The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-11-29
BRIDGEPORT.
II. Manufacturing Interests.

lis Manufacturing Interests.
Bridgeport, although not so extensive
in area or population rs her nelgh6ors,
BeIIsire and Martins Ferry, yet has
q number OF manufacturing establish
ments, which turn out first class WORK,
and through the psnlcky times OF the
last few wears have held their OWL and
run steadily on, while many more pre-
tentious establishments have succumoed
to the pressure and gone under. First,
we notice the
LA BELLE GLASS WORKS.
This company transferred their works
and machinery, from Wheeling IN 1877:
and erected a commodious and convenient
factory, Just on the southern limit OF the
Bridgeport corporation. The furnace Is
An unusually large and convenient ten
pot" which when pushed has turned
out forty tons OF manufacturing
glass IN one week, something almost un-
precedented in the production OF one
furnace.
The company have an extensive mach
inc shop connected with the factory, ID
which they manufacture all OF their own
mouIds. The valuation OF the stock IN
this department alone Is, at low estl-
mate, $4,000 They also manufacture
all their own pots bringing the clsy Tor
this purpose, which must be OF q pecuIl-
ar nature to withstand the intense heat,
from Missouri The pots as they stand
| driving IN the warm room used Tor Lhal
purpose resem BILE baby elephants, and
stran ger might easily imagine himself IN
q nursery for future great menagerle.
The company lease extensive coal lands
Immediately adjoining the works, aud
tramway leading from the mine directly
down to the factory, delivers the coal
| Just where it Is wanted. The cost OF L
| IS much less than the fuel OF most other
factories, and this fact gives the La Belle
u great advantage in thls respect. Not
| only do they have this advantage, bat
they cconomize still further IN
coking all the slack coal, and selling
considerable quantity OF this coAe
over wnat they use themselves, to lac
| E.Ha Iron Works The best material
that can be obtained Tor manufacturing
glass is always purchased by this compa-
n.y. The soda ash is imported direct
from England, While Huntingdon coun
ty Pa, furnishes the sharp white sand
necessary tor fine glass making. The
machinery in the cutting and engraving
departments is tirst-class. Many OF the
stones for cutting and polishing toe
finest work are imported, and have been
procured at a heavy expense. The
whole outfit of TIA works has been In
creasedand extended until it is now SUI
perior to that Of the LIZ Belle Company
lie ore its removal to Bridgeport. The
capital stock of the company is 100000,
all paid up. The average value OF the
annual productions is about 20 per cent.
more than the capital stock, or Sl2O,OOO
The dividends average 10 per cent. al
nually, although the semi annual divi
dend in July last was only a per cent.
The total liabilities OF the company are
less than $4,000. The trading OF
the last six months has been
very active and the orders have taxed
the capacity of the works to the utmost
and are still coming in unusually well
for this time of year. 1t is probable that
the works will run at least until Christ
mss.
Such an excellent showing leads me
to examine into its causes. Among the
frs: of them is the excellent quality OF
the glass made, the variety and novelty
of the patterns and the fidelity with
which the tine cut ware is worked out.
An acquaintance with the men in charge
verldes the idea given by the excellent
exhibit, financial aud otherwise.
L. p. Rhodes, president OF the com
pany, has been connected with it in this
capacity ever since its existence in Bridge
port. He gives il much of his time and
| personal attention, and to his untiri1g
energy and push, as much as to any other
cause, its success Is due.
MIR. f. Z. WInship is the gentlemsnly
secretary OF the company, and
manages It's extensive correspondence
and Its financial and office business with
skill and ability. The furnace and man.
| ufacturing department is in charge OF
MIR. Andrew II. Bags, than whom there
| ls no more efficient mansger, and who
understands all the details of the work
from the first heating and filing of the
pots till the finished product is delivered to
the cutting aud packing room. Mr..
James Cox, one OF the best engravers
and cutters Of glass In the country, has
charge of the cutting department, and
permits no inferior work to go from un-
der his hands. Tommy Slane takes pos
session OF the finished product and sees
1t securely packed Tor shipment. He I'M
derstand the Storeage o. much in little
space, and knows exactly where every
thing you cal Tor is, from the smallest
wine glass to the largest fruit dish. There
are about l25 employees engaged II the
factory. The relations existing between
these and the managers are pleasant and
satisfactory, and they, wisely, have never
engaged in any strikes At an early day
we shall describe the E.ns Iron Works
and other manufacturing Establishments. !