The Iron Age 1890-04-24: Vol 45

‘THE THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 1890. IRON AGE Open Side Frog and Switch Planer. We present herewith cut of the open | side frog and switch planer, built by the Detrick and Harvey Machine Company, of Baltimore. It will plane 30 inches high by 30 inches wide by any length ; is made from special patterns and is| extra heavy. The table, which is 8}) inches deep and gibbed down, is driven | by an extra long spiral worm (Seller’s | motion) ot steel, engaging in a wide | rack. It is powerfully geared up, and| is adapted for heavy cuts, steel work-| ing, &c. The side head is fitted upon | the lower bearing of the beam on the post, and has an automatic independent feed of 22 inches. OPEN pattern, and can be brought close up un- der the beam. — Oe The London Engineer reports that Sir Joseph Whitworth & Co. have in contem- plation the erection of additional works in the neighborhood of the Manchester Ship Canal, where they propose introducing an important departure from the present prac- tice in the erection of marine and other boilers. At the recent Manchester Ex- hibition the firm exhibited a weldless boiler ring, 12 feet diameter by 6 feet long, which at the time attracted very considerable attention; and at their new works it is their intention to lay down plant for the construction of boilers built up of weldless rings, for which it is claimed that while they reduce the weight of the boiler by 30 per cent., it is at the same time kept up to its full strength. So far no marnie boilers have been con- structed on this principle, but that there is no difficulty in the manufacture of these weldless boiler shells for the above pur- pose has been evidenced by what Sir Joseph Whitworth & Co. have already ac- complished, In some instances these shells would go up to 14 feet diameter, and the practically insurmountable difficulty of con- veying such large pieces of work either by rail or read renders it, of course, necessary that works for their manufacture should be placed at the water side. The Basic Open-Hearth Process,” BY N. KJELLBERG. THE BASIC MATERIAL.t As a binding material for basic materia boiled coal tar free from water is generally used. It is added to the lime, dolomite, magnesite and chrome ore whenever these materials are rammed, and it is employed also as an admixture to the mortar in basic brick work. For the same purpose highly calcined dolomite slacked in water and ground up to a milk is employed as a binding material for magnesite and in the mortar for magnesite brick. It is clear that in the place of dolomite, lime pre- pared in the same way may be employed. In one works silicate of soda is used as a binding material for lime. Not one of the As the lining of open-hearth furnaces, | works visited used exclusively lime, dolo- | lime, dolomite and magnesite, all calcined | It is of the offset | at a high temperature, and chrome ore are | magnesite is employed exclusively. Often SIDE FROG AND used. Small quantities of other substances are also added in order to give the ma- terial the plastic condition necessary to work it. O€ these materials magnesite and chrome ore can be placed side by side in the lining of furnaces, while lime and dolomite must not come in contaet with each other in any part of the furnace ex- posed to high temperatures. But, on the other hand, all basic or neutral materials may come in contact with one another without acting upon one another chemi- cally, even at the highest temperatures. They are partly used by ramming into ‘ea partly as brick, or in the form of arge pieces. Lime and dolomite in the ma- jority of cases are rammed and are used only in rare instances in the form of brick made of the same material. Magnesite is employed in both forms, while chrontfe ore is put in in pieces or in brick or is rammed into place. *A report of a visit to German, Australian and French works in 1888-89; papers in the Jern Konterets Annaler, 1889, No. 7. Translated for The Iron Age by Dr. Leo, of Coblenz, Germany. + For simplicity’s sake, the term Basic Mate- rial and Basic Process will be used to include neutral chrome ore and the neutral method. ae y) - ae int ? mite or chrome ore, but in many furnaces SWITCH PLANER. a combination of dolomite or lime in the form of a mass to be rammed into place and of magnesite is employed. In some few cases magnesite and chrome ore or both, together with lime and dolomite, are put into the same furnace lining. Of these materials magnesite alone is employed more or less at all of the works visited. Those establishments which used mag- nesite exclusively put it in both in the form of rammed material and of brick. Generally the hearth is prepared by the use of the former, while the walls and fire bridge are made of the latter. Where the combination of dolomite or lime and of magnesite is employed, the latter is re- stricted to what is absolutely necessary in these localities where dolomite or lime are very cheap. Magnesite is used above all for the layer separating the ordinary basic and the acid material. A few magnesite bricks are put into the fire bridges, a few brick as the support and for the protection of the tapping hole and for strengthening other points, the hearth and the walls being rammed up of dolomite or lime. In other works which use magnesite more 672 THE IRON AGE, April 24, 1890 freely, the hearth is rammed in of dolomite or lime, while the entire fire bridge and the walls are made of magnesite. Of all the establishments visited only one French works uses chrome ore on an ex- tensive scale, putting it in as the founda- tion of the hearth in the form of pieces laid as masonry, and as an isolating layer between the dolomite wall and the acid material of the roof. Since my visit was only short, details are not available. Otherwise chrome ore has been put in experimentally in conjunction with mag- nesite or dolomite brick for the walls, or as the remainder of the linmg formerly exclusively of chrome ore subsequently largely substituted by magnesite. Dolomite and Lime.