USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > Wilkes-Barre > Wilkes-Barre (the "Diamond city") Luzerne County, Pennsylvania; its history, its natural resources, its industries, 1769-1906 > Part 8
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. "I saw the plans made, and had them explained by Mr. Marshall himself, but owing to the fact that the engineers did careless work on the canal, so that on some of the levels the water was supposed to run up hill, and when the water persisted as usual, in running down hill, and, also, from the fact that the State of Pennsylvania had sold some of the State canals, the whole enterprise was a failure and was abandoned. Mr. Chas. Parrish then purchased it for himself and the Lehigh Valley Railroad Co., which was later constructed, and located its lines upon the towing path, as the Pennsylvania Railroad had located upon the Philadelphia and Pittsburg lines of canal. When the Laning foundry was removed to Canal Street B. F. Wells constructed a packet boat or two in the old foundry, and when completed he hauled them from the place up Main Street to the Hillard block and slid them into the canal, and as the hotel was being torn down to rebuild the Luzerne House, he went to boating between Pittston and Northumberland."
Hulcan Jron Works.
In 1849, a few years after the railroad to Ashley was completed, there was started in South Wilkes-Barre, by Richard Jones, a modest plant for the manufacture of engines and mining machinery, and was conducted by him un- til 1867, when it was organized and incorporated under the name of the Vul- can Iron Works. This plant is now one of the city's foremost industries and employs nearly 1,000 men. Mining machinery for all parts of the world has been its specialty, boilers, light locomotives and its latest addition has been to engage in the manufacture of the larger kind of locomotives.
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VULCAN IRON WORKS.
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In 1887 the Vulcan Works leased and has since bought and greatly im- proved the plant of the Wyoming Valley Mfg. Co., on Hazle street, and the plant of the Pittston Engine and Machine Co., of West Pittston. In 1894 the plant of Carter and Allen, at Tamaqua, was purchased. The Vulcan Iron Works now own four distinct and separate plants. In April, 1906, an important addition to the Wilkes-Barre plant was ordered and it is expected that 300 more men will soon be employed.
Mazard Manufacturing Company.
In the latter part of the century Erskine Hazard established at the Falls of Schuylkill the first mill for the manufacture of iron wire in the United States. In 1848 his son, Fisher Hazard, established at Mauch Chunk a fac- tory for the making of wire rope.
The Hazard Manufacturing Company was operated by the original owner until 1868 when, largely through the instrumentality of the late Charles Par- rish, the plant was purchased by a stock company and removed from Manch Chunk to Wilkes-Barre, where the concern was re-organized under the name of Hazard Manufacturing Company.
The Company began its operations in a small way in two brick buildings near the corner of Fell and Ross Streets. To-day it is the second largest es- tablishment of its kind in the United States. The works now cover tive acres of ground and employ about 700 people. The products are bare and insulated copper wire of all descriptions, iron and steel wire rope, galvanized and other- · wise, for mines, cables, railways, elevators, ferries, ships' rigging, etc.
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The capital stock is about $1,000,000, with an ammal output of $1.500,000. and is steadily increasing, finding markets all over the globe. It has about thirty-five branch offices and agencies throughout the United States and has representatives all over the industrial world. Its plant is one of the sights of the city, consisting of a number of buildings, some of them four stories high. and substantially built of brick. W. L. Conyngham is the President and J. C. Bridgman the General Manager.
Axle Works.
Among the largest concerns in the world located in Wilkes-Barre is that of the Sheldon Axle Company. This concern is engaged exclusively in the manufacture of carriage and wagon axles and springs. This industry was first organized by Charles L. Sheldon in Auburn, in 1865, but in 1886 the busi- ness was removed to Wilkes-Barre and re-organized under the corporate title of the Sheldon Axle Company. When working at its full capacity it employs 700 men and turns out 2,000 axles a day. It has a wagon spring annex of the most modern construction and equipment. The plant covers more than fourteen acres of ground.
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WORKS OF THE HAZARD MANUFACTURING COMPANY.
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SHELDON AXLE WORKS.
The Care Industry.
WILKES-BARRE LACE MANUFACTURING CO.
