The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1872-08-10
AurOr1.

We (the I0cal paid our first visit to Aurora on
Monday last, and 1t is seldom We have to record
such an agreeable visit. Starting breakfastless
at A. ~, a two hours ride whetted our appe.
tite. which was duly sppeased at the Empire
House, the proprietor OF that hostslry, B. Bis
berry, doing all that host could do, not only to
satisfy the cravings Of the stomach, but also to
render the visit in other respects PLEASANT.
The matutinal meal ended, We naturally grav-
itated to the newspaper Offices and the editors
ard proprietors of the Beacon and Herald, as
we'll as the Edwards Directory Company, have
our thanks for favors extended.
In the way of manufactures, the city of Auro-
possesses two central points Of attraction, the
Aurora Silver Plating Company and the locomo.
tive and car works of the c., B. q @. R.R.
The former establishment is ono of the most
extensive OF its class in this country, employing
no less than sixty hands in its various depart
merts, many Of the employees being females.
The company has labored under considerable
difficulties since its inception in 1869. The
works were first established in an old woolen
mill, where the business was carried ON under
great disadvantages In July 1871 the manu-.
factory was burnt to the ground, all the books,
papers and an accumulated stock of goods being
destroyed. Nothing dauntsd, the company erect
| ed its present commodious and convenient prem
Uses, which were first occupied on the 1st of Jan.
uary of the current year.
| Under the guidance of DR.. Baxter, the secreta.
| ry and business manager Of the company, we
visited the establishment on Monday, and Wit
messed the various processes through which the
articles manufactured pass, from tho moulding
of the composition to its plating and engraving.
The crowning glory Of the establishment is the
sample room, where specimens Of the goods are
displayed in elegant show cases. Here the beau.
ty of design and the artistic qualities of the
ware fairly confound the eyes, In these respects
the company is without q rival, but want Of
space forbids particularizing.
After dinner we visited the railroad shops, be-.
ing chaperoued thereto by Holmes: Miller, ESQ.,,
Treasurer of the Northern Illinois Fair, of Au.
rora. Arrived at the shops, we were introduced
to Mr.. E. T. Prindle, superintendent of the 10.
comotive department, under whose wing We mi
nutely inspected the locomotive works, receiving
much valuable information from Mr.. Prinde az
we passed from shop to shop Some idea Of the
magnitude of the works may be formed from the
; facts that two engines of one hundred horse
power each are required as motors and that
1,40O men are employed in the locomotive de
parrment alone, when in full operation.
This branch having been inspected, our party
was handed over to Mr.. w. w. Wilcox, super.
intendent Of the car and carpenter departments
This section gives employment to 800 operatives
upholsterers, painters &C., SC. Work is now
chiefly directed to the building Of platform cars,
of which one hundred are turned out each month
We were shown a sleeping car, the City of Bog
ton, which cost s25 900. Two classes Of passen'
ger coaches are built. costing $4,000 and $4,000
respectively, while Pullman palace cars range
from $4,000 to $4,000 each.
We were also indebted to James Flower, fore
man of blacksmiths, for kindness in explaining
} to US the steam hammers and other machinery
in his department
The oil house is quite curiosity in its line
The building is fire proof and has storage ca.
pacity for $4,000 gallons Of oil. The variou.
kinds of oil are stored in iron vats in the base
ment, from which the lubricators are raised by
a steam pump. The road consumes $4,000 gal
Ions Of various oils per month.
Messrs. Bissel & Miller, employees in the ca,
shops, have lately invented and patented grain
car door, disiderstum which has been Ions
sought for ty railroad companies Mr. Mile,
showed us the door, which seems to answer all
the requirements, it being perfectly grain tight
and at the same time cannot be detached from,
the car.
The inspection Of the shops occupied most Of
the afternoon, and left but little time for other
sight seeing. Cursory 40 the visit was we were
thoroughly convinced that Aurora was q wide.
awake, whole.souled city, and our rambles were
80 very satisfactory 40 to make Us resolve to
again wend our way thither ON the earliest oc-
casiOn. a r.t....
The Seneca man who favors the nationality.
political traffic has put in another appearance in
the last issue of the Ottawa Republican. In an.
swer, would remind him that, to become cit.