—As in the basic Bessemer either lime or dolomite are avail- able for the basic open hearth, both ma- terials being treated for the purpose in the same maoner. They are calcined at a high temperature, ground to the necessary fineness, mixed with the binding material, which in all the works visited was boiled coal tar with the exception of one employ- ing silicate of soda. The following analy- ses May serve as an example of the compo- sition of the lime and dolomite: Calculated Compo- sition, Calcined. Raw Limestone. CO, } ae |) eel ieee CaO ( evcxweuwion 98.52 ) 97134 ee trace trace Fe,0, } Al.O, [cree seen 0.77 1.36 acne xageakakeee 0.73 1.29 Wiss cv acme mene 0.04 0.07 Calcined Limestone. 0 ee eee 87.40 88.18 eR are ee 5.53 5.44 BA s00sicsbekad eeu cel 4.70 5.28 TER Re sinut~ sn odaankaesacntheek trace 5 kdl WE insnnviccsbanglne atta acct 1.60 1.08 Calculated Compo- sition, Calcined. Oth .cnsunasciaal 46.80 al Ci Da:s nib sapeseal 31.10 58.34 ME cana dacantd 20.34 38.15 i et 0.50 0.94 Pil. Udi opeanes 1.50 2.81 The object of calcining at a high temperature is not alone to expel the water and carbonic acid completely, but also to destroy the slacking tendency. Strictly speaking, this is not possible in the case of dolomite and even less in the case of lime. Dolomite, and in a higher degree lime, calcined at the highest temperatures, gradually slack, losing their form so that the pieces fall into powder. Caleining.— Dolomite and limestone are generally calcined in cupolas, the blast being introduced in the orcinary way. In some cases draft is simply used: The cupola employed for calcining must haye that zone in which the highest tempera- tures exist, lined with basic material. Dolomite and lime are put in the same way as they are in the open-hearth furnace. Below the level of the tuyeres a basic lin- ing is not necessary, acid brick being usually put in. Where magnesite or chrome. ore is used as a basic lining in the furnace the cupola is lined with it either in the form of brick or as rammed material. The dolomite is charged in pieces of the size of half a fist alternatively with coke. The latter, however, must be as low in ash as it is possible. When a large supply of calcined dolomite is required, for instance in basic Bessemer works, calcining is done continuously by drawing off the calcined material at intervals of an hour and a half. The consumption of coke is 25 to 35 per cent. of the dolomite charged, and the loss of weight by calcining the latter is 50 per cent. Sometimes the dolomite is calcined in a reverberatory furnace, but with results less satisfactory. The highest obtainable temperature is absolutely necessary in order to remove the tendency to shrinkage ee and in order to avoid a change in the com- position of the material before it has been put into the furnace. In one establish- ment where lime is used instead of dolo- mite, both for the converters and for the open-hearth furnace, the limestone is crushed, ground in a Chili mill, mixed with three parts by weight of finely ground basic cinder moistened, shaped into brick in a brick machine and burnt or calcined for three or four days at a steadily rising temperature, so that the highest heat is attained on the third day. The lineal shrinkage of the brick is then 45 per cent. They are the principal material for the basic lining of the furnace, but cannot be kept long because after about three weers they begin to absorb water and carbonic acid from the atmosphere. For those parts to be made by ramming the best of the brick once used, are broken and mixed with tar as binding material. Sometimes, however, a small quantity of calcined lime is added and mixed with the mass in a Chili mill. Breaking, Pulverizing and Mixing the Mass.—The apparetus most generally used fer pulverizing the calcined material is the Chili mill. The mixing in of the binding material is either done simultaneously with the grinding in the same apparatus, or it is carried out as an independent operation. The size of the crushed material varies with the different works. In any grind- ing operation coarser and finer material is obtained. It isnot usual to do any screen- ing, the whole of it being taken to do the work required in ramming. Generally the size is a little larger than that of pea, with a mixture of smaller ground and floured material. The rolls of the Chili mill at the outstart weigh between three and four tons, and it requires a 6 to 8- horse-power engine. Pulverizing is also done occasionally in a centrifugal mill or or disintegrator, the tar in one case bein added during the grinding either by han or by special machine with radial inclined knives on one or two shafts. In order to prepare a more uniform mixture it is usual to heat the tar or both the tar and the dolomite. It is advisable to use the mass immediately after mixing it with tar, because then it can be most readily molded. The proportion between tar and the basic material is not fixed at any one works, There are no fixed rules, the mat- ter being left to the practice and experi- ence of the man who is intrusted with the work of mixing. Little or no importance is attached to any variations in it. The finished material must be so plastic that it can be balled by hand and that it can be readily formed or rammed. A little more or less of the binding material has but little influence upon this. If 8 to 10 parts by weight of tar are added to 100 parts by weight of basic material a suitable product is obtained. As astriking exception mention may be made of a French works using lime for lining. After pulverizing, this is mixed with 5 to6 per cent. of silicate of soda and is rammed into place raw without being calcined. The reason given for this method of procedure is that it is cheaper to use the limestone raw than to calcine it in spite of the fact that undoubtedly the life of the lining is lessened thereby. Charges could be carried through on this hearth of uncalcined limestone without any difficulty. Magnesite.—-As already stated, mag- nesite is in use in nearly all of the basic open-hearth works visited. The most im- rtant deposit of magnesite now known is that of C. Spaeter, of Coblenz. It is a large deposit, and the calcined magnesite is exported to all countries. The compo- sition of this magnesite differs, however, widely, and the whole deposit cannot be used for this purpose. Still, the amount avail- able is large. The following analyses obtain- ed at the mine may be quoted as examples: The residuum con- No, 1 Raw Magnesite. sisted of. MgOCO,.... ... 