History of Springfield, Illinois, its attractions as a home and advantages for business, manufacturing, etc. Pub. under the auspices of the Springfield board of trade, by J. C. Power.

96 SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, AND
dies. The capacity of their soap ket- five to seventy operatives find employtles is 5000 pounds, and the rendering ment in these mills. It is the intention
tanks, twenty barrels. In making can- of the proprietors to increase their madiles, they use three sets of machines. A chinery, so as to more than double the
steam boiler, twenty feet long, and forty- capacity of the mills.
two inches in diameter, supplies the Messrs. Dickerman & Co. are constantly
necessary heat for prosecuting the bus- adding new machinery to their mills.
iness. This factory is only a secondary Every new and important invention is
matter. The principal business of Messrs. introduced into their works, and many
Vanduyn & Co.,is dealinginwool, hides, thousands of dollars are annually exsheep pelts and tallow. pended by them for machinery. They
The factory, is situated one half mile are about introducing a full supply of
north of the city limits, and the office new looms, which are said to be the
of Vanduyn & Co. is on Sixth street, op- finest thing ever invented, and will have
posite the Journal Office. them ready for operation about the first
FREDERICKBAIER isjust commencing of June. During this season they built
a new establishment, for the manufacture an iron chamber for the picker, and have
of soap. erected a first class fire proof coal house.
WOOLEN MILLS. Messrs. Dickerman & Co. are at all times
The first woolen mill in Springfield prepared to buy wool, either for their
was established by H. M. Armstrong, on own use or for shipping.
the corner of Fourth and Market streets. ALEXANDER CORN PLANTER FACTORY.
This establishment did nothing but card One of the most extensive manufacturwool into rolls, and ran about six months ing establishments in this city is just west
in each year-one poor blind old horse, of the Chicago and Alton railroad depot,
furnishing the motive power. In order and is used by Messrs. Converse & Swanto keep pace with the growth of the city, nell in manufacturing the Alexander
in the year 1851, the firm of Armstrong Corn Planter, one of the greatest inven& Co.-consisting of H. M. Armstrong, tions of the day in agricultural impleand Joseph and Edward R. Thayer-built ments. The history of the wonderful
the present Springfield woolen mills, on and almost unprecedented introduction
south Fourth street. In 1866, H. S. and sale of these machines, would seem
Dickerman & E. R. Thayer, purchased almost.a tale of fiction.
the interest of Mr. Armstrong, who re- The Alexander Corn Planter was intired. This establishment was first pre- vented and patented, in 1865, by T. K.
pared for carding wool into rolls, and in Alexander, of Decatur, since deceased.
this way was run for several years. A re-issue of the patent on the four cliamThe manufacture of cloth was com- ber drop was made, in 1865, to D. R. and
menced about the year 1852. The pres- John Alexander. The manufacture of
ent well arranged and substantial build- the planter was commenced by D. R.
ings were all put on the ground since Alexander at Decatur, in 1867. In 1868
1860. They cover an area of about ten the patent was purchased by John O.
thousand square feet, and are three full Sloan and B. R. Ross, who removed to
stories, with an attic. and basement. Springfield and began manufacturing
They run five sets of cards, and do spin- here-the work being done for them by
ning, weaving, and finishing to corres- William Stonebarger. The first year they
pond, making about 250,000 yards of manufactured forty-two machines. In
cloth, mostly flannels, amounting to July, 1869, L. Converse began manuabout $160,000, annually. From sixty- facturing for Sloan & Ross. In Septem