Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1870-12-09
THE SHERWOOD WATER WHEEL.
Arrangements Completed for Manu-
featuring it in this City.

The SHERWOOD WATER WHEEL
Arrangement Completed for Manu-,
featuring it In this City.
Those who have read in the BULLETIN
from time to time, descriptions of the
thorough and severe competitive tests to
which the water wheel, invented and pat
ented by Mr.. Samuel Sherwood Of this
city has been subjected, and in which il
has triumphantly INDICATED its right to
be called the best water wheel yet invent
ed, will not need to be convinced that its
manufacture is destined to grow into a
very extensive and profitable branch OF
industry, and one of very great impor-
lance to the place in which it may be To-
Gated. This fact has been thoroughly ap-
preciated by enterprising parties in other
localities east and west. Since the pub
lie trials were had which so completely
established the superiority of his wheel,
Mr.. Sherwood has received many and
fiattering propositions from leading man.
ufacturers and others in different parts of
the country to engage in its construction
at their several localities None Of these
enticing proposals have been accepted,
however, for the reason that such accep-
lance would be inconsistent with Mr..
Shefwood's settled purpose to locate the
first mandatory of his water wheel at
Independence, if found practicable to do
so.
This, after due consideration of the sub
ject, he has finally determined to do, and
on Saturday last the first practical step
was taken toward the erection of the nee
essary works for the exclusive manufac-
ture of his wheels. On that day lease
was signed by the officers of the Mill Co.
to Mr.. Sherwood for a period of sixteen
years from the first day of March, 1871,
ola strip of land-or rather land and wa
ter together--on the north side of the
block occupied by the new mill, about 100
feet east and west on Ovid Street, and 60
feet north and south. The east forty feet
of this strip is covered by the mill pond,
and on this portion of the premises, rest
ing on piles driven twelve to fourteen
feet into the bed of the river, and capped
with heavy timbcrs, Mr.. Sherwood pro-
poses to erect the main building of the
works. 1t will be forty by sixty feet, two
stories in height, each sixteen feet It's
manner of construction will be similar to
that of the mill, a heavy wooden frame
encascd with brick This building will
contain the machine shop, FORCES, &c. The
machinery will be driven by one of Mr.
Shcrwood's wheels placed in the mill, the
the power being conveyed to his works
by line of shafting about two hundred
feet long Directly north of this building
on property owned by Mr.. Sherwood, the
width of Ovid Street intervening, and al
so on piles driven in the river, will be
built the foundry of the establishment
about forty feet square, and, constructed
in the same substantial manner. The
two buildings will probably be connected
by bridge or platform. The ground in
the vicinity being low, Mr.. Sherwood will
build five feet wall along the shore of
the river, from the mill to his own build
inc, and fill in with earth to the west line
Of the block 1t is expected that these
plans will be carried out and the manu-
flctury in full operation within one year
from the present time. Mr.. Sherwood's
well known energy and skill give guaran-
ty that the expectation will be realized.
Thus is inaugurated an enterprise
which considered in the light of it's i'm
mediate and prospective effects upon our
growth and prosperity, is almost of in.
calculablc Importance to our city and
county. These works will give constant
and remunerative employment to nearly
one hundred workmen at the start and
there is positively no room to doubt that
when the really unrivalled points of the
Sherwood wheel become more widely
known by actual working test, the de-
mand for it in the western States alone,
will require an enlargement of the facili-
ties for its manufacture at this point to
three or four times the dimensions Of
those contemplated now. Besides it will
prove the nucleus around which will gath
er other manufacturing enterprises, which
by their influence will add to our popula-
ton, trade and wealth. Our citizens owe
to Mr. Sherwood debt of gratitude for
his decision in this matter, and should,
and doubtless will, extend to him all the
encouragement and assistance in their
power to successfully set his enter
prise in motion
ANAMosA NoRTIIw EsTERN r. R-Judgc
Stacy, Of Anamosa, the President Of this
road, was in town on Wednesday, and in
conference with a number of our promi-
ncnt citizens in regard to matters con
nectcd with the prosecution of tie work
through our county. All that is needed
to put this enterprise in process of speedy
accomplishment, is the local aid required
alon" the line. Elections for the ) Der