mills, for the purpose of supplying light to those corporations. In 1849 a number of Boston capitalists bought the works and incorporated the business under the name, Lawrence Gas Company. Henry G. Webber who was its first manager served in that capacity until 1853, when George D. Cabot was made manager. In 1884, after 31 years of service, Mr. Cabot resigned, and C. J. R. Humphreys, the })resent efficient head of the concern, succeeded him.

The company has had a steady growth almost from the beginning. It started with works, capable of making and supplying to its customers about 20,000 cul)ic feet of gas per day. Today, with its immense, modern plant and tremendous gas holders it is able to distribute 2,500,000 cubic feet of gas each day. In 1905 about 275,000,000 cubic feet of gas was consumed in Lawrence and vicinity. In 191 / over 576,000,000 cubic feet was supplied.

In 1887 the Lawrence Gas Company bought out the Lawrence Electric Light Company. In 1890 it acquired the plant of the Edison Electric Illuminating Company, located on Common street. Under the energetic management of the Gas Company, in educating the people to the use of electricity for various purposes, the old plants soon became inadequate, and the equipment was enlarged and improved.

In 1900 the demand for electricity for commercial and manufacturing purposes had grown to such an extent that a new plant was built and equipped on the south side of the river, the company still maintaining and operating the Common street station as it does to this day, chietly as a distributing station. The {)lant was built of sufficient size to take care of increasing business for years to come, and has been of special service to a great many manufacturing plants locating here, many of which depend wholly upon electricity for power to operate their machinery equipments. This plant is equipped with water power machinery of about 2500 horse power, and with steam turbines of 8,200 horse power.

In the beginning, when gas (then of inferior ([ual'ty) was used commercially, the price per 1000 cubic feet was $4.00. Today, with a modern plant and appliances strictly first class, gas is supplied to the people at the price of 85 cents per 1000 cubic feet. At first gas was used exclusively for lighting ; now it is used for a number of useful purposes, principally for lighting, cooking and power, manv gas engines being operated by its application. It also supplies heat. Of late years, however, gas has come to be regarded as an indispensable adjunct to the household, for cooking purposes. In 1892 less than 40 gas ranges were in use in Lawrence. Today, there are few families without one. During the more recent years gas has come into general use for heating water in houses, so doing away with the water front of the coal range, a great convenience, especially in hot weather. So rapidly has the Lawrence Gas Company kept pace with the great growth of the city that there is no part of the community that is not served by the company's service pipes and lines.

A large portion of the office floor of the company's building on Essex street is used as a show room for gas stoves and gas and electrical appliances. Several years ago the company acquired the old property of the Young Men's Christian Association on Appleton street, which is occupied by its appliance department.

The officers of the company are: - President, N. H. Emmons; vice president, C. J. R. Humphreys ; treasurer, R. W. Emmons, 2nd ; clerk, H. R. Peverly ; directors, Walter Coulson, Franklin Butler, C. J. R. Humphreys, Nathaniel H. Emmons, R. W. Emmons, 2nd, Frank Brewster and Alfred Bowditch.

American Woolen Company

The American Woolen Company which employs more people than any other industrial unit in New England, and which is the largest manufacturer in the world of carded woolen and worsted cloths (men's wear), had its beginning in Lawrence where are located its largest plants, including the mammoth Wood Mills. This great corporation was conceived by William M. Wood, the present head, who has become a striking character in modern industry.

Soon after the late Frederick Ayer had, on September 12, 1885, accjuired the Washington Mills, Mr. Wood became connected with the plant, as a road salesman for worsted fabrics. In recognition of his ability and enterprise he was later given the management of these mills which he directed so well that a heavy indebtedness was discharged, and the concern was established as one of the most prosperous woolen organizations in the country.

The Washington Mills weathered the difficulties of the Gorman- Wilson tarifif of 1894-97, which proved disastrous for many textile manufacturing concerns. About this time Mr. Wood who had gained much prestige as a captain of industry, and won the confidence of capital, was besought to interest himself in other undertakings. He and his associates acquired, one by one, a group of woolen mills, nearly all of which had suffered from tariff" adversity. With the Washington Mills as a nucleus, the American Woolen Company was incorporated March 29, 1899, Mr. Ayer becoming president and Mr. Wood, treasurer. The directorate included men who had distinguished themselves in the industrial and mercantile lines, and who in the early days gave solidity and prestige to the corporation. Later Mr. Ayer resigned the presidency, and Mr. Wood succeeded him. William H. D welly is now treasurer.

The American Woolen Company is, in the location of its plants, almost exclusively a New England creation, for only two of these plants, the Fulton Mills, at Fulton, N. Y., and the Bradford Mills, at Louisville, Ky., are outside of New England's boundaries. The other mills range across New England from Maine to Connecticut, the greatest of them, as stated, being located in Lawrence which has become, next to Philadelphia, the largest woolen manufacturing comc munity in the United States. Besides the 50 or more mills which the corporation has purchased, it built the Wood Worsted Mills andthe Ayer Mills in Lawrence. The two latter plants, with the Washington Mills and the Prospect ^lill, comprise the factories of the concern here. Alost of the old mills acquired have been enlarged, and the equipment of all has been improved. Its Assabet Mills at Maynard are the largest carded woolen, as the Wood Mills are the largest worsted plant in existence.

It has been stated that the company each year turns out enough cloth to belt the earth and in addition to festoon the United States from New York to San Francisco. It has a product not only great in bulk but remarkably diversified. It makes a specialty of uniform cloth for the United States Army and Navy, and has introduced some of the most durable and useful fabrics worn by the soldiers and sailors of the government. The production for general wear includes kerseys, friezes, meltons, thibets, wool and worsted, plain and fancy overcoatings, covert cloth, broadcloths, mercerized cloths, Venetians, granites and vicunas, piece-dye and mixed-dye clay diagonals, unfinished worsteds, fancy weave piece dyes and mixtures, serges, wool and worsted cheviots, all grades of worsted and wool fancy trouserings and suitings, wool and worsted cross-dye and resist-dye fabrics, and rain cloths, plain and fancy. Yarns for practically all purposes are also manufactured.

The corporation has introduced a number of commendable ideas for the convenience and comfort of its operatives. It has constructed villages of modern dwellings for them in Lawrence and Maynard. Housing accommodations have been provided in nearly every city and town in which its mills are located. The houses in this city are attractive, and are rented at moderate prices. They occupy pleasant and wholesome sites near the south bank of the Merrimack River, opposite the city proper, and yet close to the great mills whence the people draw their livelihood. Opposite the Wood Mills stands a large restaurant where good food is served at cost, and in the large mill building, i.i^oo feet in length, there are escalators to convey the workers quickly and easily to or from the various floors.

The American Woolen Company is an admirable example of the large, modern industrial organization. It represents, perhaps, about one-eighth of the total productive woolen machinery of the country. It has about 30,000 employes in all of its plants, and has 13,000 stockholders, many of whom are employes as well. The capital of the corporation is $60,000,000. It has paid without interruption a dividend of 7 percent, on its preferred stock. The assessed valuation of the property in Lawrence for 1917 was $9,039,400.

Lawrence S Industries The Pacific Mills

The Pacific ]\Iills, the main plant of which is located in Lawrence, are famed the world over for their fabrics. They have an unrivaled output of printed, dyed and bleached cotton goods, and are also the largest manufacturers of cotton-warp and all-wool dress goods. So widely are the products of these mills known and used that the trade mark "Pacific Mills" is not unfamiliar in Japan, China and other far-ofif Asiatic countries. The extent of the mills, in Lawrence, their marvelous equipment, the magnitude of their operations, and the perfection of their work excite the admiration and astonishment of all visitors.

The weekly payroll of the entire corporation, paid in silver dollars piled one upon another, would be more than twice the height of Washington Monument, or more than 1,110 feet. If its looms were placed end to end, they would make a continuous line over 24 miles in length. Its buildings have 177 acres of floor space. Over 135,000 tons of high-grade coal are burned in its boilers annually. Electricity enough is generated every day to run the entire street lighting of Boston and all the other cities and towns within 10 miles. The normal product of nearly 200,000 acres of cotton (or about 80,000 bales), and the wool from 2,366,383 sheep are woven every year. Over 330 miles of cloth are woven each day, or enough to reach from New York to Washington, D. C. (226 miles), and half way back again. Over 500 miles of cloth are finished and packed ready for shipment each day. The annual output of finished cloths would reach more than 5^ times around the world.

