Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-01-02
BAKER 6 HAMILTON s
BENICIA AGRICULTURAL
WORKS.
An Energetic Firm that for 27
Years has been identified with
the industrial pursuits Of
the Pacific Slope,
And at last Inaugurate in the
Ancient Capital of the
State, Benicia,
An immense enterprise that must re-
dound to their own credit and that
of the rapidly developing
States of the Pacific.

Han ilton commenced their business In tb
city of Sacramento. At that time the agri
cultural industries of the State were in thei
infancy, and even the most far-seeing bushes
men could not realize to what great exten
the resources of California would expand
But the new firm were energetic and thor
oughly alive to all the possibilities of tn
future, and as the country developed and in
creased, SO did they expand their business
and never for a moment have they failed {,
keep pace with the coasts development Al
Oregon and Washington Territory began t.
call on San Francisco tor stheir supplies tn
frm were compelled to open house there
So in 1867, they removed their headquarter
there, and coon after commenced manufacture
ing at San Leandro. They have at thei
stores, Nos. Is to 10 Front street and 100 anc
Ill Pine street, San Francisco, and Nos
to Is j street, Sacramento, full line
of all styles of agricultural implements
such as the justly celebrated Champion
reapers and mowers, machines so well known
that they do not need our commentator, fol
which they are the sole agents on this coast
the new Hollingsworth rake, also Wisneri
Tiger rake, and the Reindeer Wilcox i'm
proved tipping rakes, CT acknowledged sups
riority j. l. Case & Co.'s single-gear head
ers the Buffalo Pitts and Buffalo Bronson
threshers; Buffalo Pitts horsepower; patent
endless railway horse power; the Peoples
Choice sweepstake horse power; the Gillil
horsepower Ames' threshing engine Ames
portable engines Baxters engines; vertica
engines and boilers, and hay presses of al
kinds. The firm are also agents for the cele
brated Balm wagon, so well and favorablJ
known on this coast; pumps OF all kinds
windmills, hydraulic pumps, burr mills,
shutters, boiling cloths, gopher traps
churns, barbed steel wire for fences, flaming
mills, cider mills. corn shelters, grain drills,
seed sewers, feed cutters, wood saving ma
chinery, harrows, plows. and in fact every.
thing that an agriculturist could desire.
The firm, after several years experience,
found that their works at San L.sndro were
not as favorably located as desired, for they
needed both rail and water communication,
and they determined to remove to more
favorable locltion. 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 Z asst
and the West. while the Csrquinez Strait
gave them deep water communication uL-
surpassed. They also found the mammoth
brick shops formerly used by the Pacific
Mail Steamship Company ready for occu-
pancy. These buildings were admirably To-
Gated, and built expressly, as they were, for
manufacturing purposes, were just what they
needed. Therefore, Benicia was selected, and
few months since the entire machinery and
working force of the San Leandro establish
ment were removed to Benicia, and now this
extensive 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 floors alone
of the different shops cover los, 900 square
eoak xr-hif he ruorlrsh0ro ar1
cover two and half acres, giving room for
the employment of 800 workmen. Passing
out II street from the town of BenIcia we find
the line of this property resting on this street.
We enter one Of the large doors and are in a
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
vheels used fer polishing pillow points, mol5
boards, etc.
From this building we cross the yard to o
large two-story brick building inclosing three
sides of an open court or quadrangle. The
sides of this building are 40 feet in length.
and the rooms are 40 feet wide. First at the
northeast eId is the pillow shop, 40x125 feet,
where the lighter forging is done and the
plows set up. 0ae end of this shop is de.
voted to iron work for spring wagons. Cross
ing hallway on the right, we find the
several offices of the concern, where the
minutise of the business is attended to, and
where guests are sure of a welcome. Adjoin-
ing the Offices is the storeroou, 40170 feet,
where the shelf hardware, ETC., used in the
establishment is conveniently arranged.
Next is the machine shop, 40x140, in
which iron planners, lathes, boring ma
chimes eff the latest improved styles
ara 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 adj
ded greatly to the fame Of Messrs. Baker Il
Hamilton. as being the best wagon for gem
eral purposes made. In the second story of
this building is found pattern shop, a fire
department supplied with all the most ap-
proved fre-extinguishing apparatus, large
wood shop for spring wagon work and for
wood working machinery.
West Of this building is located the foundry,
75x130 feet. the finest foundry west of Chi.
cazo. The second floor is perfect in every re-
spect, and the two eupolas, with the elevator
for hosting coal and iron, the new pressure
blower, and all the improved appliances,
serve to make it complete foundry. In
close proximity to the foundry is the apart
ment for cleaning castings, and a wareroom
where patterns are stored.
On the opposite side of the yard is located
the brick engine-house, where 100 horse
power Corliss engine, made expressly for
Messrs. Baker & Hamilton, furnishes the
motive power for this immense establishment.
Two large boilers furnish the steam, and an
immense saving in fuel is made here by using
chips, shavings, and tan bark. the latter be-
ing obtained from the Benicia Tannery. Adj
jlcent to the engins-house is new frame
building, 60 by 265 feet, filed with wood
working machinery. Here huge planners and
saws prepare the wood used in the eonstruc-
ton of the different machines, wagons, etc,
turned out from this immense establishment.
Under the main fl ,or there is large room,
extending the whole distance 60 by 265 feet,
which is used as storehousefor 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 wharves. First is the coal wharf, 76xS7
feet; then we come to the main wharf. 65x600
feet on which warehouse 50x46S feet has
been built. From this warehouse machines
can be shipped either by rail or water.
This now busy scene of industry is the re-
sult of wears of calculation and labor
Messrs. Baker & Hamilton have, with COM
mendable enterprise, given to the Pacific
coast manufacturing establishment OF which
our whole people have reason to be proud.
Here 800 men are given employment, and at
a small estimate /, 200 mouths receive their
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 circulate among our merchants
and among US all.
To the Superintendent of the works Mr..
f. 8. Hill, and the Secretary, E. ?. Palmer,
due credit should be given for their indefati-
gable efforts to make this immense enterprise
a success and Messrs. Baker & Hamilton.
in thus nursing and fostering so important a
home industry. have builded better than
they knew" for they have erected monu-
ment that will stand long after they have re-
ceived the reward of their labors.
Messrs. Baker & Hamilton have just con-
summated a lease of the new McCreerY
building now 10 process of cree ion at the
corner Of Davis aud Pine streets. This will
be one of the most substantial and convenient
buildings in the business part of the city, and
the same is being especially arranged for the
hardware and agricultural implement ira 1e.
The building will be ready 70 occupancy
about the first of July next.
ga black man and white woman at Lo-
Transport, Ind, are advertising for clergy
-. I,,sl;oa xrhc will marry them The