The production of Nottingham lace curtains is now one of the most im- portant industries of the United States, and Wilkes-Barre is rapidly becoming the center for this industry. The first regular organized company for the manufacture of Nottingham curtains was incorporated on April 1, 1885, as the Wilkes-Barre Lace Manufacturing Company. Its plant is located on Courtright Avenue and Darling Street and like others of the city's substan- tial industries, was begun in a modest way, with but two machines. Now it has a weaving hall with sixty-two machines installed. It is the only lace curtain plant in the world completely equipped to transform through a con- tinuous process the raw cotton into a perfected curtain ready for use. The plant covers nine acres of ground and the company has recently purchased an adjoining tract for the erection of additional buildings. The immensity of the enterprise may be gathered from the fact that it produces 35,000 pairs of lace curtains every week. The products of the Wilkes-Barre Lace Manufacturing Co. being low in price and of undisputed quality, have placed within reach of
WORKS OF THE WILKES-BARRE LACE MANUFACTURING COMPANY. ,
the lowliest, a useful and highly ornamental commodity, which by its very presence tends to bring cheerfulness, "and a sense of home comfort, well or- dered," wherever it enters.
As many of the operatives live at a distance, it is necessary for them to bring their luncheons with them. In order to provide a comfortable and cleanly place for those so situated, an innovation will be introduced on the ground floor of the storehouse in the shape of a large dining hall supplied with tables and chairs, and having equipments for warming food, comforts, etc. This will be presided over by a matron, and will be open to the female employees of the company at the noon hour.
During the past year, the corporation has paid out in the City of Wilkes- Barre, in wages alone, the sum of $450,000.00, having an average weekly pay-
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THE GLOBE DRY GOODS STORE.
THE CROCKER GROCERY CO. BUILDING.
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CROCKER |GROCERY CO.
roll of $9,000.00. The average number of operatives employed in the dif- ferent departments and upon the Company's grounds is about 1,400, of which about two-thirds are females. The present day sees the entire plant raised to a state of up-to-date perfection which is unexcelled in the system of processes, and in the intelligence and efficiency of its operatives, by any textile industry in the country.
WYOMING VALLEY LACE CO.
The Wyoming Valley Lace Company is another firm established for the manufacture of Nottingham lace curtains and since its inception in 1891, has made steady growth, having made two large additions to its plant, located on Union Street, in 189S and 1899, and now employs about 600 operatives. This plant has lately been absorbed by the Columbia Shade Cloth Co.
DORAN LACE MILL.
In the latter part of 1905 a company was formed for the manufacture of a high grade of lace curtains under the firm name of The Doran Lace Manufac- turing Company, with Ambrose West as president. The factory is located on the site of the old Charter House on Hazle Street, and when running at its full capacity employs about 200 hands. The class of curtains made includes Irish Point, Renaissance, Cluny, hand embroideries, etc.
Ander-Machine Works.
Through the influence of the Board of Trade and by the help of local capital, two new industries of great promise have recently been added to the valley's
THE ADDER-MACHINE WORKS.
numerous plants. One is the Adder-Machine Works, located at Kingston. Its main building is 250 feet by 80 feet, with an L 80 feet by 50 feet, and it is expected to employ 500 hands when in full swing. The other plant is the
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Mathranu Motor-Car Marka,
situated at Forty Fort, about 2 miles from the Court House. Its total capi- talization is $1,100,000, and it will be one of the foremost motor-car works in the United States. Already its first plant is extensive. The main building is 600x80 feet, its blacksmith shop 60x80 feet, and the boiler room 30x60 feet. They are all concrete buildings, and fitted with the most modern machinery. Many hundred men will be employed and already its output has been sold for ten years.
Auslin; Hudermurar.
Another industry that began modestly and is now one of the city's thriving concerns, is that of Galland Brothers. They started in 1881 in a building be- longing to A. S. Orr on East Market Street. In 1886 they moved to their present location on the corner of South and Washington streets. In 1897 they made a four-story addition to their plant, making a covered floor space of 49,000 square feet and employing six hundred people, mostly women. Over seven thousand garments are made daily and their market covers the whole United States.
Wyoming Cutlery! Un.
This industry, situated on Horton and Warren Streets, was established in 18SS and has gradually developed until it has more than quadrupled its original capacity, and now employs about 200 people. Its product, table cutlery,
WYOMING CUTLERY WORKS.
amounts to one hundred and fifty gross a day. It is a most promising enter- prise and has for its President H. H. Harvey, Vice President W. J. Harvey, Treasurer Abram Nesbitt.
A Mariety of Judustries.
Other important manufacturing and mechanical industries of the city are the Wilkes-Barre Silk Company; Bertels Tinware factory; The Penn Tobacco Company ; the Collins & Hale furniture factory, etc.
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JONAS LONGS SONS
JONASLONGS SONS
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THE RAEDER PRINTERY.
JONAS LONG'S SONS' DEPARTMENT STORE.
