Knoxville Whig and chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1875-1882, 1875-12-08
MANUFACTURING FURNITURE IN
KNOXVILLE.
a visit to the EstabIishment OF Aowes
a. Co.
FIRST Class Machinery. SkiufuI work.
men and Elegant work.


FIRST Glass Machinery, SkiufuI work
men and Elegant work.
Yesterday we visited the first elias,
Furniture Mandatory Of the Messrs
Howes & Co., and although we ex'
pected to see evidence Of prosperity
and success, knowing these geutlemeu
as we do, yet we were not prepared to
anticipate what we really saw. We
found the mandatory in every branch
Of its operations a scene of life and &C.
tivity.
The machinery of the establishment
is run entirely by water power,
and the power is one of the best
in the city, being sufficient, large
portion of the year, to run ten times as
much machinery rs is now used. The
large driving wheel, which drives all
the machinery of the concern, was
made by the Messrs. Howes them
selves, and gives evidence of their
thorough skill in the mechanical arts.
FIRST FLOOR.
On the first floor, or basement ofthe
building is the shafting and other fix
lures forrunning the machinery above,
all of which is admirably arranged
with special reference To economizing
space. In addition to this, there are
two turning lathes, which are kept
running constantly, turning out all
kinds of work done in an establish
ment of this kind. In addition
to turning for bedsteads and
other furniture, they do great deal of
work, for starways and other finishing
for private residences and public build
ings. They did the work for the
Athens Court House and have done
and are still doing work for the stair
ways of G. j. Meetings. elegant man
sion now in process of completion.
a SECOND FLOOR.
On the second floor they have in
operation splendid Surface and Dan
iels Palmer combined, one ordinary
cross-cut saw, two rip-saws, one fine
cross-cut saw, one Bouet's Carver
and Moulder, with dove-tailing attach
ment, one tenoning machine, one of
Fay's best Scroll saws, and one rout-
ing and boring machine, used for put
ting in the latest improved fastenings
for bedsteads. These are manufactured
by a Cincinnati House, and sold only
to manufacturers of such work. All
the above machinery is strictly first
class, having been selected by the
Messrs. Howes, who have spent their
whole lives in this business and know
just what is required.
On this floor we saw large number
OF patterns, for all sorts of scroll and
carved work, gotten up at considerable
cost. These patterns are made by Mr..
S. Howes, who also does the laying
off and exercises general superinten-
dence Of the mechanical department
of the establishment.
THIRD FLOOR.
On this floor we saw quite number
of workmen engaged in putting fur
niture in shape for the store room. We
saw here in process of construction,
desks, bureaus, lounges. marble top and
wooden top centre tables, safes, bed
steads, and many other articles too
tedious to mention, from the most ell
egant, good enough for the parlor of
the wealthy, down to the cheap and
necessary furniture for the kitchen of
the humble day laborer.
HANDS EMPLOYED.
Upon inquiry we learned that the
establishment now employs twenty
eight hands, who are paid from one
dollar, for the common laborer, to
three dollars per day for the skillful
mechanic. 1t is by furnishing en-
ployment to those desiring it, that
such establishments as this contrib
utes to the general prosperity of the
community in which they are located.
In connection with the mandatory
we notice large and commodious
stables where the horses of the firm
are kept and in which their drays, are
kept when not in use. They also have
q fine dry kiln, with capacity TO dry
1900 feet of lumber at time. They
expect soon to improve this by putting
in an evaporation, when they will have
facilities for drying lumber, equal to
any in the country.
STORE ROOM.
Their store room is on Gay street,
where specimens of their work can be
seen at all times. They, we are glad to
say, have been finding ready market
for their mandatory to its full capac-
Ivy, WIFI buo uuuDtT Ol uhnuS eIn-
ployed, all the time. They sell furni-
ture all over East Tennessee, in
Virginia, and in North
Georgia. Their work recommends
itself, and as they make it as cheaply
as it can be manufactured in the
Eastern cities and shipped here, they
certainly ought to be patronized. Their
is drawn from the country
adjacent to Knoxville and their work.
men all reside here, so that money
paid them for furniture remains at
home, instead of going off to more
prosperous localities and leaving us to
complain of hard times. We can con-
recommend these gentle
men to the patronage of the public.
Articles manufactured by them are
made of thoroughly seasoned lumber,
by skillful woIkmen and are bound to
give satisfaction.