Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1859-11-25
The soap Business,

The Soap Business.
This is a subject that has not received
the attention it merits as an important
item in the business of this city. A man
i could engage in sweetcr-scentcd bust
ness, perhaps, than making soap, but none
more essential, honorable and profitable.
The soap and candle business of this city,
| is far more extensive than those who have
paid no attention to it, would suppose
We know of no more essential branch of
business. We all use soap, except few
young gentlemen whom VIC observe in the
streets, at times. If we don't use it we
ought to. 1t is found in every family, in
every chamber, and in every workshop. 1t
is essential to health, happiness, comfort
and the preservation of decent and we'll
regulated society.
Having said thus much for soap in the
abstract, we propose to give the experience
Of n visit to the establishment of Warren &
Sons, situated on the east bank of Wheeling
creek in the eastern part of the city
With ATr. Isaiah Warren, as our conductor,
we made a tour of the house and soon dis
covered that this cnterprising firm, not
withstanding their severe losses by fire,
had surmonnted all difficulties aud were
moving along bravely on the high road to
prosperity.
They turn out yearly about $4,000
pounds of soaps, but have all the arrange
ments complete for more than doubling
this quantity if the demand called for it
In the manufacture of the various kinds,
they consume yearly, about GO,OOO pounds
of soda-ash, and caustic alkali; 400 bar
rcls refined rosin, and $4,000 pounds of
different grades of grease, includingtallow
palm oils, lard, and the ordinary tallow,
grease made during the slaughtering sea-
son by pork packers.
In the "lard oil' branch, their manfac-
turing capacity would enable them to run
off COO gallons per week, requiring nearly
10000 pounds of lard, and to be kept con-
stnntly going, would use up annually 1900
barrels.
They commenced making oil during the
fall of 1871, and were amongst the very
first in the country to engage in it. Du-
ring that, and the following winter, they
purchased all the lard they could work, at
q and cents per pound The past year,
l3,OOO,oOO, or $4,000 barrels, wero worked
into lard oil and star candies in Cincinnati
alono.
From these figures, it may he readily
seen how it is, that lard hasndvanccd over
300 per cent. in price, since the adoption
of lard oil, rs the best lu6ricafor known.
and also as one ofth safest and cheapest
illuminators. Oil manufacturers certain
ly deserve the thanks of stock raiscrs for
the active demand and high price of hogs.
The .tatter they are, the better they pay both
farmers and pork packers.
The candle branch is, of course, briskcr
during the falland wintcrmonths, although
since the Introduction of Summer Cam
dies made from Pressed TaIlow or Sterine
and moulded by ice. The demand is more
regular than formerly.
The MeSsrs. Warren make yearly about
1900 pounds of mould candles, and use
1000 pounds of cotton wicking. They
render their own tallow, SO far as they can
and buy all the rough tallow that is offered
by the beef butchers, beside considerable
quantity from renderers in Cincinnati and
elsewhere.
Immediately above the factory, the
Messrs. Warren have recently sunk IA hole
in the ground" for an immense cistern,
which is supplied by various springs found
in the hill side. Pipes extend from the
'factory to the basin, and the establishment
is constantly and conveniently supplied
with water for all purposes.
There is always ready market for the
different varieties of soap, candles, etc,
manufactured in this city, because these
products hrve reputation for being of the
best and most desirable. At the establish
ment of the Messrs. Warren, we saw, among
the more common articles, some of the
finest kind of toilet soaps, much superior
to that generally offered for sale in the
shops. The chemical soaps, also, manu-
factured by this firm, are much admired,
and are commanding wide celebrity for
their excellence. We take great pleasure
in commenting this house to the favorable
notice of the trade and the public in gen,