The Iron Age 1901-11-21: Vol 68 Iss 21

— Vol. 68: No. 22. Reading Matter Contents......... page 59 Aiphabetical Index to Advertisers “* 153 Classified List of Advertisers . 6s Adve tising and Subscription Rates oo” 73 New York, Thursday, November 21, 1901. $5.00 a Year, including Postage, Single Copies, Ten Cents. 155], ; bistol’s Patent Steel Belt Lacing, SAVES Time, Belts, Money. READY TO APPLY FusHEDvoNY With Least M Send for Circulars and Free Samples. THE BRISTOL CO., Waterbury, Conn SAMSON SPOT CORD setts and Phenix of Sash Cord. SAMSON CORDAGE WORKS, Boston, Mass. — aa oh , «fap ' seveland City Forge and Iron Con - Cleveland, 0, 3 " 22 , eg iia ‘ wis g<S* [oe] ‘ = m . BESSEMER PIG ¢ i Girard Bulidin * i PILLING & CRANE, Eerie iock Bishan ie a a > 47 $1 58 . * s4 If-a thing is first-class, a 63 64 + second-class man avoids it Se + . . 34 by instinct—without any 34 ” reason—Apollo galvanized ) . r iy iron for instance, * i¢ 7 American Sheet Steel Company ‘4 Bamery Park Building New York : 4s Cas Ls - \ ry v . f 4 : me ae 7 2, ga » . ue > © ‘. i .° , * 9 * i, 4 yo u , | a 7 Was awarded the PAN-AMERICAN GOLD MEDAL. The Atlanta Exposition, in 1895, and the Omaha Expo- sition, 1899, granted First Prize to THE UNION METALLIC CARTRIDGE CO., BRIDGEPORT, CONN. Cc 313 Broadway, N. Y. 425 Market St., San Francisco, » 232-238 William St., New York. ianintisuiin silua a = CAHALL BOILERS »re# CAPEWELL HORSE NAILS. NEW YORK, PHILADELPHIA, CHICAGO, ST. LOUIS, still BOSTON, re ; 1y Of LO Ch BRANCHES: DETROIT, Aes ~ 8S CINCINNATI, - ——_° * PORTLAND, ORE., iv BUFFALO, Spy. ay BALTIMORE, Honan peeoe NEW ORLEANS. THE CAPEWELL HORSE NAIL COMPANY, HARTFORD, CONN. a 5 J Jenkins ’96 Packing. Pronounced by steam users throughout the world the best joint packing manufactured. Expensive? Not at all, as it weighs 30¢ less than many other packings, consequently is much cheaper. JENKINS BROTHERS, New York. Boston, Philadelphia. Chicage. Brass Prices High, So Use Bright “Swedoh” Stamp- zg MAGNOLIA METAL.~ Best Anti-Friction Metal for all Machinery Bearings. ing Steel. Easily Brass Plated and Save Money, page Ihe Be me TT Be “20 re ee, a . A Review of the Hardware, Iron, Machinery and Metal Trades. Published every Thursday Morning by David Williams Co. eae esi ae. aoe OT a wi 8 + fogew ea ih Ce Ee BE OS ; Pe Se ee ee we.’ ~ eer 7 og rors wi. te vee 9 Ae Fis wa * 4 M4 ¥ Bort is SPN he fe. Wipe hk w an ., *& SAT r se Sas TR Ae eae ee tae y 2 ee ee < & Taina i i. £ —" . > oo 7 Hy ‘ F > eer ee a wt pits a iy Re THE ne hie IRON AGE. ae Ads SS ee ere ile i ict pa ae oe, eed ——— THE ANSONIA Brass sp” COPPER CO. MANUFACTURERS OF BRASS AND COPPER Seamless Tubes, Sheets, Rods and Wire. WATERBURY BRESS Gd ESTABLISHED 1845, Main Office and Mills at Waterbury, Conn. Manufacturers of Brass,German Silver, Copper IN SHEET, ROLL, ROD, WIRE, BRAZED and SEAMLESS TUBING Rivets and Burrs, Metallic Eye- lets, Shells, Ferrules and Small Brassweares of every Deséription. Ingot Copper. GOLE MANUFACTURERS Tobin Bronze (TRADE-MaRK REGISTERED.) Condenser, Plates,Pump Linings, Round, Square and Hexagon Bars, for Pump Piston Rods and Bolt Forgings. 99 John Street, New York. DEPOTS: Randolph-Clowes Co., Main Office and Mill, 35° WATERBURY, CONN. a MANUFACTURERS OF SHEET BRASS & COPPER. 60 CENTRE ST., 131 DORRANCE ST., 152 EDDY ST., 38 MECHANIC ST., NEW YORK. PROVIDENCE, R. I. = NEWARK, N. J. SOUND, PURE COPPER CASTINGS } BRAZED BRASS & COPPER TUBES. SBAMLESS BRASS & COPPER TUBES TO 36 IN. DIAM. ‘ New York Office, 258 Broadway, Postal Tel- Onicere Otten tia Maher Bld ; ce, er , a Boston Office, Cor. Oliver and Sts. Great Conductivity Bridgeport Deoxidized Bronze & Metal Co. BRIDGEPORT, CONN. Matthiessen & Hegeler Zinc Co., LA SALLE, ILLINOIS. ay SMELTERS OF SPELTER AND MANUFACTURERS OF SHEET ZINC AND SULPHURIC ACID. Special Sizes of Zinc cut to order. Rolled Battery Plates. Selected Plates for Etchers’ and Lithographers’ use. Selected Sheets for Paper and Card Makers’ use. Stove and Washboard Blanks. ZINCS FOR LECLANCHE BATTERY. OUNDERS BRASS Fishers J J, RYAN & 60: Sa | — Sieblat-t-ce Best Bronze, Babbitt Metals, Brass and Aluminum ©A4ST!NSS On Short Notice @ @ Fc won onco Brass and Aluminum Founders, “ . 5S Wheel, $2.25 | Phosphor Bronze Bearing Castings. a ame EEK, mich, |W. G. ROWELL & CO., Bridgeport, Conn. BATTLE CREEK, MICH. HENDRICKS BROTHERS PROPRIETORS OF THE Belleville Copper Rolling Mills, MANUFACTURERS OF Brasiers’ Bolt and Sheathing COoOoPrPRPwriBsEHR, COPrPrER wiREnH AND RiIV=BTs. Importers and Dealers in Ingot Copper, Block Tin, Spelter, Lead, Antimony, etc. 49 CLIFF ST.. NEW YORK. THE PLUME & ATWOOD Mrc. 00 Sheet and Rol Brass —AND— WIRE PRINTERS’ BRASS, JEWELERS’ METAL, GERMa SILVER AND GILDING METAL, COPPER River; AND BURRS. Pins, Brass Butt Hinges, Jack Chain, Kero sene Burners, Lamps. Lamp Trimmings, &c. 29 MURRAY ST., NEW YORK. 144 HIGH ST., BOSTON. 199 LAKE 8T., CHICAGO. ROLLING MILL : FACTORIES : THOMASTON, CONN. WATERBURY, CONN. SCOVILL MFG. CO., Manufacturers of BRASS, CERMAN SILVER Sheets, Rolis, Wire, Rods, Bolts and Tubes, Brass Shelis, Cups, Hinges Buttons, Lamp Coods. SPECIAL BRASS GOODS TO ORDER Factories, WATERBURY, CONN. DEPOTS: NEW YORK, CHICAGO, BOSTON. JOHN DAVOL & SONS, ’ AGENTS FOR Brooklyn Brass & Copper Co. DEALERS IN COPPER, TIN, SPELTER. LEAD, ANTIMONY. 