The Roanoke Times

SECURE THE PLANT.
An Industry That Will Employ Many Men.

A Times reporter was shown yesterday, by Mr. W. C. Williams, one of the most complete pieces of mechanism that he has seen for a long time. It was a shaft coupler for buggies. The originator of this invention is Mr. W M. Strother, jr., of Lynchburg. Mr. Strother is a cripple, and compelled to do all traveling about the city in a buggy. He is nervous and the rattling of the shaft has always been a continual source of annoyance. Though he is not a mechanic, he determined to invent a coupler that would not rattle, and after much thinking he has produced this article. It is so constructed that the shafts can be taken off and a tongue substituted in less than a minute, even before a horse can be bridled. Mr. Strother wants to get up a company for the manufacture of his invention, and he says he wants the plant located in Roanoke if he can get the proper encouragement. The coupler has been shown to a number of business men here, and it is probable that a company will be gotten up at once as they think there are millions in it. This will be a big industry and should be secured.