The Pacific Mills were incorporated in 1853 with a capital of $I,COC,COG, which was increased in 1855, 1858 and 1862 to $2,500,000. At the. present time the capital of the corporation is $15,000,000, including the main plant in Lawrence and the mills at Dover, N. H.. and Columbia, S. C. The Pacific goods first appeared on the market in the fall of 1854. At that time, under a low tarifif, English printed calicos and delaines came largely in competition with home products, causing a sharp contest for control of the trade, which was eventually won by the New England mills.

The original mills and print works were built under the supervision of the Essex Company. They were remodelled in 1882, and since then they have been enlarged and added to from time to time, until at present the local plant is one of the largest mill plants in the United States, with i"] brick buildings, and a floor space of 135 acres. The main cotton mill l)uilding is 806 feet long l)v 'ji feet wide, and seven stories in height. Weave sheds, varn mills, dye houses, print works and power plants spread over an immense area. The assessed valuation of the pro])erty of the corporation in Lawrence is $10,157,700, a little less than one-eighth of the city's entire valuation.

In 1 901 the first dynamos for electric power were installed, water power and steam solely having been used for power before, and in 1907 the electrification of the whole plant was begun, with the erection of a large new power house.

The purchase of the Cocheco Manufacturing Company at Dover, N. H., January 26, 1909, was the first step toward external growth. The Cocheco mills, much older, were printers of cotton goods, and in that field were formidable competitors of the Pacific. They are now confined to the production of cotton cloths for printing, dyeing and bleaching.

On June 29, 191 1, the Hamilton Print \\'orks at Lowell were purchased, and in 191 5 the calico printing plant of the Merrimack Mills at Lowell was acquired, and the business moved to Lawrence.

Lawrence S Industries I49

Then a big, modern printing plant was constructed on a 17-acre tract on the river bank below the Wood Mills, and there assembled the machinery from the old buildings at Lawrence, Dover and Lowell. It has been in operation since 191 3, and is reputed to be the largest print works in the world. It has 48 printing machines, besides a dyehouse and bleachery for dyeing, bleaching and finishing cotton fabrics.

In 191 o there was built a six-story worsted yarn mill with a one-story weave shed, to accommodate the worsted department, more than 1,000 looms, with 16 acres of floor space.

The Hampton Mills department of the Pacific corporation, at Columbia, S. C, with 200,000 spindles and 4,800 looms, was acquired June 26, 191 6. This department also makes cotton cloths for printing, dyeing and bleaching.

The last addition in Lawrence was the purchase on March 31, 191 3, of the Atlantic Cotton Alills, bought at auction. Thus was secured a valuable mill site which would allow further expansion for the main plant. Part of this property, on the approach to the new Central bridge, was seized by the City of Lawrence.

The latest statistics of the Pacific corporation show 561,312 cotton and 92,880 worsted spindles, and 12,204 cotton and 3,435 worsted looms. The raw cotton consumed in a year is over 40,000,000 pounds, and the weekly output is about 5,000,000 yards of cotton cloth and 460,000 yards of worsted cloth. The floor space of all the buildings of the corporation is 177 acres, over a quarter of a square mile, and 6,500 males and 3,800 females are employed. The total annual payroll (in 1918) is over $7,500,000.

The mills at Lawrence employ 7,600, and the weekly payroll amounts to $136,000. There are in the local plant 214,448 cotton spindles, 92,880 worsted spindles, 3,833 cotton looms, and 3,435 worsted looms.

In cotton goods the Pacific turns out mousselines, percales, lawns, organdies, challies, draperies, flannelettes, suitings, satins and crepes ; in worsted goods, poplins, alpacas, cashmeres, henriettas, serges, brocades, diagonals, voiles, tafTetas and challies. All the printing is done at the local plant. To the Dover and Columbia mills are chiefly reserved the year-in and year-out cotton staples, while the product of the Lawrence mills is more varied.

The officials of the corporation are Robert F. Herrick, president; Edwin Farnhani Greene, treasurer. Walter E. Parker is the local agent and manager of the great plant in Lawrence, and has occupied that position since January i, 1887, coming here to take charge of the cotton department of the mills April i, 1881.

The Arlington Mills

To tell in full the story of the founding and development of the Arlington Mills, from the original small wooden structure, in which the concern was estahlished, to the great system of mills now operated by the corporation, it would take a fair sized volume in itself.

The plant today is one of the city's greatest manufactories, giving employment to 6,500 operatives and its buildings covering a ground area of 20 acres. It has a floor space of 2,275,076 square feet. The area of its entire holdings, including yards, land and water, comprises 49 acres.

The corporation is capitalized for $8,000,000. The last valuation placed on the mills by the city assessors amounted to $4,620,050. It was the first corporation of any magnitude to adopt the system of weekly payments to its employes, a method now required by law.

These mills have every modern appliance necessary for the production of worsted men's wear and dress goods, worsted yarns and tops. They have the distinction of having introduced into this country the manufacture of black alpacas, mohairs and brilliantines. They are famous for the quality and variety of their yarns, there being numberless kinds of yarns made by these mills. Arlington fabrics are noted for their texture. Whether the weave be plain or fancy, the colors solid or combined in plaids, figures or stripes ; whether the fabric be made of white yarn for subsequent piece dyeing, or yarn dyed in the wool or top, commonly designated as slub dyed ; whether the width be 36 inches or 58 inches, or the weight 3 ounces or 16 ounces to the square yard, all these specialties are made as required by the trade.

When running to its full capacity, the Arlington has a weekly payroll of $115,000. It consumes about 1,000,000 pounds of wool a week. It produces each week 450,000 yards of worsted fabric and 275,000 pounds of worsted yarn of every description, all of which is now woven in its looms. The plant consists of a large number of separate buildings. It is equipped with 117,000 worsted spindles, 2,700 looms, 118 combs and 150 cards.

Lawrence S Industries I5I

The corporation had its beginning in 1865 when an act of incorporation was secured by Robert M. Bailey, Charles A. Lombard, Joseph Nickerson and George C. Bosson who comprised the stockholders. They commenced business with a capital of $20o,cxx), in the old Stevens piano case factory on the Spicket River. The original name of the concern was the "Arlington Woolen Mills", and the early products were only fancy shirting flannels and wool felted fabrics. In 1866 the plant, with machinery, was totally destroyed by fire, but it was rebuilt on a larger scale the following year when the capital was increased to $240,000.

The tariff of 1867 materially changed the conditions of the worsted goods trade, and the company at once turned all the facilities of its new plant to the production of women's worsted and cotton warp dress goods, the plant being well ecjuipped with a variety of worsted machinery, including 160 looms. Many difficulties were encountered in establishing the new enterprise, and less determined men would have become disheartened and abandoned the venture. In 1869 the corporation became financially embarrassed, but the stockholders paid into the treasury the whole amount of the capital, $240,000. A change in the management was also made, by the election \ of Joseph Nickerson as president and William Whitman as treasurer and general manager. These men laid the solid financial foundation of the great plant, and to them and the present head, Franklin W. Hobbs, the corporation is largely indebted for its wonderful develop- \ ment.

In 187 1 began the work of remodelling the plant and increasing the productive capacity, and since then there have been large additions of buildings and machinery. In 1875 the name "Arlington Mills" was adopted. By this time an enviable reputation for various special lines of goods had been built up, and the mohair, alpacas and brilliantines manufactured by this company were known to the trade of the entire country. Thence the growth of the business was very rapid, but perfectly wholesome. Considerable more land in both Lawrence and Methuen was purchased. To keep pace with the demand for the products of the mills, it has been several times necessary to increase the capital stock for the purpose of enlarging the facilities for manufacturing, notwithstanding that a considerable portion of the yearly earnings are devoted to the improvement of the plant.

A noteworthy departure of the company was the erection in 1896 of a worsted top mill which is devoted exclusively to carding and combing wool for the use of the spinners. Another feature of the top mill business has been the construction of a solvent plant for removing grease from wool by the application of naphtha. This process is now recognized as eft'ecting a considerable saving and is

In the early history of the business, cotton spinning was introduced to accommodate its own looms and those dealing in this class of goods, and a specialty was made of prepared warps for the various kinds of dress materials. Until very recently the sale of cotton yarns was an important feature. In April, 1917, the cotton business of the Arlington Mills was sold to the Acadia Mills.

In i<jo5 and 1906 the Arlington spent nearly a million dollars in the erection of several modern brick buildings. These, with the other buildings, spread over an immense area, the plant extending into the adjacent town of Methuen. The top mill, alone, is a huge structure. Its actual dimensions are 757 feet 8 inches in length by 109 feet 8 inches in width over all, with a wing 84 feet 8 inches long by 87 feet wide over all. The main building and wing have each four stories and basement. This mill is upon the site of a former group of dwellings which for years were the homes of operatives, and most of the newer structures extend over what was formerly Stevens pond. Among the later buildings erected are the large weave shed, a dye house, a finishing and warp dressing mill, and an up-to-date central power house.