100 John Street, New York Arthur T. Rutter. SUCCESSOR TO WILLIAM S. FEARING, 256 Broadway, New York. Sheet Brass, German Silver, Co; per, Brass and German Silver Wire, Brazed and Seamless Brass and Copper Tubes, Smali Tubing a Specialty. Brass av: Copper Rods, Brass Ferrules. Sheet and Ingot Copper; Spelte: Tin, Antimony, Lead, etc. — “PHONO-ELECTRIC” WIRE. “IT’S TOUGH.” TROLLEY, TELEPHONE and TELEGRAPH LINES. BRIDGEPORT BRASS C0, 19 Murray St., New York. Mills Bridgepert, Conan. ‘THE IRON AGE THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1901. The Cincinnati Milling Machine. The Positive Feed Mechanism. The accompanying illustrations show the latest pat- yn milling machine made by the Cincinnati Milling Machine Company of Cincinnati. The chief character- stic of the machine is the positive feed mechanism, which is shown in detail in Figs 2, 3, 4 and 5. The fea- eee THE NEW CINCINNATI tures incorporated in this construction are, a, a positive gear driven feed; b, a wide range of feed changes; ¢, means for changing from any one rate of feed to any other rate of feed conveniently and without stopping the machine, Part of the mechanism is placed at the rear end of the milling machine spindle and part is incased in a _ gear box at the rear of the column. The connection be- tween these two parts is by means of a vertically in- ‘lined shaft. Figs. 2 and 3 show, respectively, a section through the upper gear box and the upper gear box complete on the column of the machine, while Figs. 4 and 5 show, respectively, a rear view of the lower gear box, with covers removed, and a front view of the same mechanism indicating the arrangement of the shifting levers. The operation of the mechanism is briefly as follows, referring to Fig. 2: Motion is transmitted to the shaft B by sliding the gears on B so as to bring either one of them into mesh with the proper gear on the spindle, ff MILLING MACHINE. or the gears may be set in the intermediate position, shown in the sectional drawing, in which case no motion is imparted to B. This position of the gears throws out the entire feed mechanism. The shaft B drives the ver- tically inclined shaft M, which in turn drives the shaft in the lower gear box upon which are mounted the spur gears R and S, as shown in Fig. 4, through the miter gears at G, which are of steel, case hardened. All the spur gears of the feed mechanism are of steel. Inside of the lower gear box will be seen two cones of four gears each, running loose on their shaft and driven inde- ay aga ee: SSE ye « a POE I Om 6 _ pg a He EN = 2 THE IRON AGE. pendently by the gears R and §, the smaller gear, R, en- gaging the largest gear on one cone and the larger gear, S, engaging the smallest gear on the other « ne, thus im- parting widely different speeds to the two cones. From these cones motion is transmitted to the various feed screws through an intermediate gear, which is made to slide on its shaft by means of the rack and sector, and placed into correct position for engaging any one of the cone gears by means of the lever which actuates the sector. This is the lower lever shown in Fig. 5. The posi- tion of this lever at any time indicates the rate at which the machine is feeding in thousandths of an inch per revolution of spindle by means of raised figures on the lever quadrant. The lower lever having been placed in position to ob- tain the desired rate of feed, the intermediate gear is brought into mesh with the proper cone gear by. the upper lever in Fig. 5, which moves the entire lower por- tion of the mechanism. This is accomplished by means of a helical groove in the hub of the lever, which en- gages a pin in the slide, upon which are mounted the lower lever, sector, rack and intermediate gear. By means of the combination of these two mechanisms 16 different speeds are imparted to the feed shaft, advanc- ing by even graduations from 0.006 to 0.300 inch for each turn of the spindle. The lower lever, acting as an indicator, enables any one to tell at a glance just how fast the machine is working. From the foregoing it is plain that by simply shifting the levers on the feed mechanism any one of the 16 dif- E MACHIN re) z = +s > ce) Vv SPINDLE OF MACHINE BABEIT BEARING -~ CAST IRON BOX THe IRon AcE Fig. 2.—Section through Gear Bow and Spindle. November 21,1 }] Skane ewe vewasans ant % 1% SS PbS ck eh oe oe eee a 1% bas SUE cic bene eane by 1% Serr ree ee wy 1 rere ery ei 5% % (PY ng RIG earapeae a %% % are rr nee yy % It may not be out of place to emphasize a few of advantages of: this particular mechanism. With it ihe capacity of the machine for removing metal is only ited by the pulling power of the main driving belt. rate of feed can be changed practically instantaneou It is positive at all times, imparting an even motion the table, thereby avoiding the broken cutters and spoiled work which so often result from a slipping feed belt. In addition to this new feed mechanism there are other improvements on these machines, notable among which are a telescopic vertical feed screw, which does away with the necessity of cutting a hole through the floor. There are clamping devices which enable one to Fig. 3.—Upper Gear Bor with Cover Over Mitcr Gears Removed. THE NEW CINCINNATI MILLING MACHINE. ferent rates of feed may be obtained, and a change from any one rate of feed to any other may be made without stopping the machine, since there are no change gears to interpose nor belts to shift. Any one of these rates of feed may be used in combination with any of the 16 different spindle speeds, providing in all 256 different combinations, The spindle speeds vary from 9 to 350 turns per min- ute, and have been chosen with a view to secure the proper cutting speed for cutters of standard diameters. The table shows how well this has been accomplished, and also shows how these speeds are obtained for the No. 3 universal machine. Table of Cutter Diameters Adapted to the Spindle Speeds Furnished on the No. 3 Universal Cincinnati Miller. ——Surface speeds.—Feet per minute.——, Steel, Cast iron, Brass, 20 feet. 40 feet. 60 feet. Cutter Cutter Cutter Spindle speeds. diameter. diameter. _ diameter. _ ee eee eee een ae Be. e¥s iétwaateeeees 6 12 15 <= 5 10 oe ehe | SS ee ae 4 Ss 12 ee EES oe oe 3% 7 10 Ry ee See ee 214 5 ™ Ne ae ere 21% 4% 6% a ee 1% 3 dy ee re 1% 2% 4 firmly lock the knee to the column or the saddle to tie knee when the longitudinal feed alone is being used, thereby greatly increasing the rigidity of the machine. The sliding covers on the knee protect the feed screws from dirt and cuttings, and a cylindrical overhangilg arm, which, in addition to the regular support for tie arbor, is also provided with a support which can be ac- justed close to the center, supports the arbor at ary point in its entire length. These features are common ‘0 all the back geared machines made by this company. _ -_ Keystone Driller Company. The Keystone Driller Company, Beaver Falls, P began operations at Fallston in 1882 under the name the Keystone Portable Steam Driller Company, L ited, and in 1891 were incorporated under the laws Pennsylvania, with a capital of $150,000, under