The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-11-02
ROCK ISLAND PLow FACTORY.


terprise OF its founders, and to our city, is
the Plow Factory of Basil d. Bufsrd / Co
located on Illinois, between Main and Huron
streets. The factory was erected in 1856, |
when the, manufacture Of. plows was COM
menced.eI Undue time the business assumed /
large proportions and allimplements bearing /
the brand of Buford's Rock Islandplows were
soon recognized, in agricultural districts, as
the equal of those of any competition, and |
made their way in every direction, with con
sequent rapidity. With this increase of busr
ness, came many improvements dictated by |
experience and observations; also, a gradual
increase of facilities, though few of charac- |
tor to be noticed by the uninterested pub |
lie, About two years ago, it was deemed |
advisable to add a foundry to the establish |
ment. This step was found to be highly |
beneficial, as it enabled a more thorough
supervision to be maintained in regard to the
castings very important item in this bust
ness. 1t also furnished facilities for meet
ing pressing local want-that of good
stove castings. In this line a fine trade is
carried on with our city dealers, thus retain
ing thousands of dollars per year in our
midst, which would otherwise occasion a not
ineousiderable financial vacancy, and go to-
swell the profits of other districts. Care in
the manufacture, and strict integrity in sci,
ling, met with their legitimate reward. The
demand for Rock Island Piows Continued
without abatement, and it was this spring
determined by the preprietors to more than
double the size and capacity of their estab-5
lshment. This resulted in the following
improvements On the west side, a brick
addition has been made TO the blacksmith
department, 20 By 46 feet in dimension /; on
the north side, a three story brick addition
to the wood shop, 4a By 81 feet and two
story addition, % by SO feet, to the fitting
shop and paint rooms. A new brick grind
ing shop has been added, SO by so feet
frame coal house IL by so feet, and a lum'
Der and handle bending room 80 by so feet.
The dimensions of the old buildings are as
follows: fitting shop, 40 by 81 feet; smith
shops, 46 by 63 feet; painting room 40 by
50 feet; wood shops, three stories, ~ by 81
feet; foundry building 30 by 40 feet; coal
buildings 81 by 100 feet; ware house, two
story, 80 by 80 feet, making q sum total Of
ground dimensions, including new and old,of
four hundred and seventy FIVE, by FIVE hun
dred and ninety nine feet. These round
figures will serve to give some idea of what
ability and good management can accom-
plish, after q few years of patient persever-
ance and industry. We think they will also
compare with the dimensions of any manu-
featuring establishment anywhere in this
immediate neighborhood. No waste ground
is included in these calculations. The con-
Germ is compact, and every inch used to
the best advantage. The improvements we
mention are of no temporary character, but
have been skilifully devised and substantial
y carried out. They are of a permanent
style, and mostly of brick, costing, in the
aggregate, the sum Of ten thousand dollars.
This liberal amount has not been used with
any view toward an ostentatons display of
business requirements, but simply to meet a
solid, healthy, and pressing want. The
most casual survey of the premises viii con-
vince any one that it has been expended in
q wise, systematic, and profitable manner.
A. tour through the establishment cannot
fail to interest any one The prevalence Of
order on every hand, the convenient arrange
ment of every description of ponderous ma
chinery; the entire abscense of jar and bus
tie the rapidity with which raw material is
fashioned into shape; the curious and won
derful mechanisms in full play and the ad-
mirable combination of science and labor,
must command the interested attention of
every visitor. Every operative is at his
post quietly fulfilling his duties, and while
an air of neatnesss can scarcely be enforced
ia so extensive a concern, and IN keeping
with the quantity of material used, there is
none of that loose and bungling disposition Of
tools and supplies, which characterize many
similar establishments, and is so obstructive
to rapid and efficient workmanship.
During the past few years, the demand
for these plows has become enormous, trav.
cling agents being constantly kept in the
field TO place their merits before dealers in a
prominent manner. This trade extends
throughout Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Mis-
souri,, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Tenne-
see, Mississippi, Arkansas, and states con.
tiguous. The plows are of varied models
Of the Improved Clipper" there are seven
styles, all manufactured of the best English
and German steel. In addition there are the
Walking Cultivators, Sulky Cultivators, corn
plows, southern plows, and steel breaking
plows. Every pillow turned out of this fac
tory is thoroughly hardened, and in the for
ges are used the pure Anthracite and soft
Goals of Pennsylvania, SO that the quality of
the steel in the plows is not injured.
AS is the case with successful men in
every branch of commerce or manufacturers
Buford & Co. aim to keep fully up to the
times, and are constantly making desirable
Improvements in their articles, and also en-
deavor to meet the demands of the public
for every species of borsaving implements
in their line. Their cnltivators are the equal
of anything of the kind lately gotten up, and
are giving. general satisfaction wherever
,,uad A. opnfhar oro,,,.an+ ~ g. r