The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-12-15
ABROAD.
Report of the Buford Excur-
sion in st. Paul.
What is Thought of the Affair
and the Works.


from that city to view the pillow works of
b. D. Buford & Co. OF Rock Island:
1t can but seldom occur that scheme
of the magnitude of that conceived and
carried out by Mr. ]. Bnrwell, the north
western manager of B. d. Buford q Co,
the manufacturers of plows st Rock
Island, is so thoroughly and entirely sue
cessfuI. By the Invitation of that gentle
man nearly one hundred Of the patrons
and, friends of the pillow company assembled
| in st. Paul last Wednesday morning. and
| with their genial host took special train
to Rock Island to inspect the new pillow
works-the largest and most complete IN
the country. sa~ ees 49,.
The gentlemen forming the party were
as good representatives of the Northwest
| as could possibly have been selected, and
they reflected credit upon our section OF the
| country. They not only were assembled
| from every district OF the great wheat
| belt, but they were men of intelligence and
practical wisdom, who know and appre-
ciate the importance of the northwestern
region they represent, and to which the
| world is looking for food and homes.
OUR START
was made ate o'clock in the morning, be-
| fore the sun had arisen, and it was very
sleepy party that took possession of the
comfortable cars furnished by the Chicago,
Milwaukee and ST. Paul railway. The
lcoachcs were well warmed and brightly
| lighted, and the time till daybreak passed
| quickly The sun finaIly<made his appear
| ance, and one of the most delightful OF
| true Minnesota Indian summer days was
| ushered in, cloudless sky and bright
vet soft atmosphere making it a privilege
| to enjoy 1t. No finer weather for an ex-
| cursion party of this sort could have been
| selected from all the bright days Of a year.
| But short time elapsed before the
| guests became acquainted with each other,
Mr.. Burwen and his courteous assistant,
| Mr.. F Z. Boswell, northwestern travelling
| agent of the pillow company, being untir-
| ing in their efforts to make all congenial
and comfortable. 1t can readily be under
stood that party of gentlemen whose in
| terests are SO nearly similar must find the
| intimate companionship that results from
such a trip both pleasant and profitable.
| There were many representing, the farming
interests, and conducting farms of great
size and value. OF course they were bene-
fitted by an interchange of IDEAS. There
were the agricultural implement men, who
| compared results. There were merchants
| who acquired by this intercourse Letter
knowledge of the country with which they
trade. All found something valuable to
| them in the association with each other
and al acknowledged the advantages
gained by the novel meeting.
AS the day progressed the guests formed
themselves into groups, and many games
of cards in progress, convenient little tables
having been provided. The early break
fast we had eaten made an early dinner
desirable, and our hosts recognizing thu
fact, FASTENED the culinary affairs, and be-
fore noon the dining room car was thrown
| open.
THE DINING ROOM
was in full sized baggage car, and table
covered by snowy cloths ran the whole
length of it. 1t bore a bounteous feast
/ great platters holding turkeys, tongue BEEF
and other meats, fianked by condiments o.
all kinds, with huge crystal dishes of thu
choicest fruit appearing at intervals. a
corps of trained walters attended promptl,
to the demands of the hungry guests anc
| it was indeed q happy company that par
took of the lavish luncheon. The lunch
/ car was kept open during the entire triT
and it was frequently visited. although tht
attendants passed through the train otter
dispensing fruit and fragrant Havanas
Not detail had been overlooked. not q
thing that could add to the comfort of the
guests, had been forgotten. As evening
approached, second regular repast wa.
served, it having been learned that the
train was much late, and it would be mid
1 night before we reached the supper to bt
prepared for us at the Harper House. Tht
evening was passed in delightful manner
many of the guests making eloquent anl
appropriate speeches while the occasion
was embellished by some excellent music
rendered by an improvised glee club, under
the direction of the silver-voiced G. P
4 Hawkins. Col. Allen of the Merchants
! Hotel apologized for not assisting, affirm
/ ing that his throat had become affected b,
looming into the soft languid southern
i, climate, and that he felt the change from
the bright bracing Minnesota air as soon a,
he crossed the line.
Shortly after midnight we reached Rock
Island, and quickly gained the excellent
Harpar house, where delicious supper
was partaken of. and with great prompt
Portable rooms. Maj. L. M. Burord
the genial treasurer of the company
awaited us, and soon made us feel q
home.
The article contains description Of tn
works an also an. interview with B. d. Blu
ford as follows:
In conversation Win Mr.. Is. u. Blu
ford / learned much of interest. He &C
counts for the success of the plows, cult
| vators, harrows and other implement:
from the fact that it is the policy to max,
only good machines, getting the best ma
terial possible, and by employing only
the most skilled labor. He pointed out
, number of men who had been employed
there more than twenty-five years. Ever,
implement is, when finished, as perfect Al
it is possible to make it. BY long ant
careful study the varied requirements o
the different sections of country have beer
learned, and plows are produced exactly
adapted to the different soils.
Mr.. Buford admits that our northern
country is now the most important distric
he serves, and paid high compliment tt
Mr.. Burwen for the fine manner in which
he had developed the trade there. The
percentage of increase since Mr.. Burwel
opened an office here, two years, has beer
larger than in any other part of theiI
territory. Mr.. Buford said he had made s
personal trip of inspection through the
northwest, going north to Winnipeg, and
he was making plows just suited to the
+ soil This peculiar pillow has q soft stee
back and has two-thirds in the face of hard
/ steel. By substituting soft steel in. the
II hack all warning ia avoided He avarred