the na of Keystone Driller Company. Their business has grow. rapidly and some recent improvements and additions have been made, which will about double the capa‘ of the plant. Two buildings, 40 x 200 feet, part of whic? are two story, and one 60 x 100 feet, have been bu''t, and a new brick office, 30 x 40 feet two stories high, ‘5 being erected and will be ready by January 1. Tbe¢ company recently increased their capital stock from bic fol ma bri pre iss' Wil are ther Is are > tr vember 21, 1901 000 to $800,000. They build machinery for testing 1 beds for gold, also for minerals, such as lead, and coal, and also make drills for oil and gas wells. r construction at the present time is a large portable e, which is intended to drill to a depth of 2500 which will be completed in about two weeks and be tested by the Keystone Driller Company in put- lown a gas well for their own works. The officers e company are D. McAllister, president; R. M. nie, secretary, and R. G. Forbes, treasurer. atin —— Central Pennsylvania News. ARRISBURG, Pa., November 19, 1901.—Among the ers granted at the State Department yesterday was » to the Alan Wood Iron & Steel Company of Phila- phia, with a capital of $1,250,000. This company will in all of the Alan Wood mills at Conshohocken, - Philadelphia. rhe York Bridge Company have asked for plans and Fig. 4.—Lower Gear Box with Covers Removed. THE IRON AGE. 3 proving their plant at Lebanon, notably in power. The Lebanon works have been very busy. Newspaper reports of trouble at the Duncannon Iron Company’s works are baseless. The works are in opera- tion in all of their branches. A new fourdry will be put into operation by the Har- risburg Mfg. & Soiler Works this wnt. It will have two cupolas. Officers of the Central Iron & Steel Company at Har- risburg say that plans are being drawn for the erection of an open hearth steel plant, despite rumors to the con- trary. 8. a ee Fischer Foundry and Machine Company. The Fischer Foundry & Machine Company, located on the South Side, Pittsburgh, engaged in building roll- ing mill machinery and engines, have decided to make some large additions to their present works. The com- Fig. 5.—Front View of Lower Gear Bow, Showing Shifting Levers. THE NEW CINCINNATI MILLING MACHINE. bids for an extension to their plant at York. It will be for the shaping of structural steel and manufacture of material which the company formerly bought from other bridge companies. The Susquehanna Iron & Steel Company propose to Provide for the building of their new pipe mill by the issue of $300,000 in bonds. The mill will be erected this Winter at Columbia. The Middletown Car Company have been formed by Arthur King and others to operate the Middletown Car Works at Middletown. The capital is $100,000. There are several orders of good size on hand and work will be brisk throughout the winter. A number of improve- ments are to be made. ‘he new Mann axe factory at Mann, near Lewistown, has been started by the owner, James Mann, formerly of tle American Axe & Tool Company. The capacity ‘sO dozen axes per day. “ince the South Harrisburg works of the Standard hain Company have changed from electricity to steam for wer the works have been running regularly and there is a great deal of business being done. The plant ls ny working 87 fires and large orders for the South are being filled. American Steel & Iron Mfg. Company are im- pany have been incorporated under the laws of Penn- sylvania with a capital of $200,000, and at a meeting to be held soon, for the purpose of effecting a permanent organization under the new charter, the capital stock will be considerably increased. At this meeting to or- ganize Fred. F., H. B., George L., Jr., and Albert Fischer will be elected as the Board of Directors. Fred. F. Fischer will probably be elected president and H. B. Fischer secretary, holding the same offices as in the present organization. George L. Fischer, Sr., is now treasurer of the company, who*for some time have been doing business as the Fischer Foundry & Machine Com- pany, and at the organization meeting he may relinquish this office. The company have just placed on the mar- ket new grinding and polishing machinery for plate glass works, for which they expect a large demand. They have also received a large contract for machinery for the new tube mill now being built by the Sharon Steel Company, at Sharon, Pa. They are filling large contracts for equipment for the new plate mills of the Cambria Steel Company, Jamestown, Pa., and also for the new billet mill of the Republic Iron & Steel Com- pany, at Youngstown. Ohio. Sufficient orders are now on their books to keep them fully employed until April of next year. — ae 2 PRR er, A SA tht. The [linnesota Ore Railways Decision. DvuLvUTH, MINN., November 18, 1901.—After a series of legal battles running over four or five years the iron ore railways of Minnesota have won a great victory in the admission by the State Railway Commission that their traffic is interstate and not within its province for the regulation of rates. In other words, all iron ore that originates in Minne- sota and is’destined to points outside the State is not intrastate commerce, even though the entire rail haul is within the confinesof one State,and even though the rail rate to the edge of the State is constant and unchanged and the lake rate from the edge of the State to points be- yond is fluctuating; but it is interstate commerce and therefore under the jurisdiction of the Congress of the United States. Of course all ore destined from the Min- nesota ranges to points within the State is intrastate commerce and as such is subject to the rules of the State Commission. The roads admitted at the time of their contention that all other traffic was interstate, and at that time, July 9 last, they withdrew all other tariffs and filed an intrastate tariff on ore to Missabe Junction on the Duluth, Missabe & Northern Road and to Duluth on the Duluth & Iron Range Road. This tariff is in force and is subject to the orders of the State Commission. But as there is at present admittedly no market in all Minne- sota for a pound of iron ore, and as all that has been sold for delivery within the State since iron has