90.80 MgO.......... 2.41 Oe. so cccce We ~ We. ss sxc 0.18 FeO 3 eecccccceces 4.49 Al,O; Qe8 seocee 0.21 NE 5 va ee 1.40 SAS 6 ska th. wks 0.93 Residuum...... 3.73 en ccek 99.97 Pre 3.73 No. 2 No. 3 Ma... occ cccek 42.43 MgO......... 46.04 Ree .68 5) Sa kone! Bee Se 0.58 Pc 6.sevs oh 2.48 Ee 3.53 Loss by heating 49.15 Pees vakenbas 0.03 Besiduum..... 2.40 SE ss cc wike aaa" 0.92 Loss by heating .50.41 " Total......: 99.53 Total...... 101.20 Dead Calcined Magnesite. SN k64 Niednenswhanwie 84.20 86.85 Mi i0chesvabaccawnee beau 2.25 2.26 Ks rac uk bee Nebaaceeen eo 0.72 0.46 sara i Rk a be Kore a 8.40 8.46 DN Kiee, <cimewngeen | deme 2.50 0.85 Sith abet caateknaeewaaen 0.50 0.35 Se vet ixcece runes 1,30 wee ta vcwlvGiensicmense 99.87 ¥9.23 Two works furnished the following an- alyses of styrian magnesite calcined dead from another mine: SS reer 78 Ba cisiceken 72.67 in aba a enemas’ 6 See Gs nerkeede 16.49 Fe,O; eecsee cocce 7 Mn,0, ee ee 0.44 _ Ree 3.46 Pe. ss. 0.08 Mr inue snake 5.11 Gia cir nde 0.13 Wi sve 98.38 In the main magnesite is treated like dolomite or lime. It is calcined at a high temperature, broken and pulverized, mixed with a binding material after stamping, and for the manufacture of brick. It is not necessary in calcining to line the fur- nace with a basic material, since contact with ordinary fire-brick or with acid brick does not even at the highest temperatures lead to anyjserious consequences. It is true that like dolomite it can be calcined in a cupola furnace, which needs only the or- divary lining, provided the coke employed is low in ash. But it is best to burn it in a gas furnace, because the most important thing is to avoid deterioration by the ash of the fuel. This deterioration of the calcined magnesite is explained by the loss in ability to withstand high tempera- tures through the silica contents of the ash and by the fact that through the chemical combination of the constituents of the ash and the surface of the magnesite, the lat- ter is coated with a sinter which prevents the calcination from penetrating to the core of the magnesite. One establish- ment gave the following facts in re- gard to calcining in a cupola. The con- sumption of coke was 60 parts or 100 parts of calcined magnesite, the material remaining in the furnace about 12 hours. Magnesite may also be calcined in the or- dinary open-hearth furnace, but it is dif- ficult in this case to treat the lower layers . as thoroughly as the upper ones. The in of the Styrian calcined magnesite as it is put on the market varies. Generally the magnesite is purchased from the mine in a calcined condition. Only one establishment purchases it raw, but the works have furnaces for cal- cining and have a brick-making plant After forming brick from the und raw magnesite, mixed with water, the brick are burned for 36 hours and then again pulverized. This powder is again formed into brick and after being burned for the second time is ready for use. As the material for rammed parts of the lin- ing, the magnesite once calcined and then pulverized is employed. The binding material is generally coal tar, although calcined and slaked dolomite is also em- ployed advantageously. The Hungarian works, Diosgyoer, does net use tar in its April 24, 1890 THE IRON AGE. 673 eT basic material and prepares its magnesite for the hearth rammed up in the follow- ing manner: Calcined magnesite is ground in the Chili mill, put over a 2-millimeter sieve spread on the floor of the mill, and mixed with so much milk of dolomite that the mass is sufficiently plastic in order to hold together when pressed in the hand. The dolomite milk is made of dolomite calcined at a moderate temperature and slaked, mixed with a larger amount of water than is necessary for slaking. It is evident that calcined lime can be used in place of dolomite as a binding material. All the material taken out of an old fur- nace lining, whether it be dolomite, lime or magnesite, is employed over again, either by adding it to fresh material when the latter is being prepared, or separately, as the material for making repairs after tapping. Magnesite Brick.—Although the use of magnesite brick is not widely introduced STEEL SCREW with basic open-hearth plants on account of its high price and the difficulty of making it, still it may be stated that magnesite brick is a material which will increase in use and will crowd out more and more other materials. Data concern- ing the preparation of this brick would be of interest, but cannot be given because the few works doing it decline to show the work. It is certain that the manufact- ure is difficult and is rendered more costly on account of the high percentage of waste and because it requires extensive and costly plant, and yet it does not allow of a very high production. How true this is is shown alone from the fact that the establishment «lluded to above keeps four brick kilns running steadily in order to supply four open-hearth furnaces and four converters. The production of the kilns is 70,000 brick per month. The consumption of fuel in burning is very large, because a very high temperature is needed in order to prevent shrinking of the brick when it is used subsequently. The coal tar is best deprived of its water by boiling in an open kettle walled in. Two to three hours are required. to heat it before it is being used a steam pipe may be run through the tank or the waste heat of furnace or hearths may be employed. (To be continued.) EE —$$_____— Steel Serew Belt Elevator. The illustration here presented shows a hoisting machine of new form designed by the A. B. See Mfg. Company, of Brook- lyn, N. Y., who successfully endeavored to obtain compactness in form with the greatest simplicity in working parts. It will be observed that the machine is both right and left handed, being provided with double thrust collars of bronze, and that it has two tight pulleys, one on each side of the worm. This arrangement of parts permits the placing of the machine in any GCesired BELT ELEVATOR. | position with reference