The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-11-19
A GROWING INDUSTRY.
Active Operations at the Spike
Works.

east of Roanoke. on land donated to it
by the Midway Land Company, are the
extensive and growing works of the
Midway Iron Company and its depend
ent industry, Brooks cooperagc estab-
lishment, and the next twenty DAYS
will see within fifty yards of these
works the erection of different branch
of manufacture, giving employment to
between fifty and sixty mon, the nature
of which is not yet divulged, but CON
tract has been let for the erection of n
building 200 by 60 feet.
visit to this fine plant yesterday by
TINES reporter disclosed the founda-
ton of a small village in the works now
in operation, as scventy-tivo men are
now employed, and provision is being
made to enable these employees to Sc
cure homes on equitable terms in the
immediate vicinity.
The smaller building, which is 20 by
100 feet in dimensions, is the spike fac
tory. 1t contains a 100 horsepower
engine which furnishes the motive
power for four great spike machines,
having capacity OF five tons of spikes
each per day Of ten hours.
There are also four furnaces in that
building for heating the iron rods to
satisfy the ravcnouS maws of these ma
chimes. as also, ut the apex of the build
ing, water tank holding 800 barrels of
water, which can he turned on to any or
every part of the building in case of
fire. which is capable OF qucnching an
lncipicnt blaze or drowning out large
fire should ono break out.
There il. also, IL boilcr-room contain
IrlC l,.tt Of
each 80 inches in diameter and 36 feet
long, which furnishes steam to the ex-
tent of 500-horse power.
The other building is the rolling mill
department. This is 20 by 100 feet. and
contains 200 horse power engine, run
nlnga l0-inch train of modern iron rolls
Here is furnace capable of heating
twenty tons of iron daily. 1t shelters
also a great steam shcarer. run 10y sep
crate engine, for cutting all classes of
iron. and a set of clipping shears capable
of cutting any length OF spike rod
The cooper shop. which was erected
and is run by Mr.. Brock. of Brock town.
Pa, has in stock the material for 20. OO0
kegs. Mr.. Brock has the contract for
supplying the kegs for the company.and
this work will keep Il large force busily
engaged at all seasons
The present output by the company
is twenty tons of spikes per day, and as
fast rs the machinery can be brought
and he put iii place the output will he
Increased to seventy tons per day. which
Will tax the present capacity of the
buildings To its utmost. and will necrs-
state the erection of new ones. if the
demand increases. as the present pros
poet Is that it will, since the company
can now-by reason of its inability to
secure machinery as fast as needed
only supply two-sevcnths of the demand
upon it for its product.
This increase will call for the employ
mcnt of at least 200 more hands. whose
gross earnings will be quite 4 factor TO
the city in its commercial aspect
The company has just contracted for
and is daily receiving 400 tons Of iron
ore and as fast as accommodate lions for
housing it can be provided. they will ar
range for securing as much as they can
keep as reserve supply.
The land company has now in process
OF erection thirty houses. which they
will reserve for the use of employees Of
the iron company. and other handsome
houses will be erected for the officers of
the two Organiza tiOns.
The want Of II suitable bridge over
Tinker creek is badly felt, as there is
no suitable means of crossing that
stream for the teams hauling building
material for the buildings and supplies
for the factories.
''Such industries should be catered to
to tho extent of furnishing ready means
OF cgress and ingress.'