been mined here has been less than 50,000 tons, while there have been 57,000 tons shipped to points outside the State, this admission is a matter of very slight present importance. In the decision of this week two of the State Com- missioners, while admitting their lack of jurisdiction over rates on ore billed through to points outside the State, or so destined when loaded, were still of the opin- ion that they might have authority over ore of shippers not controlling both the rail and lake transportation, and made an order calling for the filing of tariffs on all ore destined to the decks and “ destined to points within the State” by which they meant the docks themselves. One of the commissioners dissented, saying that “if the con- ditions shall change so that shipments to or through the docks are or can become State shipments then it will be time to file such an order.” There is no question but that he is right, and the order of the majority of the commission is a mere political subterfuge, designed to take off from the clear cut and sweeping decision the effect it may have upon future State politics. If the traffic in ore is interstate when over the roads to docks and by one line of ships to Eastern States it is clearly the same when over these roads and by another line of ships to the East, the fact that it may not go on a through bill of lading or under a through rate in one case having no real bearing on the situation. So that there is not the slightest question but that Chairman Mills’ position is the consistent and legal one, if the main contention’ is correct. This phase is merely technical, however, as there is not and cannot be a pound of ore carried over the docks into Minnesota. That the main question is absolutely correct and that the State has no jurisdiction on traffic within its bord- ers that is destined by a different method of conveyance and a varying rate and ownership of such conveyance to points without the State is shown by abundant au- thorities. It is one of the most interesting phases that has arisen in the annals of interstate commerce. It is very evident that the Minnesota State Commission would not deny its own authority in such a matter, by far the most important railway rate question that has ever come before it, except after the most searching inquiry backed by abundant and expert advice. That it has taken this idea into consideration is shown by the counsel called into the case, all of whom take the position that the State has no standing. These include the present Attorney-General, the First Assistant Attorney-General. the ex-Attorney-General and United States Senator M. E. Clapp, who was the State’s special counsel in the hearing. All coincide with the eminent attorneys for the railroads, who made their argument last July. The meat of this decision lies in the situation. The two roads that were cited to file their tariffs and ordered to reduce them 25 per cent. operate railroads running from the various iron mines of Minnesota to the lake THE IRON AGE. November 21, 1{\)] front within the State, where they have built docks ex tending out into the navigable water of the United States for the conveyance of ore from cars to vesse! There is no way in which this ore, once on ship, can | unloaded in Minnesota except at a prohibitory cost and with great difficulty. In point of fact no ore once board ship has ever beeu unloaded within the Sta The roads contended that their ore business, running : these navigable waters, and their charge including | delivery upon ship in navigable waters of the Unit States, was interstate, though their tariff was “fr mines to dock,” and though the rate on ship might | what it would, and the ship might be secured by the o: shipper or owner, indeed might in many cases be his ow property. They showed an actual through rail and lak; rate to the East on ships of joint ownership, in whic! the rail rate was the same as in all other shipments, and they cited a great mass of evidence from other cases and of rulings by the highest courts in support of their contention. Probably in no case that has come before the State or Interstate Commission has there been such a sharp line of cleavage and such a clear cut situa- tion on this point as in this, and the case will have the greatest importance on subsequent action in inter state commerce. It is notable, too, in the fact that both the roads af fected are the property of the United States Steel Cor poration, and that a reduction in their rates, such as was ordered by the commission a year ago, would have made a difference in net earnings of about $2,000,000 per annum. The case for the railroads was handled with great ability by G. Welwood Murray and Joseph B. Cot- ton for the Duluth, Missabe & Northern, and by Frank B. Kellogg and J. H. Chandler for the Duluth & Iron Range. There is a great deal of very loose talk in reference to this decision. It is claimed to be appealable; being an administrative order it is clearly not so. It is even said to be a victory for the State. It is claimed that it sounds the “knell of the independent operator,” and that it “places Minnesota in the grasp of the trust.” On these points I venture these statements, based upon a rather complete and intimate personal knowledge of the situ- ation as it exists to-day and has existed for years. 1, that there is more independent or noncombination min- ing than at any time in the history of the State; 2, that there is more exploration for ore by independent and outside companies, connected neither with the roads nor with the United States Steel Corporation, than ever in the past; and 3, that there have been more sales of ore properties in comparison with the number to be sold and at higher prices and to a wider circle of buyers since the formation of the United States Steel Corporation and their complete control over the rail transportation situ- ation than since mining and exploration began in Min- nesota, and that private and State ore lands are worth more than ever. D. FE. W Sa a Pittsburgh Coal Company.