The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-02-21

III American Wood Speciality Com
pany, OF % Broadway. New York. is 10
make a large inves. ment in Wilmi ston.
company. and Mr.. Charles d. Brandt.
secretary and treasurer, have been here
some days, and have purchased the
plant of Mr.. L. A. Weedon's shuttle
block factory on the harbor front be-
tween Church and Castle streets. They
have also purchased from the D. -
tate the valuable property on W.
factory is located and the deed will be
recorded in a few days. This property
has a water front of 264 feet and ex-
tends back to Surry street There are
now three buildings on it but the new
purchasers will put up extensive build
ings and will build q new wharf 264 feet
In length.
The property has been purchased by
the American Wood Specially Company
for the purpose of erecting a large pant
for the manufacture OF kindling wood
for the European market. At the start
Tot less than $50. 900 will be required TO
build the wharf n buildings and In
stall the machinery required for the
plant.
Vice President Murphy told a Mes
genger representative yesterday that
this In to be quite an extensive enter
prise and that when h plant is run
ming ii will be interesting for the pep
pie Of Wilmington to see it. 1t will
clearly demonstrate that all the waste
product of our saw mills, down to
pieces one inch square car be utilized,
whereas now in small as well as large
mills this material is burned to get rid
Of II.
Mr.. Murphy says not only all the
waste pine wood will be untilizci but
every block and piece of all kinds of
woods. The company has use for AMI
has a ready market for all the products
Its factory will turn out. He states that
the demand for lightwood in Europe IS
almost limitless and that not only viii.
his company a X all h waste prod
uct of the saw mills but will buy tens
OF thousands Of cords Of pine wood, cy-
press. juniper, etc. He has already
bought several thousand cords or wood,
and the factory will begin work tomor-
row in a practically small way until
the plant Is completed.
Mr.. Murphy made an astonishing
statement when he said that the plant
which his company expects to put here
as soon as they can construct II, VIII
employ from 1000 to 5000 men and boys.
His company has a patent on the meth
Cd Of preparing lightwood for market
1t Is made into blocks four inch S
square and three-eighths OIL an inch
thick. containing five augur hoes five
eighths of an inch in diameter. Each
block will light a coal fire, and for this
purpose 1t is said there Is nothing 10
equal it. The block is placed in tie
bottom of a CRATE and the draft created
by the augur holes keeps the fire going
when a match is applied. Mr.. Muir
ply says soft Goa is used exclusively
in Europe and that CRATES are used
everywhere, so that there Is Ito END to
the demand for lightwood.
Mr.. Murphy was here last summer
looking into the advantages of WI
mington and has been here five weeks
to close the deal. Mr.. Brandt has been
here a week, and as all the arrange
ments have been made for the enter
prise. Mr.. Murphy will leave today toI
South Carolina, where the company viii
have a plant at Ferguson, on the San
tee river. sixty miles from Charleston
Mr.. Murphy tells us that his company
Is backed by ample capital and WI
have twenty factories in the south. The
one at Wilmington is the first to be es-
tablished.
The lightwood to be manufactures
here will be shipped by the vessel oaC
"a European ports and will add con
siderably to the shipping Of the port
IS a bark OF a steamer can be loaded
avery few DAVIS