The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-11-08

Grand Rapids Dem;' The making Of
-four was one Of the EARLIEST industries
in the city. The hTst run of stone in
the state, outside of Detroit were set
on indian MIL creek in the northwest
part of the city, by the government. It
was put in while the land stln belonged
t6 the Indians, to help the Indians in
grinding their Indian corn. The stones
are, still preserved as relies. The mill
ing, industry proper was established In
1862; when four run OF stone were put
IN BY the valley. City Company to be
run bywater power!on the East Side
canal. Rollers. for the reduction Of
grain were uBlsnoWn then and did not
begin to come into use until about 1873.
Mills of those days were clogged with
bins, dust elevators and crude ma
cl1lnsry, and were uDsightly places. The
Star mills were built in 1868, Crescent In
1S74,and the Model about seven years
later. It is conservatlvely estimated
that these mills grind every year 5000
carloads Of. wheat, together with about
$1,000 bushels taken in from farmers
wagons. And for every car Of wheat
shipped in car of mlllstuft goes out.
The mills are turning out an average of
1900 barrels Of flour per day the year
around. The increase. in. output has
been steady. It is estimated that in
1876 the output did not exceed 600 bare
Tels par day,
The mills are operated night and day
right through the week, from Monday
morning until Sunday morning. at
o'clock. So delicate is the reduction
machinery, and SO particular are the
mIllers to make flour OF the proper
grade that they win not start the ma
chinery at night. Even the practited
eyes Of the skilled millers require day
light for testing the flour. The high
brands Of aour, manufactured by the
local mills are known far beyond the
confines OF Michigan. Combined steam
an6t.water cover is used in all the mills
except the Model, which are operated by
steam alone. There are few II any
Touring mills in the state that are oper-
ated satisfactory by water power alone.
Little imported wheat has gone Into
the hoppers OF local mills this fall, but
millers are scratching their heads to
know where the wheat is coming from
to run the mills until the next harvest.
with the 1000, 900 bushels OF old wheat
I'll farmers hands added to the 1900
900 harvested, this fall the total Is stlll
little, below Tie usual crop raised In.
Michigan. The mills are well equipped
with the best machinery. Wonderful
improvements have been made in re-
ductlon and purlticatiop processes and
Grand Rapids millers have kept fully
abreast OF the times. They have made
the work lifetime study. The mar
lsets fonGrand RAJ lds -four are. outside
lts natural district, in the south and in
New England. hundreds Of carloads be-
ing shipped to these sections every
year. Y
The millers locally, Of course, only sell
70 the trade. The handling OF -four and
feed. FOR the local trade is a business
which Grand Rapids houses occupy
veEy satisfactorily and the stores
twtnty-one in number-are scattered
about the city so that each section is
well supplied The trade is In very
prosperous condition and If by chance
there should come any trouble to any
Of the concerns that are engaged in the
business there would be wave Of sur
prise roll over the trade. There are no
great developments in the business as
there have been in other lines, but year
By year the flouy and feed stores of the
city have expanded according to their
degree, of prosperity until 1t is the boast
Of those who are concerned In the trade
that there Is no city in the state better
situated with regard to this business
than Is Grand Rapids. Flour is one of
the Staples in hundreds of grocery
stores, as well US by the houses hand
ling only -four and feed. and most
brands Of flour have an uphill time
IN this market.
F q.