—The fourth quarterly re- port of the Pittsburgh Coal Company’s Employees’ Asso- ciation, which includes proceedings up to October 31, has been issued. The association was organized a year ago to arouse an interest among the employees in the invest- ment of their earnings in the stock of the corporation, and making them become stockholders in the concer?. Up to the end of the quarter the report shows that among the miners 528 have become purchasers of the company’s shares. They have taken on installment 2616 shares. Employees in the shops and railroads of the company have bought 88 shares. In the general offices 144 em- ployees have purchased 2305 shares, and in the outside districts 73 purchasers have secured 586 shares. Al! of the shares secured are preferred stock with earn'ng power of 6 per cent. The entire holdings are in ‘he treasury of the association and amount to 6200 shares, which were secured at the market value of $92.87! ver share, ia, —_— Robert Field has moved his office from Columbu~ 46 Mitchell Building, Cincinnati, Ohio, where, in addl- tion to the product of the Sloss-Sheffield Steel & [00 Company, of which company he is sales representat v he will have a full line of Northern foundry and ms!!¢ able iron and foundry coke. amr * oo @ * i a eo of November 21, 1901 [With Supplement. ]} The betterment of the workingman’s condition is not 1 new idea. Many projects have been devised with this iim in view. Some of them have been fairly successful, while others have been dismal failures. The cause of hese failures has not always been the same, but proba- bly more can be traced to an imperfect comprehension f human nature by the projector than to any other single reason. Philanthropy is by no means a raré vir- tue, every community being blessed with individuals who are sincerely desirous of lightening the burdens and alleviating the distresses of their fellow creatures. But well meaning efforts in this direction are frequently of little practical value from a worldly point of view. The recipients of philan- thropic attentions, THE IRON AGE. VANDERGRIIFT, A Workingman’s Paradise. scribed in The Iron Age, June 17, 1897. At present the construction of eight more mills is under way, so that the works will shortly have 29 in all. Nearly all the steel for these mills is produced in open hearth furnaces, which form part of the local plant. The annual output of finished product, which will be greatly increased when the new mills are completed, has been 130,000 gross tons of sheet bars, 105,000 net tons of black sheets, and 170,- 000 net tons of galvanized sheets. The large output of galvanized sheets is due to the fact that all sheets in- tended to be galvanized are brought to the Vandergrift plant from the other works of the American Sheet Steel Company in the Kiskiminetas Valley, located at Apollo, Leechburg, Saltsburg and Hyde Park. The relative im- portance of these works is shown by their pay rolls, the Vandergrift works paying out $1,500,000 who are not purely objects of charity, may accept the bene- fits of proffered assist- ance in bettering their condition, even if ob- ligations are imposed upon them, but in time they will chafe under the feeling that they are being thus treated for an ulterior purpose and that they are losing their manly independence. As an example of a well con- ceived plan for the im- provement of work- ingmen, for enabling them to enjoy’ to probably the fullest possible extent the blessings, com forts and even luxuries of life compatible with the circumstances of Wage earners, at the same time affording them perfect inde- pendence of action and the opportunity to develop individuality, the town of Vander- grift presents an un- usually interesting study to the soci- ologist. It has been the extreme pleasure of a representative of The Iron Age to visit this town and to gather some facts concerning it, which are herewith presented, together with a number of illustrations. GEORGE G. The Founder How It Came Into Existence. Vandergrift is located 38 miles east of Pittsburgh on the West Pennsylvania Railroad. It is in the beautiful valley of the Kiskiminetas, almost surrounded by thickly wooded his. Here a tract of gently sloping ground, com- prising 640 acres of farm land, was purchased a few years since by the Apollo Iron & Steel Company, now the American Sheet Steel Company, whose operations at Apollo, a short distance further up the river, had out- grown the space available for their works. Ground was broken for the new town in June, 1895, and simultaneous- ly the construction of the new plant began. The first sheets rolled here were turned out on October 29, only four months after. The plant then consisted of 13 mills, but the business of the company speedily outgrew the capacity of the original works, and eight more mills were soon added, making 21. It was illustrated and de- of Vandergrift. per year in salaries and wages, Leech- burg $390,000, Apollo $210,000, Hyde Park $200,000, and _ Salts- burg $150,000. The pay roll of the Van- dergrift works will be increased 35 per cent. by February 1 next. It is the expectation of the management that this plant will continue to be en- larged, it being their ambition to make it a 50-mill plant. The ar- rangement of the buildings will enable this to be done with- out impairing the original relations of the several depart- ments. A Great Industry Builds Up a Large Town, The foregoing his- torical and statistical statements have been made in this connec- tion for the purpose mee} §6=—s of enabling the reader to get a comprehen- McMURTRY, sive grasp of the situation. So large an industrial undertak- ing could not have sprung up in the time mentioned, and on what was a farm when the first sod was broken, without attracting a large population to its vicinity. The town of Vander- grift now contains over 6000 inhabitants. While a roll foundry and some minor establishments have recently located there, the dependence of the citizens is so large- ly based on the operatjons of the sheet mills that the latter must be closely considered in any observations made relative to the lives, habits and surroundings of the people. When the managers of the Apollo Iron & Steel Com- pany decided to build the new plant they also decided to lay out a town which would be so superior to the ordi- nary industrial settlement that it would attract a high class of workingmen. The