Franklin W. Hobbs, the president of the Arlington Mills, has been connected with the plant since 1891. He held the of^ce of treasurer until 191 3, at which time he was succeeded in that office by Albert H. Chamberlain. John T. Mercer is the resident agent. A few years ago the treasurer's office was removed to Lawrence. The selling agents are William Whitman Company, Inc., with the main office at 78 Chauncy St., Boston, and branches in New York, Philadelphia and Chicago.

Everett Mills

The Everett Alills are among the plants that have brought fame to Lawrence as a textile centre. The fabrics of these mills have a country-wide reputation for quality and style. They include ginghams, shirtings and denims. The ginghams are familiarly known as the "Everett Classics".

The company was incorporated in i860, its incorporators being James Dana, Samuel Batchelder and Charles W. Cortwright. The stone buildings of the original Machine Shop, erected by the Essex Company, were secured, and operations commenced that year.

Since then, the {)lant has been greatly enlarged and improved. The equipment has been kept abreast of the times, so that today the manufacturing facilities will compare favorably with those of any other plant of its kind in the country. Its buildings spread over an area of 17 acres. In 1909-10 a mammoth brick mill was added, which is said to be the largest cotton mill under one roof in existence. This structure extends a great distance along Union street. It has six stories, and there are 12 acres of floor space wdthin its walls. The assessed valuation of the property of the corporation for 191 7 was $1,833,750.

The Everett Mills consume a quarter of a million pounds of raw cotton every week, and the production per week amounts to 1,170,000 yards of cotton goods. There are 143,296 spindles and 4,680 looms in operation. The plant gives employment to 2,000 people. The weekly payroll is $34,000.

The capital of the corporation is $2,100,000. The officers are Herbert W. Sears, president and Fred C. McDuffie, treasurer. The agent of the mills is James I. Milliken.

Acadia Mills

The Acadia Mills, formerly the cotton department of the Arlington Mills, were established in April, 191 /, with a capital of $2,000,000. They are located in both Lawrence and Methuen.

When the Arlington Mills' cotton department was sold to the Acadia corporation, it was explained that the cause of the action of the parent corporation was the result of the changes that have taken place in the development of the worsted industry and the changes and growth of the business of the Arlington Mills. Early in the history of the latter corporation the cotton department was an adjunct of the worsted department, but in recent years it had ceased to be such, no portion of the product of the cotton plant being consumed by the worsted plant.

Such being the case, it was deemed advisable to separate these two distinct branches of the business, in order that each might be conducted independently along its special lines, and be developed with the highest possible degree of efficiency and economy. With this idea in view the Acadia Mills came into being, and they take their place as a very promising factor in the Whitman system of textile corporations.

The plant consists of five brick mill-construction manufacturing buildings, together with the necessary storehouses, engine and boiler houses, repair shops, etc. The buildings cover a ground area of 192,522 square feet. The floor space, in square feet, is divided as follows: - Manufacturing, 495,942; storage, 146,190; miscellaneous, 17,442; total, 659,574.

The concern manufactures combed cotton yarns, mercerized, bleached and dyed. It makes a very high quality of combed yarns. It also makes a specialty of high grade mercerized yarns. Mercerizing is a big feature of the business. The process adds lustre to a cotton yarn, strengthens it, and makes it resemble silk. The x^rlington corporation was a pioneer in this process of manufacture, which has been developed to an extraordinary degree of efficiency in the Acadia plant.

The yarns are delivered to the trade in skeins, cones, tubes, quiller cops and warps. The finished product per week amounts to 200,000 pounds. In raw material, 120,000 pounds of cotton are used every week, and 125,000 pounds of yarn are received for finishing processes. There are 1,100 operatives employed, and the weekly payroll amounts to $20,000.

The officers of the corporation are William Whitman, president, and Ernest N. Hood, treasurer. William A. Pedler is the agent of the mills. The selling agents are the William Whitman Co., Inc., with offices in Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Chicago.

Mono Mac Spinning Company

The Monomac Spiniiing Company was established by William Whitman in 19 10 for the manufacture of French spun worsted and merino yarns. William Whitman is president, Ernest N. Hood, treasurer, and Walter M. Hastings, agent. The company was incorporated in 1913. The capitalization is $1,200,000.

The plant is of modern mill-construction, the buildings occupying about 72,000 square feet of land on South Union street. The property owned by the corporation contains seven and one half acres. The actual floor space in the mill is five and three quarters acres.

The mill produces about 3,000.000 pounds of merino and worsted yarn on the French System yearly. The product is sold through William Whitman Company, Inc. The business has been very successful from the start, and in 191 5 arrangements were made to increase the machinery by 505^.

The company employs 350 operatives, and has a weekly payroll of approximately $7500. The employes of the company work in very healthful surroundings. The plant is clean and sanitary. Fresh air is forced into the mill, and is heated in winter and cooled in summer to maintain an even temperature throughout the year. Since the war started the unused land in the yard has been plowed and fertilized for the use of the operatives. This has resulted in many attractive vegetable gardens.

The power plant consists of a Cooper-Corliss condensing engine of 1450 horse power with rope drive and a boiler plant of four Heine boilers. A cooling pond 200x125 feet is maintained for condenser purposes.

One of the newest of the factories of the Whitman corporation, and one of the husiest of Lawrence's inchistrial ])lants, is the Katama Mill on South Union street. The development of this plant has been remarkable. In less than two years its capital stock has been tripled, as has been its productive capacity. Its product, duck fabric, is shipped all over the United States, and has a national reputation for quality and durability.

The concern was established in 191 6, with a capital stock of $500,000. In July of that year the plant started up with 124 looms. Today it has 338 looms in operation, and recently the capital stock was increased to $1,500,000. The capacity of the mill is 185.000 pounds a week. Over 300 operatives are employed. The weekly payroll averages $5,000. The plant consists of a large factory building and a storehouse. There are 1 11.000 square feet of manufacturing space, and 21,600 square feet of storage room. The assessed valuation for 1917 was $214,000.

The principal product is tire duck which is woven from the best combed Sea Island yarns that are noted for their durability. This fabric is used in the manufacture of high grade automobile tires. For several months the mill has also been engaged in the production of special material for the United States government. This work has so taxed the facilities of the plant, that a section of the storehouse is being used for manufacturing purposes, extra looms having been set up there, in order to keep up with the deliveries.

The mill is modern in every respect. The lighting and ventilation are of the best. It is equipped with the latest machinery, and many new practical ideas are in use in its operation. A notable improvement is the absence of belting and shafting. Every loom has an individual motor. Thus is the danger of accident minimized. By this scheme there is also avoided the necessity of shutting down an entire room when any difficulty occurs with the power, as is the case with ordinary equipment. Another feature worthy of mention is a trolley svstem that is used for moving the heavy rolls of yarn and fabric. This suspended railway extends over the whole plant. It is a great improvement over the old trucking method. An Allis- Chalmers turbine engine of 1,000 horse-power generates the electricity required for the operation of the plant.

Lawrence S Industries I57 Wright Manufacturing Company

A manufacturing concern which has a wide reputation for the (juaHty of its product is the Wright Manufacturing Company, located on Island street. The company manufactures cotton and mohair braids.

In 1854 Algernon S. W right, an overseer in the Atlantic cotton mills, Avith Artemus W. Stearns and Dr. Alfred J. French, formed a partnership for the manufacture of woolen yarn, and leased a mill for the purpose. Later the project was abandoned, and, at Mr. Stearns' suggestion, the mill was equipped with suitable machinery for making braids. Fifty braid machines were installed. From the beginning the enterprise has had marked success. The growth of the business was rapid, and the number of machines has been increased to keep up with the demands upon the capacity of the plant.

In 1873 the company was incorporated with a capital of $60,000, and organized by the choice of Dr. French as president, and A. W. Stearns as treasurer. A. S. Wright was superintendent of the plant.

At hrst the production was confined to cotton and alpaca braids for skirts and men's wear. Later the company introduced the manufacture of mohair braids, and, by processes of its own invention, it was able to produce the finest grades on the market, and at prices that defied com])etition. In recent years the manufacture of skirt braids and braids for men's wear was discontinued, owing to the change of styles, and the production of various military and trimming braids taken up.

