Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-05-31
Cn.e,ol corrssponaenes or ths Rscistsr.

Special Correspondence OF ths RsotstsT.
CHARLESTON, w. Va, May 500 say
that Charleston is the Capital OF West
Virginia and the County seat Of Kauawha
County conveys no idea Of its commercial
importance or the extent Of its manufac-
ures. 1t is the business and financial cen
tire OF q large territory Of vast natural
wealth now in the course Of development.
1t feeds and clothes a population included
in a radius Of more than fifty miles, and as
the natural wealth Of this vast territory IS
developed. the city Of Charleston must
necessarily expand. 80.
The steady growth Of Charleston within
the last fifteen years is indicated OF the
growth Of its business houses.
MARINE BOILER WORKS.
One Of the most important manufactur-
ing plants Of Charleston is the steam cen
orator Works Of Charles Ward, which
manufactures marine water tube boilers.
These boilees are especially adapted 10
launches, yachts, steamers, torpedo boats
and war ships. The invention OF the con
boiler by Mr.. Ward has made new epoch
in marine engineering, as the adOp-
ton of the water tube boilers
permits the use OF the Quadruple ex
pansiOn engine, resulting In greater econ
omy. greater safety and greater speed.
These boilers are the most successful OF
the water tube kind. Their merits are rec
ognized by the United States Navy and
merchant marine, and are unQ ualhediy en-
dOrsed by most prominent men or the en-
gineering profession. The performance OF
the Ward boilers on the United States
A. r~.eea1 hnva
en- the Ward boiler great reputation, and
shows that il is the boiler OF the new epocn
for reduction OF space and weight and In
creased efficiency. AT the Official trial OF
the slOntgOmery, made January ), 1898, on
the Pacific coast the Ward boilers stood
the test splendidly All doubt as 10
the capaitcy Of the boilers to generate the
necessary amount OF steam was removed
by their performance under this test, ana
the naval experts pronounced the expert
ment entirely satisfactory. Nearly all the
time the Monterey was running at high
rate Of speed the safety valve was blowing
of the surplus steam, indicating that the
boilers, besides firing easily, were making
more steam than could be applied by the
engine.
AT the Ward steam generator works
may be seen, in different stages Of compile
tion, three boilers Of 900 horse power each,
for the United States revenue steamer
Hudson, of New York; the United States
revenue steamer Calumet, or Chicago, and
the United States light house tender Ar
butus, Of New Orleans. There IS also now
under construction at these works steel
clad steamer for the use OF the United
States Engineer Corps Of the Great Kan
awha. It is of the most approved design,
aud especially suited 70 the use OF the gov
eminent engineers. Within the last few
DAYS Two boilers have been shipped 10 the
New York Navy Y ard, two TO San Fran
cisco ana two to the Norfolk Navy Yard.
Mr.. Ward has prepared an exhibit Tor
the Worlds Fair which may be seen In
section . of Machinery Hall The dlth-
Guilty he has had in getting space sufficient
10 make proper exhibit Of his work, has
DELAYED il, out 10 is now being transported
and will soon be in place. The exhibit
will comprise boilers, etc. costing S2O,OOO
This plant has done much toward bring
ing West Virginia 10 the front in the I'M
portance OF its manufactures.
uluunu-sr,FA oUSDRy NEN-THE THAYERs.
V7Another one of the important manufacture
ing concerns 10 the kanawha valley, is the
South Side foundry and machine works,
located on the south side Of kanawha
river. opposite Charleston. These works
are owned and operated by Messrs. o. A.
aud W. 7. Thayer, who make a speciality
OF all classes OF iron work and machinery
for the equipment OF mining operations
and coke plants, such as larries, monitors,
fnclines, wire rope hauling machinery,
mine cars, SDatent automatic weigh bas-
kets, screens, elevators and complete
Triple outfits. The Messrs. Thayer now
have in course Of erection an immense
brick building sixty feet in width by two
hundred and fifty feet IN length,
which will be occupied within the
next six or eight weeks as a machine
shop and forging departments. This will
be a great addition 70 their already large
plant. A great deal 0fimprOved machinery
and tools will be placed 10 the new build
ing Including a thirty-ton boring mill, with
a capacity for boring and turning the
largest drums, pulleys, driving wheels,
etc, now IN use. For quick and economical
handling Of heavy castings and machinery,
all departments will be fitted with power
full travelling cranes, with which one per-
son can handle twenty-five tons A large
steam hammer, power punches, swinging
cranes, and a number Of improved FORCES
are noticeable features of the forging
department. A spur track from the
Chesapeake and Ohio main line
runs through the building This will
greatly facilitate the economical handling
and loading Of machinery on the cars A
new self-cOntained steam engine Of 100
horse power is now being placed on its
foundation in the building. This engine
will be used 10 drive the machinery. A
new boiler plant is also being added 10 the
works This is located outside of the main
building This concern is now turning out
q new style Of mine ventilating fan, with
engine attached, invented by W. II. Nc
Cornell, the superintendent OF the COM
panv. formerly Of the jacksonville Ohio
Foundry and Machine Works. The fans
are constructed on an entirely new princi-
pie and are destined 20 supersede the old
style Of ventilating fans. They have
double the capacity Of any other
fan of the same size and are so arranged
that the current Of air may be reversed, if
desired. AS they require 20 casing, the
cost Of placing them in position at the
mines is very small compared with the
cost Of setting those requiring wood
easing.
This firm is now manufacturing i'm
proved rope haulage machines (the tail and
endless SYSTEM designed and patented by
their superintendent Mr.. W. II. McCOn-
nell, whose wide experience in the cOnStrUc-
ton and operation Of mine haulage ma
chinery enables him TO make the very best
machines on the market. These machines
are used in place OF mules and
loCOIUt4hCo III INC A4NNA ALNLLA u04ldEt
OF coal from the mines. This firm now
has in course OF construction 200 horse
power machine, with engines and drums
complete. mounted on one iron bed plate
The South Side Foundry and Machine
\ Works is an old firm, having been in bust
IA for over thirty years IL has steadily
nEn with the coal aud other industries
nanawha Valley, and has a large
in Vest Virginia and adjoining