financial benefits to accrue from the sale of lots were not overlooked, but this phase of the undertaking was made subordinate instead of paramount. The site selected was ideal. The mills were laid out on a comparatively level part of the tract. The ground set apart for the town slopes up gradually from the Kiskiminetas River, affording perfect conditions for Thelron Ace 4 il 6 THE IRON AGE. November 21, 1901 drainage. The services of Frederick Law Olmsted, the people. The lots as laid out were of good proportions, famous landscape gardener, were secured in making the with an alley running through the center of every block. plan of the town. He laid out wide streets, not crossing A complete system of sewerage was installed, pipes were = | = - wee ali at OES : ¥ re _— ~ A BUSINESS BLOCK IN VANDERGRIFT. each other at right angles, but forming ares of a circle laid for gas and water, connections were run to every gently curving with the contour of the ground. The lot to prevent the streets from again being torn up, plan provided for a number of small plots to be orna- and the streets and alleys were then paved hand- a Ot : . PN eave ie se ais v i ai a mre pr ie le ut CONTINUATION OF THE SAME BLOCK. mented with flower beds or shrubbery. Thus the begin- somely and durably with vitrified brick. It was in- ning was made for artistic effect. which seems to have tended from the beginning that the town should have been deeply impressed on the minds and habits of the no outhouses. at aeons Nein Ar EPs ESS ec nrw anes .* Donen SUPPLEMENT TO THE IRON AGE, VANDERGRIFT AND ITS ( NOVEMBER 21, 1901. i ee - a fps Yk be «x 7) ud = O - "3 e & uJ = Oo < Y 8 O se Mis rig * Sa % ihe ITS dpe Ee oe Brille ne - tee Ay Re tat — sn ee ume N T Ive Whe 10 eX st op ce fc e pri the pose liqu e lot the iS pe ny ¢ hed tside re | ey ittel nies to c offici: teres the f pure] estat in fr bleac inspi graci very t re lerT r] November “1, 1901 THE IRON AGE. Individual Tastes Consulted. When all the preparations had been made, the men 10 expected to be employed in the mills were given the st opportunity to purchase lots. They had this prefer- ce for an entire week. The price made was the aver- ice price realized for five years for lots of the same size the neighboring town of Apollo. No restriction was posed on the purchasers save with regard to the sale liquor. No liquor is permitted to be sold in the town. e lots were sold with no stipulation as to building lines the character of the house to be built. Every man iS permitted to be guided by his own taste. The com- ny erected no houses and have none for rent, estab- hed no store and engaged in no branch of business tside of the manufacture of sheets, except such as re absolutely necessary in founding a new town. ey organized a land company to look after real estate matters, as well as gas, water and electric light com- panies, but embarked in no line which brought them into competition with private enterprise. Further, no - a men themselves have named “a workingman’s para- dise.”” It is in a natural gas district, and every house uses this convenient fuel for cooking and heating, and sometimes for lighting, although electric light is general- ly used. Thus much of the labor and dirt incident to housekeeping are avoided. It is, further, only 3 miles from springs which have long been famous for the purity of their water. From these springs the supply of water is piped to the town. So excellent is the quality of this water that not a single case of typhoid fever has origi- nated in the town from the date of its settlement. Coal is mined abundantly within a few miles and can be had cheaply for any purpose for which it may be required. The citizens thus enjoy great privileges, as may be seen from the statement made us by a housekeeper, whose house has ten rooms, all heated by a gas fired furnace in the basement, while all cooking and laundry work are also done with gas, that for four years the cost of his gas has yearly averaged $34.46; electric light, $16.83; water, $12.75, and taxes, $33.75. The net rate for natural gas is 20 cents per 1000 cubic THE VANDERGRIFT official, manager, superintendent or foreman can be in- terested in any business dependent to any extent upon the patronage of workmen. As soon as the workingmen purchased lots they consulted with their neighbors and established building lines or decided on uniform terraces in front of their houses where such were desirable. In- stead of erecting plain or homely structures, they were inspired by their surroundings to study architectural graces, and numerous beautiful houses were built in the very infancy of the town. To-day it is one of the pret- tlest towns to be found anywhere. Every street is a revelation to the stranger who is familiar with other rkingmen’s towns. The houses are individualized, I built after a monotonous pattern. And they are tastefully and even artistically and luxuriously fur- tished., Nearly every house has its piano and its library, cating the refining and elevating influences of the Su-lal life of the community. Every one, of course, has /wn bathroom and other sanitary conveniences. The i character of the population is shown in the neatness 1 which the children are dressed. Cheapness of Living. ‘he natural advantages of the locality add much to ‘charm of living in Vandergrift, which the working- PUBLIC SCHOOLS. feet. The rate for electric light is 10 cents per 1000 watt hours, with a discount for prompt payment of 10 per cent. on bills under $4 and 20 per cent. on bills over $4 per month. The water consumed is measured by meter, the rates being based on the average rate of consump- tion for the preceding three months, ranging on a scale from 22% cents per 100 cubic feet for 25 cubic feet per day to 6 cents per 100 cubic feet for 3000 cubic feet per day, with 10 per cent. discount for prompt monthly pay- ment. The citizens govern the town, which has been incor- porated as a borough under the laws of Pennsylvania. The officers thus elected by them have charge of the schools, look after the peace and good order of the com- munity, and supervise all public improvements. They have erected good school houses, raising money for that purpose by issuing