Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1871-05-26

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world OF difficulties is very good
demonstration Of the proftableness
of manufactures here.
J.. G. WHITNEY
Also has a neat little Machine Shop
on the west side of the river, and is
a skillful workman. Mr.. Whitney
is the inventor of a Seeder, and has
heretofore engaged quite extensively
in their manufacture. lie has a
contract the present season to manu-
facture quantity of reapers of a
new patent. The business OF this
establishment is also growing stead
lily.
Last but not least in this line we
notice the preparations making by
: Mr.. Samuel Sherwood, for the manu-
facture of his unequalled
TURBINE WATER WHEEL.
This wheel has created some sen
sation and interest among mill men,
from the fact that in several appar-
emily fair and equal tests with water
wheels established reputation and
excellence, it has carried off the
palm of victory in every instance.
In consequence of the many orders
he has received for wheels, Mr..
Sherwood has concluded to manu-
facture and sell them on his own
account, and to commence such
manufacture here. He has accord
ingly commenced the erection of a
large machine shop and foundry on
the west side Of the river, just north
of the Touring mill, the power for
which is to be supplied by one OF
his own wheels located in the mill.
The building will be of brick with
granite foundations. It will be A
BY 1874 feet, and one story Of 20 feet.
The capital employed in the estab-
lishment will be about $4,000, and
the number of workmen in constant
employment about fifty. While the
manufacture of Mr. Sherwood's
wheel will be the main feature OF
the establishment, all work usual to
a machine shop and foundry will be
| done.
WAGONS AND CARRIAGES.
The manufacture ofwagons forms
in the aggregate q considerable item
in our productive industry. There
are five establishments more or less
engaged in the business of manu-
facturinp wagons for sale. They
are: J. c. Ransier, Dale ~ Hin
man, What & Bro, Klotzbach a.
Co.. and O. +. Hunt. The aggre
gate business of these firms for the
last twelve months-which has been
less favorable for business than any
similar length of time for some
years-was about $4,000.
In addition to the above named
industries, our city has all those
usual in towns of the same class.
Among them we note the saw, plan
ing and turning establishments OF
II. Gurnsey and Klotzbach u Co.,
the furniture factories of S. nj.
Marquette and J. G. Glass, the cigar
factory of w. II. Stumble, the mar
bic factory Of VIM. HARDWOOD, and
others.
WHAT INDEPENDENCE NEEDS.
1t is fact that independence has
nearly reached her highest point as
grain market. Indeed, that trade
is now SO large that we can afford
to let it take care of itself, so to
speak, while we look to other
channels to future greatness. We
must expend our energies in other
directions.
We have made a good commence
ment. The location of Mr.. Sher-
woods mill wheel factory will
doubtless be followed by other en-
terprises of important character.
In any event our future prosperity
lies in our own hands, and if we
close our hands to laudable enter
priscs the car Of progress will pass
on while we are hcsitating and
leave us behind forever. Commu-
mites all about us are embracing
every means presented to them cal
culatcd to shape favorably their
destiny. These opportunities are
in their turn offered to us, and the
exercise of little far seeing liber
atty and effort will place our city
beyond the reach Of those influences
which cause her to languish or
flourish, as the grain market re-
cedes or advances. Much remains
for us to do in this matter Of en-
enlargement to manufactures. We
may number a population of ten
thousand at the end of ten years If
we will it. We want more of those
productive industries which while
thew make other communities trlbu
tary to us, at the same time stop
the enormous drain which is con
tinualIy being made from us.
What we want are factories Of
various kinds, so as not to form
competition at home. What we al
ready have are valuable and could
not well be spared from our midst.
We should say that the first thing
worthy of our consideration is shops
for the manufacture of agricultural
implements and machinery. One
hunared a9d twenty-eight car <oa"s
of these implements were shipped
to independence from other locali-
ties last year. In this state Of
things is there a doubt that such
factories would pay?
Suppose capital were invested
here of 100000, no more than the
capital Of the mill company; 1t
would give employment to at least
one hundred laborers, mostly me-
chanics, who would receive upon an
average $3.50 per day or $1,000 per
week. Now with this amount Of
money placed in the hands of the
laboring men, is it hard to see how
every member of the community
will be benefited thereby? Most
of these would be men with families,
and we could safely estimate three
inhabitants to each employe. This
would add to the population 300
inhabitants, little village Of itself.
These results are not visionary.
They have been realized in towns