Today the concern turns out a great many kinds of braids for uniforms, awnings, shoe laces and cloth bindings, ranging from fine mohair silk down to the common cotton yarn variety. A big feature of the business is the manufacture of various kinds of braids for the shoe trade. The company makes a specialty of a patented braided article used in button shoes, which is sold to 95 percent, of the shoe factories of the country.

The plant was purchased from the Stearns estate in 1910 by a company of which Richard Ward is the president and treasurer, besides having the controlling interest. Many improvements have since been made in the facilities, and the production has been greatly increased.

The concern occupies a four-story frame building, 250 feet long, fronting on Island street. There are about 30,000 square feet of manufacturing space. The output is about 20,oco gross yardage a a week. The plant has i .8co braid machines, and when running to its full cai)acity employs 300 peo])le.

Champion-International Company

In the Champion-International Company Lawrence has one of the largest coated paper manufacturing concerns in the world. The company makes a specialty of high grade surface coated papers which are used by many of the leading periodicals in the country.

This concern is the outgrowth of an industry established in Lawrence in the early 50's by William Russell and his sons. The business was incorporated in 1864, under the name of the Russell Paper Company. In 1898 it became a part of the International Paper Company.

In 1902 the present company was formed by the purchase of the Champion Card and Paper Company's mill at East Pepperell, Mass.^ and the repurchase of the paper and pulp mills from the International Paper Co. At the same time a large coating mill was built in Lawrence.

Not only is the concern one of the largest of its kind in the world, but it is one of the finest equipped. The newest and best methods and equipment for paper manufacturing are used by it, and to it is accredited the introduction of many progressive ideas into the paper-making industry.

These mills have had an important part in the development of the industry. They were pioneers in the introduction of the use of ground wood pulp in the manufacture of news paper, and later in the introduction of soda and sulphite pulp in the manufacture of the higher grades of paper. It was in these mids that, when the sulphite pulp process was on the point of being abandoned for want of a suitable acid-proof lining, with which to line the receptacles in which the process of reducing the wood to pulp was carried on, such a lining was developed. This lining was universally adopted, both here and abroad, and is in use today in every successful sulphite pulp mill.

Worthy of special note is the fact that the Russell family has been identified with the business since its inception. Hon. William A. Russell who for many years was in control was prominently identified with municipal, state and national affairs. For several years he represented this district in Congress.

The present head of the concern, George Fred Russell, is the third generation in its management. Extensive improvements have been made in the plant since he became president and general manager.

The company is capitalized for $650,000. The assessed valuation of the property in Lawrence for 1917 was $540,550. The treasurer is P. A. Hammond.

I Do Lawrence Yesterday And Today The George E. Kunhardt Corporation

One of the most steadily operated of the city's manufacturing plants is The George E. Kunhardt Corporation which has an excellent reputation for the quality and texture of its fahrics.

This concern was estahlished in 1886 when (icorge E. Kunhardt purchased the plant, owned hy the Lawrence Woolen Comi)any and familiarly known as the Perry Mill. The Lawrence \\ oolen Company had been incorporated in 1864, during the Civil AA'ar, its projector and principal founder being Capt. O. H. Perry. The company had a struggle trying to keep the plant in operation, due to depression in the woolen industry, and when Mr. Kunhardt took oyer the mill it was shut down.

Since, the development of the plant has been remarkable The original buildings have been remodelled and the o;d machinery replaced bv new. For some time the firm name was Philips & Kunhardt, but in 1895 Mr. Philii)s was obliged to retire on account of ill health.

The concern manufactures men's wear woolens and worsteds, and uniform cloths. Its woolen fabrics, especially, are in much demand, the company having established an enviable reputation for this class of goods. The weekly output of the plant is 40,000 yards. Li raw material, every week the miPs consume on an average of 50,000 pounds of scoured wool. There are 700 operatives employed, and the weekly payroll amounts to $15,000.

The officers of the corporation are : - George E. Kunhardt, president ; James Hovt Knapp, vice-president ; Joseph \\\ Booth, treasurer and agent. The ca])ital is $2,000,000. George Richardson is the superintendent of the mills.

Plymouth Mills

One of the busiest of Lawrence's industrial plants is the Plymouth Mills which manufacture fibre rugs and matting. The concern was established in 1906. The capital is $325,000. Its development has been rapid, and recently a large modern brick factory building was added to the plant in order to meet the increasing demand upon its facilities. The plant covers a ground area of 80,000 square feet. It has a floor space of 240,000 square feet. In raw material it uses each week ico,ooo pounds of wool, cotton, jute and paper, and its finished product per week amounts to 75,000 square yards. There are 300 employes. The weekly payroll amounts to $5,500. The assessed valuation of the property for 1917 was $269,100. The agent of the mills is H. A. S. Read.

LAWRENCE DUCK CO. : - EstabHshed in 1853 ; manufactures cotton duck ; weekly output, 100,000 pounds ; employes, 600 ; weekly payroll, $9,500; assessed valuation of property for 1917, $395,150. This concern has made sails for all of the America yacht cup defenders.

UNITED STATES WORSTED CO. : - EstabHshed in 1908; manufactures worsted and woolen men's wear and dress goods ; weekly output, 140,000 yards; employes, 1,500; weekly payroll, $27,000; assessed valuation of property for 1917, $796,150.

PEMBERTON COMPANY: - Established in 1853 (present corporation formed in i860 after the fall of the original mill) ; manufactures cotton goods and flannels, tickings, awnings and shirtings ; weekly output, 70,000 pounds; employes, 600; weekly payroll, $7,500; assessed valuation of property for 1917, $431,100.

WALWORTH BROS., INC. : - Established in 1895; manufactures dress goods and men's wear; weekly output, 18,700 yards; employes, 275; weekly payroll, $3,500; assessed valuation of property \for 191 7, $90,000.

, ARCHIBALD WHEEL CO. : - Established in 1871 ; manufactures vehicle wheels of all kinds for both horse-drawn and motor vehicles, also steam fire engine, gun carriage, caisson and limber wheels; weekly output, varies from 4,000 automobile wheels to 1,000 of larger and more expensive types; employes, 127 in Lawrence plant, 46 at Guilford, Conn., 150 in southern mill getting material; weekly payroll, local plant $3,000, Guilford $850, South $2,000. This concern is one of the very largest of its kind in the country.

A. G. WALTON & CO., INC. : - Established in 1916; manufactures misses' and children's McKay shoes ; weekly output, 35.000 pairs; employes, 600; weekly payroll, $10,000; assessed valuation of property for 191 7, $119,000.

LEWIS SCOURING MILL: - Established in 1870; wool scourers and carbonizers ; weekly output. 800, coo pounds . employes, 475; weekly payroll, $11,000; assessed valuation of property for 1917, $232,650.

EMMONS LOOM HARNESS CO. : - Established in 1866; largest manufacturers in the country of loom harness and reeds ; weekly output, 12.000 shades of harness and i,2co reeds; employes, 200; weekly payroll, $3,500; assessed valuation of property for 1917, $84,100.

ALFRED KIMBALL SHOE CO. : - Established in 1900; manufactures men's shoes; weekly output, 2,500 pairs; employes, 350; weekly payroll, $6,000; assessed valuation of property for 1917, $32,000.

FARWELL BLEACHERY : - Established in 1886; incorporated to bleach, dye, mercerize, or otherwise finish cotton piece goods ; weekly output, 1,000,000 yards; employes, 350; weekly payroll, $5,000; assessed valuation of property for 191 7, $283,500.

MERRIMACK PAPER CO. : - Established in 1895 ; manufactures paper of all kinds; weekly output. 125 tons; employes, 275; weekly payroll, $5,000; assessed valuation of property for 1917 $295,400.

J. W. HORNE & SONS CO. : - Established in 1871 ; manufactures paper mill machinery ; each year produces paper-making machinery enough to equip four mills; employes, 120; weekly payroll, $3,000; assessed valuation of property for 191 7, $201,200.

A great many smaller establishments, engaged in the manufacture of a large variety of products, including 20 machine shops and foundries, are located in the manufacturing sections of the city. Included among their products are woolen, worsted and cotton fabrics, yarns, paper, paper mill machinery, steam engines, pumps, mill supplies, carriages, fire department trucks, wagons and supplies, boilers, iron, brass, copper and tin, cement, stone and marble products, bobbins, spools, shuttles and wood products, rugs, chemicals, soaps.

Banking Institutions Bssex Savings Bank

The Essex Savings Bank, the largest bank in Essex County and the city's oldest savings institution, was incorporated March 15, 1847, and commenced business the following October in the rooms of the Bay State Bank, then located on the second floor of the old Bay State Bank building.