to the hatchway— either over, or at either side on the floor |or ceiling. The worm, shafting and studs | are of steel. The worm-wheel is of bronze | or deoxidized metal, and is securely keyed to the drum shaft. The bearings for the | worm are extra long, babbitted, and pro- | vived with oil cups. The brake attach- ments are simple and direct, and are auto- matic in action, stopping the platform exactly in the position required when belts }are shipped from tight to loose pulleys. | The shipper cam is so arranged that each | belt is moved separately. It is placed close to base of machine where it is in the |most convenient position for running the hand operating cable up and down the |hatchway. The cam is provided with | stops which regulate exactly the distance through which the operating rope is to be pulled when the machine is stopped or | Started. The motion of the shipper cam is communicated to the belts through a double armed lever which is provided with a long bearing running on a steel stud. By this construction the usual sliding bars are dispensed with, which greatly simpli- In order | fies this part of the machine and does away entirely with any noise. This machine is intended to be driven from the line shafting in building or by gas engine, water or electric motor. It is especially well adapted for use with the latter. The sizes that are most used weigh 500, 950 and 1200 pounds and ca:ry maxi- mum loads of 1000, 2000 and 3000 pounds respectively. —— The Senate Anti-Trust Bill. The following is an official copy of the Anti-Trust bill as it passed the Senate. Only one vote, that of Senator Blodgett, of New Jersey, was recorded against it: Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled : Section 1. Every contract, combination in the form of trust or otherwise, or con- spiracy, in restraint of trade or commerce among the several States, or with foreign nations, is hereby declared to be illegal. Every person who shall make any such contract or engage in any such combina- tion or conspiracy shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and, on conviction thereof, shall be punished by fine not ex- ceeding $5000, or by imprisonment not exceeding one year, or by both said pun- ishments, in the discretion of the court. Sec. 2. Every person who shall monopo- lize, or attempt to monopolize, or combine or conspire with any other person or per- sons to monopolize, any part of the trade or commerce among the several States, or with foreign nations, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and, on convic- tion thereof, shall be punished by fine not exceeding $5000, or by Se ae not exceeding one year, or by both said pun- ishments, in the discretion of the cuurt. Sec. 8. Every contract, combination in form of trust or otherwise, or conspiracy, in restraint of trade or commerce in any territory of the United States or of the District of Columbia, or in restraint of trade or commerce between any such Ter- ritory and another, or between any such Territory or Territories and any State or States or the District of Columbia, or with foreign nations, or between the District of Columbia and any State or States or for- eign nations, is hereby declared illegal. Every person who shall make any such contract or engage in any such combina- tion or conspiracy shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and, on conviction thereof, shall be punished by fine not ex- ceeding $5000, or by imprisonment not exceeding one year, or by both said pun- ishments, in the discretion of the court. Sec. 4. The several circuit courts of the United States are hereby invested with jurisdiction to prevent and restrain vio- lations of this act ; and it shall be the duty of the several district attorneys of the United States, in their respective districts, under the direction of the Attorney-General, to institute proceedings in equity to prevent and restrain such violations. Such pro- ceedings may be by way of petition setting forth the case and praying that such violations shall be enjoined or otherwise prohibited. When the parties complained of shall have been duly notified of such petition the court shal] proceed, as soon as may be, to the hearing and determination of the case; and pending such petition and before final decree the court may at any time make such temporary restraining order or prohibition as shall be deemed just in the premises. Sec. 5. Whenever it shall ap to the court before which any proceeding under section four of this act may be pending, that the ends of justice require that other parties should be brought before the court, the court may cause them to be summoned, whether they reside in the district in which the court is held or not; and subpcenas to 674 THE IRON AGE. April 24, 1890 that end may be served in any district by the marshal thereof. See, 6. Any property owned under any contract or by any combination, or pur- suant to any conspiracy (and being the subject thereof) mentioned in section one of this act, and being in the course of transportation from one State to another, or to a foreign country, shall be forfeited to the United States, and may be seized and condemned by like proceedings as those provided by law for the forfeiture, seizure, and condemnation of property imported into the United States contrary to law. Sec. 7. Any person who shall be injured in his business or property by any other person or corporation by reason of any- thing forbidden or declared to be unlaw- ful by this act, may sue therefor in any circuit court of the United States in the Week Ta Y J Wy | s i e ae Plan. district in which the defendant resides or is found, without respect to the amount in controversy, and shall~recover threefold the damages by him sustained and the costs of suit, including a reasonable attor- ney’s fee. Sec. 8. That the word ‘‘ person” or ‘* persons,’ wherever used in this act, shall be deemed to include corporations and associations existing under or author- ized by the laws of either the United States, the laws of any of the Territories, the laws of any State, or the laws of any foreign country. —— EE The Best Charcoal Furnace Record. —The Hinckle Furnace of the Ashland Iron and Steel Company, at Ashland, Wis., is