History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

MANUFACTURES. 733
The volume of manufactures in Utah increased
from about $300,000 in 1850 to at least $5,000,000 in
1883, the value of all materials used at the latter date
being estimated at about $2,400,000, of labor at $700,-
000, the number of hands employed at 2,500, and the
amount of capital invested at $3,000,000. The chief
items apart from textile fabrics were flour, lumber,
furniture, leather and leathern products, machinery,
lead and leaden pipes, and malt liquors.* 3 There were
at least seventy-five flour and grist mills, 100 lumbermills,
eighteen furniture factories, twenty boot and
shoe factories, and seven founderies and machineshops.
44
A great drawback to the leather interests is that
nearly all the materials used for tanning have to be
imported in the shape of extracts, at a cost that leaves
a factory in operation at Ogden, owned by Randall. Pugsley, & Co. There
were also mills in Cache co., in which John Stoddard was largely interested.
Mr Stoddard, a Scotchman by birth, came to Utah in 1850, settling in Iron
co., whence he moved to Cache Valley in 1860, where he also engaged in the
lumber business, removing to Ogden in 1884, to follow the same business.
During his career he was four years employed in fighting Indians, suffering
great hardships, and was also one of those who went out to meet Johnston's
army in June 1858.
43 The Utah breweries by 18S6 made about 20,000 barrels a year. In
1S64 Henry Wagener started the first large brewery in the territory, about a
mile and a half from Fort Douglas. The first year he made only 400 barrels,
and in 1884 7,000 barrels. Mr Wagener, a German by birth, came to Utah
in 18G4, having previously resided in California and Nevada.
"According to the census returns between ISoO and 1880, which cannot,
however, be accepted as the exact figures, there were in the former year 14
manufacturing establishments, with 51 hands, $44,400 of capital, and $291,-
223 of products; in 18G0, 48 establishments, with 3S9 hands, $443,356 of
capital, and $900, 153 of products; in 1S70, 533 factories employing 1,534 hands,
$1,491,S4S of capital, and producing $2,248,519 of goods; and in 1SS0, 1,06(3
factories, 3,221 operatives, $2,830,463 of capital, and $4,217,434 of products.
See, for list of saw-mills in 1S65, Pac. Coast Direct., 1S67, 153-4; of gristmills
in 1869, Id., 1871-3, 151-2; for further mention of saw and grist mills
and lumber manufactures, Utah Sketches, MS., passim; S. L. Dy Tel., Dec.
16, 186S; TulUdge's Mag., i. 558-9, iii. 34-6. As early as 1850 there was a
machine-shop in the temple building. Deseret News, Sept. 14, 1850. For
account of the Deseret Iron Co. in 1852, see Bertrancfs Mem. Morm., 81-2;
of wagon and carriage manufactory in 1868, 8. L. Dy Tel, Dec. 12, 1S6S; of
soap factory in 1S78, S. L. G. Herald, Dec. 29, 1878; of boot and shoe factories,
Deseret Ev. News, Jan. 2, 1884; S. L. C. Herald, May 2, 1879; TulUdge'a
Mag., i. 205-8. The first nail factory in Utah worthy the name was built
under the superintendence of James Finlayson in 1859, a little south of S. L.
City. Before this date nails sold at 50 cents a pound. Mr Payson, a Scotchman
by birth and a millwright by occupation, came to the country during
this year and settled at Payson, of which town he was elected mayor in 18S2.