Charles S. Storrow was the first president and Nathaniel White, the first treasurer. ]\Ir. Storrow served until i860, and was followed by George D. Cabot who in turn was succeeded by Joseph Shattuck in 1877. Mr. Shattuck retired from the presidency in 1903, after twenty-six consecutive years of service, and Walter E. Parker, the present incumbent, was elected president.

Nathaniel White filled the office of treasurer until his death, which occurred Se])tember 12, 1866. He was regarded as one of the best financiers that Lawrence has ever known. James H. Eaton succeeded Mr. White as treasurer, serving in that capacity until his death, March 23, 1901. His recognized ability in matters of finance won for him an enviable reputation, and accounts in a great measure for the marvelous growth and prosperity of the institution during his service of 34 years. At his decease, Joseph Shattuck, Jr., was elected treasurer. He resigned in September, 1902, to accept a similar position with the Springfield Institution of Savings, Springfield, Mass. Albert I. Couch was elected to succeed ^Nlr. Shattuck as treasurer. He has since held the position, maintaining the high standard of efficiency set by his predecessors.

The Essex Savings Bank has never failed to compound the interest each April and October, and the 140 dividends already paid aggregate over $13,850,000. The rate of dividends has always been as high as sound conservative banking would warrant. The assets of the bank today are $15,600,000, and its business is steadily increasing. The rate paid on deposits for the year 191 7 was 43^%.

The bank is located in its own building at the corner of Essex and Lawrence streets. Its quarters are roomy and attractive, and are well equipped for the handling of the enormous amount of business transacted. In 191 7 they were considerably enlarged, being extended into a portion of the adjoining building which is also owned by the bank. The institution has by far the largest number of depositors, of any bank in the city.

The Bay State National Bank

The Bay State National Bank, the city's oldest and one of its most prominent financial institutions, and only national bank, received its charter February 10, 1847. On May 17, the same year, the bank organized with Charles S. Storrow, as president, and Nathaniel White, as cashier. The capital stock was fixed at $200,000, but it was rapidly increased to $500,000, making it at that time the largest bank in Essex County. Soon after the organization of the bank, a piece of land was deeded to the institution by the Essex Company, at the northeast corner of Essex and Lawrence streets, and a substantial structure was erected thereon, a portion of which was occupied by the bank for 57 years. The price paid for the first purchase of land was $1 per foot.

The original building was of brick, three stories in height, with banking rooms on the second floor. Here business was carried on for a period of 35 years, when the demand for a ground floor location became urgent. On April 17, 1861, two days before the gallant 6th Regiment marched through Baltimore, the directors voted $25,000 for the use of the Government. The bank became a federal institution in 1865. Early in the 70's the adjoining property on Essex street was purchased, and in 1882 the two buildings were united and banking quarters were fitted up on the corner, just beneath the original ones. In 1899, the bank acquired the property of Marcus S. Dodge in the rear of its own. Plans were made for the razing of the old building and erection of the handsome eight-story structure now occupied. Jn July, 1905, the bank moved into its new quarters. A few years later there was still another purchase of adjoining property, and in 1912 an addition was made to the building, increasing the frontage on Essex street to 76 feet. The structure extends to a depth of 206 feet on Lawrence street. The cost of construction was about $500,000.

The Bay State is the tallest building in the city. It is thoroughly up to the times in every way. The banking rooms are well equipped, and they are elaborately finished in Grecian marble with bronze and glass trimmings. There are six stores on the ground floor, besides the bank quarters. The second floor is largely devoted to mercantile purposes, while the upper floors are occupied by professional men, there being 230 offices.

The institution does a general banking business, including a finely equipped safe deposit department and savings department, also domestic and foreign exchange, etc. At the close of the year 1917, the capital stock was $375,000; its surplus, $225,000; its deposits, $2,2oo,coo; its assets, $3,400,000.

Banking Institutions 165 Lawrence Savings Bank

The Lawrence Savings Bank, the second savings institution to be estabHshed in Lawrence, and one of the city's most prosperous banks, was chartered by special act of the State Legislature on March lo, 1868, and commenced business on May 14 of that year. It was first located in the brick block at the northeast corner of Essex and Jackson streets, occupying the corner room on the second floor. Five years later it moved to offices on the second floor of the Schaake block, over the post office which was then located on the ground floor of that building. Here the bank remained until 1893 when its present location at 255 Essex street was purchased from the Pemberton National Bank which had decided to go out of business.

The institution has been fortunate in the calibre of the men who have directed it. The first president was Milton Bonney, a former mayor, who served the bank from 1868 to 1883. He was succeeded by Hezekiah Plummer, from 1883 to 1897; Frederick E. Clarke, 1897 to 1899; Robert H. Tewksbury, 1899 to 1910; Daniel Saunders, 1910 to 191 7. Alvin E. Mack now holds that office. The first treasurer was William R. Spalding who served from 1868 to 1891. He was followed by h-s son, William W. Spalding, from 1891 to 1901 ; Albert L Couch, 1901 to 1902. Lewis A. Foye became treasurer in 1902, and still holds the position.

The growth of the institution has kept pace with the development of the city. In 191 1 when it became necessary to enlarge its quarters, the old building w^as torn down, and the erection of the present handsome structure started. On April 18, 1912, the new commodious, well arranged banking rooms were opened to the public. The equipment is modern in every respect. The massive vault is both burglar and fire proof, is the largest in Lawrence and for safety and security is unsurpassed by none. The fixtures are in harmony with the prosperous atmosphere of the institution. In connection with the annual meeting on May 6, 1918, exercises commemorative of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the bank were held.

On May i, 1918, the bank's deposits amounted to $6,676,339, and its depositors numbered 15,179. Its guaranty fund and undivided profits account is $498,090. It has never paid less than four percent, dividends. It has $3,848,403 invested in first mortgages in Lawrence and vicinity, giving preference and every consideration to home builders in making its loans. It conducts school savings banks in the public schools of North Andover and Methuen.

Broadway Savings Bank

The Broadway Savings Bank, the city's youngest savings institution, was estabhshecl in 1872. Quarters were secured on the second floor of the Brechin block, corner of Broadway and Essex street. Here the bank was located until 1890 when it moved to the ground floor where it occupied rooms jointly with the Lawrence National Bank.

In 1905, at a cost of $60,000. the bank erected the building at 522 Essex street, in which it is now located. The banking quarters are attractive. They are equipped with all the latest desirable appliances for carrying on the business.

The first president of the bank was John Fallon, and the first treasurer, James Payne. The vice presidents were A. W. Stearns, J. A. Treat, Morris Knowles, H. C. Bacon, Thomas Scott and Jacob Emerson, jr. The original board of trustees was composed of : Peter Smith, J. 'W. Smith, Peter Holihan. P. C. Kirk, D. M. Ayer, A. J. French, C. K. Pillsbury, P. G. Pillsbury, John Smith, F. L. Runals, S. W. Knight, D. C. Richardson, Jesse Glover, Patrick Murphy, James Payne, Daniel Hardy.

An interesting reminder of the establishment of the institution is in the possession of the bank in the form of a pass-book in which is credited the first deposit made on the opening day. May i, 1872. The amount deposited was $10. One other deposit of $10 was made on this account in 1877. The total deposit of $20, with accrued interest and dividends, now amounts to $122.10, which is a good illustration of the way money accumulates when deposited in savings banks.

In April, 1918, the assets of the institution were $6,000,000; surplus, $528,650; deposits. $5,381,000; number of depositors, 10,363. For more than a third of a century 4% in interest has been paid on deposits, with occasional extra dividends. The last dividend was ^% above the regular interest amount.

The treasurer of the bank is Clinton O. Andrews who succeeded Gilbert E. Hood upon the latter's death in 1905. For a number of years previously he was assistant treasurer.

Banking Institutions 167 Merchants Trust Company

The Merchants Trust Company which is an outgrowth of the consoHdation of the Merchants, Lawrence and Pacific National Banks, was estabhshed March 6, 191 1. At that time the ^Merchants National Bank consolidated with the Lawrence National Bank. In January, 191 5, the Pacific National Bank was merged in the new organization. The consolidation of these three national banks resulted in the forming of one of the city's strongest and largest financial institutions. A remarkable feature of the organization is the strength of its board of directors which is composed of men prominent in the industrial and mercantile aft"airs of the city.

The Merchants National Bank, a remarkably successful institution, was incorporated March 4, 1889, with a capital of $100,000, and commenced doing business at 240 Essex street in the fall of that year. In 1890 it erected a handsome building at 264 Essex street, which was then the finest banking quarters in the city. The Lawrence National Bank was organized in February, 1872, with a capital of $300,000, and began business in the Brechin block, corner of Essex street and Broadway, where a branch office of the Merchants Trust Company is now maintained. The Pacific National Bank was organized in January, 1877, with a capital stock of $100,000.