keeping up its record for wonder- ful work. Using charcoal exclusively for fuel, and running on Gogebic ores, the product of the furnace was as follows for the week ending April 12. The banner day was Thursday, when 130 tons were made. The fuel consumption is stated to have been remarkably low. No other charcoal furnace in the world has ever attained an output which even ap- proaches this. W. R. Hunt, the efficient manager, has made a splendid record for himself as well as for the plant. SSE We have received a copy of the new ‘‘ Through Freight Tanff” of the ‘‘ Bur- lington Route” C., B. and Q. R. R., naming through rates to all principal points in the West, Northwest and South- west, which took effect April 1. It is quite a large volume, comprising 162 pages. An immense section of country is covered by this road and its direct con- nections. Molding Machine. The method of molding here illustrated embodies the use of a pair of molds. In one-half of the machine a mold is made of one-half of the piece to be molded, while the mold of the other part is formed in a corresponding half of the machine, these two half-molds then being placed face to face and suitably held while pouring. The main frame is an obloug parallelogram consisting of vertical sides and ends and is supported by four standards, as shown in all of the accompanying drawings. The follow-boards are guided by the ends and by transverse bars, which are joined at the top by a horizontal web. The follow boards are formed with down- wardly extending flanges which fit be- tween the ends and vertical cross-bars. WR AOS ‘ , *“% 7 hs aa O7aaadedddaee, N WOOLY the follow boards, so that when the two arts of the mold formed in them are rought together they are accurately matched. The patterns used in connection with this machine are made mated in pairs, each of which is adapted to produce one- half of the mold. These are secured to the cross-bars of the frame, as shown in the longitudinal section. The machine be- ing made double, in each half there may be made a mold of the two parts of the ar- ticle to be cast, these parts being arranged in opposite order in the two portions of the machine, so that the double half molds thus made when applied face to face form the complete molds of the desired article. The apparatus is first in the position shown in the left half of the longitudinal section, the follow-board then being at its Pn hl Te KAS F Se eneseEetllnenen : Te Longitudinal Section. — oe et TT) : a ee a... = Side Elevation. These boards extend out over the upper edges of the side-bars, and are formed with downwardly extending flanges which are cut away to leave wedge-shaped cam portions having slanting under edges, as shown in the side elevation. shide bearin lowest position and the flask resting upon the frame. The patterns being secured in position the sand is tamped in above them, when by means of the handle the segment gear is rotated, thereby causing These | the slide-wedges to move longitudinally, flanges directly overhang the channeled | and thereby forcing the follow boards and of the frame, and between | flasks directly upward, carrying the mold them and the bearings is located a slide|away from the pattern, the mold being consisting of two wedge-shaped cams/thus completely freed from the pattern, adapted to the wedge-shaped portions of | and the corresponding half being at the the flanges. In the two standards at each same time in the other half of the machine, end of the machine is journaled a shaft, to the two molds are ready to be a _- which is secured a handle and a segment This machine is the invention of f arles gear which meshes with a rack; upon the! DPD, Clark, and the patents for it have been movement of the handle the rack is caused assigned to the William Deering Company, to slide and carry with it the wedge-/ Chicago. shaped cams mounted in the frame. To the upper sides of the follow boards is se-| William C. Hayward, agent for Naylor & cured a flask for holding the molding sand | Co., New York, commenced an attachmeat and mold when completed. These flasks | suit in the Superior Court on the 17th have horizontal flanges which lap the web | against the Freeman Wire and Iron Com- of the frame. The two flasks when pany, of St. Louis, ona claim of $15,583.14. ready to be put together are guided by | The suit was brought in Chicago for the dowel-pins, as shown, these also serving | purpose of attaching accounts due the St. to fix the exact position of the flask on Louis corporation by firms in that city. I April 24, 1890 The Western Farmer. Much has recently been written about the unsatisfactory condition of the West- ern farmers. The low price which they receive for their products 1s assigned as the cause of the discontent prevailing among them and the formation of a far- mers’ alliance to secure their necessaries at lower rates. Apropos of this subject a most interesting inquiry has been insti- tuted by the Messenger uf Fort Dodge, Iowa, prompted by a letter from a corres- pondent who asks a series of questions about the condition of farming interests and the extent to which they are suffering from combinations and trusts. Fort Dodge, it may be remarked, is situated in the heart of a vast agricultural section and ssesses no special advantages as a cheap istributing point for manufactured goods. The editor went at the matter practically. He applied to a merchant in each line of trade at Fort Dodge and secured a com- tive statement of his retail prices now and in 1880, selecting 1880 in order to show the comparatively recent reductions. The result of his researches has been pub- lished, and it shows most conclusively that nearly every article consumed by the far- mers has been very heavily reduced in price in the ten years covered by the com- parison, while at the same time his own products have not suffered a correspond- ing diminution in value. We reproduce from the article ‘in question the following extracts : FARM IMPLEMENTS, There have been great fortunes made in the manufacture of farm implements, and much talk of combines and exorbitant profits. Let us see whether the million- aires have been able to absorb all the bene- tits of inventive skill and large production in these implements: Price in Price in 1880. 