Prairie Farmer, Vol. 56: No. 1, January 5, 1884 | Page 4

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The barb-wire fence met an unexpected and general demand. We know
of few things like it in the history of manufactures. From this small
beginning, scarce ten years ago more than fifty large establishments are
now turning out this wire to meet an ever insatiate demand. The
establishment of I.L. Ellwood (making the Glidden wire) at DeKalb is
the most complete and extensive of them all. The building is 800 feet in
length, and is supplied with about 200 machines for twisting and
barbing the wire. It gives, when running full force, employment to
about 400 men, and turns out a car-load of wire each hour for ten hours
per day, on an average, though this amount is considerably increased at
certain times of the year. These figures, though not given us by Mr.
Ellwood, we are satisfied do not overstate the production of this one
factory. The progress of the barb-wire industry of the whole country is
shown by the following record of the past nine seasons. In
1874 there were 10,000 lb made and sold. 1875 there were 600,000 lb
made and sold. 1876 there were 2,840,000 lb made and sold. 1877 there
were 12,863,000 lb made and sold. 1878 there were 26,655,000 lb
made and sold. 1879 there were 50,337,000 lb made and sold. 1880
there were 80,500,000 lb made and sold. 1881 there were 120,000,000
lb made and sold. 1882 there were about 180,000,000 lb.
The record for 1883 is not yet made up, but will probably show a
corresponding increase.
In 1876 Mr. Glidden disposed of his half interest in the concern of
Glidden & Ellwood to the Washburn & Moen (wire) Manufacturing
Company, of Massachusetts, receiving therefor $60,000 in cash and a
royalty on the future goods manufactured, Mr. Ellwood retaining his
interest. The new concern began the purchase of prior unused and
conflicting patents involving itself in extensive litigation, but, sustained
by the courts, soon gained control of almost the entire barb-wire

business of the country. Nearly all wire-making companies are now
running under license from the parent concern. The following is a list
of the licensees of last year:
Pittsburg Hinge Co.--Limited, Beaver Falls, Pa. H.B. Scutt & Co.,
Buffalo, N.Y. Hawkeye Steel Barb Fence Co., Burlington, Iowa. James
Ayers and Alexander C. Decker, Bushnell, Ill. Indiana Wire Fence Co.,
Crawfordsville, Ind. Cedar Rapids Barb Wire Co., Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Cincinnati Barbed Wire Fence Co., Cincinnati, Ohio. Cleveland Barb
Fence Co., Cleveland, Ohio. Ohio Steel Barb Fence Co., Cleveland,
Ohio. Edwin A. Beers & Co., Chicago, Ill. Crandal Manufacturing Co.,
Chicago, Ill. Chicago Galvanized Wire Fence Co., Chicago, Ill. Lyman
Manufacturing Co., Chicago, Ill. Daniel S. Marsh, Chicago, Ill. Oscar F.
Moore, Chicago, Ill. National Wire Co., Chicago, Ill. Herman E.
Schnabel, Chicago, Ill. Aaron K. Stiles and John W. Calkins, Chicago,
Ill. Thorn Wire Hedge Co., Chicago, Ill. Baker Manufacturing Co., Des
Moines, Iowa. Superior Barbed Wire Co., DeKalb, Ill. Jacob Haish,
DeKalb, Ill. Frentress Barbed Wire Fence Co., East Dubuque, Ill.
Grinnell Manufacturing Co., Grinnell, Iowa. Janesville Barb Wire Co.,
Janesville, Wis. Iowa Barb Wire Co., Johnstown, Pa. William J. Adam,
Joliet, Ill. Lock Stitch Fence Co., Joliet, Ill. Lambert & Bishop Wire
Fence Co., Joliet, Ill. Alfred Van Fleet & A.H. Shreffler, Joliet, Ill.
David G. Wells, Joliet, Ill. Southwestern Barb Wire Co., Lawrence,
Kan. Arthur H. Dale, Leland, Ill. Union Barb Wire Co., Lee, Ill.
Lockport Wire Fence Co., Lockport, Ill. Norton & DeWitt, Lockport,
Ill. Iowa Barb Steel Wire Fence Co., Marshaltown, Iowa. Omaha Barb
Wire Co., Omaha, Neb. H.B. Scutt & Co.--Limited, Pittsburg, Pa.
Missouri Wire Fence Co., St. Louis, Mo. St. Louis Wire Fence Co., St.
Louis, Mo. J.H. Lawrence & Co., Sterling, Ill. North Western Barb
Wire Co., Sterling, Ill. Novelty Manufacturing Co., Sterling, Ill.
Sandwich Enterprise Co., Sandwich, Ill. Robinson & Hallidie, San
Francisco, Cal. The Hazard Manufacturing Co., Wilkes Barre, Pa.
Worcester Barb Fence Co., Worcester, Mass.
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When Glidden & Ellwood first began the sale of the Glidden fence,

which was confined to the vicinity of DeKalb, they received 25 cents
per pound for the barbed wire. Since then, as production has increased
and the facilities for manufacturing have been multiplied and perfected,
the price has gradually dropped, until now a farm can be well fenced
for forty-five cents, or less, per rod, and to the incalculable advantage
of the country over fencing by posts and boards, hedges or rails, as any
one may see by a simple dollar and cent comparison of materials at his
own door.
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Barb-wire has done much for the city of DeKalb. It has built its fine
business blocks and residences, and it has peopled it with industrious,
thrifty citizens. It has made a home market for