The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-09-14
wIIEELINo NOS ~. SAIL Co.

WhHhLANN AhON AMI. NAIL co.
Tie "TOp" Mill, the Successor OF WheeIIng's
First Iron Works.
As mentioned elsewhere Wheeling's
frat iron works was established in 1884 at
the north end Of the present city limits,
by Peter shoenberger and David Agnsw.
This site and much other ground adjoin.
Ing is now occupied by the blast furnace,
nail factory and forge department Of the
Wheeling Iron and Nail Company. Mr..
Aguew in a few years succeeded to the
business Of the firm, and ran It until 1910,
when he failed. The mill was taken by
the former manager, Mr.. Grasssmer, and
the head book-keeper, Mr.. TRllant. In
1915 they were succeeded by L. W. Ste
yens, who came here from Pitts.
burgh. He enlarged the nail depart
ment and induced the Norton BROTH
mill was still owned by Mr.. Shoenberger.
Later johnson, Sweeney & Co. and other
firms ran the mill. II was once burned
down, and In 1857 the last named firm
failed. 1t never had more than fourteen
machines, and ita greatest capacity was
about 200 kegs Of nails per week. In tho
early days Of the war OF the rebellion the
Belmont company leased tho mill, and IL
was occupied for several years in the
manufacture OF gun-boat plates. The
Shoenberger heirs sold the mill In 1904 10
ACheson, Bell & Co. for $4,000. Besides
the mill, this price embraced about fifty
acres Of land, with q river frontage Of
about three-fourths Of q mile. The new
owners added to the manufacture OF gun
boat plate that oil bar iron. A ate for
nail factory was also secured by grading
out the side Of the hill. In 1866 the mill
suffered from q disastrous boiler explo-
sion.
In 1865, Moses B. Cox and the Brock.
unier Brothers were added 10 the firm,
and in 1896 the Wheeling Iron and Nail
Works Company was formed. It enlarged
the nail factory, and by the end oil that
year was running 40 machines.
THE PRESENT COMPANY.
In 1860 there was change in the own.
arship Of the concern to certain extent,
and the company was reorgauizsd with
John p. GilChrist as President, @. D. HUB
bard 40 Secretary and Adams Dodson as
Vice'President.
In the early days Of the new compauy's
history september, 1871 the mill was en-
tirely destroyed by FIRE. While the ruins
we're 20! smoldering preparations we're ba.
gun to, rebuild. Taking advantage OF the
necessity forced upon them by the fire,
the company remodsled the entire plan OF
the works. All the latest improvements,
either In machinery or the arrangement
oil the departments, were adopted, and
every defect which experience had point
ed out was remedied In the construction
Of the new works. BY the summer Of
1879 the mill was ready 10 resume opera.
tons with 105 machines.
To-day the Top mill has ono Of the COM
pletest and most admirable mail factories
anywhere, containing $50 machines aud
having an estimated daily capacity Of ,2235
kegs Of nails. This eStimats has deem ex.
ceeded In this factory proporLiona,ely. In
February, 1874, with los machines, the
factory cut 0,SJ7 kegs, a daily average Of
Liza! kegs, or nearly eleven kegs per day
per machine.
ITS FACILITIES.
The company began the erection OF
blast furnace In 1874, but when The pro.
jsOted p, w. & Ky. railroad was TEN.
porarily abandoned the progress Of tho
construction Of the furnace was Stopped,
In 1873 work was resumed and the fur.
nance completed. Nsw,hot blasts are now
being put In with twice the former oApac.
ity, and when the alterations are
completed tho furnace will have
O. daily capacity Of 100 tons
oil pig iron. The company also owns
one third Of the stock Of the Wheeling
Steel Company, and whileit manufactures
steel nail exc nBiyely 10 itB factory, ils
complete and modern forge department IA
ongaged 10 making muck bar which ls
sold 10 advantage 10 Pittsburgh mRnuIac.
turerS: Thesntlre establishment occupies
over six acreS Of ground, and all the build.
ings are substantial and Of the most ap.
proved deslgn. In lts property is included
a once valuable coal tract, but the mill "a
now Introducing natural gas, and within
Q week will be In operation with the new
fuel In all its departments.
The present officers Of the Wheeling
Iron and Nall Company are; o, r, Hub
bard, Presidents II, H. HornbFook, Vice.
President Hon, y. D. Hubbard, Score.
nfyi and these gentlemen, with MesBrB.
John L, Gllcbfiat, George X. Wheat,
William lgett and Dr.. 4. II. Logan com.
pose the Board Of Directors. Tho com.
pAny has oil the advantages OF expert.
enoed management, late processes, favor.
able location, the possession oil q blast
furnace and steel plant Of lis own. IlB
continued prosperity and Increased i'm.
poftAno0 among the industries Of Wheel.