1890. a TLE CEE $315 $130 Corn planter and check rower.. 80 40 14-inch steel beam walking plow 28 14 Riding cultivator.............. 45 25 Walking cultivator .......... 35 20 Mowing machine.............. 85 50 Strowbridge seeder............ 35 13 WO NE vadcneksincenscse 15 6 Pe ie cc cewivinivence’ 85 50 Two-seated spring wagon...... 160 75 Buggies and carriages all reduced about one- half. Harrows generally reduced one-half. Corn-shellers reduced one-half. The above are the principal implements in common use. The reduction in their cost to the farmer since 1880 runs from 33 to 60 per cent. And the machinery is made better than before. It should not be strange if with these great reductions in the cost of farm implements, and with farming land free to settlers, there was an enormous increase in the production of farm staples from 1880 to 1890 and a shrinkage in prices. Furthermore, has not the cueiiameame who labors in the factory where the3e implements are made a legiti- mate right to look for some benefits to himself from these great labor savers which he sees go out to the fields of production ? Does not the very principle for which our restive friends are contending demand that the benefits of cheaper farm implements shall not be all absorbed by the farmer, but that they shall reach all of the con- sumers of farm produce ? HARDWARE, The stock of a hardware store can al- most be classified as farm implements, and we will examine hardware next. At the top of the list we place barb wire, as its consumption is wholly by the farmers. Our farmer friends will hardly be able to realize that ten years ago they were paying 10 cents a pound for barb wire. But we THE IRON AGE. know tney were, for we have examined the charges upon the books of one of the best firms in Fort Dodge. All of the prices here were procured by examining the books of this firm for 1880. Price in Price in 1880. 1890. Barb wire, per pound......... $0.10 $0.04 Fence staples, per pound ...... .10 05 Tron nails in 1880, $6 per keg.. .... aad Seeel nails in 1890 $2.80 per keg .... Ne Plain wire, per pound......... 0646 .031¢ eres 2.2 1.75 Stove-pipe joint.... ......... 25 -20 Horseshoes, per keg........... 8.00 4.50 Tool steel, per pound.......... -20 124% Plow steel, per pound.......... 134 .084¢ CMON ia ch ackeedddies cas 00 24.00 Mattock and handle........... 1.40 85 OO Se ea ere 1 -40 Blossburg coal, per hundred- WD ceiocvcncsawkee: cecus .80 45 DE IES 8 i idiiididoeks cde iaxcs .40 3) Putty. per pound.............. 10 05 Window glass reduced 25 per cent. Re, OO IE, cccecdvcxeces 124 .08 EVOR, DOP POMMG 2. cc cccccccees 05 03 POUR GHNOD TORE. «6 ic cscccccss a 50 Seat spring, pair............. 1.75 1.00 Eis catiys covicatecksns 1.50 5 Common clevis......... ..... .20 10 Milk pans, per dozen ......... 2.25 1.00 Buggy springs, per pound..... .20 10 Swedes iron, per pound........ 124 06 Cartridges, per box............ .35 15 Wire cloth, per foot.......... .06 * 08 WOE GU ddicc.: ix taednasces 2.25 1,25 Cast washers, per pound...... .05 .03 Ne Ns lid 0 cco ke8sccaneds 1.00 .65 Oc acnerccncesssnsuugeeas 10 .05 Zinc, per pound............... 15 .10 a “rrr reeree 10 .05 Be I a cend nds crnsane 20 10 Cast butts, with screws....... .20 12% 2 eee 22 12 xn GNdate ven ntssGodretek es 65 2 6. Aree rere oo -20 BT PINON oc sensceriesacves 25 10 MR cide dvdundddeBearecaes .85 45 I iisnnecnidhon acenw’ 1.00 65 ARP rr rrerre er .10 .05 Cove 6s einen teceap ens .20 10 WENO ko ois soc aaweanse's 2.25 1.65 ected seviistiareey eons 85 .40 DR akc within srawke bow rdalin 1.00 .60 Pie plates, per dozen.......... .70 Bd pS Porter ere -90 35 CHIU WIN. 5 «55 oc cccesccesn 4.25 2.25 Universal wringer............. 7. 3.00 Pocket and table cutlery reduced one-half. We are told that we might have gone on through the whole stock of a hardware store with similar results, but the above were selected at random from a day-book in use in the spring of 1880, and is no doubt a fair illustration of how prices in hardware compare now with prices ten years ago. There has been a good deal of talk of trusts and high prices and monop- olies created by the tariff in hardware goods, but they do not appear to prevent a good share at least of the benefits re- sulting from improved methods and in- creased production from reaching the con- sumer. GROCERIES. Everybody is interested directly in the price of groceries. And the two best known and most successful trusts of this country are upon articles which come under this head, sugar and kerosene. This is the place, then, where we are to find the benefits of increased production and modern methods all absorbed by rich and cruel monopolies. 1880. 1890. Sugar, granulated, per MUMECiccnddweakhsns went $0.121¢ $0.07 Sugar, standard A.......... ll 06 BN Coo ccssvicvesndenr exe 10 061g Kerosene oil, 150 test per MR. 0 cc cnccsncssvesacae 13 Kerosene oil, 175 test per Fnccicccvccecteeces 30 15 salt, per DOETER. ....6600.08 2.25 1.25 Do. So See ee 4.50 2.50 pe OO Rr rere .33 .33 COG, FRO onc cccesnece css 2 25 Canned tomatoes, percan.. .15 10 Boston butter crackers, per WOE ie ewe cdededé caters 123 -10 Soda crackers, per pound... .10 .061¢ Soap, per cake.............- 07 05 Crockery, 25 per cent. reduction. Teas, 30 per cent. reduction. Tobacco, 35 per cent. reduction. EE ——————— — eee 675 Here is a sumprise. The products of the two great ‘‘ trusts,” sugar and oil, show a quite as great reduction as anything. Is it possible, after all, that the assertion is true that to achieve any permanent success a trust must sell its products for less than private manufactures, and make its money out of the economies possible in large production under one management ? One thing is certain, viz.: That the con- sumers of oil and sugar are getting them for much less than ten years ago. DRY GOODS. In dry goods we find the same down- ward range of prices, showing that the benefits of labor-saving machines and large production go to all consumers. Here are a few figures : 1880. 1890. Unbleached muslin per yard..$0.08 $0.06 CRs idtdéectnseiaavdstaers -07 05 Cc icce ccanneuiveus yes 1246 10 Worsted dress goods .......... 15 124 Worsted dress goods .......... 