The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1913-10-28
NEARLY TWELVE n:IlIton oot
LARS PAID OUT m WAGES AN
NOAllN-TEN THOUSAND
MEN EMPLOYED.

The steel and iron Industry OF The
wheeling district. had its beginning
with me erection OF a miniature iron
plant IN 1884. on portion OF the site
now occupied by the Top mill. lust
north or the Terminal bridge. Peter
Shoeuberger and David Agnew estab-
Hshed the plant, which was designed
lor the manufacture OF bar and sheet
iron, and nails. This small piopear
concern. representing a business that
was entirely new 20 this district.
struggled along in n somewhat am.
biguous manner until 1910. when II
succumbed TO financial reverses and
for the time bsirg. fell flat The min
did not remain Idle. however for anv
great period OF time. Progress was
calling TO Wheeling and pointing out
the many advantages for industrial
development Nothing daunted by the
fact that the mill had been a failure.
Messrs. Greissner and Tallart gained
possession OF II. but they. too. after a
short period OF operation went the
route of their predecessors. r. W.
stevens, OF Pittsburgh was the neXs
man 10 see a future in the iron indus
try OF the Ohio valley. lie rented the
property. made additions and improve
ments. and associated r. VI. and Geo.
w. Norton with himself in operating
the newly acquired enterprise Under
this management the little mill fought
through many vicissitudcs with vary
ing success-and went kiting in 'he
financial panic OF 1857 The mill re-
manned IN a dormant state until the
early stages OF the Civil War. when
II was rented by Norton. Acheson *
Company. for the manufacture OF gun
boat plates. In 1864 the works were
purchased by Achrs0n. Rel d Com
pany. and extensive improvements re-
suited. Little more than n year later
Messrs. r.. Cox. " {. and c. W.
= a..
partnership. A large nail factory was
added Immediately after the eNpan-
sion Of the firm, and the plant which
lad its modest beginning in 1864 be-
came known as the Top MIL a
name IL retains 70 this day
In 1869 c. d. Hubbard. Jolen p.
Gilchrist and others were associated
with It's management and the mill
bounded into an era OF prosperity
which was augmented in 1875 by the
installation OF a thoroughly modern
blast furnace. For number OF years
following the concern operated in a
successful manner with its nail de-
partment leading the others. Finally
however. the nail industry began TO
wane IN importance and some years
ago the Top MIL. following the exam
pie OF others IN this vicinity. allowed
Il 10 drift TO other manufacturers.
while attention was turned 10 other
channels OF the steel and iron bust
ness.
Thus Il was that WEDDINGS hrst
steel and iron plant succeeded m
passing throueh years Of hardshlps TO
ultimate success. The ordeal had been
a trying one. but at the end this city
secured a footing In tho industrial
world. so firm that II has never
slipped back. and TO what heights u
viii climb are inestimable.
In the interim between the estab-
lshment OF the Top Mill and its rec
ignition rs firm, substantial insti-
tuition, we must not lose sight OF the
other activities IN all branches Of the
steel and iron business which have
taken place IN the Wheeling district
Other capitalists and captains Of IN
dustry began 20 realize the excellent
advantages afforded them in the ono
valley for developing their enter
prises. and were not slow 20 pront ny
the knowledge. More mills sprang up
in the district as though by magic
and in a comparatively few years
Wheeling was known wherever steel
cd second only 20 Pittsburgh in thin
respect.
For a great many years after
Industry became established the prin-
Cipal and almost exclusive product
was nails. Wheeling mills were famai
far and wide and were a. one time
or another used IN almost every civ
ilized country IN the universe. Inc
enormous output and the superiority
Of the product soon won thu city the
sohriquct OF Nail city" name
which Is often applied at this late day
IN recalling history. hut seldom other
wise. Another feature Of the indus
try which gave Wheeling renown was
the fact that here was located tde
largest nail factory in the world-the
Riverside. These facts merged to
Eether show how the lowly nal play
ID an important part tn ne city'G
history At ono time and served 20 ~
% on the map Ia tho Industrial world
In 1917 T. VI NOffou L. " Stew
ems Robert Morrison and others con.
soiidated Ia the construction Of the
Virginia mill. az the mouth a Wheel.
ine creek. on the same SITE now cos.
cred by tho Baltimore d Ohio frIRrf
depot When the mill was built the
owners had only one aim boz view
the manufacture Of nails and conse-
GHcuuy the entire plant was designed
for that purpose iu 1850 the concern
was sold 90 GU. Fleming A. Co. an!
was finally moved 90 now location
iu Ernuooe whom o passed through
tLe Lands % several owners Do
20 became flr property ~ g. Wilson
Kelley After aix or seven years oil
more or Jos. HIf.r-afGl operation uu.
dor fi. mann cement % SIR Kelley.
o." Old virginia mili wont crasbni
~ %" wall and meyer recovered
Then 10 WaH That fLs B.uVood Iron
company was oTsar.t.H fv g. g No.
ton. Who acted a. rr. .f..f. and VINO
deserves credit Tor placing fIa com
rany on l-u boz from which D.
mover rafnrrI Ilr l...E0o. Iron
company bad been orgarIz.d but q
rr0r Time WHOM "a deal was rlraum.
mated ty which Cyrus NnuI.uHafI
took 100000 worth OF pf1rI Iu rho
'orf0r. zion. ans turned over az ~
equivalent BID. NIaHf furnace In Mar