Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1899-11-30
THE TOWN OF eRAHAH.
Some Of Its Manufacturing and Industrial
Enterprises.

On last Tliursdsy afternoon the editor o
the REPUBLICAN went to Graham to have
some repairs for our newspaper press made
by the Thistle Plow and Foundry Com
pany. Upon arrival at Graham We were
! met by Mr.. Jno. P. Cameron, the genial
proprietor of the foundry, and during our
stay in the town was treated by him and
his family with tue most cordial hos
pitality.
Graham was one of the original boom
towns of this section, and when the boom
collapsed it was thought it wss dead for.
ever. But in the face of this impression,
we find that there are several industrial
and mercantile enterprises located there
that have done and are still doing much to
keep its business interests alive and active.
THISTLE PLow AND FOUNDRY COMPANY.
Among the most interesting and sue
cessful enterprises we visited at Graham are
the works of the Thistle Plow aud Foundry
Company. On the lst Of May, 1898, MIR.
J. P. Cameron purchased and took charge
of what was then known as the McWane
foundry, located at West Graham. 1t
was then comparatively small enterprise;
but under the energetic management of
MIR. Cameron it has grown to be very
useful and interesting industry. When he
took charge of the establishment the
monthly pay roll amounted to from $50 to
$40 per month. Now it amounts to over
$780, 90 per month for skilled and unskilled
labor. The output has been increased in
even greater ratio, while the improve
ments, in the way of additional machinery,
new buildings, &C., have amounted to
cost of over 100000. One lathe alone
cost $500, and new 80 horse power engine
with an 80 horse power boiler is now being
substituted for the smaller engine that has
heretofore been in use, the small engine
being inadequate to the demands of the
works. A corn grist mill has been added
to the establishment and considerable
amount Of grinding is dons. The foundry
is equipped with sll the necessary ma
chinery, such as lathes, jig saws, rip saws,
emery wheels, shsitings, pulleys, TASKS,
drills, moulding tools, &c. The pattern
shop is on the second floor Of the building
and is we'll supplied with machinery and
largely stocked with patterns Of every de-
scription. On Friday afternoon, We wit
messed, for the first time, melt in a
foundry, and found the work very inter
esting. The large floor of the moulding
room was occupied with TASKS in which
the patterns for large variety Of castings
had been placed, rengng from a small
roller wheel for the REPUBLICAN press to
large doors for coke ovens. The molten
metal was drawn from the cupola into
large ladies', carried to the different TASKS
and poured into the moulds that had been
carefully prepared. All this work was
skilfully done under the direction of MIR.
]. G. Caudill, who is most capable super
lntendent Of the foundry. The castings
made at the Thistle Foundry are ofsuperior
quality, and, together With the promptnesa
with which orders are filled, is rapidly in.
creasing the business of the establishment.
Mr.. Cameron has done much to advance
the business interests of Graham and de-
serves to be sustained. With his works so
favorably located, that is near the coal
field, and within reach Of the entire
Clinch Valley, there is no reason why the
Thistle Plow and Foundry Company should
not become one of the permanent, sue
cessful enterprises Of this section.
PLANNING Mills.
At West Graham there is planning mill
in successful operation, it being owned and
controlled by MIR. Geo. n. Speiden. It is
situated near the Thistle Foundry, and
both of these establishments use the same
side-track for receiving and shipping.
GRAHAM. FURNACE.
A large force of hands is now engaged il
placing the large furnace at West Graham
in repair, and it is confidently asserted tha
it will soon go into blast and employ many
hundreds Of hands.
L. C. COLE CO.