Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1858-05-29
THE LARGEST FLOUR MILL IN THE
WORLD.

Richmond can boast having within its
limits the largest -four mill in the world L.
For years the buildings occupied by our en-
terprising millers were Of very large Jimen-
|sions, and constituted peculiar feature in
1.-The topography of Richmond, but the in
Icreasing demand for their -four has given
an additional impulse to its manufacture,
land stimulated one Of the most prosperous
firms engaged in that business essrs.
Warwick, Barksdale & Co--to extend their
operations by the erection of buildings Of
colossal proportions, pronounced to be the
largest Of the kind in the world.
The new mill-building is situated at the
southwest corner of the Canal and | 9th sts.,
and is surmounted by an observatory which
overlooks the present mill Of Messrs. W. B.
& Co., on the opposite side Of the street.
The two building will be connected by a
suspension bridge over Canal street four
stories from the ground, and are already in
directly connected by similar structure,
extending to the corn mill, adjoining the
new structure.
The erection Of the mill was regularly
commenced some time in the year 1854
The superstructure rests upon solid foun-
dation Of granite, the base of which is sew
enteen and half feet thick. The width
tapers to thickness Of six feet, at the top
course Of granite-on level with Canal
street. The stone work-requiring about
$500 perch of granite have cost a.
bout $40, 900. The average thickness Of
the brick walls forming the first four stories
above Canal street, is three feet two inches.
The great mill is twelve stories in height,
fronts observatory, the total height is 135
feet. The rear wall, embracing a part Of
the granite foundation, is 147 feet high. -
We will now proceed to give some statistical
minuti@ which will doubtless prove interest
ing to our readers:
There were used in the construction of
this building about 1900, 600 bricks, or a
number sufficient, if laid in straight line,
end to end, to reach some distance beyond
the city of New York. An equal number
Of bricks would suffice to build about 80
small dwellings. Each floor contains about
! IA, $50 superficial feet including the two
floors in the roof the total would be about
l55, 900 square feet-or rather more than
! three and half acres. Altogether the a.
valuable space within the walls of this build
ling is about 200, 900 square feet. In adj
dition to the flooring plank, $50, 900 feet of
timber were used for posts, girders, joists,
| &c. The whole amount of timber in the
lroof, embracing posts, rafters and .sheeting,
is about IS, 900 feet. There are 293 win
dows and 20 doors in the mill former
containing 1000 panes Of glass. There
were used in hanging the windows SIG, or
4s dozen pairs Of hinges. The iron work
is to be done by Messrs Sampson &Pae.
The shafts for the water wheels will be
made Of cast iron, and will weigh each TO-
900 pounds.
! We have no positive information as to
the cost of the immense structure which we
have attempted to describe, but presume
that the sum will not fall short Of $3.50, 900.
Several months will yet elapse before the
machinery will be ready to be put into oper-
alton. The second and third stories are at
present used for the storage Of -four packed
in barrels ready for shipment.