Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1904-04-29
THE GRAND RAPIDS
WAGON COMPANY

The subject of transportation is not
the least important of the many
questions which confront the Amer
lean people today: apd in the trans
portation of freight of this country
the lumber or farm wagon handles
more freight then all the railroads,
steamboats, and pack trains combined.
Realizing the necessity for a wagon
that would meet all the requirements
of the farmer and freighter in the
desert, prairie and timber country.
The Grand Rapids Wagon company
are manufacturing wagon that seems
to meet the requirements of all
For twenty five years this company
has been in the manufacture of wagons
and different parts of wagons. The T.
MacKinnon Mfg. Co. are the largest
manufacturers Of wagon hubs in the
world, shipping 100 carloads of hubs
last year, enough for more than 80 600
wagons.
The timber for manufacture of hubs
is unlimited in this part Of the state
For this reason they furnish the
largest firm in the South and South
west with this product, manufacture
ing some II different grades on sizes.
They are also extensive manufacturers
of wagons spokes. but as this part of
the wagon requires the very best white
oak and this timber is becoming very
scarce and needs from two to four
years seasoning, the company is not
selling any more spokes.
This company manufactures seven
different sizes of wagons with four
distinct Improvements covered by
patents. The axle Of their wagon is
entirely different from any other
manufactured, as it is composed of
sheet in the form of trail with Bin.
strip Of maple clamped on each side.
In a recent test of this axle with
hydraulic pressure it was found to
stand II tons strain making the wagon
"A tons or equal to a carload.
The other three patents are on the
hub, stake and bolster. The bolster is
made on the principle of the axle. 1t is
an acknowledged fact with all me-
chanics and engineers that steel and
wood form the strongest truss of any
material that can be used for weight
and it is quite plain that this company
has an article that will meet long
felt want.
In sending carload of these wagons
recently to Omaha they received wi th
the check for the same an order for
two more carloads, and carload sent
to Des Moins, Ia, brought am order
for three more carloads.
This company employees IS men, ships
into the city 700 carloads of raw
material each year, and ships out of
manufactured product about 400 car
loads year. Their new building which
they recently erected with an elevator
at the west end will be duplicated by
another building Of the same size on
the west, in the future.
Mr.. John Schnabie is president of
the company and has made this work
his life study. He is building up this
industry on a safe and business like
foundation.
B. Meter, the superintendent of
this shop is a mechanic Of more then
ordinary ability He has been engaged
in this business for many years and
seems to thoroughly realize that what
the people want is not so much a cheap
wagon as one that is thoroughly re-
liable in every respect.
1t is hard to oyer-eStimate what
plant of this kind is worth to our city.
What we need above everything else
in Grand Rapids is more plants and
manufacturing establishment that
employs a good class of men and keep
them in employment the year round.