When the Pacific National Bank was merged in the Merchants Trust Company, the latter moved into the quarters which had been occupied by the former at the corner of Appleton and Essex streets. Extensive improvements were made. The institution is equipped with the best facilities for the transaction of a general banking business. At the close of business May 10, 1918, the Merchants Trust Company had in deposits, $5,556,000; assets, $6,190,000; ])rofit and loss, $85,000. The capital stock is $300,000, with a surplus of $150,000 paid in, making a working capital of $450,000.

Arlington Trust Company

One of the progressive banking institutions of the city is the ArHngton Trust Company which was chartered as the ArHngton National Bank in 1890. It was first located at 265 Essex street. Later it absorbed the Pemberton National Bank. Shortly afterward it secured the store of D. D. Mahony at the corner of Essex and Lawrence streets, its present location.

The bank organized with a capital of $100,000. Its first president was Hon. William S. Knox, and its first cashier, Albert Butler. On October 15, 1910, the institution was incorporated as a trust company, with a capital stock of $200,000. Upon reorganization, Thomas M. Cogswell was elected president and James Houston, treasurer.

With the incorporation as a trust company, the bank was given a new lease of life, and its growth has since been rapid. Several years ago it purchased the building which it occupies, and it is expected that the near future will see a handsome, modern structure on the site, with roomier banking quarters.

The institution numbers among its steady clients a good share of the substantial manufacturers, merchants and professional men of Lawrence and suburbs. A wise spirit of liberality, tempered with conservatism, has been an attractive feature of its management.

It deals in loans, discounts and deposits, besides exchange and letters of credit. The best of the new thrift ideas are in vogue in its savings department. The banking section provides attractive conveniences. It is a custom now for women to have check accounts of their own at banks, and the Arlington has special facilities for handling business of this description. Another feature is the industrial department which has to do with small loans. The arrangement is such that the notes are redeemed through a weekly payment plan, thereby increasing the degree of security and at the same time making it easier for the borrower to meet the obligation.

The officers and directors comprise : - John A. Brackett, president ; Cornelius A. McCarthy, treasurer ; James A. Brogan, Joseph Jackson, Edward I. Kofi'man, Cornelius F. Lynch, William H. Merrill, Daniel J. Murphy. Alfred Sager, Moses Shuttleworth, A. L. Siskind, Robert T. Todd, William H. Russell, David Brown, George A. Mellen and James F. Lanigan.

Banking Institutions 169 Merrimack Co-Operative Bank

The Merrimack Co-operative Bank, one of the fastest growing cooperative banks in the state, was organized March 21, 1892. The first president was John Breen, and the first treasurer, Cornehus A. Mc- Carthy who still holds the position. Quarters were secured at 263 Essex street, on the second floor. The bank was incorporated April 2, and began to do business April 28, 1892.

The most marked development in the growth of the bank occurred in the past five years, following the election of the incumbent president, John J. Hurley. In 1912 the assets were $111,000, and at the close of the year, 1917, they were $611,000, showing an increase of half a million dollars and nearly five times the amount gained in the preceding twenty years of existence. On December 31, 1917, there were 2,041 shareholders, representing 18,020 shares.

The bank continued to do business at 263 Essex street until April, 1916, when the facilities became so cramped that a more commodious location was secured in the quarters formerly occupied by the Merchants National Bank, 264 Essex street. Here are provided modern banking facilities that place the Merrimack Co-operative Bank among the finest equipped in the state. Included in the advantages, over the old quarters, is a large fire and burglar proof vault, besides grille enclosures which have made it possible to handle the business with greater efficiency.

The institution loans money on first mortgages on real estate and on the shares of its members. Many hundreds of Lawrence people have built and paid for their homes through the monthly payment plan of this bank. Dividends have been paid regularly since the bank was incorporated, and have averaged 5;>4 percent, per annum during that period.

Shares go on sale quarterly, in February, May, August and November, and mature in 11 years and 10 months. A matured share is worth $200, the payments being $1.00 for each share per month and the profits amounting to about $58 per share upon maturity. No one member can hold over 40 shares. An attractive feature of the cooperative banking system is the compulsory saving idea which induces regularity in making deposits, and creates a habit of saving, that is most valuable, especially in cases of people who are not ordinarily inclined to be thrifty.

The board of directors is composed of : - J. J. Hurley, president ; T. J. Sullivan, vice president ; C. A. McCarthy, treasurer ; F. C. Harmon, E. P. White, M. J. Sullivan, J. A. Levek, J. P. Mulholland, James McDowell, M. A. Sullivan, T. J. Buckley, A. H. Rogers, J. H. McDonald, Frank Quinn, J. A. Brogan, E. A. Hart, J. J. Petroske, F. W. Boody, George Gelineau, C. H. Sugatt, M. B. Dorgan.

Lawrence Trust Company

The Lawrence Trust Company, the city's youngest banking institution, was incorporated July 19, 1910. It started doing business on November zt, of that year at 430 Essex street. Cornehus J. Corcoran, the present head of the bank, was elected the first president. Peter M. Macdonald was the first treasurer. The development of this institution has been remarkable. In less than five years after the commencement of business the bank outgrew the original quarters, and on June 15, 191 5, it moved to its present location, corner of Essex and Hampshire streets.

The banking rooms are attractively finished in French marble with bronze and glass trimmings. The equipment is on most modern lines. The very latest methods and appliances for facilitating the handling of the business are in vogue. The institution was the first bank in the city to use bookkeeping machines which displace the ordinary individual bank ledgers. It was also the first in Lawrence to establish a Christmas Savings Club, a project which has since been generally adoj^ted and which has proved very beneficial to the merchants. At the close of the last season the Lawrence Trust Company distributed, to the members of its Christmas Club, $300,000, most of which went into the channels of trade.

This bank is reputed to be the originator of the scheme of selling Liberty bonds by the weekly payment plan. A recent innovation adopted by it was a departure from the regular banking hours. Lmder the new arrangement the institution remains open vmtil 6 p. m. each business day. thus giving the people employed in the shops and the mills more opportunity to do business with the bank. Two shifts of clerks are used in carrying out the arrangement.

The institution does a general banking business, including commercial, savings, safe deposit and industrial departments. The last named feature deals in small loans which are redeemed by a weekly payment plan. The capital stock of the bank is $100,000; the assets, $4,500,000 ; surplus. $80,070.67 ; deposits, $4,350,000. About two-thirds of the total deposits is in the savings department. There are 9,500 depositors in the savings department, and 1.750 in the commercial department. In addition, the industrial department carries 4,600 accounts, including those in connection with the first and second Liberty Loans, besides over 6,600 accounts under the third Liberty Loan. There are 9,600 members in its Christmas club, and i.ooo in its A'acation club, the latter of which is another of the new thrift ideas.

Mercantile Development

The mercantile development of Lawrence has kept pace with the rapid growth of the city. It is not much longer than an ordinary lifetime since Amos Pillsbury anchored his gondola at the north bank of the river just below the dam, then still in the process of construction, and began dealing in boots and shoes. From that simple enterprise has sprung a system of mercantile establishments, which has made this city one of the most important trading centres in Essex County.

One of the first store blocks, extending from the Bay State building, at the corner of Essex and Lawrence streets, easterly along the main street to the corner of Pemberton street, known as City Block, is still with us, though the stores are greatly altered in appearance. The old fronts, with the poor equipment, small stocks and rural methods, have given way before the onrush of modern business, and, in general appearance and facilities, Lawrence's stores will compare favorably w'ith those of any city of its size in the country.

Essex street, for a mile lined on both sides with attractive establishments, is one of the longest and busiest shopping thoroughfares in the county. On Saturday night, the principal shopping period, fully 15,000 people have been known to traverse the street. Lower Broadway is also popular with the great buying public, while of late years a large section of South Broadway has become a busy trade mart, dozens of business establishments having come into existence to meet the increasing shopping trade of the growing South Lawrence district. Lip in the Arlington district, too, on upper Broadway are numerous shops. There is probably no greater variety nor larger number of stores in the state, outside of Boston, and there are several emporiums that would do credit to much larger cities.

Lawrence is easily and quickly reached by several lines of electric railways and steam railroad. Like the arteries of the human system these lines stretch out. through every i;art of the city and to the adjacent towns and nearby cities. Fast running cars bring into close connection wdth Lawrence the towns of INIethuen, North Andover, Andover, Middleton and Salem, N. H., besides the cities of Lowell and Haverhill. Within easy distance of Lawrence's shopping centre are more than 150,000 people.

