Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-08-19
Parkesburg-Its Industries-POpula-
ttQn. &c.

Parkesburg-Its Industries-Popula-
tton, &c.
The prospect of direct connection with
Parkesburg, Chester County, will give ad-
ditional value in the minds of our readers,
to the following description of the place,
which we clip from the West Chester Re-
publican.
The town is situated on the Pcnna. Cen
trail railroad, Al miles west of Philadelphia
In 1874, when the railroad was built, there
was but one house John G. Parke, father
of the present Judge Parke, in order to Sc
cure the location of the railroad machine
and repair shops at this point, decided suf-
ficient quantity of land to the State for that
purpose, and introduced water for the use
of the engines, ETC., from large spring, on
one of the adjacent hills, by means of wood
en- pipes. In the same year, 1884, the shops
were erected at cost of about $S0,00O.
They have front upon the Penna. Central
railroad Of $50 feet, extending back $50.
The main building is l2O feet square, with
out a single post or pillar in it, the immense
roof being supported by bridge work.
In 1860, the Railroad company removed
their repair operations to Altoona, and the
prosperity of the place by the loss of this
large portion of its industrial population, was
for a time seriously checked. The buildings
have now, however, been purshased by N.
P. Boyer & Co, who have fitted them up as
large bazaar for the sale of machinery, ag-
ricultural implements, foundry, wholesale
seed store, stables for stock, &C., &c. The
same parties have also just erected fine
four story Grist and Merchant Mill, As by Gs
feet, with four run of burrs. 1t will be driv-
en- by 40 horse power engine, and is 10 be
supplied with all the modern improvements
in the way of mill machinery. 1t will have
a capacity of from 80 to 70 barrels of flour,
per day.
| The Penn. Central railroad completed last
spring, fine brick structure, 32 by 10 feet,
for housing engines. Mr.. Moses Ross has
just erected two-story brick house to bt
occupied as dwelling and wheel right shop
| Parkesburg contains about 80 dwelling
houses, and has regained what it lost in 1861
in the way of inhabitants, numbering now
about G00.-
The value of property has also attained tt
about the standard Of 1860, and rents ART
even little. higher than they then were
while the amount of business done, is abou
up to the "good times of past years. There
are about 5000 head Of cattle brought to thi.
point from the West and sold to farmers eacl
year, and about the same number of iattenet
animals are re-shipped to Philadelphia ant
other places; Young L. Co. and Latta 4
Phps are the principal dealers. JohI
Brookes, Esq, has wooden factory for th
manufacture of cloths and cassimeres abou
one mile east of the town. James Philips
Esq, also has a factory one and u half mile
northeast of the town where he produces
wooden yarn and Kentucky jeans. Newtor
Pyle, Esq, and Messrs Stroud & Russell
have grist mills about one mile out of town
The principal stores are kept by Messrs. j
NJ. Pomeroy, Owen ~ Young, VIM. L
Simpson, Z j. Moore, and G. NJ. Smoker
Messrs' Jack IL Coates occupy the railroad
company's grain depot, and deal in grain
lumber and coal Messrs. Hinkson 4
Thompson are also in the same business.
The business men of the place confident
ly expect that when the new rail road from
Delaware City to Parkesburg is constructed
together with the Wilmington and Western
uniting with it at Chandlerville. the pros
ity of their town will be greatly increased
1t is said that the Pennsylvania railroad
company guarantee, that when the road il
completed, one half of the 600,000 tons o
coal now going to Philadelphia for shipmen
to other points, shall pass south over tn
new road 100000 tons Of coal alone, viii
be no small item for the freight of u railroad
just starting out in life. Parkesburg has al
Episcopal church, and about one mile from
the town there is Presbyterian church
Parke's Hall is devoted to public lectures
meetings, and Sunday school purposes
Messrs. Parek, Smith & Co. have q private
banking institution, which is said to be doin!
good business and is quite an accommOda
tion to the business men in its immediate
locality. We are informed that one part,
has been offered $500 per acre for thirty acre
south of the depot, but refuse to sell at tina
price.