bonds, the land company donating the ground. The company also donated ground for four churches when the town was started, stipulating that ach should cost not less than $15,000, of which they further paid one-half. Since then several churches have been built by other denominations. The casino, which is a fine large building for public assemblies, was mainly built by the citizens. It cost $32,000, the company donat- ing the ground and $14,000. In addition to assembly 8 THE IRON AGE. rooms it contains reading rooms and a fine free library having 2500 volumes. It is understood that the gas, water, electric light and telephone companies will be turned over to the citizens of Vandergrift if they desire and are prepared for municipal ownership. The Character of the Workingmen. As before remarked, the aim of the builders of Van- dergrift was to attract a high class of workingmen. This they have succeeded in doing. It is, however, a remarkable settlement of young people. It is believed that in it hardly a dozen persons can be found over 50 years of age. The skilled men employed in the mills, from superintendents down, will not average over 382. This has not been brought about by any forced arrange- ment, but probably demonstrates that young men are more likely to settle in a new locality than old ones. Further, the workingmen are largely natives of the local- ity, sons of farmers or of workingmen in nearby towns. It is believed that not over 10 per cent. are foreigners, and these are principally employed in the galvanizing department, where the character of the work is distaste- November 21, 190) The happiness found in Vandergrift would be far less if the heads of families earned a precarious living o; worked in an establishment which closed at frequent intervals. The policy of the managers is to run unin terruptedly, recognizing practically but two holidays in the year—namely, the Fourth of July and Christmas They do not even shut down the customary four or five weeks for repairs in midsummer or midwinter. The sheet mills run in three turns of eight hours each, the last turn for the week ending at 8 o’clock on Saturday morning. This affords ample opportunity to change rolls, make repairs, clean out mill pits, &c. The open hearth bar mill and galvanizing departments are run on tw: daily turns of 12 hours each. Care is taken to give every man a full day of rest each week. Day and night mill- wrights are employed, and a general cleaning up takes place on Saturday, so that the machinery is always kept in good condition. The men are paid on Friday, the money being taken to the mill and paid to each man wherever he is em- ployed. He is not obliged to go to the office and stand in line. No roller pays the hands under him, but the coe, AL Lh WE | Bes THE VANDERGRIFT CASINO. ful to men fitted for a more skilled vocation. Among such a high class of workingmen a general spirit of good fellowship is shown. They freely and willingly assist one another, their intercourse being remarkably free from discord. Here the influence of the management and the power of a good example are seen. It is a cardi- nal principle in the Vandergrift works that every man shall be treated as a man, whatever his station may be. If a roller has a difference with a scrap boy, the superin- tendent gives a hearing to both, and if the scrap boy has been unjustly treated the roller is compelled to make amends. Any man having a grievance is invited to make it known to the management, and if on investigation the complaint proves to be well founded the trouble is cor- rected. All superintendents, to the highest, know the men personally so as to be able to call them by name and take pains to speak to them. Thus a bond of friendship and mutual interest is created andsustained. Inthe center of the plant, on its own separate plot of ground, stands a completely equipped emergency hospital, in which a trained nurse can be found day or night, ready to attend any one suddenly taken ill or injured. In serious cases a surgeon is summoned and is on hand in five minutes. The Wise Policy of the Management. The well being and prosperity of a town depend upon the steadiness with which the workingmen are employed. company pay each man his own wages. Every one knows what is due him, as those who are paid on a ton- nage basis receive a slip every day showing what they turned out the previous day, thus enabling them to check their accounts. The works at Vandergrift are free works, no union rules being tolerated. The consequence is that the lucra- tive positions in the works are open to all who show fitness. It may be said that civil service applies here. If a new roller is needed, a man from some subordinate position is promoted. No union is permitted to send an unknown man from another mill, to keep the craft of rolling confined to a select circle. The same methods apply throughout all departments. Men are advanced as they display merit or special aptitude, and worth re ceives its proper recognition. It is not surprising that men working under thes conditions and with these surroundings were unwilling to strike when the effort was made to “call” them out last summer. Among such men agitators and fomentore of strife can obtain no foothold. To Whom the Credit is Due. All this has been largely due to the personal influences of George G. McMurtry, president of the company, who: genius for executive responsibilities was so signal!) demonstrated in the growth of the Apollo works. Hé November 21, 1901 saw that in the arrangement of that plant and of the town surrounding it many improvements were desirable for the betterment of the men employed, as well as for better results to the company. In studying this subject he visited many of the famous workingmen’s towns in Europe, became thoroughly familiar with what had been done for workingmen, both abroad and in this country, and in time decided upon the methods which ought to be adopted in an American workingmen’s town. They could not well be put in force at the old location, but could be at a new one. It was his desire to make his employees as comfortable and as happy as possible, and therefore he gave his personal supervision to the details. They realize this deep interest