Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-08-17
HOME INTERESTS.
Southern Wagon FactOry-Memphis
Enterprise Ahead.

OF tennessee, MISSISSIPPI ArkansaS ana
Alabama, have been purchasing wagons
of Northern manufacture. These were
discovered to be of inferior quality and
totally unfit for plantation use. To
remedy this growing evil, some eight
years ago a Southern Wagon Factory
was started in this city by
MEssRs. JAMES & RoosA,
practical and scientific mechanics. Be
lieving that they could construct a
wagon superior to any constructed in
the North, and better adapted to the
Southern climate, they commenced ex
perimenting in this city, and established
wagon factory on Jefferson street, on
the site of their present immense estab-
lishment. In seven years they increased
the size of their factory from thirty-seven
to one hundred and ten feet front, and at
present they employ thirty-six skillful
mechanics, who, aided by the most i'm
proved machinery, turn out thirty wagons
every week. The works are located at
NOS. 80 AND "a JEFFERSON STREET.
The ground floor in front is devoted to
the wagon storeroom, the hardware store
and the business office. In rear the black
smith shop gives employment to large
number of hands, each of whom works
on one piece as a specially, thereby illus
trating the benefits of division of labor.
The hub-boring machine near by is
wonderful invention. In sixteen seconds
the hub is bored out ready for the box.
A belt saw shapes out different portions
of the woodwork. The entire ma
chinery on the ground floor and above
is driven by twenty-five horse power
engine. Up stairs a spoke and tenant
machine, and a machine for shaping
holsters and other pieces, are in full
blast. A drying-room, where hubs,
spokes, felloes, etc., are dried by steam,
is worthy of notice. Every portion of
wagon subject to contraction or ex-
pansion is here dried in the most
perfect manner. In another portion
of the building the wagons are
painted and finished by scientific work
men, many of the wagons being adorned
in the highest style of art The wood
used in the construction of these superior
wagons is Tennessee white-oak, brought
from Hatchie bottom, oak and locust
from St. Louis and the Ohio river, and
of which there is stock on hand, with
other materials, sufficient to build fifteen
hundred wagons. A visit to the
SOUTHERN WAGON FACTORY
will convince the most incredulous that
Memphis-made wagon must, OF neces-
sity, be in every way superior to any
manufactured further north. The adj
vantages are apparent. You can see
every piece of wood that goes into the
wagon, and it is evident that the great
est skill and care are employed in the
Northern made wagons
you know nothing about until too late to
remedy the evil. The James Il Roosa
wagons are made of the very best Sc
lected timber; they are the lightest run
ming wagons in the market by twenty
per cent. they are better made and bet
ter painted than any other wagon; they
are ironed with Tennessee charcoal iron,
and are sold under full guarantee for
one year.
We should, by all means, encourage
HOME MANUFACTURE,
and especially so when the article manu-
factured at home is so superior to that
gotten up in the North The James &
Roosa wagons took the premiums over
Ill Northern manufactures at the great
St. Louis fairs of 1869 and 1870, and
carried off nine premiums at the Shelby
County (Memphis) fairs of 1868, 1869
md 1870. The manufacturers of these
Southern wagons send them to all the
Southern States. Only few days since
|. gentleman residing at Mariana, Fla,
tent an order for one OF James & Roosa's
pest wagons, stating that he relied upon
hem to ship him one similar to those on
exhibition last year. He further stated
hat the planters in his vicinity had been
erribly victimized by Northern wagon
actories, and they had determined to
,atronize home manufacture hereafter
" introducing the James & Roosa wagon
n their respective localities. Possessing
III these advantages, and Endorsed by the
eading men and merchants Of Memphis
IS we'll as the planters of Tennessee and
.djoining States, no wonder the people
# Memphis feel pride in the Southern
Wagon Factory, which has grown great
rom small beginnings beneath the genius
nd mechanical skill of the enterprising
Torkmen, Messrs. James & Roosa, who
ave been working for years to create {
establishments in this
ity.
lee cold meIOns-Cfty Ice House.