The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-09-18

OUR MAN-ABOUT-rOWN ON HIS
REGULAR RAMBLES.


thawed.
While il is not apparent TO every one,
there are those who keep their eyes
open to what is going on in the manu-
featuring world hereabouts. This ~
pre.eminently so in Richmond, and has
been the outgrowth of the successful
venture that have been made by others,
and which have had great tendency
10 cause capitalist to turn their ideas to
such fields of investment. THE great
inducements offered here to manufac-
turers have been overlooked for long
time, but they have been of such
forceful character. as to forbid further
neglect in this progressive age, and the
next few years will witness in ard
around Richmond changes so great that
the man of business of the day. will
wonder why he did not seize the golden
opportunities of the past. and make
them serve his ends. We really are
doing well now. but so much more can
be done, that the very thought. why is
IT not done ~ to the reflective mind q,
creates nervousness.
A very few years snfiiccs to make
wondrous changes, make things of to-
day look old before we have seen many
Christmases: make them look like a
dealer here described fender, when
good customer picked .out one a little
out of style. "Pshawl Judge, you
don't want that. Why, it was made
before the Christian arena"
A few years since the idea Of starting
spike factory near the foot OF Hull
street, and just opposite the Marshall
Mills, had not been thought Of. Go
with us over there to-day and you will
see that nature has selected that spot,
and kept it in waiting for 10 these
many years just for the very purpose to
which it is now applied by the Rich
mond Standard Spike Company. which
is differed as follows: President. Byrd
Warwick: Secretary and Treasury, j.
+. Anderson; Superintendent, h. w.
Jeffrey.
These gentlemen have founded a one
hundred thousand dollar plant. har-
messed the water Of the James, built a
misunderstanding manufacturing estab-
lshment and broken the way for the
building up of big trade in their par
ticular line Of business.
The area covered by the works is
. very ample, and there is every facility
that space can give for the conduct OF
the business.
The company began work on the 18th
day of April, 1888. 1t was new ven
ture. and the company had to break the
ice before the road TO business success
was practicable. But they went to work
brayely, and from the very start have
had as much as they could attend to.
They within a little more than a year
have a trade which extends from Rich
mond to New Orleans in the South. TO
San Francisco. west; and Minnesota in
The southwest. They are kept constant
ly busy and have orders ahead all the
time. Such has been the success of the
company that they are preparing to
make large additions to their works.
They manufacture railroad, ship, boat
and dock spikes, and use for this
purpose, principally. old railroad
iron. The daily capacity of the mills
is two hundred and fifty kegs of stand
ard spikes weighing two hundred
pounds TO the keg, and from twenty to
thirty kegs of ship, dock, and boat
spikes. The steam used is generated
from gas. The kegs used are manu-
featured on the ground. The company
employs one hundred hands, and the
monthly payroll sums up about four
thousand dollars. The trade Of the
company has gradually increased, and
the shipping facilities offered are I'M
surpassed. Three railroad tracks run
right into the shops, and cars are load
ed and unloaded by machinery, max
ing the work quick, safe, and reliable.
In due course Of time the banks of
the James will not have vacant OF
unused site for manufacturing pur-
poses on them. Nature has been sound
ing in trumpet tones an invitation to
the world to come forward and utilize
the resources that she has poured out
80 lavishly. and the call seems to have
been heard at last.
Statesmen ana generals, ENJOY great
celebrity in their lives. The newspapers
make them famous by chronicling all
their words and movements. But the
fame of the business man, the man who
places his money where it not only
brings a return. but gives pleasure and
happiness to honest tollers, ought TO Ds
more enduring.
The Marshall Manufacturing Com
pany S mills are on the Manchester side
Of the James river, just below Mayo S
bridge. The company employs two
hundred women and boys. and annually
expends $4,000. Many poor, but
happy homes. draw their sustenance
from employment given by the mills.
The mills were built in 1913. but have
been greatly improved from time to
time since. They were operated at that
time by what was then known "a the
James River Company, and the mills
were called the James River Mills. -
A gentleman named Holt was the first
SUPERINTENDENT. Ho was succeeded by
Mr.. Bently.
In 1870 the mills were sold and
bought By j. l.. Bacon, who changed
the name, and was the prime mover in
establishing the Marshall Manufacture
ing Company mills. The officers are,
General b. ID. Fry. president, and G. A.
Peple, superintendent.
General Fry deserves mention. lie
was educated at West Point. served
with conspicuous gallantry under Cen
eral Scott in Mexico, was brigadier-
general in a. L. Hills division, and in
whatever phase OF me ne enters, up
holds with credit the proud name of
Virginian. Mr.. Peple is man of schol-
arly attainments, and well posted on
scientific matters. He understands all
the minutiP Of the business under his
control.
The capital of the company amounts
TO 5000 900. Two thousand bales OF
cotton are consumed annually, and
seven thousand five hundred spindles
make music in the factory daily. The
capacity is about ten thousand yards
per day. The machinery is the newest
and latest pattern. and is driven by two
great overshot and turbine wheels Of
l75-horse power.
The goods turned out are brown shirt
ing and sheeting. which finds ready sale
aI ,v.x tho South Recently the strides