Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-12-16

T0B WAS01SGro0 18ON WORK.
Every citizen Of Seattle Who Is traly
DESTROYS for her continued welfare and
prosperity, must watch with peculiar
interest tho development Of her infant
manufacturing interests; for in tho firm
establishment of such institutions lies
the main safeguard Of the wealth and
greatness of a city. A manufacturing
city is assured of continued prosperity,
while one depending upon trade alone,
or upon mining industries or the good
will of railroad companies, may at any
time be deprived of its SOURCES OF wealth
by more ente.prising rivals. A city may
be considered as securely founded and
started ON the high road OF prosperity,
when vorxingmen and mechanics seek
homes within her borders and find work
in her shops and factories. Here is the
true source Of wealth, and the lnhabl-
tants of each city should make 1t a
point to encourage the growth OF man
ufactories b. the exclusive use OF arti-
cles of home manufacture where such
use is possible.
Among the most furnishing of such
institutions in Seattle, and one WHOM
gives great promise for the future, is the
Washington Iron Works. This estab-
lishment was founded just two years
ago, the company having been incorpO-
rated in December, 1881. The capital
stock was originally $4,000, and as yet
this sam has not been officially increas-
cd, although the plant Of the company
alone is now valued at many times that
sum.
The buildings occupy four lots on
Jackson street, between Second and
Third, and are admirably situated with
regard to shipping facilities, being with
in a block of the railroad depot and but
a short distance from the various docks
and warehouses. They consist of a ma
chine shop. foundry and blacksmith
shop, the entire structure measuring 10
xlOO feet. Included in this is newly
completed addition to the machine
shop, which measures 40x72 feet. The
machine shop is thoroughly fitted with
all tho latest and most approved ma
chinery, and the oastinR room, in its
arrangement and convenience, 10 thor
oughly in keeping with the remainder
Of the establishment. Tho electric
light will soon be introduced into the
building. and will render night work
perfectly convenient.
The company makes q speciality Of
mill, marine and railroad work, al
though all other branches of iron work
are attended to satisfactorily. In the
three branches mentioned . trade has
been built up Of size which would be
perfectly surprising to one who had not
watched the gradual development Of
this establishment. Shipments Of ma
ohinery are con family being made to
the different Sound ports, and an enor-
nous quantity Of work IS being done for
the railroad. Indeed, strange as it may
soem, the railroad and other companies
represented here, which are controlled
by outside capital and have their main
interests outside of Seattle, patronize
Seattle manufactures more largely and
systematically than capitalists who have
met with all their successes here and
have all their interests centered in the
city.
About ffty men are constantly en-
ployed in these works, and in the last
two years they have paid out in wages
the magnificent sum of $4,000. This
money, 1t should be remembered, has
been paid directly into the hands of
Seattle wOrkingmen, and haa added in
calcalably to the general wealth of the
community, being directly rsabsorbed
into the various branches of trade.
Wage money is always equivalent to
just so much cash paid directly into the
hands of the Rrscers and other retail
dealers OF city.
About SOtOus Of iron is melted month
~. This is a large quantity to be used in
an establishment Of this nature, but the
Washington Iron Works are .accus-
toned to handle at least that amount.
OF this, the great bulk is from the Iron
dale furnace, near Port Townsend, and
thus even the money paid out for una
terial does nat 90 out Of the Territory,
but is used m building up our own
western country. Some small Quanti-
ties of Eastern and California iron are
used, but not to nearly 90 large an extent
as the Port Townsend article.
It may DO Interesting to those who
may wish to know how completely this
company is . Seattle institution, to
state that every dollar of tho stock ID
held in this city. None of it has ever
been on the market since tho first or
ganizati0n Of the company, and eac .
share is now valued At many times its
par value. The officers of the company
are at present as follows: President.
]. w. George; Treasurer, George w.
Harris, and Secretary, j. NJ. Frink.