Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1884-10-30
Sheldon R0iIer Mill.

Mr.. Bonus about Ready 10 Begin Business-What
lie Has Done for sheldon.
1t Is with pleasure that we copy the
following from the Sheldon Qowa)
News, OF October 2nd. Mr.. Bonus was
formerly resident of Grant County,
and was well and favorably known to
many of the readers of the HERALD:
A reporter of THE News paid a visit
to the Sheldon Steam FIGURING Mills The
other day, in order to give our readers
an idea of the changes made and of
what the mill will be when opened for
business. The building was put up in
1881, at Il cost of 500, 900, and is there
fore entirely new; but has been re-
modelled throughout this summer, the
roller process, consisting of fourteen
double sets of rolls, being added. The
mill to-day, its capacity, its machinery,
and all its appointments, is one of the
finest in the northwest, and an institu-
ton of which Sheldon may Justly be
proud. Its effect upon the business
interests of the place will be felt with
no small degree, operated successfully,
as it will be. 1t is under the immediate
supervision of MIR. G.. Y. Bonus the
proprietor, thoroughly practical man.
who is familiar with every branch and
every detail of the business. Mr. Bonus
during 1888, overhauled and built, by
contract, four roller mills within sixty
miles of Sheldon, and he has the repu-
tation of being one Of the most success
ful mill. builders and operators in the
west He not only has through
tnnx.tln,ifra of fltf, ht,sit,aa1 Int
very essential in such an institution
executive ability, and VIC are satisfied
that better man for the place could
not have taken bold of the Sheldon mill
We commenced our tour of inspection
in the engine room, where we found
130.horse power Harris Corlis engine,
TO which Mr.. Bonus has attached a
steam condenser which generates IS
horse power with vacuum at no cost of
fuel and a gain of all the water that
formerly went TO waste through the
exhaust pipe. This is the first essential
in making successful mill. The for
mer owners have had to pay from $40
to $15 per day for hauling water, caus-
ing the property to be Improbable, the
direct result being a depreciation in
value of 80 per cent. Mr.. Bonus has
said that he would never have bought
the mill had he not been confident of
the success of his plan to condense the
steam and use what water was needed
for the boiler. Then he has built an
underground drain to run the water 800
feet from the condenser to a perforated
cover over well, where it drops twelve
feet (as lead from shot tower.) The
air heated by the water rises and is dis
placed by cold, and the water runs By
underground drain fourteen feet below
the surface to q we'll at the mill thus
making = perpetual supply, the actual
loss being less than barrel per day.
From the engine room we went to the
basement, where they have three wheat
cleaners, an Eureka heightened scourer,
Kenth cookie machine, an Eureka
brush polishing machine, and two wheat
garners to receive wheat from railroad
cars and farmers wagons. Ascending
to the first floor we were shown the
fourteen sets of celebrated roller ma
chimes, the wheat separator, three flour
packers, the platform and flour scales.
On the second floor are two of the re-
nowned G.. T. Smith purifiers, three
wheat gamers of 5000 bushels capacity,
also three flour gamers and two for
screenings, which run up forty feet in
mill. On this floor are also the scalp
ing reels, which are large enough foT
800 bushels capacity, should the capa-
city of the mill ever be increased. Con-
tinuing to the third floor we discover
twelve flour reels, three G.. L. Smith
purifiers, one of the largest Printz dust
collectors, and an immense bran bin.
There are two more of the G.. L. Smith
purifiers on the fourth floor, foul flour
reels, bran buster, wheat grader, screen
ings reel, and another Printz dust col
lector On the next floor is the double
line of shafting leans, elevator heads,
etc.
The mill has capacity of 200 barrel:
daily, and as II is located on the two
great lines of railway-the c., st. r.
M. Il o. (now owned by the North
westerly and the c., NJ. & st. p, advan
\, tageous freight rates can be obtainet
and the proprietor will have the hes
facilities for extending his business.
An important feature of the north
western mills is their exchange trade
farmers frequently going fifty miles t,
mill. This trade MIR. Bonus will cate
To anu haNc s.CSlal sh0lt " Optdlu
and it will have The effect of DRAWN,
trade to Sheldon from large territory
The Sheldon FIGURING mill win be open
ed under the most suspicious circum
stances. 1t has been fitted up with a
good machinery as is made, it has fou
Of the best counties in the state t
draw trade from, and it is in capanl
hands. We congratulate the town {
sheldon and its proprietor upon il
near re-opening, and predict for til
Sheldon mill successful future.