Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1888-07-04
THE OHIO CAPITAL.
The Coal, Iron and Manufacturing Inter-
ests of Columbus

The Coal, Iron and Manufacturiu. Inter
ests of Columbus.
Columbus. o., has three great in
terests-coal, iron and .buggies " On
these three the CITY has shaped its
ends and fashioned its hopes. The
work of mining, selling and shipping
of coal gives employment to over 10.-
900 men. 1t is now the most i'm
portant industry in the State. The
report of the Inspector indicates that
9 600 900 tors of coal were mined in
Ohio last wear, of which considerably
over 1000, 000 tons were used by the
city's own consumption. There are
% firms and corporations engaged in
mining and shipping coal
The quality of the iron ore found in
the Hooking Valley is said to be
superior 10 even the Pennsylvania
material There are 67 firms engaged
in the business of buying the iron as
it leaves the furnaces. The annual
output averages 200, 600 tons. This
consumes about 400 900 tons of ore,
and about 600 90 to s of coal, and
400, 900 tons Of limestone Last year
the business reached nearly 81 900 900.
The railroad facilities enable Column
bus to place iron anywhere at such
prices and with such dispatch as to
dispel fear of annoying competition;
and this, added to the fact that the
coal and limestone used in the reduc-
ton of iron ore are found in the same
y &
duce iron cheaper than it can be done
elsewhere. In conjunction with this
the lumber trade is very important
factor in the interests of the city,
reaching over 80 900 900 feet per year.
and employing ub ut fifteen hundred
people in its handli g. But the third
principle industry of Columbus
is the manufacture Of "buggies"
and carriages which find their way
not only to all parts of this country,
but to some of the most bscure foreign
places. There are eighteen manu-
facturers, employing about $500 men
and 800 women. Over three million
feet of lumber and three thousa and
tons of iron are used annually in the
construction of vehicles. 1t is also es-
timated that of other material used
there are nearly four million feet of
leather, equal to about seven thousand
hides, and about Is 900 yards of
cloth, and 1000 yards of Brussels
carpet. These figures seem almost
incredible, and to the reader who has
up to this time wondered why Column
bus is chiefly known as the residence
of politicians, and the seat of very
interesting State government they
will cause no little surprise. Last
year the sale of over 20, 900 carriages
(buggies. etc) indicates that, by
counting ten hours to day
of work, one must have
been made every nine minutes.
One of the manufacturers made the
statement that in the consumption of
hides alone for this purpose, if the
number of cattle killed were seen
marching four abreast toward Column
bus. there would be every year pro-
cession over fifty miles long. The
amount of capital employed is 50, $780,
0O0 and a yearly expenditure OF 81
100000. not including 1926. 900 for
wages. Last year the receipts were
about So. 900, 600.
There are also is Columbus various
other manufacturing enterprises
there are $50 in all the most impor-
tant of which is the making of ma
machinery and agricultural imple-
ments. There are thirteen iron-foun-
deries. two malleable Iron works,
steel-rail mill, rolling-mill and
twelve galvanized-iron works. Almost
every convenience of ordinary use to
be obtained can be found of home
make. The facilities for this are al
most unequaled. and the trade has ex-
tended largely abroad. There are PIP
jobbing houses in Columbus. whose
business last year exceed $50 600 900.
1t is claimed that there are very few
cities where the maxim ''pay as you
go' is SO rigidly adhered to. There
are not many pieces of property mort
gagged to outside capitalists, and
speculation is chiefly confined to the
legitimate changes in the value of
land and buildings. -Des4Jer WeLch,