The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-10-30

erected by the energy aud industry OF the
Messrs. Deere.
The fabrication of a plough iS an epic,
majestic in its way, as LongfsllOw's "build.
ing of the ship Rough metal dug from the
earth is carried in aud is melted, cooled, an
neaed hardened, beaten beneath the Titan
ic blows of the trip hammer into shape, aud
then energies the simple though potent en-
gines of our national grandeurand symbol
OF the noblest industry.
The Messrs. Deere are the pioneer plough
manufacturers Of this region, having estab'
lshed thamselves over twenty years ago. IN
Moline. They employed 200 operatives last
year, though they will require fall one hun.
dred more this season. Their power consists
in three coo inch waterwhees.
Candee, Swan & Co, the other large pillow
factory of Moline, will, this season finish, the
buildings and Improvements which they last
year begun, and will have nearly or quite as
extensive an establishment as the Mesrs.
Deere. The steel works are under the 81.
peryision Of Mr.. FreeburE, a thoroughly
practical man, who was, for twelve years,eu.
gagged in various important capacities in
Deere's mandatory. He showed US over
the entire building, and the following state.
ment made up from what we saw, will give
our readers an inadequate idea Of what these
0nterpnsing gentlemen are doing. First,
there is the smithy, 100 feet long, containing
20 foges, open and close, double furnace
for the various uses Of heating plough moulds,
warming the several apartments and fur
nishing power II required. 1t ia ventilated
and lit from the top, and is one Of the best
appointed and completest shops in the coun-
try. Then follows the foundry which is 40
feet in breadth, and GO in length. Here are
four smaller furnaces for working cast steel
into plough shares. The ploughs are to DO
finished and put together in room 100
by 60 feet. This room is to contain drills,
cleaner, punches, etc, and all the necessary
machinery for this purpose. Shafting runs
through the blacksmith shop, attachable to
all the ponderous machinery of trip hammer
and shears,an aForiing power to this series
of spacious shops The power is generated
from 700 inch water wheel, and costs, by
au accurate estimate, only one-quartsr the
money required to run it by steam power.
The wheel is to be connected with all parts
Of the building by g series Of shafts. The
grinding shop is 10 feet by 80, having
about twenty grindstOnes and four polishing
stones in operation. An elevator connects
this room with the stocking and vanishing
rooms above, from whence the completed
pillow is shipped. These rooms are five in
number, averaging l0j by 60 feet. Their
building is 257 in length, fronting 10 feet
on the river bank They finished 100 feet
Of this last season and will complete tue re
naming lj7 feet this fall. 1t will be but {
few weeks, at fnrthest, when their entire es-
adjustment will be in full operation, wheI
the old wooden structures will be torn down
This is a sample of the progressive prin
cipIe which is rife in our thriving little
nsighbor, and which is one day to make il
aud Rock Island one town and the creates
manufacturing centre il the west, We will
as occasion permits, notice other improve
ments in Moline, which want Of space, no
inclination, causes US to omit to-day.