The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-12-20
The R,na Iron and Nall Mil.

lBy our old Hmploye)
This institution Is q tangible example
Of the Darwlnian theory. It is an evolu:
lion Of one enterprise out Of another, and
the result OF the process Is about as unlike
liz origin as are the cruel hawks to the
gentle doves from which Darwin derives
them. We will note the process. In 1859
". W. Holloway, Of Bridgeport, Ohio,
sold one hundred acres Of land lying o lit
tie north oi that town and fronting on the
river to Messrs. Zimmerman, Seybold u
Hslsm. About this time the special mania
Of people hereabouts was vineyards,
grapes, and "wine that maketh the heart
glsd." So tho gentlemen named organized
company, in 1865, under the title Of the
wheeling and Belmont Grape and Wine
aud Mining Association" to whom they
sold llS acres for $4,000. Lewis Jones,
Of Wheeling, bought from Mr.. Woods 40
acre coal privilege, which he also turned
over to the wine company. The vine
yard and wine part Of the enterprise was
carried on until the company had ex-
pended, including the cost Of the land,
over $4,000, when 1t was found to be
practically q failure. They still had their
land and their more valuable coal. From
this wine company, with number OF sd-
litions, was evolved the Etna Iron and
Nail Company, to whom the whole pro.
perty was turned over at $4,000. In
January, 1873, the company was fully Or
vanized with W. W. Holloway. Lewis
Jones, E. P. Rhodes, A. G. Robinson, l..
Spence, T. R. Moffat and Daniel Davis as
Directors. ..-..a
Mr.. Holloway was elected President
aud W. II. Tallman Secretary. In March,
1873, building operations were commenc'
ed under the management Of Lewis Jones,
ESQ., The Mil was pushed vigorously for
ward aud on the 10Th day Of this December
i,male It's trial run. The mill proper Is
200 feet long, and one hundred feet wide.
10 this building are the four Heating fur
uaces and one .Annealing furnace, and
The machinery which consists Of two sets
oimuck rolls 20 inch train, and squeez-
e; one sheet mill, 30 inch train. This
machinery Is driven by six hundred
horse power engine, 80 inch bore and i've
and a half feet stroke, with fly, wheel
weighing iorty-seven tons. One sixteen
inch bar train, one 0 inch guide train,
with crushcr, shears, lathe and other
machinery are driven by another engine,
"a inch bore and SO inch stroke. The
steam is supplied from battery OF i've
boilers, 60 feet long and 40 inches In
diameter, with two lues in each. The
water for the boilers is brought from the
river into six large clGterns, each = BY
l2 feet, by an 8 inch steam pump, - inch
cylinder, IA inch stroke. with 80 strokes
per minute, throwing seven gallons to
the stroke. The boiling department Is q
wing building, one hundred and eighteen
feet long by sixty.flv feet wide, and con-
tAins twelve boiling furnaces. J..
The power and capacity Of this mill Is
moi surpassed by any, other in the coun.
Try. The warehouse Is one hundred and
ten feet long by seyenty.five wide, one
end two stories high, the upper story
used for the offices Of the company. The
whole building Is OF brick and covered
with slate. The products will be all kinds
Of sheet iron, fire bed and boiler plate,
merchant iron from 3.16 round and square
up to s inches. Flats from i.inch ITO 8
inches wide, and Of any thickness; I Rail
from 8 to 40 lbs. per yard; fiat counter
sunk and punched rails, or any other kind
In the country. ---,r.. -
All the machinery has been thorough.
Iy tried and the first product OF iron
proves to be Of excellent quality.
The company own 100 acres OF coal
aud command the entrance to vast field
lying behind them. This fuel Is deliver
ed directly from the bank into all the bins,
Upon their lands the company have laid
out town lots on twelve acres and have
sold 10 lots, upon IL Of which houses have
been built. There are also IS houses be-
longing to the company. With oil their
immense resources we do not see why
this concern should not be one Of the
most prosperous in the country. They
expect to commence building their Nail
department next spring. ---