The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-01-26

An AFFAIR OF BUSINESS, YET NOT Alto
GETHER So, SINCE MINGLED WITH PLEA
SURE" Business before pleasure " is truly
good adage, and men with families gen.
orally carry it out; but how great must be
our enjoyment when we can feel indif-
ferent in regard to it since the two can be
mingled 1t some times happens that we
can mingle them, and an occasion was
given yesterday in the visit of the Board Of
Directors of the Old Dominion Nail Works
Company and several invited guests to the
works on Belle Isle. Without commenting
further upon business or pleasure, we will
state that the party, composed of Mr. r. E.
Blankenship, business agent of the COM
psny. and the Board of observation-disclosures.
B. W. Haxall, H. W. Fry, Isaac Davenport,
Jr., E. o. Noting, and John SPOTS besides
many other of our substantial citizens, left
by the Danyille road on a special car for
the isle at about l o'clock. The trip being
a short one, was soon made. As we reached
the works we could not but remark upon
their Improvement, even within our own
Youthful recollections but when we were
told of their capacity but twenty-five years
ago We felt that the Old Dominion Com
pany must indeed be an exemplifcation of
the march of improvement which Virginia
is now making. In 1915 or thereabouts
General Harvey had built these works upon
a very modest scale, he being one of the
few wealthy Virginians who appreciated
at that time Richmond's great water power,
and determined not to lose any effort in
its development. He had labored faith
fully to arouae the people to the truthful
ness of his idea at every expense and
finally, after losing great deal of money,
he was compelled to abandon it. Sambo
was the all-absorbing machine in those
days, as in fact he was up to very late
period. No other machinery could COM
pete with him, as it has proved to our
great misfortune. In 1929 we still find the
works devoid of proft-turning out about
twenty-five kegs of nails per day, at cost
of about double what they are now pro-
duced. A strong idea of giving them up
as fruitless was manifested, but the perse-
vering few prevailed, and they were con-
tinued amid the most trying circumstances.
Under the management of the lamented
William s. Triplett prosperity began to
dawn upon the result Of General Harvey's
efforts, and at the beginning of the war the
works paid handsomely. War interviewed d.
At it's end, despite stringent times, i'm
provements were designed and perfected,
and to-day the Old Dominion Works COM
pose an institution of our city, turning out,
instead of twenty-five kegs per day, two
hundred and fifty or three hundred upon an
average. What commentary upon the
history of Virginia in the past, as
compared with that Of other States
further North A manufactory, COM
menced in 1915, in city possessed of manu-
featuring advantages second to none in the
world, producing no profit until 1860
Well, the old state of things has passed
away, and we trust that more productive
if not q more happy, age yet awaits US.
But, to the visitors. Having arrived
they had arriven,o and soon they were ira
versing the mandatory and watching with
interest the sturdy mechanics working or
handling the hard ore in its different
shapes, and the improved machinery ma
naging that seemingly unmanagable child
of mother earth with as much ease as though
it were plastic mud. Mr.. Douglas Baird,
the efficient superintendent of the works,
attended them, and by the readiness with
which he explained every operation showed
that he was in every way worthy
Of the trust placed in him. That
this is true is abundantly attested by his
being continued there so long. After the
examination was ended, MIR. Blankenship
exclaimed to the party in warlike tones,
!" Follow me! !" and they followed in good
order. The leader acquitted himself most
gloriously, and the party took possession Of
the most pleasing array of good things we
have ever seen upon q similar occasion
What followed we cannot with propriety
say, since it was call among ourselves.'
Suffice it to state that everything passed of
most delightfully."-, and the party returned
yesterday evening well impressed with the
events of the day, and wishing all success
to the Old Dominion Nail Works Company
of Richmond.
LIST OF UNAVAILABLE LETTERS REMAIN.
ING IN THE RICHMOND PosToFFrCE JANUARY