The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-10-22

The Extensive Soap Factory Of
warnock 4 2ulston.


, announcer OF the 0aAufaetOr1os Of kock lsiano
The importance and influence of our cit.
demands that we chronicle oil the msnufac
tories of our city, and while we should maxi
mention of the new ones, and new enter
prises, not to leave unmentioned ant
unnoticed the old ones, some OF which ar
fully as important and necessary to the eve
en- creasing popularity and business of on
city as those already spoken Of in thes'
columns.
To day we would direct the attention o
our readers to the extensive soap factory o.
Messrs. Warnock l. Ralston, situated on the
corner of Canal and St. Clair streets, in THU
city.
In the year 1858. two young men, Messrs
Warnock and Kelly, bought an old frame
building, standing on the lot above men
toned, moved an old barD-which they also
purchased for the purpose they had in view
up against it, put in the Necessary
amount of apparatus, and commenced the
manufacture of soap They performed al
their own work. save the occasional help O.
one man, and lsbored from day to day viii
a deternin alton to prove to our citizens tina
soap could be made in Rock Island, which
fact was doubted by many il
this vicinity. They persevered. ii!
they had thoroughly convinced the unbeliev
ers that soap could be manufactured il
Rock Island IS we'll. or as surely as Chicago
or ST. Louis. From the start they had &c
contend with the strongest opposition from
those cities, who desired monopoly, snG
strove to control the soap trade of thi,
vicinity. They we're forced to work 70,
nothing for the first year or two, and also
had to offer extra inducements to induce 9
trial merely of their soap-to these fact.
many of our citizens of that early date can
testify. But they were young men, no.
easily dauBsed, and by perseverance and
industry finally overcame all opposition and
fairly run all other soaps but theirs out Of
the market.
| They manufactured, at that time, only
about 2,0CO pounds OF soap per week, which
was turned out by the use of old fashioned
apparatus of that period. They also manu-
featured candles. the summer consumption
of which was very light, and consequent,
confined the more extensive manufacture OF
those articles to the winter season, during
which time they turned out on An averag.
about a ton per week
| In the fall Of 1862, the firm commenced
the manufacture OF lard oil, al article which
WAS not to be procured short of Iowa City or
| Chicago at that time. They met with such
success with this new project: that they at
one time received an order from
Chicago. for q quantity, in preference,
to eastern oil. During all these years their
business has been steadily on the increase,
and has nee essitsted the building of many
additions to their old factory, until the year
1863. when, becoming displeased with their
old works, and feeling that their increasing
business demanded more space, they tore
down their old standby and erected 81
extensive and com modious two-story, ston.
fac,ory-ou which no expense was spared to
make it suitable for their wants. The
building cost them s. 900, but it's equal
could not now be built short CT double tina,
amount.
From 1868 till the present time, the latest
improvements have been substituted for old
ones, new apparatus have been added, and
now the firm boast of having the finest soap
factory in the west.
The junior partner, Mr.. James Kelly,
disposed of his interest in the firm TO Mr.
Robert Ralston, 10 the year 1866, aud re
tired. The firm name was then changed to
Wsrnock & Ralston under whose able mai
agement the business is still conducted.
The method of sosp-making the various
changes effected in the process, ETC., ma,
not be embarrassing to those who use tn.
soap made BY this firm. Weappend short
description from notes taken by Us to dav.
The old scraps, grease. ley, soda ash,
rosin, etc, which 60 TO form the ingredients
are first put into tank or kettle (havine .
capacity of 4, 200 pounds), and are boiled
clesnsed and thoroughly prepared for tn.
next operation. After preparation, the
matter is removed from the kettle to the
large tank, which is made of wood, lined
With boiler iron, with the exception of the
lower part of the tank, which is made of cas-,
iron this tank has q capacity of 10000
pounds. The matter is boiled for three day.
in this tank, and is then conducted into the
cooling and mixing machine, from which,
after being thoroughly cooled and mixed. i,
is drawn off into frames that run on wheels.
and left for three or four days, until it as
sumes solidi,y, when it is put on to the
slabbing machine aud cut into slabs TIL.
slabs are then placed Oh the stamping and
eating machine, and stamped with the
firms brand and cnt into small bars, which
are then laid away on racks to dry. After
drying, the bars are packed in boxes and
are ready for market. The firm turn out
about 10000 pounds OF soap per week
Down stairs are the furnaces for heating the
tanks or kettles used up stairs, the
furnaces and kettles used in trying
out tallow tor candles, the candle room,
in which are three machines, costing 500
each, and capable of turning out from 500
to 600 pounds per day, and the press for
making lard oil, of which article they turn
out from $50 and 200 barrels during III.
Messrs. Warnock and Ralstou are
included among our most worthy and
responsible citizens. and have by strict
attention to business and to the wants of the
public succeeded in establishing in Rock
Island one of the largest soap factories in
The West. Their business capacities have
been severely tested and have been proved
IN ho q mnpo tho has& TIKI.