The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-11-08
BIDDISON'S PLANNING MILL.


ted on the corner of Washington and Rock
River streets, was established in the year
1853, by J. A. & G.. E. Biddison. Its d.
mansions were then considerably smaller
than at present, as many additions have
since been made. On the following year,
G. E. Biddison disposed of his interest to
VIM. F. Gilmore, the style of the firm then
becoming J. A. Biddison l. Co. This CO.
season another change occurred, A. F. Heath
succeeding William. F. Gilmore. Last
spring j. A. Biddison purchased the in
terest of his partner, and become sole pro-
prietor, in which condition affairs will prob
ably hereafter remain. The dimensions of
the mill are as follows: Main building, two
stories high, IS by $50 feet; warehouse, two
stories, 20 by 40 feet; engine room, Is BY
40 feet. The machinery is propelled by an
eighty horse power engine manufactured in
this city, fourteen years ago, by c. c. Web
Der, and which has never required any kind
of repairs since put in operation. The two
boilers, doubled aued, are twenty-four feet
in length, and forty inches in diameter, were
manufactured by Buford Bros, and can be
recommended as thoroughly as the engine,
and have rendered the same length of serv-
ice. We mention these facts to illustrate
the insanity of going abroad to purchase
any article which is being manufactured in
our own city, from the old fogy notion that
nothing produced outside of New England is
worthy of reliance. The planning machine,
located on the first floor, was purchased of
Testers establishment, Brooklyn, and does
splendid work. 1t will, on an average, dress
ten thousand feet of flooring per day, or face
twenty thousand feet of wide lumber. At
tached is saw that will cut the almost in
credible amount of 10000 feet of siding per
day. Persons whose business does not often
lead them to inspection of machinery,
would be quite astonished to look through
Biddisons Mill, and see the amount Of Ia
Dor few of his machines will save in one
day. To form correct idea of the progress
of invention within the last few decades, no
better way could be devised than to put an
army of mechanics in opposition to some of
the labor saving machines now in use.
On the second floor is the sash machine,
which was manufactured by Fay & Co., of
Worcester Massachusetts, and does a pro-
digious amount of work in a very short time.
The manner in which sash, doors, blinds,
window and door frames, moulding, &C., are
put together in this department would be
quite surprising to the optics of one unin-
itlated. As we listened TO the buzz and
scream of this astonisher, and noted the rap
id manner in which it turned out first class
work of every description, as neatly as ever
was done by human hand, we could not help
but think what pitiable uRfortunates our
forefathers were, to be all day in doing what
their descendants can now have done in
twenty-five minutes.
The number of men employed in this mill,
the year round, will average about twenty,
and at cost of over ten thousand dollars
In addition to this, about two thousand dol
lars per annum is paid for teaming and 9TH
er outside labor, making a total of twelve
thousand dollars. In the spring the entire
establishment will be thoroughly overhauled
| and enlarged. At present, considerable
difficulty is experienced in filing orders,
which are crowding in from every direction.
A large quantity of stock in this line is now
being manufactured for David B. Sears, to
be used in his extensive improvements at
| Camden. In addition to the trade of our
city and adjacent points, many orders are
received from various points in Iowa.
Attached to the factory, and run by the
same machinery, are the Novelty Corn Meal
Mills, doing a heavy business. OF these,
however, we will say nothing at present, de,
ferring comment for succeeding article.
| Mr.. Biddison is deserving of no little cred
| it for the perseverance and other solid quail
ties he has exhibited in carrying this enter
prize through to success. For the pas;
fourteen years he has stood at his post and
struggled manfully when many other men
would have given up the contest dishearten-
ed. During the building up of all such es
adjustments there are times that try mems
souls, but when these are past, it is with the
utmost pleasure that they are looked back
upon.
Biddisons Planning Mill is now one of the
institutions of Rock Island, and its prosper
| ty is doubly to be congratulated, in that i,
has been won by steady industry, persever.