Daily Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1918-191?, 1918-05-30
.
BY Ben King Harmed
:. x iRIi TO; riE moGuL.. !:

On Wednesday Prof Mallory took
the Manual Training class TO the
Mogui Wagon Plant on an inspec-
ton trip. The management was ex-
ceedingly thoughtful and showed the
boys every possible attention. They
were carried through under the per
sonal direction Of Mr.. James Forbes.
The trip started at the saw mill
where the logs are taken from the
yards and cut into rough lumber
and from there the different steps
were traced until the wagon was com
pleted. II = interesting 20 know that
as by-prodrct the saw mill turns
out 10000 hogsheads in a six months
season All Of the materials is
thoroughly dried before using. for
this rs the real secret in the building
OF durable wagons. Udder natural
conditions wood requires four or FIVE
years TO dry properly but recently
the government drying system has
been introduced and under this plan
only three or four months are re-
quired to ri the lumber for the shop.
From the drying plants the lumber
Is shipped on cars TO the wood shop
where, IL rs cut and dressed by the
latest types Of machinery. The iron
Ia electrically hammered in the black
smith shop. The wheels. which deter
mine the real life Of the wagon, are
all made by machinery. The spokes
are driven into the hubs by electric
hammers. Next they are cut and
mortieed. the rims htted on hot and
the tires securely fastened by hy-
draulie pressure. When the various
parts have been completed they are
sent TO the painting room and after
drying they are ready for shipment.
The factory is concentrating most Of
lis force In the filing Of government
contracts. These wagons are built
from blue prints and specifications
and the pieces can be counter-parted
by those made IN other factories. Two
types Of wagons are built for the
government, the rations cart and the
escort wagon. Wherever II Is posi-
bic steel Is used in their construc-
ion One noticeable difference is
hat the hubs are made Of steel and
he spokes bolted In which method
'conomizes space and strengthens
he wagons. Both cart and wagon
ire finished in n kahki drab and
loosely an old prairie schooner.
The first Mogul wagon was hand
made by Mr.. NJ. C. Forbes In Hop
In 1871. This wagon which |
would seem very crude now but an
excellent piece Of workmanship then
sold for s125. Since the eonstrue-
ton Of the first wagon the business
has steadily grown until in 1908 Il
became necessary to build the pres
mt plant which covers about Is
'eres. The main building Is two
tory brick, constructed on the z
'lan. with a floor space Of So, 900
quare feet. which Ia made absolutely
afe from danger Of fire by au-
omatie sprinklers placed every
quare foot. These sprinklers are
onneeted with a $4,000 gallon tank
nd also with the city water power
a case the tank should be exhaust
d. All Of the machinery is run by
lectricity, the total horse power Of
Ihich Is $40. The plant has a capa-
ity Of from 500 10 1000 WA Gus per
'onth and at present the, Are doing
0 per cent government work. hold
" their old business and filling the
overnment contracts. The wagons
'hich we made Of 30 per cent wood
re shipped all over the south and
lso into California. Washington and
regon and everywhere the customers
re more than pleased with the "Mo-
al" which under ordinary conditions
al last life time. The Mogul wag-
n factory represents an investment
between 100000 and s40o, 900
nd has an annual payroll Of about
$4,000. The reason for the location
Z plant Of this magnitude in Hop
kinsville was the fact that the best
Imber for the construction Of wagons
! obtained in the forests Of Kentucky |
tennessee and Arkansas, and for this
eason wagons can be sold cheaper
han they could IL they were located
lsewhere. The Mogul Wagon fac