The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-04-06
-, "a, ozA1onDAI NOhNN0, APRIL g. 1895AI ruiAySgA;
TIE ROANOKE MACHINE WORKS.
Their Capacity for Extensive Operations.
Eject of Recent Lease.

Their Capacity for Extensive Operations
Eject OF Recent Lease.
. Since MessYs. f. j. Kimbsll and
Henry Fink were appointed receivers
OF the Norfolk and Western Railroad
Company by Judge Paul Of the United
States circuit court, number of i'm.
portant changes have been made in the
official capacity OF some of the GENTLE
men prominent In che management of
the general offices and the Roanoke Ma.
chine Works.
When the Norfolk and Western Rail-
road Company was reorganized and the
extensive shops Of the Roanoke Ma
chine works were erected more thanSa
decade ago, which event changed R6a.
noke from an obscure village to an FEN
terprising manufacturing, commercial
city. 1t was the idea and Intent of the
originators and promoters of this greAs
movement to build machine shops with
capacity not only sufficient to build
and repair cars and engines for the
Norfolk and Western, but also to do SO
much work for other railroads as 1t
might secure. But the great wave of
prosperity which swept through the
country, especially the rich mineral
oeit gave such an impetus to railroad
ing from the Norfolk and Western as q
nucleus. and enlarged the system to
such an extent that no contracs work
has.been solicited by the Machine Monks
company for some time aside from that
furnished by the Norfolk and Western.
As is we'll known the Roanoke Ma
chine Works were leased by Messrs.
Ktmb ball and Fink, the receivers, March
27, the lease taking effect April l. This
places the Machine Works on the same
basis as the other machine shops OF the
Norfolk snd Western Railroad Company,
except they are the largest and most
centrally located aud will be the chief
shops OF the railroad.
The position of Mr.. r. II. Soule, under
whose uperintendency the Machine
Works were formerly managed, will in
no wise be affected by these changes
and his official title ts now superintend-
ent OF motive power OF the Norfolk and
Western Mr.. Soule's office has been
removed from the building on the
grounds at the shops into the main
office building on Jefferson street. The
Office of hIs chief clerk, Prof. c. P.
Leary, has also been transferred to the
main building. The clerks under Mr..
Leary will retain their offices at the for
mer quarters.
The relations OF Mr.. Fl. A. ellis,
formerly general foreman Of the Roam
oke Machine Works, to the operations
OF tho shops, have not been changed
Mr.. Gillia has been appointed master
mechanic of the shops and continues to
have entire local charge Of all the ma
chine works, as he did formerly.
sss1 is not the opinion Of those who are
IN position toknow, that any material
changes in the condition OF affairs are
likely to result from the official changes
just mentioned, but that affairs at the
shops are likely 10 continue just as be-
ford. Technically speaking the receiv-
ers OF the Norfolk and Western rail-
road had no Jurisdiction over the Roa
noke Machine Works and as conse-
quence, the formation OF this lease was
rendered necessary. When the lease
terminates the shops vii, probably be
turned ever to the Norfolk and Western
rsilroad.
The officials are not now in a position
to say whether the amount of work will
be increased under the new arrange
ment. Formerly, whatever money was
allowed by the Norfolk and Western
Railroad Company for that purpose was
consumed in conducting operations at
the Machine Works, and under the new
regime just whatever amount the re-
ceivers may feel justified in appropriate
ing the uperintendent OF motive power
will expend at the shops. In all prob
ability these matters will be thoroughly
considered by the receivers while they
ara in the city this week, and it is quite
likely that within short .ime the pay
roll Of the shops will be materially in
creased.