River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-08-11
IMPROVEMENTS.
The Old Prairie hill Casts Aside Its An
cient Machinery for the Modern
Improved.

River Falls has always maintained
a slow but steady growth, and this
has nowhere been more apparent
than in her milling interest, which
though small at first has gradually de-
veloped and expanded until it is and
will be for many years to come one of
the leading industries of the town.
Situated in one of the finest wheat
growing sections of the state. with a
never falling water power, it is an as
sured fact that the manufacture of
flour will afford to the parties engaged
therein and to the town large source
of revenue so long as the owners of
the mills keep pace with the times by
introducing the latest improved ma
chinery. River Falls flour has always
equaled the best Minnesota brands
in foreign markets, and in order to
maintain the high standard tie mills
have been supplied as fast as practis
cable with the best appliances for its
manufacture.
ID. Putnam & Co., realizing the
need of better facilities and more
modern machinery. commenced over
hauling and improving their mill sew
eral months ago, and under the skill
full supervision of Mr.. c. a. Gilman,
of Minneapolis, they have at last real
lied their fondest hopes in seeing it
put in a condition equaling the very
best mills in the northwest. The
work commenced early in the spring
has been going steadily forward until
the Prairie Mill has been 50 thorough
" remodeled as to be new mill. eX-
cept The outer walls and few minor
things inside. The Stephens patent
rollers, manufactured by John I.
Move & Sons, OF Buffalo, n. Y, have
been introduced and the mill now has
capacity of manufacturing one hun
bred and liftv barrels of flour per day,
hut only power at present sufficient
for one hundred barrels per day.
Monday afternoon Mr.. Gilman kindly
showed us through the mill and eX-
planned the ito us) complicated work
ings of the machinery in manner
which shows that he is thoroughly lc-
uuainted with his business and under
stands the various relations OF each
and every part of the machinery and
its use and connection with all the
rest. From the time the grain leaves
the warehouse on the opposite side OF
the street until it is converted into
-four and packed III barrels ready for
shipment it passes through many and
devious ways and undergoes various
changes or processes which are too
comnlicated TO be understood by one
unskilled in the business, but the plan
ming has been so perfect and the work
manship so exact that there is no UNI
necessary change, and all the machin-
cry runs with a precision and regular
ity Truly marvellous. The introduc-
tion of all the latest and best mn
proYements throughout the mill has
cost the proprietors large outlay,
reaching nearly ten thousand dollars,
but we have no doubt that they will
be amply repaid by their increased IA
cilities, better grade of -four which
they will be able to produce, and the
satisfaction of having a model MIL
capable of doing the most work at the
least possible expense. Mr.. Putnam
expresses himself as highly pleased
with the workmanship, believing that
it has been done 'supon honor.