in their welfare and show their appreciation at every opportunity. <i —_ Glimpses of Mexico. The Meeting of the American Institute of Min- ing Engineers. Some years since the idea was broached of holding a meeting of the American Institute of Mining Engineers in Mexico, the members living in the sister republic heartily indorsing the plan. Circumstances made a post- ponement desirable, and it was not until this year that the arrangements were finally perfected. The applica- tions filed were exceedingly numerous, but to many it proved impossible to carry out their plans. Yet it was quite evident at the outstart that a single train could not accommodate the party, and when the start was made members of the institute and their ladies, to the number of about 160, filled two trains of Pullman sleepers, which were as heavy as it would be possible to handle on West- ern and Mexican lines. The statement is made by those who can lay claim to being authorities that the two trains made up for the party by the Pullman Company are the finest sent out on so long a run. The first section consisted of two baggage cars, a dining car, one compartment car, one four-drawing room and one two-drawing room car, an observation car and the private car of the president of the institute, the “ Olympia,” which was the car in which the late President McKinley was conveyed from Buffalo to Canton. The second train consisted of two baggage cars, a dining car, two compartment cars, two drawing room cars, an observation car and the private car of Dr. Douglas. With the exception of the few days in the City of Mexico these rains are the hone of the party for a whole month, since no adequate facilities, either for rooms or for meals, exist in the smaller Mexican towns. The party started with 25 tons of supplies and provisions, even the drinking water being brought from New York and from Waukesha. Among those who started with the party at New York or Chicago, or who joined en route, were: Cc. E. Billin of C. E. Billin & Co., Chicago. Francis Collingwood of New York. Edgar S. Cook, president Warwick Iron Company, Pottstown, Pa. Samuel W. Croxton of the Penn Iron & Coal Company, Canal Dover, Ohio. S. F. Emmons, United States Geological Survey, Washington, Cc W. E. C. Eustis, Boston, Mass. Cleveland Dodge of Phelps, Dedge & Co., New York. Dr. James Douglas of Phelps, Dodge & Co., New York. Thomas M. Eynon, Hughes & Patterson, Philadelphia, Pa. James Eynon of the Eynon-Evans Company, Philadelphia, Pa. B. F. Fackenthal, Jr., president Thomas Iron Company, Hoken- dauqua, Pa. F. J. Frank, Mines and Minerals, Chicago. W. J. Johnston, publisher Mining and Metallurgy, New York. William Kent, consulting engineer, New York. Cc. Kirchhoff, editor The Iron Age, New York. W. R. Mellvain, Reading, Pa. BE. E. Olcott, consulting engineer, New York. E. W. Parker, editor Engineering and Mining Journal, New York. W. Pilling of Pilling & Crane, iron merchants, Philadelphia, Pa. Prof. R. H. Richards, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston. Heinrich Ries, professor of economic geology, Cornell Uni- versity, Ithaca, N. Y. H. J. Seaman, Catasauqua, Pa. George Singer of Singer, Nimick & Co., Pittsburgh. THE IRON AGE. 9 J. William Smith of the Solvay Process Company, Syracuse. John E. Sweet of Syracuse, N. Y. Edwin Thomas, Catasauqua, Pa. Samuel Thomas, formerly president of the Pioneer Mfg. Com- pany of Birmingham, Ala. M. D. Valentine, manufacturer of fire brick, Woodbridge, N. J. W. H. Wiley of John Wiley & Sons, New York. David Williams, publisher The Iron Age, New York. Jones Wister of L. & R. Wister & Co., iron merchants, Phila- delphia, Pa. A. W. Sheafer, Pottsville, Pa. Walter Wood of R. D. Wood & Co., Philadelphia. G. Viele of the General Electric Company, New York. H. H. Yard, Liberty Furnace Company of Virginia, Philadelphia. L. Williams of the Napoleon Copper Mines, Milton, Cal. A. H. Wethey of Butte, Mont. The party, which started from New York at noon on the 1st inst., reached El Paso on the morning of the 5th, about five hours late, and, crossing the border, had at Juarez the somewhat unusual experience of courteous treatment at the hands of customs house officials. Soon the train, now on the lines of the Mexican Central Rail- way, plunges into an apparently barren waste of sand hills, with the wonderfully clear cut outlines of moun- tain chains on every side. Later on the mesquite and sage, in thicker growth, indicate a somewhat better soil, but one cannot escape the feeling that it is only through the liberal and consistent subsidy policy of the Mexican Government that the development of the Mexi- can railroad system has been at all possible. To the traditionally unsafe ‘* Observer from the Car Window ” it looks as though a country like that part of the State of Chihuahua through which the road passes would never furnish a very large tonnage. It is a cattle coun- try, largely belonging to one man, ex-Governor Terrazas, who, it is claimed, is the largest individual owner of cattle, since he brands about 100,000. calves a year. To those who are accustomed to the wastefulness with water which characterizes the greater part of our own country, there is much that smacks of reproach in observing the care with which the precious fluid Is hoarded on the plateau of Mexico. Chihuahua, The delay in reaching the city of Chihuahua was very disconcerting to those who had made preparations for the reception of the mining engineers. Hardly had the train drawn into the station, crowded with an applaud- ing populace, when carriages whisked the visitors to the palace, where Governor Miguel Ahumada received the party, a large and admirable band, consisting of pupils of the School of Arts, none of whom is over 16 years of age, furnishing music. Governor Ahumada, who is now serving his third term, is a man of magnifi- cent physique and general manners, who completely captivated his guests. He welcomed the engineers in a graceful little speech, to which E. E. Olcott, president of the institute, responded by an address in Spanish. In the evening the visitors were afforded an unusual op- portunity to observe the social side of Mexican life, the occasion being a very largely attended ball given i