Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-05-09
NO. 90.

consln-one of four remarkable broth
ers, respectively of the four states of
! Maine, Massachusetts,, Illinois and Wis
conSln-distinguished not only in those
states but In the councils of the nation.
and one of them, our late worthy min
lister to France. The building of the
Washburn mill is of stone 100 feet
wide by 13S feet deep. six stories high,
walls SIX feet thick at bottom, running
out to 20 inches at top, with gravel roof
and iron cornice. There are 42 run of
stone, which make about 12S revolutions
per minute, driven by wheels of i'm
mense size, which are moved by two
large columns of water brought from
the river into the mill, and which fill
two iron tubes six feet in diameter at
top and five at bottom, with a length
of tube and fall of water of 45 feet,
each column turning 81 run of stone.
1t IS thoroughly provided with all the
modern improvements and provisions
for the prevention and extinguishment
of fire. The flour of the Washburn
mill, bearing its famous trade mark, is
made from the best quality of Mime
sofa spring wheat, in which there is a
far greater proportion of gluten than in
winter wheat, and is from this fact ad-
mitted to be much more nutritious than
flour made from the latter, and is also
greatly more economical as from actual
experiment it is found to yield per bar
rel from 40 to so pounds more bread
than winter wheat flour. These i'm
portant facts, brought to the knowledge
of the English public, through the repu-
tation oftheWashburn mill and its super
lor flour, have caused quite a sensation
among the millers of old England.
Hence, we notice in recent article of
the London Globe, under the head of
Cheaper Flour" it is said sour mil
lers among others are apprehensive
that the aggressive Yankee is contem-
plating raid in their preserves and
and something like CONSERVATION is the
result" New markets must be found
and a swOop down on English trade by
the predacious millers of Minnesota is .
gravely apprehended. Minneapolis,
the capital of Minnesota, would appear
to be the head quarters of the milling
fraternity in the states. 1t is situated
IN the midst of corn-growing region,
and It's numerous streams give it the
advantages of unlimited water-power,
of which it takes advantage to drive
200 pairs of mill-stones. The English
Miller says that some idea of the
amount of wheat dealt with in these
mills may be found from the fact that
from the first of September to the first
of November last, nearly 133, 900 bush
els passed into these establishments.
Representative ofAmerican millers"
(agentS of MeSSrs Christian & Co. !
are already amongst us, it is said"
Instead of these mills grinding $4,000
bushels In tauO months as in the above
extract represented, they grind 100000
bushels in one month"; The Washburn
mill itself grinds 10000 bushels per
month, and makes per day from 900 to
200 barrels of flour.
This mill is not rented, but is operat-
ed and controlled by the firm of J. A.
Christian q Co., of which Mr.. Wash
burn is member. The value of the
building and machinery, exclusive of
land, water-power and foundation, is
estimated at 100000. The Messrs.
Christians, who are the practical man
ayers of the mill, are two brothers,
men highly qualified for such a
charge, and of the strictest integrity, so
that while the business is conducted
skilfully-sO it is most honorably. All
honor and success therefore to the
managers of the great Washburn Mill
Manufacturers Fire Insurance Guide.