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Silk Industry. HESS & GOLDSMITH.
Among the many substantial industries which gives Wilkes-Barre promi- nence in the manufacturing world is that owned by Hess, Goldsmith & Com- pany. This firm manufactures high class silk dress goods of all kinds. Their first mill was located at South Wilkes-Barre, in the Fifteenth Ward, in 1886. to which additions were made in 1888 and 1897, until it has now a floor space
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THE HESS & GOLDSMITH SILK MILL.
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of 60,000 square feet and employs about 500 hands. It is devoted to weaving with its preparatory branches, including a throwing plant for the spinning of silk.
Their new mill at Kingston is a splendid example of modern mill construc- tion, a credit to architect and builder alike. It covers 55,000 square feet and will be devoted exclusively to weaving. At present 150 hands are employed, to be increased to 400 in the near future.
The Rarder Printery.
The Raeder Blank Book, Lithographing and Printing Co., established by J. W. Raeder twenty-five years ago, is a most flourishing plant, and employs nearly 100 people. It is located at 16, 18 and 20 North Franklin Street, in a six-story building, having a floor space of 18,032 square feet.
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THE WELLES BUILDING, PUBLIC SQUARE.
THE FATHER MURGAS WIRELESS TELEGRAPH TOWER.
The Brewing Interests
STEGMAIER'S BREWERY.
One of the largest and most modernly equipped plants in the United States is that of the Stegmaier Brewing Co., Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Brewers and Bottlers of Beer, Porter and Malt Extract.
The history of the Stegmaier Brewery affords a striking illustration of the truth that persistent plodding brings success. From a small beginning, back in the early fifties, when Charles Stegmaier was employed by day in a planing mill, devoting his leisure moments, morning and evening, to the manu-
STEGMAIER'S BREWERY.
facture and vending of beer, the formula of which he brought from Germany, this gigantic plant has reached its present dimensions, employing hundreds of men, over two hundred head of heavy draft horses, several auto trucks and a whole train of refrigerator cars. In addition to the home plant they own and operate cold storage plants at Sayre, Towanda, Pittston, Dunmore, Taylor, Nanticoke, Bloomsburg, Plymouth, Lehighton, etc. Their bottling house, lo- cated at the home plant, is one of the largest and most up-to-date bottling houses in the country. The whole plant in this city covers many acres of ground and its output is 600,000 barrels per annum.
THE REICHARD & WEAVER BREWERY.
The oldest industry located in the city is that of the Reichard Brewery on Water Street. In 1833 Judge John Reichard bought a small and insignificant brewing plant from one Thomas Ingham, and from small beginnings has sprung the fine establishment now known as Reichard's Brewery. In the hands of Judge Reichard the industry slowly developed until the old gentleman's death in 1884, when his son, Colonel George N. Reichard, took charge, and since then it has greatly prospered. In 1890 George Weaver was taken into partner- ship and later it was finally merged into the Pennsylvania Brewing combine. The plant covers three and one-half acres and has a capacity of 150,000 bar- rels per annum.
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THE REICHARD & WEAVER BREWERY.
THE LUZERNE COUNTY BREWING CO.
This concern was only chartered in 1905, but it has already erected a com- modious plant at Brookside and has a capacity for a very large output.
LUZERNE COUNTY BREWING CO. PLANT.
The Oldest Industry.
No article on the industrial life of the city would be complete without a reference to the old established firm now known as The Miner-Hillard Milling
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Company. This business was instituted in 1795, and to-day operates five mills in the Wyoming Valley. It is the leading milling company of Pennsylvania, and a considerable portion of their products goes to Europe and South Africa. Their mills have a grinding capacity of 15,000 bushels of corn, 700 bushels of wheat, 600 bushels of rye and 500 bushels of buckwheat daily and employ about 100 men.
Fartory Juspertor's Report.
The Factory Inspector's last report demonstrates more than anything that can be written, the extent and variety of Wilkes-Barre's industries.
Establishments
No. of Establishments
Employed
Males
Females
Tobacco
1
32
8
24
Hosiery
1
40
23
17
Machine shop
6
934
934
Planing mills
4
107
107
Silk mills
3
1098
116
982
Furniture
1
36
35
1
Soap .
