The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-09-06
TRADE TALK.
OUR MAN-ABOUT-TOWN AGAIN
ON HIS RAMBlES.


trial Entcrprisc-Thc Present Plant
Capacity of the Establishment.
II is simple legend that you see
over the ample doorway to large pile
of buildings, and IT reads. Richmond
Locomotive and Machine Works
The thoughtless might pass this place
n thousand times. and not stop ito think.
not connect line of thought, which. #
followed out, would be found deeply
interesting and instructive.
Suppose YOU ponder on the fact, OF
which more in detail. Will be said fur
Their on. that in this place rs built the
great Iron Cyclops. that thunder over
mountains and plains at tireless pace.
making the echoes cry out IN alright.
and leaving behind a plume OF smoke.
spangled with fire. IL was out of the
Drawn and sinews of ages OF
thought that the wonderful machine
was evolved. that cleaves the noun
tains. flies over the valleys. through
sullen, bare and rugged wastes. throw
ing cities in handouts behind him and
blowing his breath IN hot gusts through
his nostrils. as a whale blows the sea IN
the air. IL shakes out the spirit OF
commerce and awakcs nations with "a
start and roar that have long lam
buried in sleep. and makes the maiden
ships that have pinned for spouse rs
they toiled on the deep heave their
white bosoms as it calls them in crowds
TO the shore. lie urges the whole world
to shake hands til one pulse shall pre-
vail for all.
This and much more Of similar
thought is suggested, but it Is neces-
sary to talk about business-the won =
derful business that il carried on at the
Richmond Locomotive and Machine
Works.
In the first place. let US see who con
stitutes the company operating the
works. and some idea may be gathered
IN this direction by CHANGING at the
names of the officers, who are William
X. Trigg. president Joseph Bryan.
yice-president: "A. fl. RayDal, of the
American Society Mechanical Eugi-
geers, superintendent; K. ID. Hudgins.
treasurer: George +. Jones. secretary.
The leading stockholders are the pres
jdent. vice-president, Daniel X Stew
art luow deceased), I. William Penn
bertop. Lewis Ginter, J. Montague.
and II. A. Lancaster. Of Richmond, and
James ii. Young and Hiram Hitchcock.
of New York.
The present magnificent works grew
out of the old plant on the corner OF
Canal and Seventh street, IN the city OF
Richmond. This plant was knONn as
the Tanner q Delaney Machine Works.
but in 1884 the firm bought twelve acres
of land adjoining the corporate limits
IN HenricO county. on the line Of the
Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad, and at
once commenced the construction OF "a
suitable building for carrying on their
work on a much larger scale than ever
before.
The works covered at least onef fourth
of the lot on which they stand. and III
construction every idea that has been
the outcome of invention and modern
skill was brought into practice. The
plant cost $4,000, and stands to-day
the largest enterprise Of the kind III the
South, and a monument TO the tar see
ing energy of those gentlemen who
have made II so. In fact. II would not
be exceeding the bounds of veracity 10
say that these works can be ranked
high UP CD the list of the finest equipped
plants of the kind In America.
After tine Tanner q Delaney Company
got well under way, Colonel Tanner
drew out from the firm. and II was re-
organized. as above stated. under the
name Of the Richmond Locomotive and
Machine Works. New life was put into
the business. and the plans of the com
pany were so completely perfected that
the admiration of the business men of
the world is challenged. 1t Is some
thing of which one can proudly boast.
something which dissipates the idea
that Southern industries are in "A crude
state. md 1t presages the advent of still
greater efforts IN achievement of success
in trade which Will serve in turn to
emulate others TO profit by what has
been done and can be seen for the trOu
Bile right mere in our midst.
The original business of the Tanner
& Delany Company consisted in manu-
featuring portable and stationary en-
gines and boilers of the most approved
methods. This business is as carefully
looked after now as when this branch
of the business comprised all that had
10 be looked after. The present appi-
ances and apparatus Is especially de
signed for locomotive building. and the
works are prepared to build every
variety Of boilers ana engines, the ma
chinery and tools used being of the
most modern type.
Aside from this charactar there can
be built at these works all sorts OF
heavy and marine machinery, the ia
cilit,1s tor so doing having been found
necessary in order To manufacture boil
ers. &c for the United States armCred
battle-ship Texas. When the contract
for the Texas was made with the Uni
ted States il was found necessary to
purchase suitable machinery, and this
was done at cost of nearly SlU0 900.
The wisdom of this policy is shown IN
additional contracts for similar work.
that has been awarded the Richmond
wcrks.over all competitors Things in
shops 20 at galiop, when it is Deces-
sary. One case Is cited. The Ocean
Steamer FREDERICK, put into West Point
with her machinery disabled sometime
since.
The officers called on the Richmond
Locomotive and Machine Works TO help
them out Of their difficulty, the stipu-
lation being that work should be kept
up night and day until the job was
completed. and in week S time ii was
done. 1t gave entire satisfaction, and
the FREDERICK stated that while the
work was as well done. the price was
cheaper than they could fiud il any
where else. and less than they had been
accustomed TO pay. Being the lowest
bidder, the works, as has been before
stated. secured the contract for build
ing the boilers and engines for the
battle ship Texas. The United States
government detailed Chief Engineer
William b. Brooks. a native of Ports
mouth. Va, aud Assistant Engineer
j. NJ. Pickerell. a Richmond boy. TO
supervi.e the construction of the work.
Chief Brooks has been here one month
lie has handsome quarters on the en- |
tire third floor, fitted up in elegant and
comfortable style. 1t will take the
works two years to complete the work