The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1857-12-11
For the Post.
EAST TENNESSEE IRON.

Mr.. Editor public are generally
aware at the time Loudon sprung into exist.
enes, there was Company formed, and put
into operation Rolling Mill for the mspu.
facture Of iron, which run for q short time
demonstrating the fact Of the utility and
prscticsbility Of the enterprise, by making
an article Of iron inferior to none introduced
into the country, and pronounced by smiths.
who tried II on their anvils, as being superior
to any {sed by them, for toughness, dc. The
Company suspended, owing to their having
an incompetent agent and mechanics to ar
range their machinery and the business: and
also an injudicious arrangement Of it's fiscal
affairs, negleoting to push forward the sale Of
iron In order to meet supply and enable the
business TO sustain itself. -frf
But the spirit of the times have changed.
The Mil, now under the auspices of Messrs.
Jones, Phillips d Co.. Of Portsmouth, Ohio,
has been successfully put into operation, af.
ter thorough change. connecting new ma.
chinery with the old, and adapting it to the
capacity Of turning off two and half tons
on the first process, and finishing three to
four tons Of iron per day, that will compare
with the best charcoal iron made any where,
for quality or finish. and Of such variety Of
sizes as will suit the mechanic or the farmer.
1t is due to the gentlemen of the firm to say,
they are in every way competent to the bust
ness, having been connected With it for a
number of years and as practical laboring
mechanics who, Hercules like, put their
shoulders to the wheel" and push the enter.
prise on, determined not TO baulk, il the pub.
lie will regard their own interest and sustain
them. They work at the present time about
twenty hands, all competent to the business,
and when operating move about with agility
in the fiery ordeal. The process pictures to
the observer modern Tophet--to see dark
huge shapeless broken pigs cast into the fiery
furnace, and in a few moments become heated
and changed into burning lava, boiling and
foaming. With huge pokers the sons Of To.
phet stir and torment the liquid mass until
they drag it out in fiery balls, when it is hur.
fied. kissing, and dropping liquid trail, to
huge jaws that compress and shape it for the
process of the rolls, whose revolving power
forces from it all the hot sparkling dross.
leaving it still an impure but not shapeless
mass. II is again cast into heater and at
the proper time is brought forth, glow.
ing with starlight heat, ductile as The phi.
ant wax or lead, and now 10 the hands of
one of the kings Of Tophet, that which was
once cold black shapeless mass as it pass.
es the rollers changes its form and nature, be.
coming symmetrical and refined and to the
fnisher's touch, from the huge bar to the
small rod, passes off finished.
Now, would it not be common sense and
economy for our citizens to encourage home
industry and buy iron at home, when we can
get the article we need at short notice, as
cheap of any description, and Of as good
quality and finish as that brought into the
countryi Would not common sense dictate,
that we foster and build up the manufacturing
Of. iron in East Tennessee, when God, in his
munifcent wisdom, has blest us with noun.
tains Of rich minerals and exhaustless in their
nature, and'not depend upon other States to
supply usi Would not common sense and
charity say. keep your money at home and
give employment to the poor laboring men,
when you have the material broadcast around
you that you want manufactured, and when
you promote your own interest by the actl-
Did not wisdom and prudence (taking ma
tional view Of the principle guide the action
Of Congress in AZ, when they gave protection
to the manufacturing interest Of the United
Statesi-in four years calling forth the en-.
ergy, capital and enterprise of the country,
to manufacture American iron, until the un.
wise legislation Of as repealed that act, with.
drew that protection, psralyzed that energy
and enterprise, and caused slunber and death
to rest upon the industry Of the nation, there.
by giving protection to the introduction of
English iron into the country. Had wise
councils prevailed up to the present period
(l6 years. our hills. mountains, plains and
valleys. would now be jublant with the
sound Of the manufacturer and artizan, where
silence reigns supreme amidst the sleepy
wealth that fills the earth, and instead Of ex.
porting millions of dollars to pay England
for iron to build our Railroads, we would
now, to some extent at least, be able to check
the sad calamity Of bankruptcy resting upon
our country.
Believing. Mr.. Editor, that the same princi-
plsNwill apply to State, county, or even
limited locality, by the citizens protecting
and nourishing such enterprises-in word,
protecting Home Industry,
remain, truly, yours, ALEX.
UrAn.-The Washington correspondent of