Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-01-02
THE DAILY RECORD UNION.
OUINTUPLE EDITION.
BUSINESS REVIEW.
nt;nuation OF Special Review of leading
Business Houses of Sacramento.
BAKER d HAMILTON,
Importers, Manufacturers and Dealers In
Agricultural Implements, Wagons,
Hardware and Tools.


ricultural industries of the State were In
their infancy. and even the most far-seeing
business man could not realize to what a
great extent the resources OF California
would expand. But the new firm were en-
ergetic, and thoroughly alive to all the pos.
sibiIities of the future, and as the country
developed and increased, so did they ex.
pand their business, and never for mo-
ment have they failed to keep pace with
the coasts development. As Oregon and
Washington Territory began to call upon
San Francisco for her supplies, the firm
were compelled to open house there,
which they did in 1867, aud soon after com.
menced manufacturing at San Leandro
They have at their stores, Nos. Is 70 10
Front street, and 100 and Ill Pine street,
San Francisco, and Nos. to 10 street.
Sacramento, full lines of all styles OF agri.
cultural implements, such as the Justly
celebrated Champion Reapers and Mowers,
such machines so well known that they
do not need our commentator, for which
they are the sole agents on this coast the
new Hollingsworth rake, also Wisner's
Tiger rake, and the Reindeer Wilcox, i'm
proved tipping rakes, of acknowledged
superiority j. l. Case & Co. 8 single-gear
headers the Buffalo Pitts and Buffalo
Bronson threshers Buffalo Pitts horse
power; patent endlesa railway horse. power /;
the Peoples Choice Sweepstake horse
power; the ellis horsepower Ames'
threshing engine; Ames' portable engines;
Baxter's engines, vertical engines and boil
ers, and hay presses of all kinds. The firm
are also agents for the celebrated Balm
wagon, so well and favorably known on this
coast pumps of all kinds, windmills, n.y.
draulic pumps, Burr mills, shutters, bolt
ing cloths, gopher traps, churns, barbed
steel wire for fences, tanning mills, cider
mills, corn shelters, grain drills, seed SOW.
ers, feed cutters, wood-sawing machinery,
harrows, plows, and IN fact everything
that an agriculturist could desire.
The firm, after several years experience,
found that their works at San Leandro
were not as favorably located as they de-
sired, for they needed both rail and water
communication, and they determined to
remove to more favorable location. They
examined the claims of many different
places, and at last selected Benicia as the
proper place. There they found that they
could be in constant communication by rail
with both the East and the West, while the
O1IQulUEL StIdlb gave SuCuA o OGCD-NnsSi
communication unsurpassed. They also
found the mammoth brick shops formerly
used bv the Pacific Mail Steamship Com
pany ready for occupancy. These buildings
were admirably located, and built expressly,
as they were, for manufacturing purposes,
were just what they needed. Therefore
Benicia was selected, and a few months
since the entire machinery and working
force of the San Leandro establishment
We're removed to Benicis, and now this ex
tensive establishment Is IN full blast.
The buildings are located on the main
track of the Central Pacific road, the track
actually passing through the property. The
works cover about fifteen acres, and the
floor alone of the different shops covers
los, coo square feet, while the workshops
and warehouses cover D acres, giving room
for the employment OF 800 workingmen.
Passing out II street from the town of Be-
nicia, we find the line of this property rest
ing on this street. We enter one of the
large doors, and are in shop 40x2S5 feet.
Here the heavy forging for plows, etc, is
done. Here at work are steam hammers,
large FORCES, shears, punches and annealing
furnaces also, large grit and emery wheels
used for polishing plow points, mold
boards, etc.
From this building we cross the yard to
a large two. story brick building inclosing
three sides of an open court OF quadrangle.
The sides of this building are 40 feet in
length, and the rooms are 40 feet wide.
First at the northeast end is the plow shop,
40xl25 feet, where the lighter forging is
done, and the plews set up. One end of
this shop is devoted to iron work for spring
wagons. Crossing a hallway on the right,
we find the several Offices of the concern.
where the minute of the business is
attended to, and where guests are sure OF
a welcome. Adjoining the offices Is
store. room, 40x70 feet, where the shelf
hardware, etc, used in the establishment
is conveniently arranged. Next Is the
machine shop, 40xl40, in which iron
planners, lathes, boring machins Of the latest
improved styles are in constant motion.
One end of this shop Is devoted to iron
farm and freight wagons, and iron harrow
work. Here is found the SWeepstake Iron
Wagon. so well known all over this coast,
and which has added greatly to the fame
of Messrs. Baker h Hamilton, as being the
best wagon for general purposes made. In
the second story of this building is found a
pattern shop, Gre department supplied
with all the most approved fire. extinguish-
ing apparatus, a large wood shop for spring
wagon work and for woodworking ma.
chinery.
West of this building is located the
foundry, 75x130 feet, the finest foundry
west OF Chics 20. The second floor is per-
feet in every respect, and the two cupolas,
with the elevator for hosting coal and iron,
the new pressure blower, and all the APP
pliances, serve TO make it a complete
foundry. In close proximity to the foundry
is the apartment for cleaning castings, and
a wareroom where patterns are stored.
On the opposite side of the yard is To-
Gated the brick engine house, where 100
horse power Corliss engine, made expressly
for this firm, furnishes the motive power
for this immense establishment. Two
large boilers furnish the steam, and an I'M
mense saving in fuel is made there by using
chips, shavings and tan bark, the latter
being obtained from the Benicia Tannery.
Adjacent to the engine house Is new frame
building, 60x265 feet, filed with wood
working machinery. Here huge planners
and saws prepare the wood used in the
construction of the different machines,
wagons, etc, turned out from this i'm
mense establishment. Under the main
floor there is large room. extending the
whole distance, 60x265 feet, which is used
as storehouse for hard lumber, ETC., and
here the different machines made are all
tested prior TO their shipment.
Across the tracks of the Central Pacific
are the wharyes. First is the coal wharf,
7exS7 feet: then we come to the main
wharf. 65x60o feet, on which warehouse
50x46S feet. has been built. From this
warehouse machines can be shipped either
bv rail or water.
This now busy scene of industry IS the
result of years of calculation and labor.
Messrs. Baker & Hamilton have, with com.
mendasIe enterprise, given to the Pacific
coast manufacturing establishment Of
which our whole people have reason TO be
proud. Here 500 men are given employ.
ment. and at a small estimate l, 200 mouths
receive thsir food as the result of their
labor. A little colony of itself is thus
given existence, and instead OF the money
they earn being sent abroad to enrich
others, it is kept at home and made to cir.
culate among our merchants and among us
all. The firm in thus fostering so I'M
portant a home industry, have ''builded bet
ter than they knew, tor they have erected
a monument that viii stand long after they
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