The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1893-04-27
4-6-'93-te.
THE c. & o. SHOPS.

Everything in Perfect Order and a Large
Amount of w ork Turned Out-A Con-
siderable Number of Skilled Workmen
Employed Officials, &c.
Having heard many conflicting reports
as to the manner in which the G. g. 0.
Shops here were being conducted, we
determined to ascertain the truth. A
favorable opportunity came on Satur
day afternoon last After steering our
way through network of freight trains
and still greater number Of engines
this being the junction of three Divis
ions-the Hinton on the West, Chariot
esville on the East, and the James River
on the South, we reached the 'Round
House," This is an extensive building,
having a storage capacity for twenty
engines. The pits were almost entirely
utilized by these wonders of mechanism,
which were in various stages of repair
Just here we met master mechanic, j. A.
Quinn, for it would be difficult to move
about these Shops without meeting him,
SO entirely does he devote his time to the
we obtained the mechanics Pass Word
discussed the hardness exhibited by our
'Grover" in extending an invitation to
the Democratic boys to come to the
''feast of fat things" and then passed
on. We had not gone far before we met
day-foreman, Lou" Savins, who has be-
come a necessary part of the G. & O.'s
machinery. By-the-way, he is in the
race for the Postmastership of this city,
and from what we learned, is making con-
siderable progress. He is regarded as
No. mechanic, and is a great favorite
with his fellow workmen.
Perhaps the most interesting Depart.
ment is what is known as the Square
Shop" which contains large number
of costly machines, required in the man
ufacture of certain parts of a locomotive.
A mammoth stationary engine furnishes
the power to operate the great array of
machinery within this building. At each
machine skilled workman was engag-
ed. Among them we noticed Messrs J.
l.. Mays, T. McKenna and large num-
Der whose names we did not learn Here
we found Capt. J. II. Baker giving di>
rections aS''gang boss, and that expert
copper-smith, Jas. B. Darby, who can
twist a copper-pipe into as many KINKS
as one can count, and not mar it's beau
ty. The master-mind among all these
workmen, is assistant master-mechanic,
VIM. M. Birchhill, who enjoys the re-
spect and confidence of the men under
his immediate control. He understands
his business, and it seemed to be pleas
ure for his assistants to follow his in
structions.
From the affable "time-keeper," III. G.
Sisson, we obtained much important in
formation. We ascertained that the pay
roll of the G. & o. for mechanical work
alone at these new Shops will average
about $4,000 per month, and is likely to
be increased; that $500 tons of coal is
consumed every thirty days at this Sta
tion in ''coaling'' engines; that fifteen
engines are handled every 10 hours at
these Shops, all needing repairs of MOI e
or less Importance, and that in additic n
to this about n new engines are turned
out each month. We also witnessed the
process of driving pin in large driv-
ing wheel with go tons hydraulic pres
sare, which was accomplished with the
greatest ease.
The above imperfect description OF
what may be seen in these important in
dustries any day, tells aits own story
These workmen receive fair wages, and
the money is distributed in this commu
nifty. They are the life giving arteries
to the business interests of our city. All
honor to the great G. g. O..