The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-12-21
MANUFACTURES 8.
The moline IRON works.

Yesterday we visited the above named
works, which are owned by Messrs. Will.
Jams L White, and situated on the south
side of Main street, Moline, opposite the
works of the Moline Wagon Company. The
firm cwn about an acre and half Of
ground, part of which is covered by their
works. Tho buildings, of which there are
four. cost $4,000. The works we're estab-
lished in 1854, whom the establishment was
commenced in small way. In 1865 they
found their business increasing SO fast that
they were compelled to build, they according
ly built the building now used as machine
shop.
The main building of the works is the
machine shop, a two story brick, 421s7 feet.
The lower floor of this building contains
thirteen machines, of the latest patent, and
in this room steam engines, saw mill and
grist mill machinery and other large and
small machines are finished, aud general
jobbing work done. The upper story is used
for the Office and for the storage of patterns
of which they have an immense quantity
comprising most all parts of machinery and
worth about $4,000.
The foundry is one story frame building
S2x40, where all their casting is done
When we passed through the room they
were casting iron sections of school desks
and seats. In this room we were shown q
neat iron fence they had cast for Isaac
Negus, of this city. Besides these article,
they do the casting for general foundry
business.
The blacksmith shop is . one story frame
building, 30140 feet, where all of the heavy
forging and repairing is done.
The pattern shop is . frAme building, one
and half stories high, 24x4O feet. Here
the various patterns required by the work
men for casting, are prepared.
The gres. variety of articles made by
| these works defies enumeration, butthe lead
ing articles seem to be steam engines
and mill machinery.
The firm have a capital of about $685..
900 or $4,000 invested in the business,
with working capital of from $4,000 to
$4,000. Their annual sales are over
100000. They employ so hands most OF
the year, at an annual salary of over $40,-
600, and as most, if not all their employees,
live in Moline, the benefit of their money
accrues to that place.
They use on an average about 600 tons OF
cast and pig iron annually, which is obtain
ed from St. Louis and Chicago. OF wrought
iron they use about so tons annually, which
is obtained from Pitsburg, Pa. The Moline
power of the establishment is steam, aided
and sbeted by two engines, both equal 10
40 horse power, and we may also add that
steam is used for heating purposes.
Their shipments are not very extensive.
as to the distance goods are sent, still, on
examining their books, it was found that
an order had been filled for school sppars
tus for a school in Ohio, and
Chicago, too had orders. They have ship
ped goods as far west as the gold and silver
mines of Denver, and Nebrss ka, and even
beyond the Rocky Mountains, to San Fran
cisco, Cal. Missouri, South, Michigan and
Wisconsin, North, have also contributed
their share of patronage to this establish
ment. They do great deal of jobbing
work for the neie hboring cities and states,
and also an immense amount of home work,
such as casting and repairing. The people
of this vicinity have long since recognized
their capabilities, as a goodly portion.
of their annual sales will testify to. And
nowhere in the valley of the Mississippi is
there a location more favorable tor iron
works than this vicinity.
The binding Of the Rockford road neces-
states the tearing down of half their ma
chine shop and the erection of another. In
the spring they intend erecting o two.stery
brick building, to be used as machine
shop, which ia to be larger than the one
now occupied. This building will be l40x
4S feet, and will require more machinery
and An increased number of operatives, as
the firm intend increasing their capacity
for work, and will make the next season a
brisk one. A few words as to the benefits
this and other factories confer on Moline,
aud not only that place but the whole local
ity. Their manufactures 60 forth over the
Western country bearing the uame of the
firm and location. Such workmanship at
tracts the attention of some other firm in
the same or another line of business, and
he sees on examination the favorableness
Of the locality, and the chances are ten to
one that he removes, bringing with him q
demand for more houses and men thus one
factory leads to the building of another,
and the end is plain to be seen-a town of
factories.
FIELD & BRo. have the largest stolk of