The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-12-09

1893 rope ition OF those pal1ny days
when the hustlcrs located nanufac.
turing plant in tho morning, sold corner
lots in tho afternoon and played crack
loo with SEQ gold pieces in the evening.
The Roanoke Machine Works, Roa-
nokc's largest industry, is to be en-
largcd Immediately to double it's pres
ent capacity. The latest and most i'm
proved machinery is to be put in, and
employment given to 2, 300 men.
This move has boon in contemplation
for some time, but assumed definite
shape within the past forty eight hours.
General Foreman HAWTHORN received
letter day or two ago from Supcrin-
tendent Soule asking what additional
room and tools would be required in
order to turn out five new engines a
month, fifteen new cars day and keep
up tho repair work of the Norfolk and
Western railroad.
Mr.. HAWTHORN had each foreman NJ axe
out list OF of tho tools and also the
room his department would need to do
this work.
After looking over the plant it was
found that it would be necessary to build
an addition 10 the foundry or construct a
new one altogether for casting wheels.
A now boiler shop will be built, allow
ing the erecting shop to occupy tho
pre- sent boiler shop; also tin, sheet iron,
zinc and pipe shop will be erected. Tho
machine shop will occupy, in addition
to its present quarters, the room now
used by the sheet iron department.
The machine shop and smith shop will
require large number of new tools.
All that the erecting shop requires is
moro room. IL has all the other fGcili-
ties.
New tools are to go into the planning
mill, also some hydraulic formers for
Hanging boiler plato. Tho wheel foun-
dry is to be equipped with tho latest
improved hydraulic cranes The ap-
proXimate cost of tho buildings and
tools will be S15O,OOO.
With these additions force of 2 800
men will be required, working ten hours
day. The present force is about 500.
uperintondent Soulo las made out re-
QUESTIONS for the necessary machinery
to fill those additions.
The causes that lied up to this in
crease arc moro than one. At tho
present day tho Norfolk and Western
is refusing freight on account of short.
age of cars; they could profitably ON.
ploy thousand additional cars at once.
1t will DO necessary to add $4,000, 900
worth of equipment in 1898. TO this
fact is added tho reason that in order to
compete for outside work with the
larger car and locomotive manufac tur.
ing concerns of the country, it is neces-
sary to enlarge this plant to a some.
| what proportionate capacity.
Pro badly in Roanoke to-day there are
| not more than 1900 available mechan-
les. The other 100 will have to be
drawn from outside sources. To this
| end tho car shops of Pennsylvania will,
as in the past, largely contribute. 1t
Is thought that in certain depart.
ments many of the Homestead strik ers
may eventually find places, as they
we're unquestionably the most skilltul
body Of iron workers in the country.
The bringing ot eleven hundred men
to Roanoke will mean an addition to
the population of not loss than four
thousand people. This increase in force
will bring the monthly pay roll of the
Machine Works up TO from Sl35, 900 to
Sl5o,oo0. The current pa roll is
$4,000. At present the Works are
turning out an average Of two locomo-
tives month or twentY-four year.
With increased facilities they will be