Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-06-14
ALMOST READY.
THE WEST vIRGINIACHINA COMPANY, AND
ITS PLANT.
A Visit 10 the Location Of the Factory, in North
Whsslng-WOrk 10 Commence
Very Shortly.


Very Shortly.
There has Just been completed, in North
Wheeling, an industrial establishment,
designed at present for the production oil
vitrifed china and white granite ware
which certainly, in number of partcu-
lars, stands o little ahead Of any similar
plant in the West, and is exceeded by few
works, of g kindred nature, in this country.
The mandatory referred to is that OF the
West Virginia China Company, and the
REGISTER has no fear but that its estimate
of the establishment will be fully and en-
terely concurred in by any one, competent
to Judge, who may have the good fortune
to be permitted to make q tour OF the
premises.
The West Virginia China Company was
formed about year ago, by number Of
capitalists and business men of this city,
an organization being effected by the selec-
ton of w. L. Hearn, President, John ID.
Ewing, Vice President, Randolph Stalna-
ker, Secretary and Treasurer, and w. l..
Ewing, general salesman. The Company
thus formally put in working order, lost
no time in selecting site upon which TO
conduct their future operations, and with
a wise discrimination chose the large tract
of land fronting on the south aide OF Fourth
street, and extending west from Main
street to the river. This tract is about SOOx
600 feet in size, and contains about three
acres. The old buildings of the Superior
Works, which numbered it, were torn
away, and the ground being cleared, the
erection of the buildings essential to the
purpose of the new Company was begun
on the 4th day of last October. The selection
of a location was an extremely Judlcious
one, the property being bisected from
north to south by the right Of way OF the
p, @. & st. L. railroad, while on the east
ern line of the tract the Ohio affords excel
lent shipping facilities by water to all
points west along the great rivers. With
view to placing themselves IN close Juxta-
position to these shipping facilities, the
Company located its buildings near the
center of the tract, leaving strip about
125 feet deep, fronting on Main street, en-
tirely free, which may in future be devoted
to uses not intimately connected with the
pottery plant. The buildings needed at
this time for the operation of the Company,
have lust been completed, and cover an
area of about 200 feet square. They are
models of their kind, in the way of arrange
ment, and the visitor Is especially
struck by their solidity and mas
siveness. Heavy stone walls, oak
beams a foot or 50 square, and brick
walls almost substantial enough to form
the bulwarks of fortress, are to be seen
on all sides, and the structures seem good
for one hundred years OF usefulness, at
least. The buildings now about ready 10 be
operated comprise threestory slip house"
and factory. 5Ox146 feet in dimensions, and
three roomy structures for kiln sheds and
kindred uses, from 100 to $50 feet, long
by from 40 to go feet in width. There is
also in contemplation, for erection the
coming year, still larger building, 36x140
feet and five stories high, for warehouse
and decorating uses. This house will
front on Fourth street, and will be fsnked
on the west by smaller two or three
story building for office purposes, etc. For
a time, however, these new buildings will
not be needed, and as consequence little
has yet been done regarding them beyond
the preparation of plans.
To begin at the beginning, the motive
power for the plant is furnished by a
l6x30 inch engine, built by j. and j. B.
Mulholland, OF Pittsburg. This engine is
rated sc abopt 125 horse power, yet it runs
almost as easily rs lady's sewing ma
chine, consuming very small quantity OF
steam. 1t has been in operation for some
time. Steam is supplied by two horizon
tai boilers, A inches in diameter by 20
feet long, built by the same firm which
supplied the engine. The engine and
boiler rooms are located In the west end OF
the "green room" building, and take up a
space about forty feet square. Power Is
transmitted to the main factory building,
lust south of the engine room, by an i'm
mense belt foot broad, which runs on
rollers through covered way between the
two buildings.
The ''slip house" is located upea the
first floor of the main, or southern build
ing, 5Ox146 feet in dimensions, and is very
complete and convenient. This depart
msnt is equipped with steam-power,tram-
way, running from the clay bins to the
track of the p, G. T. st. l.. road, and raw
materials of all kinds can thus be loaded
direct from the cars, on wharf level with
the car floors, and thence run directly to
the bins where it is to be stored. The
storage bins ore located in the cellar, Just
east of the "slip-hoass' proper, and have
a capacity for 500 tons of raw material.
The 'slip house. machinery includes two
''blunges," two 'glaze-pans" and two i'm
proved clay presses, these occupying the
south side of the apartment, while the
stock bins, tram-way, etc., are on the
north.
Upon the second floor Of the building is
located the bigger room," splendidly ar
ranged for the iiggermen, turner's and
throwers. The lathes and other machinery
are the best to be had, and the arrangement
of this department embraces the most ad-
yspced ideas. The dish end baker makers,
and saucer makers, are qusrtersd at the
east end of this floor, with the most ample |
facilities for the convenient pursuit OF their
work. A feature of this portion of the
plant, which will at once commend itself
to practical potters, is the arrangement of
the drying shelves Usually these are
located in closet-like quarters, and the
workman has to 90 back and forth from a
of 100 or so in the work |
room, to one of say 1902 in the
closet, -somethiDg not specially conducive
to gocd health. Here, however, all this is
avoided by an arrangement whereby the
drying shelves slide in and out, allowing
the workmen to remain at oil times in air
of the same temperature, while at the
same time, whatever the position Of the
sheiyee, the closet is always closed.
On the extreme west end of this floor is
the mixing department, and here is located
the great steam fan, which sends the hot
air blast through q coil of 5000 feet of
pipe, and thence on TO the drying closets.
This fan is one of the best made by B. F.
Stutevant, of Boston, and the advantage OF
the avstsm oyer the steam~heatipg system |