The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-12-17
MANUFACTURES.
Moline Wagon Company.

comnanv ara located on the north side o.
M.;n .,-aet. and are the first works on The
,ef, hand side as the traveller approache,
Nome from this city.
Some Is years ago Mr.. First, the senio,
partner of the present firm, and a practical
mechanic, commenced the manufacture Of
wagons on lot on Main street, near Dimock
& Gould's factory. Here he was successful
and hourished finely, until 1868, when q
company was for med, buying him out, and
the lot now occupied by this establishment
which has a frontage Of loo feet on MaiI
street,aa and is four hundred feet deep, was
bought of the Water Power Company and
the buildings erected thereon, at tots
cost of $4,000, machinery included, and
possession taken in January last.
In the manufacturing building will b.
found all the latest styles and latest improv-
ed machinery in use, and as new snG
useful patents come out, as the phrase is
from time to time, they are Immediately
added to the large stock now on hand.
To give some idea of the works it will bt
necessary to make the grand tour, SO vel
start with the office. which is neat two
story frame building I9x26 feet, standing
on the southeast corner of the lot. The first
floor of the building is used as general
Office or counting room, and a private Office
for the business manager, Morris Rosenfeld
the latter room being snug, cosy little
sanctun, very inviting and neat. The second
floor of this building is unfinished as yet
and is used for storage. On the southeast
corner of the lot is two story frame ware
house, 30xS0 feet, used exclusively fol-
aprage.
The next building is also used for storage
it is one and a half story frame 30xl0O
feet.
A one story frame for the storage Of paints
and oils is the next building, and back Of
this is another building, one story frame
for iron and coal.
We have now reached the manufacturing
building, which is situated on the river
bank. 1t is q substantial three story brick
70x90 feet, and is supplied with the necess
AIRY amount of power from the Waite,
Power, by shafting and pulleys. The first
floor contains all the heavy machinery, the
planners, saws, etc. Here the rough materisl
is brought into shape, dress I'D and prepared,
after which it is hoisted into the second
story by an elevator. In the second story
is the finishing room aRd the blacksmith
shop. In the former room the material goes
through the finishing processes, and is
passed into the blacksmith room, where it il
;roned, and forwarded to the paint room
which is located on the third floor, BY mean.
of the elevator. In this roon the wagons
receive the finishing touches, they are en-
bellished and besutifed, branded with the
well known brand OF the firm, M. W. C.,
and are then resdy for shipment.
The nmber of hands employed by the
firm ranges from so to 10, aud the week.
salaries average about $1,000.
They manufacture twelve different styles o.
farm, freight, aad spring wagons, of which
they can make so a week. These wagons
are made Of the best quality of lumber,
poplar, OAK, hickory and ash being the
leading kinds. They ship wagons to almos,
all the neighboriug states, and have com
menced to open up quite a trade with the
Southern and Western States, even shipping
to Utah Territory and Salt Lake City, some
of their best make to convey the Prince 0
fools to and from his wives.
In the manufacture of their wagons they
use a ear load of iron every week, which is
shipped from Pittsburg, Pa. The wooC
great forests of Michigan and Wisconsin
We could not obtain tbs amount of wood
used, but it is 6 vast amount. OF varnist
they use about % barrels annually, which Il
shipped from New York. Of paints, oils
etc., an immense quantity is used, but W,
could not gst the figures.
Their sales average from S250,00O t,
100000 annually. These figures speal
volumes for the quality and popularity 0
their manufactures. The demand for tn
pas: season was largely in excess of tn
supply, and the close of the year finds then
with numerous untitled orders.
They intend erecting several building.
next spring, putting in more machinery an,
employing more hands, SO that during tn
next season they can fill all orders
and supply the increasing demand
This mandatory is yet in it's youth, an
promises better for the future than many
older institutions. 1t furnishes mploymen
to seventy-fve hands almost constantly, ant
pays them weekly wages amounting to
thousand dollars. This amount is distrib.
uted in Moline in several ways, by beinJ
spent in the place, or by identifying or bull
ding houses. No person enjoys home m orr
than laborlng man, aud great deal o
their money is spent in the adornment o
homes. The enterprise of the firm is TN
| questionable and the popularity of thei
manufactures in the first years o
business is attributable mainly to the
fact that they make good article, and lie
the people know it. People will not throw
q hundred dollars away for inferior article,
while what they know are first class ar,
astainable, consequently, they buy the make
of the an W. c.
Their goods are shipped all over the
country, carrying with them the knowledg,
that this section of country has wagon
mandatory with q working capital O
100000, and turning out annually
over three hundred wagons, tina,
will compare favosably with the best
This knowledge, coupled with that of the
numerous other manufactures in tbis
vicinity will naturally attract the
the attention of the business men O
to the country to the facilities OF
this neighborhood for manufactures; ths
ones already in operation will be advant
ageous by drawing others here, and coon the