The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-09-16
A WAGON INTERVIEW.
What a Veteran Wagon Maker
Says of His Partner.
MITCHELL WAGON IN ITS GLORY
With Puff for Its Agents, tbe Coop
erative Wagon and Machine
Company.

| w. /. Lewis, esq, OF the Mitchell
Wagon Company, Racine, Wisconsin,
reached Salt Lake City on Friday,
making one of his periodical trips
throughout the west in the interest Of
his company. He says he always feels
at home here, IS the people have mani
tested so kindly disposition towards
his company, that he is no longer a
stranger in Utah.
A HERALD scribe ran across him yes
terday, and poked his Faber at him
with the result given below:
We've no reason to complain with
the way the world has used u.s." said
Mr.. Lewis, as he leaned back in his
chair and gave a sigh that bespoke
unbOun0ed satisfaction at the mental
pospect which fitted before him. ''Mr.
Mitchell. whose name our company
bears. began life in Glasgow, Scotland,
as make Of wagons, when he was but
81 years OF age, and though he is now
LIS years old, he continues active and
takes q rersonal interest in the conduct
of the business. He went to Chicago
in 1882, being induced to leave Scot
land by the greater advantages this
country offered, even at that early
date. It may be of interest to your
readers to know that at the time men
tioned-1S32-the greater part of Chi
cago's population was composed of In
dians. Here it was that Mr.. Mitchell
made his first wagon in the United
States, and it was also the first wagon
ever made in Chicago. You may, also,
If you choose, say that Mr.. Mitchell
made the first thimble skein wagon
that was ever made in this country, so
that he is not new to the business, and
has some experience behind his great
success. And he is a pioneer in the
business beyond doubt"
What induced him to go to Chi
cago, put in the reporter, ''at so early
day ?"
Because" responded Mr.. Lewis, sit
was the frontier of the great north
west, and with prophetic vision he
seemed to know what Chicago was des-
tined to become"
How, then, did he go to Racine, and
when ?"
"Well, he was tempted to go to
Racine because il was Their at the door
of the great woods and tin Der AMI
offered better facilities for the
manufacture of wagons; but it was not
until 1855 that he went to Racine.
When he began making wagons in Chic
ago, he had but one or two men to help
him, and years later even, when he
started in Racine, he turned out only
about five or six wagons a week, aud
some plows, but the demand for his
wagons grew so rapidly that he soon
had to let go of that industry and con
fine himself strictly to his wagon manu-
faciures."
I'm 1854" continued Mr.. Lewis, 81
went in with Mr.. Mitchell, and what,
with the natural development of the
country and the energetic endeavor on
the part of the Mitchell Company, we
have combined to keep up with the
times, / think"
"Of course, of course" sighed the
scribe, "but to what do you attribute
your solid growth"
'To the honest make of our goods,
entirely. We use only the best timber in
the forest; we build on scientific
plan and have 10 ade it matter of study
to combine lightness in draft with dur
ability" And here Mr.. Lewis warmed
to the occasion. Said he: This is the
secret of our success, and the public
Las oAOWh ALS VI JulS ldl u
for in 1888 our shipments amounted tU
$4,000 wagons, as against 275 to 300 turn;
ed out in 1855. Of course, the 1900
includes farm and spring wagons"
ut is surprising" said Mr.. Lewis,
1.-THE way in which the demand for
wagons has gone and how particular the
buyer is as to what he is getting. We
are compelled to make our spring
wagons right up to the notch, and we
claim they are ahead of any thing of
their kind IN the market. These, with
the Wisconsin spring hinge "a patent of
our own) being uneQualled for ease in
riding and durability. 7 tell you, it is
hard 10 get man to take any other
when he has once used our hinge
spring. You know of course that the
COOPERATIVE WAGON AND MACHINE
COMPANY
are our agents here, and We do
not need to concern ourselves much
about keeping our goods before the pub
lie. Solong as we keep up the quality,
we know they Will attend to the rest"
when did you first introduce your
goods into this feld?"
In 187l-seventeen years ago-and
we count ILLS as our DcSG anu mOSC SaL1S-
factory market. Before the Co-opera-
tive Wagon and Machine Company
took hold of our wagons we were repre-
sented by an agent, and though we
have held vast sums here in farmers
paper, we take pride in stating that
we have never lost dollar. We always
considered Utah farmers notes gilt.
edge. aEd We are no less pleas ed to say
that our business grows here steadily
this being the test that our works are
not behind our words, and that we still
hold our place."
What kind of wagon do you make
for Utah?"
lone that's specially adapted to it,
and made especially for it, and we have
been so long at this work that we know
just about what is wanted, and we be-
lieYe we succeed in getting there, too.
We are also making a buggy of the
finest grade, and we propose that 1T will
rank with our wagon and be reasonable
of price. Those designed for Utah
will be specially adapted to her wants;
and when our agents, the Cooperative
Wagon & Machine Company, get them
on here, we have no fear of their stand
ing and the favor with which thew will