1
15
15
Bake shops
13
123
123
Embroidery
2
29
7
22
Lace works
5
1561
593
968
Car repair
1
40
40
Overalls
2
40
2
38
Laundry
5
113
28
85
Underwear
1
380
24
356
Wire rope
1
435
380
55
Bedding
2
21
16
5
Tapes
1
7
1
6
Electric
1
20
20
Millinery
4
94
94
Department stores
14
1002
3-46
656
Clothing stores
3
93
84
9
Printing offices
10
276
252
24
Ladies' garments
1
71
7
64
Cigars
2
15
14
1
Dressmaking
9
116
146
Brick
2
144
144
Shirt waists
1
55
6
49
Tinware
2
140
78
62
Springs
1
204
294
Axles
1
281
281
Fuse
1
14
10
1
Cutlery
1
160
150
10
Totals
103
7816
4138
3678
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WYOMING VALLEY HOTEL.
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HOTEL. STERLING.
Elertrir Roads.
While it is an undoubted fact that the increase of railroad transportation contributed largely to the enormous development of coal mining and the estab- lishment of high grade industries, the rapid growth of inter-communication be- tween Wilkes-Barre and the various cities, towns and hamlets of the Wyoming Valley and territory has done as much as anything to establish this city's pre- mier position and added to her wealth and importance. Within a twenty-mile circle there is a population of 400,000 tributary to her. Wilkes-Barre is the business and social center of the Wyoming Valley. To-day the life of the city is in a large measure that of the vast population referred to, for it is to Wilkes- Barre they come for their pleasure and amusements and to do their shop- ping. It is Wilkes-Barre newspapers that circulate among them and it is in this city, largely, they deposit their money. Professional and business men engage in their vocation in Wilkes-Barre but live in the suburbs and large numbers of the people employed at the collieries, mills and factories within this city have their homes in the surrounding towns and villages. Within a nine mile circle having Wilkes-Barre's Public Square as its center, there are two cities, twenty-three boroughs and numerous townships, which, if included in the limits of a Greater Wilkes-Barre, would give a population of 185,000, and make it the third city of the State. The present conditions are largely due to the admirable system of electric street railroads and third rail systems con- nected with the city.
First Street Railways.
The city early adopted George Francis Train's method of street railroads. the motive power being horses. For many years but few improvements were made after the construction of the original lines built by W. J. Harvey, viz. : From corner of the Square down South Main Street to corner of Han- over street; from the corner of the Square down West Market Street to Kings- ton depot, for the purpose of connecting with the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western system; and the road from the corner of East Market and Northamp- ton Streets to Ashley, built by Al. S. Orr and known as the Coalville railroad, the charter of which permitted the use of steam power and the carrying of freight. These lines, while a slight advance on existing methods of locomo- tion, were slow in their way and were popularly known as the "Hee Haw Maud" roads. They scarcely added to the city's development, but with the advent of electricity as a motive power there came a change as by a magician's wand. It was "Hey presto" and at once the city took on new life and by the ex- tension of urban and inter-urban communication it has made Wilkes-Barre the center of a great net-work of electric railroads.
In 1887 the first electric road was planned and a charter secured. Three Wilkes-Barre young men secured the contract for the construction, B. H. Car- penter, E. N. Carpenter and A. C. Robertson, who was afterwards burned to
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RESIDENCE OF HON. GEO. J. STEGMAIER.
RESIDENCE OF THOMAS H. ATHERTON.
THE R. J. FLICK RESIDENCE.
RESIDENCE OF FRANCIS A. PHELPS.
death at Ithaca, N. Y. The company was known as the Wilkes-Barre & Sub- urban Railroad Company.
The Wilkes-Barre section was opened in January, 18SS. The first route was a loop by which cars left the Public Square, went out East Market Street to Canal Street (now Pennsylvania Avenue) and thence north to Duck Pond (now Brookside), then around the City Hospital to North Main Street and thence to the Public Square.
The next road was that engineered by John B. Reynolds, a West Side electric railroad from Wilkes-Barre to Kingston over the North Street bridge.
The Milkrs-Barrr & M. M. Crafting System.
In 1891 the Wilkes-Barre and Wyoming Valley Traction Company was organized and bought the franchises of the existing horse car lines we have de- scribed, and also of the electric roads. These were at once rebuilt, revolutionized and gradually extended to contiguous towns, making the Public Square the starting point. The company now operates eighty miles of well laid track and has the finest system to be found anywhere in the State. Its cars are large and comfortable, all being well heated in winter time, unlike the street cars in many
RESIDENCE CF JOHN N. CONYNGHAM.
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towns and cities. A regular and low-fare service is maintained by the Traction Company between Wilkes-Barre and every village in the Valley, and with some villages beyond. It has over 400 men in its employ.
The Vazleion Railman.
