Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1883-11-03
-iLEX. PARKS, JR.

The gentleman whose name APP
pears above, is Vnother OF the we'll
known citizens or Martinsburg who
IS doing all in his pawer to advance
the interests OF the city. He il a
manufacturer oftwo vastly different
articles-fiour and fertilizers and
each of these departments OF trade,
as conducted by him, are OF Ssutii-
cient consequence to call for some,
what detailed mention at our hands.
The Martinsburg Flour Mills are
among the oldest landmarks OF the
city, and are at present under the
successful practical management of
Mr.. John o. Henson, 4 miller we'll
known to the people Of Berkeley and
Jefferson counties. The Oldest res
idents of town upon being asked how
long they have been built, answer
by saying that they don t know--the
mills were here when they came and
II Is probable that they have been
built and In operation for one hun
dreds years or more. During this
long time they have undergone many
changes; within the past five years,
OF since they have been under Mr..
Parks management, they have been
completely remodled, a new dam has
been built, an overshot water wheel
has taken the place Of the old tur'
bnes, new machinery in every de-
partment has been introduced, and
total expenditure Of from three to
four thousand dollars has been made
by him in order to make the mills
thoroughly effective In their work.
They have four run Of stone, opera
ted by water power from the Tusca'
rora, and their manufacturing capa.
cisy may be fairly stated at 40 bar
rels of flour per day. The principal
grades made are "Martinsburg Mills
Family, u"Union Mills Family and
"Ranson's Extra, the latter being
christened after one Of the oldest
residents of the town. Better flour
is not marketed hereabouts, and the
mills find ready sale for all they
can produce, there being not only a
large home consumption, but ship
ments are constantly made to towns
and villages along the b. u O. r. n.
in and through the country general.
ly. Meal and grain are also impor-
tant products Of the mill. and the
sales of these articles constitutes
very material item of yearly trade.
Mr.. Parks also buys and ships
grain iii large quantities. His pur'
chsses at Kearneysville this season
amount to at least 10000 bushels;
he also buys at North Mountain and
other stations, while, as u matter OF
couesc, he is ready to take all that
offers here, Our farmers have found
him Il reliable buyer. and he has
heartily aided in making Martins
burg a good grain market.
The Shenandoah Fertilizer Mills,
also operated by Mr.. Parks. are near
by the FIGURING Mills. The fertili-
ger mills are run by steam power,
and firind up very large quantity
of bone per year--in fact, the amount
obtained from this city alone Is sim,
ply incredible. For FIVE years now,
Mr.. Parks has been selling bone
meal, dissolved bone, pure ground
Nova Scotia plaster, chemicals and
other ingredients OF phosphates, but
he did not begin manufacturing or
compromising until this year. This
season he has sold large quantities OF
prepared phosphates OF his own make
under the name of the ssOx Brand, y
and they have met with most fiat
tering reception. At the same time
he has continued the sale OF phos-
phate ingredients to farmers and
others, and while it is true that his
phosphate trade has grown steadily
ever since it was begun, it is also
true that BIS business in this speci
atty has been nearly or quite 100 per
cent. greater than for any previous
year. In other words, every depart,
ment of his trade flourishes. Moth
ing is left undone to meet the neces.
sites of the people in the lines OF
trade named, and it is equally true
that none OF out manufacturers or
merchants have larger list of firm
friends than the gentlemen to whom
we have reference.