Chamber Of Commerce

The city's most remarkable progress has been made during the last twenty-seven years, and probably no organization has been more closely identified with that progress than the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, or Board of Trade as it was originally known.

The Lawrence Board of Trade was organized February 8. 1888, with James H. Eaton as president. Charles A. DeCourcy as secretary, Arthur W. Dyer as treasurer, and about 75 members, including most of the mill agents and many of the business and professional men of the city. Today, the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce has 500 active members, representative of the industrial, mercantile and professional life of the community.

The old Board of Trade was formed for the three-fold purpose of bringing to public notice the vital needs of the city, stimulating local trade and attracting new industries and business enterprises. This commendable object was successfully adhered to through the 25 years of its existence, and it has been followed by the present Chamber of Commerce since the reorganization on June 1, 1913, only with a greater activity, made possible by the wider scope adopted.

The organization has assisted in attracting new enterprises to the city. Li the way of advertising the advantages of Lawrence, an inestimable amount of good has been done. Statistical matter has been constantly sent abroad, telling of the marvelous growth of the city and the opportunities it offers for investment.

A notable enterprise in this direction was the sending, by the Chamber, of an industrial exhibit to the Panama-Pacific Liternational Exposition at San Francisco in 191 5. Many thousands of descriptive pamphlets were distributed in connection with the project, and Law^- rence secured thereby invaluable publicity. Another feature of this undertaking was the sending of a special train to the Pacific coast, bearing 106 enthusiastic boomers for Lawrence. It is needless to say that 'the city was "put on the map" on this occasion, if it were not considered there before. The exhibit was given first prize.

Just prior to the reorganization of the Board of Trade as the Chamber of Commerce the Merchants Association, which had been organized in 1902 for the purpose of regulating the opening and closing hours of the stores, was merged in that body.

The Chamber has commodious quarters on the eighth floor of the Bay State building where there is on file a fund of information pertaining to the city's activities.

The Central Bridge

No public improvement, undertaken in the history of the city, has been more fraught with difficulties than has the building of the Central bridge. The project has followed a pathway strewn with obstacles, and it has been only with the greatest effort that some of these were surmounted. The construction of the bridge has been merged in bitter controversy at times, and it has been used as a political football with which men have ridden in and out of office.

There have been some who contended that there was no need of so costly a structure ; that more careful deliberation in the matter of construction plans and contracts, and of property damage, would have saved the city many thousands of dollars. However, when the bridge was built it was constructed with an eye to the future, and there is no denying the permanency of its construction, nor its massive beauty. The bridge stands today, one of the finest of its kind in the country.

The cost of the entire Central bridge project can only be conjectured at this writing, for while the main bridge is completed there are yet the canal bridge approaches to be built, besides the laying out of new highways, leading to the main structure, with further land damages. The cost of the improvement, as it is, may be estimated as a little over $i,ooo,coo, which includes over $500,000 for damages to mill property seized in laying out the site. In this estimate is figured the sum of $100,000 in which the County of Essex is bound to reimburse the city upon the completion of the project, as its share of the expense. The first cost may be further reduced, as it is proposed to lease the electric railway privileges over the bridge and also to rent the wire conduits, but there is no means of knowing, at this time, how much revenue wull be derived from these sources. It has been predicted that the cost of the entire project, including the river bridge, canal bridges and improvement of highway approaches, will reach close to $i,5cc,oco, although it is probable that the total expense wall fall far short of that figure.

The Central bridge is a reinforced concrete structure, 1,500 feet long by 80 feet wide, spanning the Merrimack River at the foot of Amesbury street, approximately 460 feet south of Essex street, the principal business thoroughfare in Lawrence. With the extensions over the canals, which traverse at right angles at either extremity, the entire structure will measure 1,750 feet.

type, with earth fihs, at each end of the hridge. There are six 107 feet three-centered reinforced concrete arch spans of the open spandel type, six 44 feet segmented arch rib spans and one temporary 90 feet concrete arch span. This last mentioned span was built in such a manner that it can readily be replaced with a double leaf bascule draw span, whenever the Merrimack River is open for navigation. In the original design no provision was made for navigation, but legislation subsequent to the signing of the contract necessitated the erection of two large abutment piers to provide for the future installation of a bascule span in the middle of the river channel.

The deepest foundation, that laid for the southerly bascule pier, is sunk 53 feet below water, making the height of this i)ier 98 feet and 6 inches, which, to give some idea of its immensity, is about as high as the Bay State building, the highest building in Lawrence.

The roadway over the full length of the structure is 56 feet wide between curbs, one foot wider than Essex street. Provision is made for two electric railway tracks. The sidewalks are 12 feet wide, three feet narrower than those on Essex street. A reinforced concrete balustrade of ornamental design extends the full length, intercepted at regular intervals by lamp posts which are also constructed of reinforced concrete and made high enough to support the span wires carrying the trolley wires. Provision has been made to light the structure by attaching to each of the 26 lamp posts a four-light cluster phosphor bronze fixture. Each lamp is of 200 candle power. As a "white way", the bridge will be unsurpassed by anything of that nature to be seen in this locality. Thirty-six 3^X3^/2 terra cotta conduits have been provided beneath the easterly sidewalk for carrying wires. The street car rails are no jjound, nine inch grooved girder rails laid on creosoted ties, flush with the paved highway surface.

Indeed, the Central bridge is modern in every detail, spacious and imposing, and artistic in design. What is most satisfying of all is the fact that it is built for all time, capable of carrying the very heaviest traffic and requiring hardly any expenditures for repairs.

The commission in charge of the construction of the bridge comprised John J. Donovan, chairman ; John O. Battershill. secretary ; Joseph J. Flynn, John A. Brackett and Otto Parthum, with City Solicitor Daniel J. Murphy as counsel. The engineer was Benjamin H. Davis of New York. The commission was appointed by Mayor John T. Cahill on January it,, 191 i. The first excavation for the bridge was made on October i, 1914, and the first concrete was laid on October 20 of that year. The structure was completed on March 20, 191 8.

The construction of the bridges over the North and South canals, ai)proaches to the Central bridge, is at this writing going on, under the direction of the City Council, the Central Bridge Commission having completed its duties with the completion of the main bridge.

The Essex Company, according to its charter, being obliged to construct and maintain "sufficient" bridges where new highways are laid out over the canals, and there being a disagreement as to the character of the structures the company should build, a compromise was reached whereby the Essex Company agreed to pay $40,000 toward the cost of the canal bridges upon the condition that the city construct the bridges and that the company be released from the obligation of maintaining them. An agreement was drawn up to that effect, and it was ratified by the State Legislature of 191 /.

The plans provide for two concrete structures whose architectural lines shall be in keeping with those of the Central bridge. They were drawn by B. H. Davis, the Central bridge engineer, who is under contract to supervise the construction.

Deep Waterway Possibilities

A deep waterway to the sea would be a great contributing factor in the future development of Lawrence. Terminal and track facilities have not kept pace with the tremendous industrial expansion of the city in the past 20 years, and the need of improvement in freight transportation, such as would be afforded by river navigation, is keenly felt.

As far back as 1828 the Federal authorities saw the need of dredging the Merrimack River above tidewater, to encourage the building of seaport towns along its shores. From time to time in the years that have followed, it has been "resolved" and "re|)orted" with occasional action that failed to fully produce the desired results.

In June. 1848, the steamer "Lawrence" came up from Newburyport with a delegation from that place and adjoining towns. Since that time sundry efforts have been made to navigate the river, but with little success. General Butler's effort in 1877 met with some success, and in 1879 E. M. Boynton made a marked advance in the project. Many obstructions were removed, boats built for transporting coal, lands leased of the Essex Company for a landing place and coal yard, and 22,000 tons of coal were delivered in Lawrence direct from Newburyport before winter set in that year. However, the channel at Mitchell's Falls proved to be neither deep enough nor wide enough to guarantee safe transportation, and interest waned.

The greatest stride in the various attempts to carry out this long cherished idea has been made in the last few years, and the progress attained was due to a large extent to the persistent, intelligent effort of Andrew B. Sutherland of Lawrence, who has been called the "father of the waterway" because of his activity in behalf of the project. With the able assistance of Judge Charles C. Paine of Hyannis, and Lewis R. Hovey of Haverhill, the other two members of the Merrimack N'alley Waterway Board, he succeeded in 191 7 in bringing the proposition to a point where the preliminary work for actual construction might have been started.

