Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1882-01-07
TUSCARORA AGRICULTURAL
WORKS.


business" are perhaps not little to
blame themselves. Those who are
enterprising, willing to invest their
capital and push their work, find no
difficulty in selling what they produce.
This is true no less on the side of the
manufacturer than it is ON the side of
the farmer. Those who saw the inn
mense piles of wood in the yard Of
Mr.. John Fitz's new spoke works, last
spring, shook their heads doubtfully.
He might work it up into spokes and
rims, but where would he find sale for
them? He did work up the pile, and
to-day not a spoke is left for sale.
Orders came in steadily all along, from
as far north as Canada, and south and
west as Charleston, S. c., and San
francisco. Ten days ago he filled an
order of 26, 900 for a firm in Cincinnati,
and last week received an order which
he is now filling, from firm in New
ark, N. j., and for all that lie has on
Aibhet uOoul to3VUu. touCii DCliiS Vic ut
mand he finds that the one saw mill
he has in operation on the large tract
of woodland lately purchased, is in
sufficient, and is putting up another.
Surely, this is no indication that there
need be any idle hands in the spoke
works during the winter. We admire
the enterprise and push of Mr.. Fitz,
and can not help speaking of it for the
encouragement of others. If our citi-
zens will not venture, neither may
they hope to win. GIANT heart never
won fair lady," All that we need here
is that manufacturing interests be
started; and we take it that it matters
little of what sort. Whatever may
find sale for manufacturers in other
places, will find sale here. We have
all the resources necessary, and we
have the world open to trade here as it
is not in many other places of much
larger proportions and pretensions.
1t may be said, that there is but very
little capital here to begin with. But
why take this little and hide 1t away
in our banks of deposit. olet us take
the little we have and with deter
mination to force trade hither, set our
selves to work up the wood and the
iron of which we find ourselves
possessed. There is a loud call here.
Let us cease our complaining and go
to work like men, and soon we will
have manufacturing interests ofwhich
we may well boast and advertise the
world over, and buyers of our wares
will not long be wanting.
Many of our older citizens will re-
collect when the space which the works
of Mr.. John Fitz now occupy was but
swamp. In 1851 Mr.. Samuel Fitz came
here from Hanover, Pa, where he had
established one of the Oldest foundries,
which is yet carried on by his son, Jacob
Fitz. He Immediately purchased all the
land along Tuscarora at the north end of
town, and erected Touring mill, which
remains yet, though it has been enlarged
{ and additions made at various times.
The Tuscarora at this point was nothing
but bed of rocks, which he blasted ont,
and walled Queen Street as it now is.
, Being q machinist, he established a
foundry, and soon done an extensive
business. He was laid to rest in Green
Hill Cemetery, some years ago, since
which the enterprise has come under the
management of his son, Mr.. John Fitz,
who at once extended the business in
every way, and with marked success.
The mill, machine shops, spoke factory,
and lumber yard, take up considerable
ground, and in hastily going through the
'orio aoP~.+---".-t~s---- 800. NOT .ilA "a
go into details very infinitely. The en-
tire machinery, outside of the mill, is
run by a 35-horse power stationary en-
CINE, manufactured by Mr.. Fitz s brother.
in Hanover, Pa. Adjoining the private
office on Queen Street, is store house
and pattern room though the former is
nearly empty, as number of orders had
just been filled. The foundry and m :
chine shops form separate building,
and all kinds of castings and machinery
are made here-workmen being engaged
on part Of a boiler for the Hannis Dis
tilling Company, which weighed in the
neighborhood of thousand pounds. The
lumber yard and saw mill ad join this
building in the rear. Logs are brought
from the woodlots of Mr.. Fitz, and are here
sawed for the purposes wanted. The
spoke and rim works take up the largest
building. and are branches of the bust
ness established by Mr.. Fitz himself The
spokes pass through nine different ap-
pliances, when they are bundled and
ready for shipment. About 30 hands are
at present employed in the shops, and
twenty preparing timber in the woods,
and besides this factory, two others are
in operation. There is great amount of
machinery required in this manufacture,
and engagements in various ways are
being planned. A novel device is used
in the rim works to give them the re-
quired bend. After being sawed they
are firmly bound to q circle block, and
steamed. In case of the material being
too green, a room is prepared with steam
pipes, and drying is rapidly accomplished.
In the agricultural implement rooms,
there is machinery for every use in wood
work. Workmen are at present engaged
in the manufacture of an improved
patent grain drill. An especial branch of
this department is the manufacture of
portable circle-saws and frame work for
saving logs. They can be set up in the
woods anywhere, and removed at will
Many are shipped to every part of the
Union. Among all the machinery here,
a small band saw is indeed an ingenious
invention. A band in the form of saw
runs like strap on wheel perhaps three
feet in diameter, and material is sawed
to any shape or form desired.
Extensive as are the works, many i'm
provements are contemplated, and other
enterprises intended to be added, of the
success of which we have no doubt, as
Mr., Fitz manages the entire business him
self, with prudence and energy,
The produce of the principally
high-grade four-is shipped to all points
in the State. During the war much
damage was sustained. as the mills were