Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-06-03
AT wORK AGAIN.
Home Enterprise and Energy.
A Mandatory Worth some
thing and Worthy Of
Emulation.

urn OF James a Uranam have
again entered the field, and are
ready for service. Ninety days
ago their establishment on Jefferson
street, below Third, was converted
Into a mass of ruins by the fire fend,
destroying in a short hour or two over
$4,000 worth ofproperty. theresult of
long years of toll and labor. They
had but $4,000 of insurance upon
their property, less than half of their
loss; but, undaunted by such a mis-
hap, they at once went to work to re-
build their structure and
set it going again. The es-
adjustment resumed full operations
yesterday, and over 20 men we're on
duty, when numerous visitors, includ-
ing merchants and citizens, called in
to witness the resumption process. 1t
was in response to invitations sent out
by the energetic proprietors, and they
RECALLED their visitors in the most hos
pitable manner with refreshments, in
Guiding lemonade and other palatable
draughts. Various bumpers of wine
were quafFed with relish, and toasts
we're offered for the future prosperity
of the new works, together with good
luck and good health to the
worthy proprietors and their indus
trious assistants.
The new structure of the wagon
making firm of James & Graham is
an establishment worthy of descrip-
ton, being among the most important
of our manufacturing enterprises at
the present time. 1t occupies the site
Of the former building, numbers 92
and 98 Jefferson street; fronts
107 feet on Jefferson and
extends to the rear AS
feet, is three stories high and built Of
brick in the most approved and sub
.stantial manner. In addition, they
have a lumber yard on the east, and
on the west the old livery stable, 70 by
l48 feet, is utilized as a storage ware
house. Mr.. l. D. Finch, the super
intendent of the works. who spent his
life in the wagon making business
and understands every thing pertain
ing to it, took pains yesterday to
explain the art of wagon making
and the delicate working of its
machinery to every inquirer. On the
first or ground floor of the factory is
the Office, comfortably arranged in one
corner, and the repository or show
room where finished work is exhibited.
In the rear Of this is a lot of machin-
cry of the most interesting character
and of wonderful ingenuity. Among
them are surface planers, shaping
machines, wood-polishers, heading,
rip, cutoff and pointing saws, box
settlers; an iron lath for bending tires;
blacksmith shop; power punches;
an interesting trip hammer to pound
red hot iron into any desired shape;
an Oliver hammer for heading bolts
neat and smooth; a tire furnace to heat
a wagon tire red hot all around in
less than five minutes; a strange but
useful machine to cut wooden axels
into any desired shape. There is also
a forty horse power steam enginein the
rear, and the whole is carefully pro-
tected so as to prevent accidents by fire.
There are other machines besides
those named, together with a large
stock Of material, ready at hand for
immediate use.
On the second floor are skein settlers,
gaming machines for turning axles,
morticing and tenanting machines;
a tanging machine to cut spoke ends;
a felloe rounding machine; a dowel-
ling machine, to cut and fasten the
ends of felloes; an axle lathe, and
other interesting apparatus, the most
oft worked by steam, also a sheet
iron room, heated by steam pipes to
season timber.
On third or upper floor, material is
stored for use as wanted, and an ample
stock is kept on hand for the purpose.
The hickory timber used for axles is
obtained near Bells Station, Tennes-
see, and is pronounced the best in
the world. The oak, of which
much is used, comes from up
the Paducah railway; ash
for the poles or tongues is also of Ten.
nessec growth, while Arkansas sup
plies pine to make the sides, poplar
being used for their bottom. The Iror
is all brought from Chattanooga; henc,
almost every particle of the materia
used is Of Tennessee production
The hubs and spokes are brought
from Metropolis, ILL.,, where the!
are made by a large concern o
the best material, and are SOLE
in lots at lower prices than they cal
be made here,
At their full capacity, the Wagon
firm works over 100 hands, and thei
nav roll each Monday ranges from