3 25 Worsted dress goods .......... 65 50 Worsted dress goods .......... 1.00 75 goods , . Laces and embroideries 3344 per cent. re- duction. Silks and velvets 25 to 334¢ per cent. reduc- tion. Carpets 25 to 331¢ per cent. reduction. General reduction on stock of dry goods _ store 23 to 33 per cent. CLOTHING. On clothing comparative figures cannot be given because qualities vary. There has been, however, since 1880 a general reduction on ready-made clothing ranging from 30 to 50 per cent. and there has been decided improvement in the stability of ready made clothing. A pair of overalls sold for $1 is warranted not to rip, and lasts in every day hard labor for months. Good serviceable suits can be had for $7 to $10. BOOTS AND SHOES. Inventive genius has accomplished wonders in the boot and shoe business since the village shoemaker took orders for the foot wear of the neighborhood. Great progress had been made in the man- ufacture of foot wear by machinery prior to 1880, but we are not dealing with that time now. The average reduction in the retail price of foot wear since 1880 is 33} per cent. So all of the benefits of im- proved methods in the production of shoes have not by any means been absorbed by the manufacturer. WATCHES, CLOCKS AND JEWELRY. The old-time watchmaker has gone to join the old-time shoemaker. Who gets the benefit of inventive genius there ? The silver watch which retailed in 1880 at $20 now retails at $12. The set of knives and forks sold in 1880 at $6 now retails at $3. Everything in the store has suffered from 334 to 50 per cent. re- duction. No gobbling up of all the bene- . fits of improved methods there. FURNITURE, The retail prices of furniture have suffered a reduction ranging since 1880 of from 25 to 50 per cent. A half dozen wooden chairs such as sell now for $3 sold then $4.50 to $5. Bedsteads sold now at $1.75 and $2.50 sold then at $4 and $6. The cut is heavy on all articles, but most on the machine-made articles. The big manufacturers of furniture have not been able to absorb all the benefits of improved methods. It should be borne in mind in this connection that the raw material of which furniture is made has not decreased in price, nor have the wages of laborers in the factories been reduced. LUMBER At first thought one would not expect much reduction in lumber since 1880. Standing pine costs more now than then, but inventive genius has been making the sawmills more productive, and the mill owners have failed to hold all the benefits 676 THE IRON AGE, April 24, 1890 for themselves. Freight rates are also lower. Prices compare as follows: 1880. 1890, Dimension lumber............. $2000 $15.00 First sheeting.................. 18.00 13.00 all A ea 450 3.00 CED. 06, <wesansncpenes 24.00 18.00 aad stk kk 66 aka e 5 ose 20.00 16.00 NE eee .16 ll Finishing lumber............... 40.00 30.00 pikite Watinke tes eathd ackien 3.50 2.50 ches ctcnsich ipeihmanal 00 20.00 30. \ Doors, window sash and blinds, 30 per cent. reduction. INTEREST. How has the capitalist who lives on the interest of his money fared during this time? Is his income as large as ever ? Up to 1879 the county of Webster paid 10 per cent. on its indebtedness. In 1879 it made a loan at 7 per cent. to clean up its old debts. In 1886 it made another loan for the purpose of reducing the interest rate, and sold its 5 per cent. bonds at a premium of $1010, so the rate is now actualiy less than 5 per cent. The bonds of the independent school district of Fort Dodge draw 5 per cent., having been reduced from 8 to 6 and from 6 to the present rate. Ordinary loans do not show the same re- _ductions in the interest rate, because East- ern capital does not come West as freely to private borrowers as on county or school district bonds. The loan agent gets be- tween the principals on private loans and makes an expense. In 1880 home money generally commanded 10 per cent., and Eastern capital 7 and 8, with a commis- sion. Now home capital demands 8 and outside capital 6, with a commission which makes not quite 1 more. RAILROAD CHARGES. How have the railroads fared during these ten years? They are the cormor- ants, we are told, who devour the sub- stance of the country. In 1880 the freight rate on wheat from Fort Dodge to Chi- cago was 33 cents and on other grain 27 cents per hundred, now the rate on wheat is 22 and other grain 20. In 1880 the rate of all stock from this point to Chicago was $69 per car, 28 feet long; now the rate is $55 for cattle and $45 for hogs per car of 35 feet. In 1880 the freight on a barrel of salt from Chicago to Fort Dodge was 63 cents; now it is33 cents. In 1880 the rate on lumber from Dubuque to Fort Dodge was 14 cents; now it is 8.3cents. In 1880 the rate on first-class freight from Chicago to Fort Dodge was 92 cents; now it is 70. We should explain that 70 was the rule in force until a few weeks ago; at present the rate is cut, but it will probably be restored to somewhat near the old figure, so we make no account of this cut. CONCLUSION. This closes the comparison of prices on what the farmer, mechanic and laborer has te buy. We have endeavored to make it as complete and accurate as is possible in a hasty newspaper article. It is beyond dispute that the development of the age has accomplished a large reduction in all manufactured articles. e EEE Another new firm is about to enter the field as a competitor for the construction of naval vessels of the largest size. It is the Risdon Iron Works, of San Francisco. James Guiler, tormerly of the Union Iron Works, but now of the Risdon Works, was at the Navy Department recently mak- ing arrangements to bid on the 8150-ton vessel and the 5500-ton vessel. The Ris- don Works at present have very complete shops in some departments, but for work as large as either of these ships many new machine tools would be required. Mr. Guiler assured the department authorities that if his firm secured the contract for either vessel they would at once put in a most complete plant of modern tools. If this firm bids for these vessels there will be three competitors for them, the other two being Messrs. Cramp & Sons, of Philadel- phia, and the Union Iron Works, of San Francisco. ooo The Supply of Mill and Foundry Irons, One of the questions which Southern furnace projectors should thoroughly con- sider is the market for their product. It is only too generally assumed that there is open to them practically the whole field of ig-iron consumption. This is not true; eaving out of consideration the charcoal iron industry, which is a business by it- self, it is necessary to exclude also the entire make of Bessemer pig and spiegel- eisen in the country, because the South — makes no iron of that grade. he producers of that section of the coua- try must therefore compete with the mak- ers of the balance of the pig product of the country. Their field, therefore, shrinks very considerably. According to statistics computed by the American Iron and Steel Association, the product of coke and anthracite pig in the United States was as follows, in net tons: Production of Mill and Foundry Iron, United States. 