The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-11-25
THE SEABOARD SHOPS
A Gratifying Scene of Busy Activity About
This industrial Dee Hive.
OVER 800 MEN ARE HOW EMPLOYED
a Description OF Some of the Work
That the Shops are Now Turning
Out-Dcserved Compliments to
Observation-Disclosures improvements
Wtll be Added shortly.

With Industrial depression existing
Throughout the country 1t IS gratifying
to the people of Portsmouth 10 witness
the activity now being displayed in the
Seabcard Air Line shops in this city. The
large increase in the business OF t.hs
system has placed in service every avail
able car. both freight and PASSENGER
and every locomotive. y few years ago
side tracks were filled with condemned
cars; to-day those cars are iii active
use.
Through the courtesy of Mir. w. T.
Reed, Superintendent of motive power
and Mr.. Charles i. Royal, ma ter ma
chinist. the Virgin.an representative
Was shown the extensive improvements
made during the past year in these chops
which shows manifes,ly to the ordinary
observer thac Superintendent of Motive
Power Reed Is one OF the most COM
petent men in the country in operating
plant of this character. and no i'm
proVenent thar will add 10 the efficiency
of the railroad service ana clonoInizr
the expenses OF the company escapes his
attention.
The machinery department of these
shops has been greatly improved a
number of the latest and largest ma
cnines for turning ana boring car
wheels, for threading and heading: bolts,
turning lathes, Slotting machines, steam
hammers and other machines have been
s>i9ed.
One of the novelties of these shops,
ana vet the most economical. is the use
OF ar instead of steam. Air pressure is
used Tor hoisting; il is used for pressing,
ana Is employed to force the dried sand
to height of twenty feet so that ii will
HOW TO the engines as freely as water
from tank. An air pump will be plac-
ed within the next few days in the gene
raj offices 10 be used in press-copy!n-
manlfeSis and letters and thus saving
the company hundreds OF dollars each
month.
new pattern room has recently been
erected and a large and commod!ous
store room has been constructed as the
old store house proved totally made
quate 20 the present needs
That the Seabcard Air Line manage
ment desires TO do justice to it's employees
Is shown by the conversion of the old
stotehouse into reading and lounging
room for its engineers and emploves
While of duty. Chairs and tables OF The
most approved pattern are furnished.
and the leading daily newspapers and
periodicals are TO be found on the tables
furnished by the company
The work at the shops has increased so
rapidly that new car sheds had 10 be
built and portion of .he round house
utilized for repairing engines and paint
shop.
There is an apparent effort at neatness
about the shops, which shows much
Naste, as board walks are being provided
ana the grass cut down and all uncces-
sary Instructions kept out OF the way.
Another building will he erected in
the near future for the boiler works.
The passenger coaches now ready to
leave the shops that have been re-
paired there. are models of beauty and
convenience.
Everything points to the thoroughness
of the work of repairing by Mr. Reed.
Cars come from the shops nearly as
good as new.
Few know that the force at these shops
amounts TO %25 men, and fewer realize
that two years ago less than half this
number worked there
The navy yard force nj present is only
l.15o. and the Seaboard Air Line shops
employ nearly one-third as MANY.
Ii will thus be seen the imnn-.ar. ,,o
tor these shops are to the people of
Portsmouth, and what Is better. the
force Is constantly being increased.