Another new departure was made when the Wilkes-Barre and Hazleton Railway, an electric road operated by the third rail system, was opened early in 1904. By it the city of Hazleton (with a population upwards of 16,000 and distant from Wilkes-Barre twenty miles in an air-line), and other towns in the southern section of Luzerne County, have been brought into close connec- tion with Wilkes-Barre. The road is constructed in a very substantial manner, and is expensively and admirably equipped. Cars are run every hour from each terminal, and the trip is made in about an hour and a quarter. This company is now busily engaged in extending its road right into the city. Its depot will be built where the old Dickson machine shop used to stand on North Pennsylvania Avenue (Canal Street) and it will be a commodious and attractive building. The city will be reached by an elevated structure extend- ing from the rear of Coal Street and crossing all the railroad lines by means of a steel viaduct.
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RESIDENCE OF ANDREW F. DERR.
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RESIDENCE OF GEORGE S. BENNETT.
RESIDENCE OF A. J. DAVIS.
The Laurel Tinr.
In December, 1903, another "third rail" road, having Wilkes-Barre as one of its terminals, was thrown open to the public. This is a double track road, nineteen and a-half miles in length, and extends from Wilkes-Barre to Seran- ton-passing through the city of Pittston and numerous villages. It is offi- cially termed the "Laurel Line." It was constructed and is owned by the Lackawanna and Wyoming Valley Railroad Company-a controlling interest in which was purchased a short time since by the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company for about $6.000,000. In the construction and equip- ment of the Laurel Line neither money nor skill was spared in an effort to make the road a model one, and it stands to-day undoubtedly the most expensive- ly constructed and finest equipped electric road in America. Cars are run every twenty minutes between Wilkes-Barre and Scranton, covering the distance in forty-three minutes, at a low rate of fare; while express cars-operated daily during the mid-morning and late afternoon hours-make thirty minute trips. Both this road and the Hazleton "third-rail" road carry freight as well as passengers, and the traffic on both roads is large and increasing.
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RESIDENCE OF DR. I .. I. SHOEMAKER.
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RESIDENCE OF THE LATE HON. CHARLES A. MINER.
Banking Justitutinits.
No sketch of the rise and development of Industrial Wilkes-Barre would be complete without an extended reference to its magnificent banking system. Indeed statistics of the Banks show, in compact form, the city's importance and standing in the business and financial world more than anything else that might be said. It is no exaggeration to say that in its banking facilities Wilkes-Barre is unsurpassed. Including the Kingston Bank, there are three National Banks, and seven Savings Banks and Trust Companies, operated under state charters-with an eleventh bank in process of incorporation in the Wilkes-Barre district. On January 1, 1906, their showing was as follows :
Capital $ 2,168,000.00
Surplus 4,257,741.01
Total deposits .20,831,596.97
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Mynming National Bank.
The oldest of the banks in existence to-day is the Wyoming Bank, located in commodious quarters on the south-west corner of South Franklin and West Market Streets. It was first established in 1829, and its place of business was on South Franklin Street at the north end of Dr. Levi Shoemaker's present grounds. Later the bank was removed to the Hollenback building on River Street ; thence to the building it now ocenpies. It was chartered in 1865 as a national bank, Col. Charles Dorrance then being elected President. It is still in the front rank of the city's financial institutions. On the third of Jan- mary, 1906, it reported :
Capital $ 150,000.00 Surplus and undivided profits 553,544.42
Deposits 2,286,650.91
The First National Bank.
The next bank to spring into existence was the First National Bank in 1863. This bank has the honor of being the thirtieth national bank organized in the country, James McLean being its first President. It was first located in the Chahoon Hall building on West Market Street, now occupied by W. D. Beers as a grocery store. This bank now occupies the most prominent building on the southerly side of the Public Square. The present structure, however, is to be re- tained for office purposes while a new and splendid building is being erected next door for bank purposes only.
Financial standing January 3, 1906:
Capital
$ 375,000.00
Surplus and undivided profits 367,490.95
Deposits 2,134.086.07
Srrond National Bank.
In the same year, 1863, the Second National Bank was instituted under the presidency of T. H. Atherton and began business on West Market Street, near the corner of River Street. Inasmuch as the present structure is inadequate to growing needs, the directorate intend. in the near future, to erect a more commo- dious building on the north-east corner of North Franklin and West Market Streets, which is expected to be of a palatial character. On the 1st of January, 1906, its report showed :
Capital
$ 450,000.00
Surplus and undivided profits 650,000.00
Deposits 4,062,720.16
Miners' Savings Bank.
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