The approval of the project by the Board of Engineers of the United States Army had been secured, with the recommendation to Congress that the Federal government participate in the expense on a 50 percent, basis with the state of Massachusetts. The estimated cost at the time was $7,076,600, the cities and towns to be benefited to take care of all land damages, terminals, docks, etc. The State

Legislature voted to co-operate in a financial way, but the bill was vetoed by Governor AlcCall on the ground that it was inexpedient at this time, notwithstanding the fact that it was pointed out that provision could be made whereby the legislation need not become effective until after the war.

The project proposes a navigable chaniTel, i8 feet deep and 200 feet wide, from the sea to Lowell, a distance of 36 miles. There are on the banks of the river, in this short distance, four large cities and 12 towns, with a population of over 350,000, nearly 900 manufacturing establishments and about $250,000,000 of capital invested. The valley cities turn out annually manufactured products at a value of $350,000,000. Raw materials are imported at a value of $200,000,000.

The idea is not impracticable, and the undertaking does not seem so difficult when one considers the length of inland waterways elsewhere. New York is 20 miles by river to the sea. Mobile 40 miles, New Orleans 100, Baltimore 150, Philadelphia 100, London, Eng., 35, Liverpool, Eng., 20, and Eng., 56 miles by river to the sea. The great Kiel Canal, completed in 1914, is 61 miles long and cost more than $65,000,000.

The Merrimack \'alley has an annual commerce (not including lumber and merchandise) of $550,000,000. The valley's trade exceeds the foreign commerce of Boston. It exceeds the foreign commerce of any American seaport except New York, and that of any seaport in the western hemisphere except New York and Buenos Ayres. It is greater by $37,000,000 than the foreign trade of Manchester, Englan.d (where $100,000,000 has been spent in constructing a canal 36 miles long with an extensive system of docks). It exceeds by $66,000,000 the foreign trade of Glasgow, Scotland (where $55,000,000 has been spent in dredging and dock construction). It represents trade of almost two million dollars a day for every working day in the year.

America's keenest competitors in Europe are vastly extending their inland waterway systems, in order that after the war their commerce may be moved to and from shipsides at the lowest possible cost. There has been sufficient evidence of the inadequacy of the railroad accommodations hereabouts to make it apparent that there is a great need of a deep waterway for the cities and towns of Merrimack A^alley, and it is to be hoped that the efforts of those who have worked so hard to bring about a fulfillment of the project will yet be crowned with complete success.

Journalism In Lawrence

A newspaper man was on the spot when the foundation of Lawrence was being laid, and newspaper enterprise has ever since been prominently identified with the development of the city. There have been many ventures in the local field of journalism, and most of them have been short lived. Newspapers are not made; they grow, and only the fittest survive.

The first newspaper in Lawrence was issued in October, 1846, under the name of The Merrimack Courier, by J. F. C. Hayes who ' came here early in that year and set up a printing press in a partially completed building on Broadway. This paper, a weekly, was continued under the editorial management of Mr. Hayes, John A. Goodwin, Homer A. Cooke, Rev. Henry F. Harrington and Nathaniel Ambrose, a portion of the time as a tri-weekly, until soon after Ivincoln's election in November, i860, when the publication collapsed.

In January, 1847, The \\ eekly Messenger, published by Brown & Becket, was transferred to Lawrence from Exeter, N. H. It lasted about two years. Some time in the winter of 1847 or 1848, one or two copies of a paper were issued from the Messenger office, under the title of The Engine, by E. R. Wilkins. In the spring of 1848, a paper, called The Herald, by Amos H. Sampson, appeared, gave a few gasps and passed away. Immediately following The Herald came The Vanguard, by Fabyan & Douglass. The Vanguard was Democratic, and it was regarded as an able publication. The office was a joint stock concern, in which the publishers were very little interested, and subsequently the name was changed to The Sentinel. Under this title it had been edited by Harrison Douglass, B. F. Watson, George A. Gordon, Benjamin Bordman, John Ryan, John K. Tarbox, Abiel Morrison, and Jeremiah T., and Edward F. O'Sullivan. Only very recently this, the city's oldest weekly publication, gave up the ghost.

In 1856, a weekly paper, under the title of The Home Review, was issued here by J. F. C. Hayes. It was continued until the Courier came back into his hands, when it was merged in that paper. In 1855, the publication of The Lawrence American, by George W. Sargent and A. S. Bunker, began. The office, like that of The Vanguard, was a joint stock affair. It was owned by the members of the "Know Nothing" party. Mr. Bunker sold his right to the paper to Mr. Sargent for $25, a few weeks after its commencement, and the latter conducted it alone for a time. Later George S. Merrill became associated with him, and finally succeeded him as sole editor. The American flourished as a "Know Nothing" organ during the brief existence of the "Know Nothing" party. When Mr. Merrill got control the policy was changed and, under his capable editorship. The American was a widely quoted Republican paper. In June, 1892, William S. Jewett purchased the plant, and on August i, 1893. he started The Sun, a morning daily, and later The Sunday Sun, a Sunday edition of both the daily American and the Sun, from the same office. The Sunday Sun attained a large circulation. The present management, a stock concern, took over the plant in 191 4. The daily Sun has since been discontinued, and the name of the American, the evening edition, changed to the Sun-American. The publications are now independent Democratic in political ])olicy.

On December i, i860, the first daily paper in this city, The Daily Journal, was issued by Dockham & Place. It was continued for about two years as a daily, then became a tri-weekly, and in 1863 it was merged in The American. In the spring of 1867, The Essex Eagle, by Merrill & Wadsworth (Charles G. Merrill and Horace A. Wadsworth), was started, and was published weekly. ]\Ir. Merrill soon retired and Mr. Wadsworth managed the paper alone, starting the Daily Eagle from the same office, July 20, 1868. The Daily Eagle, which in 1868 absorbed The Essex Eagle, is the oldest daily in the city, the daily American being issued for the first time the next evening. With the Eagle there is now published daily The Evening Tribune, which was established in 1890, the first penny paper here. Their political policy is Democratic, and the Tribune has a large and influential circulation. In 1898, F. H. Hildreth and A. H. Rogers, under the firm name of Hildreth & Rogers, purchased the Eagle and Tribune. Upon the death of Mr. Hildreth in 1909, a stock company was formed, with Mr. Rogers as treasurer and general manager, and it took over the plant.

The Lawrence Journal, weekly, was started by Robert Bower, as a labor organ, in 1871, and was sold to Patrick Sweeney in 1877. It later became the Sunday Register which, after passing through several hands, suspended publication in 191 3. There has been a number of later day publications which have gone out of existence, including The Sunday Telegram, The Star, and The Daily News.

The Sunday Telegram was established in 1884 by Winfield G. Merrill. Later George Goldsmith joined Mr. Merrill in the venture, and then became sole editor. With Harry Nice, Goldsmith began issuing The Lawrence Telegram daily on March 4. 1895, this publication taking the place of the Sunday Telegram. In 1896 it was rescued by John N. Cole, and under his supervision the paper was firmly established. In 1906, Kimball G. Colby purchased the controlling interest in the publication, further improving the plant and increasing the prestige of the paper. Today, The Telegram is one of the city's largest and most influential publications. Its political policy is Republican. All three daily newspaper plants are stock concerns. They are niodernly equipped, and not only is the local field thoroughly covered, but the news of the world is daily chronicled by the aid of wire services.

The Star, a weekly publication, was established by James E. Donoghue in 1893, and in 1900 the Daily News was started from the same ofiice. Though the Daily News was a bright, newsy sheet, five years later it expired with the Star. There are several weeklies being published in the city today, including The Leader, The Journal, The Critic, The Gazette, Anzeiger und Post (German) and Le Courier (French). The Leader is devoted almost entirely to comment, very little straight news matter beins? carried.

Lawrence Bar Association

The Lawrence Bar Association represents the law fraternity of the city. Some of the keenest legal minds in the state have been and are still identified with the organization. It has furnished four judges of the Superior Court, Judges Edgar J. Sherman, Charles U. Bell, Charles A. DeCourcy and Louis S. Cox. Judge DeCourcy is now a justice of the Supreme Court of Massachusetts. It has also provided a judge of Probate Court, Judge Harry R. Dow. Members of it have been prominent in municipal, county, state and national affairs, as well as in the courts of law.

Although there has been an organization, of some kind, of local members of the bar since about the beginning of the city, it was not until January ii, 1905, that the present incorporated association was organized. This organization was brought about by a movement for a suitable law library in Lawrence, the need of which w^as felt by the local fraternity. The association has been instrumental in having established at the county court house one of the finest law libraries in the state, for the upkeep of which the County of Essex contributes a certain sum each year.