The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-07-16
GROWING MILLING INTERESTS.
The Gambi'l Company to Double
its Capacity.
To Turn out Two Hundred Instead of One
hundred Barrels OF Flour Per Day
Important improvements to be Made
In the Elevator Experimentation the
Grain Is Handled

A'Si"S VI VIC great wheat
crop and the general increase in bust.
ness, the Roanoke Milling Company is
doubling its capacity. This large mill
is owned principally by j. NJ. Gambill,
and was built about three years ago Mt n
cost of over $4,000. The capacity has
heretofore been ono hundred barrels of
flour day outside Of the meal and shin.
stuff grinding.
The machinery was all put in under
the superintendency of j. c. Wells of
the Case Manufacturing Company,
Columbus, Ohio, who is here again in
charge OF the renovating and improve
ments. MIR. Wells is ono of the finest
mill-wrights in the United States. bav.
ing worked on the great Pillsburg mills
at Minneapolis, and many others of i'm
portance throughout the North and
Northwest.
When Mr.. Gambill decided to double
the capacity of his mills, he was anx-
ious that Mr.. Wells should have charge
OF the work, SO much so indeed that he
would not close the contract with the
Case Company unless the services OF Mr..
Wells could be secured.
The machinery has all arrived and
MIR. Wells IS now busily engaged in
putting 1T in position. There are two
new stands OF double rolls, much larger
ana more complete than those now in
use. This will make seven stands or
fourteen mills, increasing the capacitv
to two hundred barrels day.
In addition to this six new bottlinp
reels of the latest improved pattern arc
being put in on the third and fourth
iioors, and elevator capacity will be
doubled sufficient to move 900 bushels
of grain to the hour
mis- arrangement is so perfect that
carload of wheat may he run alongside
the platform and unloaded in thirty
minutes. A large funnel-shapcd trough
is placed in the car door, which con
aects with spout on the platform and
extends into the basement. Here the
wheat is whirled up on the first floor
faster than four men can scoop it up
with large shovels, weighed and dis
charged into the basement again. Here
il is taken up by tn. elevator to the ton
OF the mill, and nay he cmptied into
either of twelve large bins which rest
on the second floor and extend to the
roof. These bins are nearly empty
now and look like yawning chasms.
Hero the wheat rests until it goes
through its wonted sweat, and is again
carried to the top of the mill, passes
through the cleaning machines and is
ground.
The mill is quite an interesting in
stitution. Mr.. Wells told a TINES re-.
porter yesterday that there was not a
better mill in the country. The mater
ial used throughout is the best the
market afforded and the ponderous
walls and substantial gearing, bear
indication that it will still be a mill
when the youngest citizen OF Roanoke
shall have spent his allotted time.
Mr.. Gambill is convinced that the
milling industry is sure to become one
OF the leading agencies for tho deyel.
opment of the city and adjacent coun.
ties. The growth OF Southwest Vir.
ginia has created a demand for bread
stuifs. Roanoke and other counties in
the Southwest and the Valley of Vir-
ginia, can supply the home trade and
ship thousands of barrels every year to
foreign ports,
Roanoke is the central point of this
the granary OF Virginia, and is more ac-
cessible than any other city as wheat
market. Mr.. Gambill has seen this, and
is taking step that is bound to develop
the wheat interests in this part of the
country.
Mr.. Wells expects to complete the
work in short time, and will have the
elevators ready by the time The new
wheat is put on the market