THE REPUBLICAN

May 31, 1889

 

THE NEW PLANING MILL

A. G. Nelson & Co., Start up their New Mill by Water Power

 

Saturday last marked a new era in the lumber manufacturing enterprise of A. G. Nelson & Co., in this city.  Their machinery was moved over last week, from the old mill, that has done good service for Nelson Bros., for many years.  And with the addition of several new machines and new shaftings throughout, the new mill is set humming by water power transmitted by manila rope cable, on a new principle, over sixty rods away.  The rope cables are connected by pulleys and shaft with the water wheel at the electric light dam, and connect with the main shaft at the planing mill.  An ingenious contrivance, so that the changes in the weather from wet to dry, that would naturally tighten or loosen the ropes, is a pulley wheel on a track regulated by wrights that keeps the rope cables at just such a tension all the time.  The ropes run very still, and smooth, and ample power is given for all the machinery they want to operate in the mill.  Messrs. Nelson & Co. have been to over a thousand dollars expense in fitting up the new motive power, but the expense in the future will not be as much as steam.  They pay the electric light company $100 per year for the use of the water for five years.

      The excellent system of railroad spur tracks from the main line, for getting in the lumber to the lumber yard, has been mentioned before.  Ample tramways for running lumber in and the finished lumber out of the mill to the storage sheds is being provided.  Also when the three-story brick storehouse is finished, they will have plenty of room for the storage, sale, and transportation of everything used in the house building line.  A spur track from Central line going to the rear or side of the new brick block as well as to their mill.  The general office of the company will also be located in the corner room fronting on the two streets, of the new block.  The mill is provided with all the machinery in a first class planing mill, sash, door and blind factory.  Among the new machines just bought is noticed a large Colliday moulding machine and planer combined.  It is capable of planning a square stick of timber from nine inches square down to a half inch, every side at once; also will do everything in the way of planning, matching, moulding work etc.  Messrs. A. G. Nelson & Chas. Churchill, the firm of A. G. Nelson & Co., are to be congratulated upon the successful planning and completion of this additional enterprise to the planing mill and lumber business of Waupaca.  No town in the state is better equipped to supply the building demands of a growing country than Waupaca.  It will draw the trade too.