The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-06-06

buy paper of Wheelock Il Fergus, it was =
very small affair, incapable of making as
much printing paper, daily, as is now con-
sumed in sight of the mill. The present
proprietor, S. w. Wheelock, Esq, soon be-
came sole owner of the property, and, though
possessing not enough of this worlds goods
to pay for it, he had energy, intelligence,
courage and business foresight, and he
worked hard, day and night to increase and
extend his business, always meeting prompt
fy every engagement and performing every
business transaction upon the principles of
fairness and justice. As fast as he made
any money he invested it in Improvements,
and today he has the largest paper mill west
of New York one that can and does turn
out more paper every day than any paper
min west of the state of New York.
We were shown through the establishment,
yesterday, by Mr.. Wheelock and, remember
ing the humble beginnings of the man, his
steady. perseverance, and looking at his
strong and stately stone buildings now, we
were astonished at the change.
He has just put in another rotary boiler,
which is supposed to be the largest one in
the United States. 1t is feet in diameter,
q feet in length, and cost, in its place, about
$4,000, 1t was built in Chicago.
This boiler is, like the others in the mill,
used for boiling stock, straw, rags, etc. 1t
holds two tons of cut straw, upon which a
high pressure of steam is placed for hours,
an alkali being mixed with the straw. 1t is
then placed in watts, rag stock mixed with it.
and other hard stock, and from there the
process is rapid through the machines, I'M
til it comes out in the shape of the finest
printing paper used by any Office, cut into
sheets of any size, counted up into quires,
packed in bundles of two reams each, and
ready for market. From the immense straw
stacks and rag piles to the office, is but a
short walk, but almost in the time one is
walking the distance, the raw straw and rags
are converted into fine printing paper.
The mill has 4 of these rotary boilers, and
two steam boilers for propelling machinery !;
and other machinery in proportion. A large
water power is also used.
To give our readers some idea of the bus
mess done by Mr.. Wheelock, we will state
that the daily average of his business is
4 900 lbs. Of news print and 1000 lbs. of
wrapping paper.
He manufactures all the paper used for
printing the Chicago Tribune, and ships
1,600 reams of paper to that concern every
month, receiving from them an average OF
$4,000 a month for paper. And this is but
little more than one-half the capacity of his
mills. The Tribune company has tried var
ious mills, dividing its business here and
there, but has finally settled down on Whee-
locks paper for permanent thing. This
shows the confidence they have in the article
he makes.
Mr.. Wheelock is the largest paper maker
west of New York, and employs great
number of men in the various branches OF
his business. In a sixteen years acquaint-
ance with him, it gives us pleasure to bear
witness to his high business capacity, his
honorable and upright dealing, and also his
genial social qualities. He has one of the
finest residences in the county; drives a
fine team, and has hosts Of friends wherever
he goes. We are very sorry he is so deluded
in his political ideas, but in other respects
we esteem him as gentleman and friend.