The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-02-25
WHEELING INDUSTRIES,
BY OH Old Enploye.
TIE RIVERSIDE MILL.

BY or Old EnplOye.
TIE RIVERSIDE MILL.
Although the Riverside % the youngest
Of the great Nail Institutions within the
city limits, lts lnltiAtory point dates As far
back as the year 1852, and we must trace
tie history step by step from that date. In
the year 1852, z. O. Dewey, Of Cadiz,
Ohio, came 70 Wheeling and at the head
Of what Is now 26th street built the EAGLE
WIRE MILL; a small concern having five
boiling and two heating furnaces. The
various guSges Of wire in common use
were manufactured; the factory was also
provided with trip hammer and other
machinery designed Tor the manufacture
Of Axles. The object seemed TO be 10
make the works the nucleus ofsome great
enterprise, the scope and character Of
which was not exactly defined in the
mind Of the protector. The works were
operated with Indifferent success until
some time in the year 1855 when they
suspended and remained idle until 1858,
in which year the concern again COM
menCed operations under lease to ]. q
Pendleton & Co. These gentlemen en-
gagged In the manufacture Of bar iron Of
the lighter guages, also railroad spikes,
making very successful run until the
year 1859 when the works were burned.
They were rebuilt, heweVer, in the same
year.
Early in the year 1850, by lease from
Chauucey Dewey, they became the prop
erty Of o. c. Dewey, also Of Cadiz Ohio,
who associated with himself ]. N. Vance
and W. H. Russell, Of Wheeling. These
gentlemen, with a capital Of fifteen thou.
sand dollars, commenced operations un-
der the title Of Dewey, Vance & Co., and
the factory was known as the Wheeling
Iron and Spike Works, which title was
afterwards changed TO that of the Junists
Iron Works The products Of the mill
took firm hold on the market, and in
theitem Of railroad spikes were without q
superior. The firm was among those
who gathered an abundant harvest from
the immensely stimulated trade which
existed all through the war, the demands
Of which we're met by large additions to
the works. In 1885 theiproject Of build.
ing nail mill was agitated and finally
determined upon. In iurthersnce Of the
enterprise the partnership was largely ex.
tended, embracing N. Wilkinson, John
D. Culbertson, and number Of expert
enced employees. Chauncey Dewey, the
owner OF the works, also became q mem.
Der Of the firm, and the works we're alb.
sorbed into the capital stock.
The Company purchased the Eof pro-
perry, lying Immediately north OF the
Belmont mill, for which they paid $l2,-
900. This property embraced whole
square, and extends from Main street to
the river. On the corner Of Main and
24th streets they erected the nail factory,
and adjoining that another large build
ing for their heating furnaces, plate rohs,
shears and other machinery. The con-
struction ofthe works progressed leisurely
through the year 1887 under the most
careful supervision, in order that it might
be representative mill.
During the summer Of 1857 William L.
Herne, retired capitalist from New
York city became a member Of the COM
psDy. In December the mill was com.
pleted with torty.eight machines in pc.
sition and represented capital of $780,
900. The boiling furnaces in the old
mill al the head Of Goth street, had been
increased TO twenty-five and these run.
ming double turns increased the original
capacity OF the works nine times. In
1870, forty-two machines were added
bringing the number up to ninety, max
ing the full complement contemplated in
the erection Of the mill. The Riverside
ought TO be, and we presume is, one Of the
very best appointed Nail establishments
in this country. LII the light Of expert
ence its founders had the advantage Of all
that had been accomplished by their pre-.
decessors. The Nortons, and Bailey,
Woodward s. Co., (the latter perhaps the
most eminently practical men engaged in
the business) had literally revolutionized
the trade, had given Wheeling a reputA.
ton for the quality and finish OF her
nails such as placed her far in advance Of
any other city in the United States.
The propretors Of the Riverside had
the question Of building under cousidcra.
ton for several years and all the facts
bearing on the business had been care
fully studied.
oIthe company it may be said that
there is not combination in the city or
elsewhere embracing greater amount of
financial ability, and its business affairs
afford ample testimony Of the success
which has thus far attended Its manage
ment That the company have no! been
mere copyists is eviuced by the fact that
several very important improvements
have originated with Its membership. The
use Of fifteen inch plate, a plate which
gives q very large per centage Of increase
TO the productive capacity OF mill with.
out any increase in the number Of ma
chines, was first introduced into
the Wheeling mills by the River
side Company They have also made an
Improvement in the arrangement for
catching, and also for showing un-
der nail plate, the machinery of
which is the invention OF one
OF the firm, and was patented in
1879. Some important chauges In the
method Of blueing nails are also OF their
anpUPatinn and all ihair Ir,n.o,.s,..,