Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1868-12-02

The MrCormick rsapsrs aud uowsrs be-
b. almost omnipfsssnt in agricultural dis
s.ieto Of The world. the following batch Of
statistics concerning its mandatory, which
y. And in The Chicsse Times, will be read
with interest:
The firm 10 composed OF Cyrus II. Nc.
Cormick and Lsander j. Mccormick, the
the latter Of whom devotss bis Whole time
TO the personal care and supervision Of this
immense factory. These works, whose
buildings cover kn area Of 400x500 feet,
are near The north pier of Chicago river, In
the business centre Of the city. The bust.
ness commenced here in 1916. % years ago,
and since that tina 100000 harvesting
machines have been manufactured IN these
works. Fifteen syears ego 1900 machines
psr annum were considered big under
taking, and predictions were then msds dat
at that rsts the country would soon be
sver.suppiied. But new 10000 machtnss
per year 40 net begin 70 supply ths demand,
which 10 greatly incrs ssing, and now slrsady
ovsrmatchss The capacity Of their works.
Five hundred men are constantly employed.
The works are 90 undivided and systsma.
TIED that these 6gurss carry but faint
IMPRESSION of the amount Of labor these
500 hands perform.
Each machine contains net lsss than
1 900 separate pieces Of wood, IRON, stse,
brass, copper, tin and zinc. making the
enormous number Of 100000 pieces
which have to bs made, counted, assorted,
inspected. classified. packed and shipped IN
one years business.
The raw material worked up in this es-
tablishment assumes gigantic proporasns,
20 Wit: Lumber, 81, 600, 900 feet; pig iron.
3. 600 tons; bar iron, 1,500.tons paints,
| 100. 600 pounds; oils. 5000 GALLONS; zine,
1854 pounds; steel and other metals.
100000 pounds. and 1000 tons Of coal.
The item Of scrap lumbsr, the cuttisgs lsis
after saving out the peculiar shapes pieces
needed in . harvesting machine, amount 70
nearly 500, 900 feet Of lumber per annum,
which provide shout oil the fuel necessary
10 make steam for the works.
A market 10 found for these machines oil
over the United States, frsm Virginia 70
Oregon. and from Ainnssotato Texas. Ev'
srything in this establishment 10 done BY
machinery Of the NEST costly and approved
kind, whether the work 10 wood or iron. 10
the blacksmith shops, the bar non. Of large
and small sizes, from 81 TO 81 inches round,
10 cut up ~ machinery like 20 many pipe
stems. Even the forgsa are Supplied with
. steady blast Of air from large fan driven
by steam. The machine shops contain loo
lathss, drills, boring, key seat cutting. screw
cutting, and planning machines. worked by
an almost endless arrangement Of belts and
pullsys. In the sickle shop Of this estab
lishmsnt 10 . most ingenious machine fol
cutting the teeth in the sickle edge, which
does the work Of tive or three men, and
much more accurately. The mower knivsl
are made with short knife edge, while thu
reaper knives are rivstsd. The greatest carr
has to be exercised over this department
for tho success of machine depends large
" on the skill, accuracy and finish bestow
ed on the manufacture Of the cutting appa
ratus. This peculiar branch is superint tended
personally by the Msssrs. Mccormick, WHIT
have taken this matter into their own hands
instead Of purchasing ready-made sicklss q
many manufactures do.
The five story warehouse Of this ss.ab
lishmcnt is in itself sight. Here one reon
is piled up with 10000 necky okss, anothe
with 90 1000 pointed wheels, and snoths
with 10000 red frames, reaching from nco
TO ceiling Il is in climbing up into thes'
immense floors and gazing at Ties encrmou
heaps of separated pieces that one get
some conception Of the extent Of thi
business. This bulldog is patrolsd by boil
night and day watchmen, to keep fire frsu
gaining foothold, where his agency an'
work would be so terribly destructive. By
a system Of extended agencies through tn
entire United States these machines hav
been brooght into immense use. Whsrsvs
grain or grass is raised, there this msnufac
ture finds . market.