Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-07-31
The Taaker Works.

THEIR SIZE, AND IMPORTANCE TO NEW CASTLE
PROGRESS OF CONSTRUCTIONS, DO.
The progress of New Castle in the past has
been slow, although Iron Works, Machine Shops,
and Railroad improvements have often been
talked Of, but little has been accomplished in any
direction until the present year. which brings us
to busy trial Of events. which, it is hoped will
prove a new departure for New Castle. The en-
ergy and enterprise which have been infused In
our little town by the advent OF Messrs. Morris
Tasker and Co., and the others, II less improve
ments. yet not to be deHpised, leave no doubt
but that we have entered upon new era for
capital has put its shoulder to the wheel, and the
result is Inevitable. Old prejndices are fast be-
ing eradicated, and the old fog yrule is over.
Great has been the necessity for all the aid
and continuance which Messrs. Tasker and Co.,
have lent us, and great it is to be hoped will be
| the result.
Since much attention has been attracted TO the
work Of the above named gentlemen, it would
perhaps be of general interest to know, what has
been done, what is now being pushed forward.
and what is expected to be accomplished.
The most notable, as yet, OF the improve
ments. is the rehtting OF the buildings generally
known as the Old Foundry. This property
| which for some years past has been misery
| to visitors, and disgrace to the enterprise of
| the town, in the hands of Meesrs Morris, ,Tssker
| d Co., presents an appearance OF aotivity and
| industry. The works, the first In active opera
tinn, consist of thraa separate buildings
enclosing large and commodious yards, the
main building having frontage on branch of
the P, W. 4 B. r. r. of, we should suppose,
| from 200 to $50 feet II contains the machine
shops, engine room office and moulding depart
| ment. The glaring capitals on the front. "The
Tasker Iron Works, Morris, Tasker y Co., speak
even louder than the ceaseless clank, clank OF
the iron hammers, or the continual whir OF the
| busy machinery.
l. This department, however IL we are correctly
informed, is to be but temporary, it's principal
| object being to facilitate the completion OF the
more extensive works now in progress.
Stepping on the construction train chartered
by Messrs. Morris, Tasker q Co.,, and used in the
building of branch road, which is to connect
and extend from the foundry to their other i'm
provements we pass, on the part OF this road al
ready completed, to the building known gener-
ally as the mile house. Here it is that the most
extensive Of the works are being erected. Three
of these buildings are now in the first stages OF
construction. They are to consist Of brick, the
aggregate length being from four to i've hun
dred feet, with an extension in the river OF two
hundred feet The extended width, as we were in
formed was to be 160 feet. Tho walls are q feet
thick. supported by arches which have founda-
tion in the ground OF 81 feet. These buildings
are to be the Rolling and lube Mills, and are the
only ones. at present. in actual construction
The river front ia very good, and to complete the
works is to be filled with docks extending seme
700 feet in the river the cribs for which are now
in course of construction, and will be put in po-
/
This department of the works will front ON
what is known as 7th street. Although this
street has not beon opened this far, it will be
extended as soon as is necessary, aud then the
thoroughfare known as the river road will be
shut on, and enclosed in the works.
| The branch r. R., which We have already
mentioned above, serves the Go. in two ways
being built upon the bank of the river. it viii
strengthen it, thus making it one OF the beet OF
the Delaware, and will serve as q protection
from the highest tides.
When it is known that Messrs, Norris Taskel
& Co. employ in their extensive works in Phiia
a round 5000 workmen, and that correspond
ing amount Of wealth is necessarily employed IL
their business, it will be'easily seen that thei
removal to New Castle will give the town an i'm
mense Impulse, and II is little wonder that W.
| are more or less excited.
Speculation could easily plunge head and ear
into this subject, but it is useless. We must wal
and see how the venture is to end. That there
will be a great change cannot be doubted bu
whether we will ever be city, depends upor
the energy and enterprise Of our people.