1889, 7,872,768 3,520,584 4,343,184 86,812 1887. 1888, Coke and antbracite pig, U. 8 ....+see 6,609,024 6,669,718 Deduct Bessemer pig, iy Wins» cateaeeen dno 3,220,517 2,954,402 3,388,507 3,715,316 47,508 54,769 Mill and foundry iron, U.S............3,340,909 3,660,557 4,256,372 The production of mill and foundry grades has thus increased very rapidly during the past three years. To show how large a part in 1t was contributed by Southern producers, we have first the following table, giving the production of coke pig in the different Southern States, in which development has been going on during the past three years: Southern Tron Production, Net Tona. States. 1887. 1888, 1889. VIPER. ..00000ccccesores 166,259 189,960 242,380 GOORBIB..........0 000 40,947 39,097 25,286 DIGDITBB 0 002000 s000ccees 197,539 355,366 680,998 PIIOET 5000000. cvececes 35,706 51,736 35,782 TOMMORISS. 2... «2 0-0.00000 204,120 216.051 244,451 ORE, oiinncins0ss eescuy 644.571 852,241 1,228,836 Placing these figures side by side, with the quantities of mill and foundry iron produced in all the other States, we have: Production of Mill and Foundry Iron. , 1887. 1888, Southern States. .- ee 644,571 1889. 852,241 1,228,836 Northern States..... 2,696,388 2,808,306 3,027,536 Total, net tons. ....3,340,909 3,660,547 4,256,372 Southern, per cent. Ws vb bccntites 19.29% 23.28% 34.63% In three years, therefore, the Southern makers have msen from the mark of one- fifth of the whole to more than one-third. So far as the open markets are concerned, the increase has been very much greater. Relatively, a very small proportion of the Southern stacks is for consumption of works directly or indirectly controllin their ownership In the territory nor of the Potomac and the Ohio, the propor- tion is very large indeed. Another fact, too, is worthy of consideration. In spite of the admittedly great progress made in the management of Southern plants, the percentage of lower grades of iron made is still very much larger than it is in the North. The result of these causes is that the markets, narrow as they ure, are over- stocked wita particular grades of iron for se core purposes, the greatest pressure ing in the lower es. Weare willing to it that the lowering of prices thus brought about has had its effect upon the reduction in the cost of production of the finished articles, and that this in turn may have, to some extent, stimulated consump- tion. But that has its limits, and shrin into insignificance as a factor when com- pared with the enormous increase in the output. If the market is constantly threatened with being overburdened now, is it likely to be able to stagger under the load to be imposed upon it by the — now in course of development and being prospected? We believe that there can be but one answer to this ques- tion. Sanguine believers in the ability of Southern plants to produce at figures which Northern makers cannot approach, will have a simple answer. They wiil probably reason as follows: According to the showing made, our furnaces have in three years nearly doubled their make, and have marketed it too. It is true that dividends have not been numerous or large, but on the other hand there have been no failures except with enterprises, affected by special courses. Since we have now captured one-third of the market during years of low prices, what is to prevent our taking two-thirds or more, in the near future? If the market will not take the additions to supply com- ing from new Southern plants, in the next few years, a proportionate number of Northern plants must stop. Such an answer may seem final to those who firmly believe in the accuracy of cost accounts jotted on the back of an envelope, but it will prove quite inade- quate to men who have been in the iron business all their lives and know how much importance to attach to such esti- mates. In the struggle for existence it will be found that a closely knitted in- dustry like that of the North is not killed off so easily. We do not believe that rolling mills would hesitate a moment to buy other people’s pig iron if they can get it cheaper than they can make it at their own blast furnaces. They will simply blow the latter out, but they will certainly not take that step until costs have been squeezed down to the lowest point. A furnace run as a part of a large plant con- verting the pig into finished product pos- sesses advantages which must be offset by avery substantial reduction in price by outside competing concerns. Unless a sharp reaction takes place in the speculative building of furnace plants in the South, and there are those who assert that it is not far off, the seed will be sown for a crop of disasters, North and South, compa with which former periods of panic will fade into insignifi- ance. It will not alone beggar a lar number of speculators, but it will cripple some concerns North and South, and sweep away the profits of others for years to come, ee A great deal has been written about the smokeless powder which has been adopted for the French, German and Austrian armies. The French have a powder of their own, and from all that has been re- ported of the experiments made with it, it is a very good powder. So is the German and Austrian powder, but according to the Berlin correspondent of the London Times it has a serious de